A new warning light on your dashboard? You don’t find out why it doesn’t switch off… It’s normal, an auto is complex and there are many causes why a light might occur. If your glow plug light comes on while driving your BMW 5 Series, it may possibly show some problems. In this article, we will do everything we can to support you see things more clearly. First, we will discover how the preheating light on your BMW 5 Series functions, and then the different explanations it lights up when you are driving

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What is the goal of my BMW 5 Series glow plug light?

The primary goal of the engine glow plug light, which is in most cases symbolized by a yellow coil, is to ensure that your glow plugs are working effectively. In reality, it must light up when you switch on your BMW 5 Series to tell you that they are heating the intake air in your cylinders and must go out after a few minutes when the engine is running. This preheat light is therefore not meant to stay or come on while driving with your vehicle. Nevertheless, if it comes on while driving, it may indicate several failures, we will try to describe the main ones.

What to do if the glow plug light comes on while driving on my BMW 5 Series?

A glow light that comes on while driving on your BMW 5 Series or at any other time other than when the engine is started is meant to inform you to a fault other than your spark plugs, we will look at this now. Whatever the case, connecting your vehicle to the diagnostic tool will allow you to accurately translate the motive for the light up of your glow light.

My BMW 5 Series glow light comes on and I’m suffering from a loss of power

The first possibility is that you recognize that your glow plug light comes on while driving your BMW 5 Series and that you also knowledge a loss of power. In such a case, some concerns can describe its presence. Here is a list of the main causes:

  • Issue of EGR valve, in fact, if you go through a loss of power, it is possible that your EGR valve is clogged, in this case, it is obvious that your preheat light comes on while driving on BMW 5 Series because it is one of the issue of which it is expected to alert you. Have the status of your valve looked at
  • Trouble linked to the turbo overflow valve, in this situation the ECU can no longer manage the turbo intake pressure, which can result in turbo boost and a disturbance in the operation of the turbo.
  • Trouble linked to the injection, either an injector that has seized up or the injection pump that is broken by filings or other possible foreign bodies that affect its proper performance.
  • Finally, the last issue that could lead to a glow indicator light on your BMW 5 Series coupled with a loss of power, is that your fuel filter is too dirty, you should feel jerks because of a bad fuel flow in the engine.

My glow plug light comes on or is flashing but no difference on the performance of my BMW 5 Series

To conclude, we’ll give you the explanations for a glow plug light that comes on on your BMW 5 Series without you feeling any difference in power or vehicle behaviour. In general, this is an electronic fault:

  • Glow plug relays or fuses to be replaced, test and change if necessary.
  • A contactor/potentiometer on one of your pedals (brake, accelerator or clutch) has failed, often a simple de-seizure will be enough to solve the issue.
  • You have a false contact somewhere in your electrical circuit, test the other options first because it is not easy to find it alone, we recommend you to go to your repair shop.
  • Faulty injection pressure sensor, ECU error

    • To discover more tips on the BMW 5 Series, take a look at the BMW 5 Series category.