Have you ever been driving around, maybe in the Albany, Leesburg, or Tifton, GA, areas, and had a light appear on your dashboard? It’s happened to just about everyone.
Many different lights can appear on the dashboard of your BMW 3 Series. You’re not alone in wanting to figure out what they mean. BMW of Albany is here to help you figure out what some of them mean. Schedule a service appointment with us at any time online!
There are two different types of lights on your dashboard: warning lights and indicator lights. Warning lights activate on your vehicle’s dashboard when there is a problem detected with your vehicle. They often come in multiple colors and some flash, while others remain static. These can all mean different things depending on the light.
Check Engine Warning Light
The check engine light looks like a basic line drawing of an engine. The light will be yellow and, depending on the issue, might flash. The solid check engine light means that there is a problem with your vehicle’s engine.
If the light is flashing, it means there is a misfire in the engine. This can lead to damage to the emission control components. When you see this, you’ll want to reduce speed and take your sedan to a technician.
Steering System Warning Light
The steering system warning light will show a yellow exclamation point next to a steering wheel. This light can warn you that the steering system might not be working. This will affect the way that your car handles.
Brake System Warning Light
The brake system has two different lights to keep an eye out for. The first is a red exclamation point in a circle that is within parentheses.
The first version of this light means that your brake system is impaired. You can continue to drive but do so carefully.
The second brake system light is the word BRAKE is red capital letters. This light means that the brake system is impaired and you should get to a service center as soon as possible.
Indicator lights are those that let you know when something is active or turned on and are not warnings. These lights keep you up to date on what systems you are currently using as you drive.
Lane Departure Warning Indicator
This light will look like a green car drifting out of a lane, just like the name suggests. This light will go on if you have the available Lane Departure Warning system. If this system detects you drifting out of your lane or off the road, it issues a warning with this indicator light.
High Beams Indicator
The high beams light just means that your high beams are on. This light is blue and looks like a headlight with five straight lines coming out of it.
Parking Lights Indicator
The parking lights indicator is a green light with two headlights facing away from one another. Each light will have three lines coming out of it. This indicator tells you that the parking lights are on. These lights can only be used when driving at low speeds, so you won’t have to worry about it when driving at higher speeds.
If any of your warning lights have come on, there is a good chance your vehicle needs service. If you’re in the Albany, Leesburg, or Tifton, Georgia, areas, BMW of Albany’s service center is here to help. Our team can answer any questions about your dashboard lights and potential repairs. Give us a call or schedule your appointment online today!
