[stryder011]

Alright, less than 4000 miles and the Engine/Emission light comes on yesterday while driving. Solid Amber, not blinking. Checked the Gas cover looks fine, the front kidney covers seem to be OK as well, they were open when I drove back but were closed this morning.

Got an appt for this Wednesday, lets see, hopefully its just a software glitch or issue it the kidney grill covers.

[LogicalApex]

Hopefully it is minor, but you should share more details about the car as well.

What MY (Model Year) is it? What trim (530e, etc)? Was it CPO? Etc.

[stryder011]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

Hopefully it is minor, but you should share more details about the car as well.

What MY (Model Year) is it? What trim (530e, etc)? Was it CPO? Etc.

ah.. apologies for that. Here she is. New, have had it for less than a few months now....


2021 - M550i
Tanzanite Blue II Metallic, Black Nappa Leather with contrast stitching
Executive Pkg
Driving Asst Plus Pkg
Parking Asst Pkg
ShadowLine Pkg
20" Y-spoke bi-color jet black 846M with RFT

[LogicalApex]

Beautiful car and specs. Let us know what it is. So far the active grill extended warranty and issue doesn’t cover MY2020+ so I assume BMW thinks they fixed the core issue for us. We shall see.

[CnSky]

My bet is the front grille motor has failed. Common fault and will throw the light in some cases.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by stryder011

Alright, less than 4000 miles and the Engine/Emission light comes on yesterday while driving. Solid Amber, not blinking. Checked the Gas cover looks fine, the front kidney covers seem to be OK as well, they were open when I drove back but were closed this morning.

Got an appt for this Wednesday, lets see, hopefully its just a software glitch or issue it the kidney grill covers.

Did you check both top and bottom grilles? It was the bottom one that failed on my car.

[stryder011]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Did you check both top and bottom grilles? It was the bottom one that failed on my car.

Bottom Grille ? where is that ? I drove a bit today but noticed that the grille is shut and didn't open. Not sure if that's because the weather has gotten a bit on the cooler side or maybe the open/shut mechanism is broke. Hoping that's what it is.

[paquet]

Willing to bet it's the active grille shutter thing

[CnSky]

Top grill usually stays closed unless it's a very hot day, it's the lower one that usually fails

Below where a front number plate would be attached.

When you unlock car they should both cycle open then closed this is the usually check the car does before you start it.

[stryder011]

Originally Posted by CnSky

Top grill usually stays closed unless it's a very hot day, it's the lower one that usually fails

Below where a front number plate would be attached.

When you unlock car they should both cycle open then closed this is the usually check the car does before you start it.

OK, this is a bit odd. So checked it out this morning

Before cold start.
Top Grille closed.
Bottom Grille open.

Cold Start
Top grille remains closed.
Bottom grille closes.
No more Engine light ?

Stop the Car.
Top grille remains closed.
Bottom grille opens.


So I would think top grille should have opened during cold start but it didnt, but the engine light is gone now as well ?

Would the dealership still be able to see why the light came on even though now its not coming on. Plus I'm wondering if it stays off if i want to take the car to them. It's a new car and am a bit nervous with having the techs start taking stuff apart.

[Sasquartch]

It should have a stored fault code so the dealer should be able to get an idea of what's wrong. It may or may not be related to the grille, until codes are read it's just guesswork

[akuwes710]

Originally Posted by Sasquartch

It should have a stored fault code so the dealer should be able to get an idea of what's wrong. It may or may not be related to the grille, until codes are read it's just guesswork

Yeah there would be a stored error code. Dealer can find it. Dont do anything by yourself since its a new car.

On cold start, both shutter closed so engine can heat up faster (so they say)… after warmed up. Top closed, bottom open.. same goes when car is off.

Bottom is always open except on cold start.

Top is only open when the car sense that engine needs more cold air (during hot weather or when you drive it hard)

[Joe-BMW33]

Hope you don't mind me jumping in here with a few questions as I was just thinking yesterday that I have not heard my active grills cycle in a while, or at least I can't recall the last time.

When I first got the car, I could hear them cycle or do something whenever I got into the car cold in the garage for the first time of the day. Maybe I just got used to the sound or maybe it's failed?

I am going to have a look when I get home tonight. I did not take the car today.

Doing nothing to the car that has been sitting 24 hours, what should the grills look like? It seems the top is always closed for the most part. Should the bottom be open when I inspect the grill cold?

If I have the malfunctions that are well known, will one always get a CEL?

After I inspect cold, I will unlock it and see if they cycle and what they do.

Thanks in advance.

[stryder011]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Hope you don't mind me jumping in here with a few questions as I was just thinking yesterday that I have not heard my active grills cycle in a while, or at least I can't recall the last time.

When I first got the car, I could hear them cycle or do something whenever I got into the car cold in the garage for the first time of the day. Maybe I just got used to the sound or maybe it's failed?

I am going to have a look when I get home tonight. I did not take the car today.

Doing nothing to the car that has been sitting 24 hours, what should the grills look like? It seems the top is always closed for the most part. Should the bottom be open when I inspect the grill cold?

If I have the malfunctions that are well known, will one always get a CEL?

After I inspect cold, I will unlock it and see if they cycle and what they do.

Thanks in advance.

Just went through this a few hours ago. The car was sitting for 12 hours.

1. Without doing anything not even unlocking I noticed the top grille was closed and bottom open.
   
2. Unlocking made no changes to the state of both grilles.
   
3. Cold start - Top remains unchanged, lower grille closes and then reopens.
   
4. Stop the car - no change.

I had the engine light come on which prompted me to start this thread. Surprisingly the light did not come on this morning. Even though it came on Saturday while driving and then remained on Sunday. I did take the car out for small drives a few times Sunday and the light remained on. Only thing I did do is fill up the gas which at that moment didnt change the behavior of the light, however this morning the light is gone. Now I'm wondering if that somehow has something to do with filling up the car with gas ?

I'm going to take her out for a short ride in a few minutes and let's see if the light comes on or not and if i can see the top grilles open at the end of the ride. I read somewhere turning the AC to max opens the grille as well so will test that also.

My appt with the dealership is on Wednesday so I'm thinking maybe just take the car to them even if the light doesn't come back on so they can at least look up and confirm what the issue was.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by stryder011

Just went through this a few hours ago. The car was sitting for 12 hours.

1. Without doing anything not even unlocking I noticed the top grille was closed and bottom open.
   
2. Unlocking made no changes to the state of both grilles.
   
3. Cold start - Top remains unchanged, lower grille closes and then reopens.
   
4. Stop the car - no change.

I had the engine light come on which prompted me to start this thread. Surprisingly the light did not come on this morning. Even though it came on Saturday while driving and then remained on Sunday. I did take the car out for small drives a few times Sunday and the light remained on. Only thing I did do is fill up the gas which at that moment didnt change the behavior of the light, however this morning the light is gone. Now I'm wondering if that somehow has something to do with filling up the car with gas ?

I'm going to take her out for a short ride in a few minutes and let's see if the light comes on or not and if i can see the top grilles open at the end of the ride. I read somewhere turning the AC to max opens the grille as well so will test that also.

My appt with the dealership is on Wednesday so I'm thinking maybe just take the car to them even if the light doesn't come back on so they can at least look up and confirm what the issue was.

Thanks for this and I did read it, but I wasn't sure if this the way it is supposed to work under the conditions you described. Do you think you are all good here functionally speaking?

I don't have a CEL, so I am curious if they were not functioning properly, would I get one?

[stryder011]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Thanks for this and I did read it, but I wasn't sure if this the way it is supposed to work under the conditions you described. Do you think you are all good here functionally speaking?

I don't have a CEL, so I am curious if they were not functioning properly, would I get one?

The consensus here seems to be that if they malfunction a CEL is expected. The engine light (emissions) however could light up due to a number of reasons. So I guess we are shooting in the dark until I can find out exactly what the error code is.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by stryder011

The consensus here seems to be that if they malfunction a CEL is expected. The engine light (emissions) however could light up due to a number of reasons. So I guess we are shooting in the dark until I can find out exactly what the error code is.

Thanks. I will check mine out tonight and report back for reference.

BTW, get yourself a code reader. They are pretty cheap . I have a Bluetooth one paired with an app on my phone. I am under warranty as well, but I just like to know what the code or codes it is throwing. Even though your light is off, it is stored and can be read. Definitely something everyone should have in their toolbox.

[CnSky]

Malfunction wont always cause a CEL as was my case, lower grill was stuck open wouldn't close so was replaced.

[stryder011]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Thanks. I will check mine out tonight and report back for reference.

BTW, get yourself a code reader. They are pretty cheap . I have a Bluetooth one paired with an app on my phone. I am under warranty as well, but I just like to know what the code or codes it is throwing. Even though your light is off, it is stored and can be read. Definitely something everyone should have in their toolbox.

Good idea.. Ordered the OBDLink CX from amazon.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by CnSky

Malfunction wont always cause a CEL as was my case, lower grill was stuck open wouldn't close so was replaced.

Thanks, so the lower is open on a cold start and then is supposed to close, correct?

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by stryder011

Good idea.. Ordered the OBDLink CX from amazon.

I have that exact one as I bought it specifically for use with Bimmercode. I bought this one a year before for my other cars and it works well:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am sure the software or app for OBDLink CX will do just fine reading and clearing codes. I use it specifically for Bimmercode and haven't tried the OBDLink app. Be careful not to clear your codes, you want the dealer to see them. Just read them and look them up.

[stryder011]

Some more info. Took the car out for a test drive. Below is what I noticed.

• Started the car using the remote start this time and noticed that upper grille opened/closed and lower grilled closed/open. So this time both grilles completed the initial diagnostic sequence at startup successfully.
  
• Engine light is gone. So this is the good news.
  
• Drove the car for a few miles, switched to SPORT PLUS and did some aggressive driving. Light did not come back on.
  
• After pulling back in my driveway and stopping the car, noticed that the fans were running and both grilles were open.

So I'm relieved that the engine light is gone and it seems the grille's are behaving as expected. I've ordered an OBDLink so will check on the error and report back.

Have to say.. every time I take her out, can't be happier with the decision to get the M550i, such a pleasure to drive.