How to Clear BMW Fault Codes without Scanner

The easiest and the most proper way to clear fault codes in your BMW is with the help of the scanner. But you can also do it without any tools. For this, you will need to disconnect the battery in your car and also release all the remaining power somehow. In this article, I will guide you through this process.

Clearing the DTCs highlights

• Difficulty level:Low
• Needed scan tools:Professional tool or app
• Additional equipment:No other tools needed
• Timeneeded:10-15 minutes
• Price in a shop:$150 - $250
• DIY repair:Possible

Fault codes magic in your BMW

So, if you have already read some other articles in my blog, you may know that I am not a BMW fan. I actually criticize these cars for being unreliable and causing too many expensive problems to their owners. But I still love how they go and what emotions they give you, so I love driving a BMW now and then.

Almost always when I am behind the steering wheel of a BMW that I borrowed from one of my friends, I see a ton of warning lights illuminating on the panel and so I've decided to talk to a BMW dealership mechanic to learn how you can deal with these warning lights and codes in the ECU if you are not a professional car mechanic.

Here are some great things this guy told me about the error codes in the BMW cars:

• first of all, the fact that the BMW throws a lot of codes comes from the fact that it has a very smart system of self-diagnosis;
• also, very often, the codes are stored in the memory of the ECU and light up the check engine light when the problem is already gone;
• sometimes, just clearing the codes will solve the problem of a dozen warning lights illuminating on the dash;
• you still shouldn't ignore the problem if the BMW throws a certain warning light or the error message appears on the dash;
• if after clearing the codes, the check engine light is on the dash again, you should immediately consult with a specialist;
• ignoring serious problems in any BMW vehicle can be fatal for your car - you may end up paying much more for the repair.

Actually, this works with almost all modern vehicles. But I agree that BMW started implementing advanced diagnosis systems much earlier than other car manufacturers did this. So, sometimes, you can get the code in your BMW that is hard to decode even with the help of the internet or your driver's manual.

Your BMW most likely has a lot of different sensors that can work to notify you about numerous potential problems with the vehicle. So, in most cases, the warning lights and error codes are your saviors - they can save you from paying much more money for repair, in the end.

How can you check BMW codes without the tools?

Unfortunately, there is no such function to check the actual code that sits behind the check engine light illuminating on the dash of your vehicle if you have an older BMW car. But since 2015 or so, all BMW cars have the option to launch the hidden menu and see the actual error codes.

For this, you should do the following:

• Hold the Reset button on your dash for 10 seconds until you see the new menu on the screen.
• Go down the menu and choose Unlock, hold the Reset button to unlock other functions.
• Now, it will ask you for a code - this code is the sum of the last 5 digits of your VIN - quite easy to count. Press the Reset button to set the needed code. Each time you press it, it will add 1 to the code. Once you are done, press and hold the Reset button.
• Now you are in the hidden menu. Find the Error codes section by pressing the Reset button, then hold the Reset button to enter it.
• Now, you can see the codes and you can investigate what causes these codes just by googling them.
• Also, if you come back to the previous menu, you can easily find the function to "Clear all codes". It will reset the ECU in terms of error codes.

Please keep in mind that by resetting the codes, you don't fix anything, you just clear the codes that trigger the check engine light. But if the problem is still there, you will have to repair the vehicle before you can clear that code and reset the ECU.

So, this is how you can do this in newer BMW cars with new trip computers. If you have an older car, you can do that with the help of the OBD2 scanner.

But there is still one all-purpose way of resetting the codes that you can use in almost any vehicle including older BMW cars.

Resetting the code in your BMW by disconnecting the battery

I strongly recommend you use the previously described method of checking and clearing the error codes in your BMW vehicles. But if you don't have access to that hidden menu and don't have any opportunities to get the OBD2 scanner, you can use the all-purpose method of disconnecting the battery.

Please follow this guideline to avoid any issues with the electrical system in your BMW:

• Turn off the vehicle. This is important to avoid any short circuits or other problems.
• Locate the battery. In some BMW cars, it will be located under the hood, while in other vehicles, it's situated in the trunk.
• Locate the negative terminal. This is the first terminal you should disconnect. Unscrew the nut that holds it in place and carefully take the cable off the terminal. Make sure it won't touch the terminal just by chance.
• Disconnect the positive terminal by doing the same thing.
• Turn on the light in your vehicle or press the honk to make sure there is no electrical current in the electrical system of the BMW.
• Now, wait for several minutes and connect the battery back. Start with the positive terminal and then connect the negative one.
• Start the vehicle and see if the code is cleared and the check engine light is no more illuminated.

Unfortunately, in many cases, you may still see the check engine light come on the dash. It means that there is a problem in your car that needs inspection and repair, not just resetting the error light. In this case, you should still get a scanner, read the code, and research it online to find out what the problem is. Alternatively, you can go to the specialists and ask them to diagnose the vehicle.

What should you do if the check engine light is still on?

Well, you completed the reset by following one of the above-mentioned methods and suddenly you see that the check engine light is still on. This may mean that the vehicle needs urgent help. The problems that can trigger the light are from a blown light bulb to fatal engine damage, so it's not recommended to ignore the issue.

Here's what you can do to eventually drive without the set of warning lights illuminating on your dash:

• get the OBD2 scanner and the software that can work with it;
• check the code and research it online to see what it can mean;
• if you can solve the problem on your own, just buy the needed parts and install them;
• if you can't solve the issue on your own, plan your visit to the dealership or repair shop;
• have the vehicle inspected by professionals to avoid the wrong diagnosis;
• have the vehicle repaired by mechanics and get it back without any fault codes and warning lights.

The newer vehicles are pretty complicated in terms of repair, so even if you need to replace some light bulbs, you should go to the dealership. Also, the independent repair shop will not always help unless they are specialized in BMW vehicles. But if your BMW is still under warranty coverage, you should only go to the dealership.

Older BMW cars are usually less problematic in terms of warning lights just because they don't have so many sensors and so good self-diagnosing equipment. Anyway, if you get any warning light or error message in your BMW, don't ignore it because it may cost you a lot in the end to repair your car.