Understanding Your BMW Warning Lights

• Safety belts unbuckled
• Braking system malfunction
• Parking brake engaged
• Airbag/seat belt malfunction
• Engine or emission system malfunction
• Steering system issues
• Dynamic Stability Control malfunction
• Dynamic Stability Control turned off
• High beams are turned on
• Your vehicle requires service
• Engine overheating or low on oil
• One or more driver-assist features engaged
• Turn signal is active

In general, your BMW warning light’s meaning is denoted by the picture that appears on your dash. The severity of the issue, on the other hand, is indicated by color:

• Red lights indicate issues that require immediate attention. Proceed directly to your local service center or call a tow truck at the earliest opportunity.
• Yellow, amber, or orange lights denote problems which require attention in the near future. Make an appointment or use a scanner to determine the source at home.
• Blue and green lights indicate that one of your vehicle’s features is engaged and active. These lights are for your benefit; they don’t indicate any issue at all.

• Safety Belt Lights: A person displayed with a seatbelt indicates that the driver or front passenger is not secure. If a torso appears without a seatbelt, it means that a rear passenger is not protected.
• Braking System: The word “BRAKE” indicates a potential issue with your braking system. This is never an issue that you should leave to chance, so head straight to a service center or pull over if you notice any issues.

• Parking Brake: If you see the word “PARK,” or the letter P, circled and in parentheses, your parking brake is engaged.

• Airbag/Seat Belt Tensioner: If your dash shows a seated, belted passenger with a circle in front of them, it’s indicating a potential problem with your crash protection systems, your seatbelt pretensioners, or your airbags.

Your “Service Vehicle” light could appear in either red or yellow. In the latter case, you’re due for service. If it’s red, you’re overdue. You may see a unique BMW dashboard warning light when you require a BMW oil change, if you’ve worn out your battery after too many jump starts, or if you’re struggling with an overheating engine. Be on the lookout for these, too!

Yellow BMW Warning Lights

• Anti-Lock Braking System: When you see the letters “ABS,” drive carefully. Your antilock brake system might not be working properly, or there may be a problem with your brake assist feature.
• Engine: Noticing a yellow light that looks like a rough outline of an engine? That’s your ‘check engine’ light, and it’s telling you to schedule service as soon as possible. (Just make sure to check for a loose gas cap, first!)
• Steering System: A steering wheel with an exclamation mark points to a problem with your steering system. It may just be that you need more fluid, but the problem could go deeper. Either way, exercise caution and get it checked out soon.
• Dynamic Stability Control Off: If your vehicle includes a Dynamic Stability Control feature, you’ll see a vehicle with “S” curves and the word “OFF” when it isn’t working properly.
• Dynamic Stability Control Issue: If you’re seeing a vehicle with “S” curves beneath it, but there’s no “OFF” sign, you’ll want to have a service expert check out your Dynamic Stability Control feature as soon as it’s convenient.