Got Service Engine Soon (SES) warning today
 

My 06 X5 4.4i got a SES warning this morning right after I cold started it. The car seems vibrates quite a bit. I shut down the engine and restart it, the light's gone and there's no vibration anymore. Does anyone know what's the problem. I could take it to BMW dealer but I'm really busy during daytime and have no time for this.
This is the 2nd time this happened. Last time(last week) when I started in the morning, it also gave me a SES and vibrates, but runs ok if I restart the car. It seems to have something to do with the temperature. When it's near freezing temperature, it's more prone to this problem. Warm start never gaves me any problem at all.
I'm thinking maybe the tech who did the oil change last time put too much oil in. It's a little bit over the "max" mark. Maybe some oil fouls some sparkler plugs and some cylinder misses, which causes the problem. When I have time tomorrow I'll pull up the sparkler plugs and see what's their stats.
Any inputs greatly appreciated!

Considering you live in NY, the guy that started this thread (http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ine-light.html) is also from NY as well as I. Maybe it's the cold weather buggin out our X5's. :p:

Howmany miles do you have? 50-60k? Probably need intermediate levers and shafts. $3500 to $4000 repair. Get your wallet out! Lol or you can blame it on the oil level.

1. Check your oil after the car is warm and after it's been sitting for about 2 mins. For example, when you drive to the gas station and stop to fill up. When you're done filling up, pop the hood.

2. If your oil level is OK, continue to monitor it every day for 2 weeks. If you notice you're losing oil, all your symptoms described above in addition to oil loss may indicate a failing Crankcase Vent Valve/Oil Separator/PCV valve.

Remedy for this is to get it replaced.

His engine doesn't have that problem

Geez, $3.5k~4k is bad. Is this a BMW dealer price?
 

Thanks for all the inputs. I'm going to take it to autozone for a free OBD2 reading today. Don't know if it will give me any helpful insight. Our local bmw dealer has very high rates. Changing an oil is $160.

$160? THATS CHEAP!

Autozone said there's no error code stored in onboard computer
 

I took the car to autozone for a free OBD-2 reading today. The guy scanned it and said there's no error code found. I took a look at the scanner and it says "pass". That's weird because the "SES" did pop up twice in the past week. Each time when I restart the car it went away. I told the tech this and he said I might need to have that warning light on more often, or at least 30 min before it can be recorded. Is this true?
After some thought it did occur to me that both time when the warning came on it was the first start on very cold mornings. We got a freeze in upstate NY last week. Does that very expensive intermediate lever&shaft malfunction during very cold conditions?
Thanks.

Service Engine Soon light came on today...
 

SES light just came on today,re tightened gas cap,turned X5 back on...SES light still on,I will drop off to my mechanic tomorrow to read codes,then i will post here of there findings.....:D...Ok got x back from indep. mechanic,It turn out to be Intake CamShaft Sensor and reprogrammed DME....:thumbup:

Cam sensor????? I have had that issue after washing it in the freezing cold.