They could show up at a moment’s notice, and yet you’re left scratching your head: “What does that light mean?” When your BMW 5 Series displays a new light on your dashboard, you want to get to the bottom of its meaning. What do you do?
The team at BMW of Albany knows that when you’re cruising around the Albany, Leesburg, and Tifton, GA, areas, your car’s safety is a priority. That’s why we’ve put together our BMW 5 Series dashboard light guide to solve your dashboard mysteries as you go from place to place. Schedule a service appointment online today!
Think of your BMW 5 Series dashboard as the information superhighway of your car’s mechanics. Pertinent information is displayed across your dashboard to convey importance if a potential issue is detected during your BMW’s lifespan.
Each dashboard light carries its own importance. But first, it’s important to note the difference between a warning light and an indicator.
One of the most important dashboard lights to pay attention to is the Brake Fluid Level. This symbol lights up in red and looks like a circle with an exclamation point in the middle with two parentheses on either side. If this light appears, your brake fluid is too low. While you don’t need to pull over, you should exercise caution until you can get the issue looked at.
Displayed on your dashboard as the shape of a motor in bright red, this warning light pops up when your BMW has indicated a misfiring in your engine. If you see the Check Engine light, slow your speed, and safely pull over if you can. Driving with an engine in this condition could damage key components of your motor.
The yellow-tinted symbol is designed like a gas pump, and it has a pretty simple meaning: Fill up with gas as soon as you can. While this indicator is commonly understood, its estimated distance to empty varies between manufacturers. When you drive a BMW, and this yellow indicator shows up, you have no more than 30 miles until you run out of fuel.
Keep an eye out for a red symbol that looks like an oil can with a small drop of oil on the right side. An ever-important warning, this is notifying you of a very low engine oil level. You should consider adding additional oil as soon as possible to avoid any potential damage to the BMW’s motor.
This red warning light looks like a bear trap with an exclamation point in the middle. If you see this light appear, your BMW is indicating that one of your tires has rapidly depleted its air intake. As soon as you can, pull over the car and check your tires. However, if this symbol appears in yellow, your tire pressure is off by about 10%.
Recognizing and understanding the meaning behind each of your BMW 5 Series dashboard lights is vital to the proper maintenance of your car. While we’ve only covered a few of these lights above, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have about a light on your dashboard.
The next time you’re driving through the areas of Albany, Leesburg, and Tifton, be sure to stop by our dealership at BMW of Albany. Tell us about the symbol(s) you’re noticing, and we’ll explain its purposes—and even set you up with a service appointment if need be.
