No check engine light on E53 3.0d

[ScouseMouse]

Hello everyone, I wonder if anyone can shed any light on a situation I'm experiencing.

I've got a 2005 diesel E53, I had it in for an MOT and it got flagged up for having no DPF filter or 02 sensors and the check engine light wasn't coming on when the engine was started.

Further investigation seems to reveal that it didn't come with a DPF filter but that one was available as a retrofit.

It's also been suggested that this particular model didn't have a check engine light and it was suggested over on Bimmerforums that I ask around here as the issue has come up before. Can anyone shed any light on this or better yet, point me to some definitive documentation?

I've come across a few threads on here and other forums with mentions of apparently missing check engine lights, or ones that never light up - but I can't see anything definitive to say this was by design.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

[X5Sport]

Definitely no DPF until the later E70 version. Yes you can retrofit one. An MOT Centre should know the E53 doesn’t have (or require) one.

‘Check Engine’ lamp seems to exist, and is triggered by emissions. Have a look in your Owners Manual. It is mentioned in the BMW Technical Instruction System. I can’t find my electronic copy of my Owners Manual annoyingly!

My 2005 was fitted with something called a precatalyst converter (seems to be very similar). These were all on the cusp of EU4 regs (the E53 was EU3).

We’ve seen examples on the forum of cats/dpfs being removed despite that being illegal (and an MOT fail for the last few years) with warning lights being either cut off the instrument panel or being painted over.

[ScouseMouse]

Hey, thanks for the reply.

So my car definitely should have a check engine light that should be lighting up when starting the ignition?

It passed the emissions tests for the MOT, there were no warning lights, the car drove great. It was only when they plugged it into the OBD diagnostics to determine why the check engine light wasn't coming on that they said it detected a missing DPF and missing 02 sensors.

[ScouseMouse]

Ah, seems I replied to an earlier edit of your answer which already answers my question re the check engine lamp... that's still strange then. And a pain.

[X5Sport]

The manual will confirm for the light, but whatever test kit they plugged in is looking at the wrong car. That definitely isn’t right. Possibly your best way to challenge it will be to go to a BMW Dealership and get them to run diagnostics. Warn the MOT Centre that they will pay the bill if the failed you incorrectly.

[Alan Gunn]

My E53 has no check engine light any faults will show in the screen.
Same as glow plug light not there but says "engine pre heating" ell something like that.
I know i have seen this on here a few years back but can't find it.

[ScouseMouse]

Hey, thank you both for the replies - I'll have a look for the manual, I put all my car packs together for safe keeping - just can't remember where off the top of my head! I spoke to someone at my local BMW parts department on Friday who said he had the same model and confirmed no DPF - hopefully can catch the same guy and query the check engine light.

@Alan thanks for your confirmation - it's strange, I found some old threads, but they seemed to vary, they'd be people posting 3 or 4 different explanations or issues as to why they didn't have the light lit up.

[X5Sport]

One of the challenges of the BMW TIS is it tends to give an answer, but it may not be for the specific model or market. Some markets have different emissions limits or the text may refer to the petrol models even though the parameters used are for diesel power.

In any event, the MOT Centre should not have raised a concern that does not apply to your car. That should be flagged to the Dept of Transport who manage and monitor garages.

[Alan Gunn]

Another thing is they should not run diagnostics during an MOT.
They plug the MOT computer dongle in so the computer can see the engine temp and also the rev's when doing the emissions test.

[ScouseMouse]

We had the diagnostics run after it failed the MOT, to determine why the check engine light wasn't coming on - that's when it popped up with the DPF filter and 02 sensors issues.

I've just got off the phone with BMW again, I explained the issue and the guy went away and spoke to the master technician. He came back and confirmed there is no DPF filter - he said this was because it was classed as a commercial vehicle at the time and so didn't require one, but said that there definitely should be a check engine light on the car, but the fact that it was throwing up a missing DPF filter when put on the diagnostics and the check engine light is not coming on MIGHT indicate that the software in the ECU is corrupted.

[X5Sport]

Any sign that it’s had a remap? That can be hard to find, but might be a reason for no check engine light. If done properly, that wouldn’t happen. It’s running fine from what you’ve reported which is key.

I can’t remember whether the E53 has the same as later models where if the car is connected to the BMW Network at a Dealership, any code changes are picked up and the DDE (Digital Diesel Electronics) ECU code is rewritten into it using what BMW built it with. All of my BMWs since have had this function, with the current models doing it via a cellular link update. I get an update for the i4 every 3 months and other owners complain about their coding changes having to be redone after every one!

[ScouseMouse]

I've just booked it into my local BMW specialist. Fingers crossed I can get this figured out once and for all.

It drove perfectly to the MOT centre, a 40 min each way drive, and passed all tests including emissions, that's after sitting idle on SORN for over a year, so there surely can't be that much wrong with the car - hopefully I get it running again soon without it being eye-wateringly expensive!

[ScouseMouse]

Quick update on this one, took it in early Friday morning, got a call at 4:30 to say they've confirmed it doesn't have a DPF filter and the check engine light doesn't come on - yes, I know, they are both the things I told them. They did say the mechanic detected some minor issue with the EGR valve but that it wouldn't be expected to light the check engine light?

They rang to ask me to authorise another hour so they can take the cluster out and check if that's the problem.

If it turns out it is the cluster that's faulty, would it be as simple as grabbing an identical used cluster from eBay and paying someone to fit it?

[X5Sport]

You’ll need some coding done to add your VIN and mileage or the system will create an anti-tamper dot to show all is not well. A good independent will do it. Vehicle information is held in several places and the cluster is a computer.

I don’t recall ever seeing a report on here for an E53 X5 with a check engine light for the EGR. Later versions maybe, but that version of the X5 didn’t have kit to make it more than EU3 compliant. The EGRs do clog up though (and more than a few folks got them deleted).

[Alan Gunn]

Asked 2 testers at my m8's garage yesterday and both gave the same answer.
Testers deaccession and they have tested a few of the older E53's with no EML light and couldn't remember ever seeing one.
I never had a problem and my sister has just well last year got an 2002 E53 again with no EML light and hers passed the mot with flying colours at a garage i have not been to so mo idea what they are like.