Engine Failsafe Prog alert, but no code found at dealer
 

Happy New Year first of all..

I've done a search and read past posts on this topic but thought I'd throw one out there anyway..

Christmas morning jumped in the X and drove to mom-in-law. No problems.

Bout 11PM got in the car to come home and the subject message was on the dash. Looked in the manual and expected to have a "limp-home" mode, but she ran fine on the NJ Turnpike 65MPH, no sluggishness or stalling..business as usual.

12/26, started her up again - same message, but after about 2 minutes, light went out.

12/31 - start her up, no light, but dropped it off at Open Road BMW so they could check it. Called me back and said no codes found, no faults found.

1/1 - drove around all day - no problems.

Is there a gremlin somewhere or something I should be looking for, or is the X just having it's fun with me ?

If its been cold out it will do that at the begining when you start her up from time to time...How cold has it been up there?

Not that bad.. certainly not in the teens..I'd say its been rather pleasant for this time of the year..

Could bad /water gas be at fault? It's the only variable I can think of was filling up before heading out

Mmm...not likely...I'm assuming you're using premium..but even if you weren't, and you are using regular unleaded it still probably isn't the culprit...But since it hasn't been that cold out, and your dealer can't locate an issue..I probably wouldn't worry about it unless it keeps happening more often..

Just for clarification are you getting EML?

EML clears itself every time you shut down the car, unlike other engine codes, btw.

What does EML stand for?

I forget what it stands for precisely but it is engine failsafe/limp mode. The computer recognizes there is a fault and reduces power to prevent breakage.
There is a light in the dash that will light up that reads "EML". Are you getting that?

EDIT: I forgot you have a 2006. I don't know if you have the old school warning light like the older cars do.

Are you getting any other intermittant messages/alarms like a DSC or ABS?

Not getting any lights now.. and dont see any EML on my dash..

I guess I'll wait until it happens again..or hope that it doesnt

Thanks for the reply!

ED

Update:
Brought the X into Open Road last Monday 12/31. No codes found, no problems found.

Put about 500 miles since then, no problem

Tonight went to go out for gas, and first the Engine Failsafe Progm alert went on, quickly followed by something like "Engine Oil Pressure Fail". Shut it off, turned it back on, no lights..Checked Oil. Right where it needs to be.. I actually tried to take a picture of the error on the screen with my cell phone but it went out before I could take it..

I'm driving a lot lately as my wife's mom is in the hospital, and dont need to break down.

Anybody care to offer a guess as to what's going on..?

I just had the same program warning. I moved my X out of the garage , just a few seconds. didnt clear the garage door , started it up moved it a few feet shut it off. Wife jumped in, I started it up and got the Engine Failsafe message. Turned it off, restarted it and still had it. I let it run for about 2 min's , shut it off , restarted it and the message was gone. I think the engine managment systerm detected too much excess fule in the exhast around the co senor and thats why I got this message. After running it and clearing it out it was happy.
I drove it 790 miles after that to Oregon with no problems at all. I am still here and planning on driving it back another 790 miles Saturday. (knock on wood).
Thats my explaination of what I think happened.
If you think about it , its just a program that didnt like what it was seeing and told me so. I cleared it up by running it until it was happy and thats that! (FM) F'N Magic!