BMW 7 Diesel: Error Messages and System Readiness Issues

Hey there! I have some experience working on BMWs. I actually had a similar situation with my 2011 BMW 5 Series diesel last month. Those error messages can be tricky, especially in the 5 and 7 Series models. Luckily, my workshop did a full OBD2 diagnostic scan free of charge since I'm a regular customer. Turned out it was indeed related to system readiness and they just needed to clear the codes and perform a proper reset. Before I can give you more specific advice, could you share: Which error messages you're seeing exactly? When did these errors first appear? Have you had any recent work done on the car? This might help pinpoint if you're dealing with the same issue I had.

Thanks for the detailed response! Just to add, my car has 178806 KM on the clock and had its last service about 3 months ago. The error messages started popping up right after a cold start one morning. Nothing major was done during the service, just the usual oil change and filters. I've had the car for about 2 years now and this is the first time I'm seeing these errors. I guess I should probably take it to a workshop for that diagnostic scan you mentioned. Really hoping it's just a simple reset like in your case!

Hey again! Thanks for providing those extra details about your 7 Series. Yeah, those symptoms do sound very similar to what I experienced with my 5 series. Since you mentioned it started after a cold start, I'm even more convinced it's related to what I dealt with. When my issue happened, I also had a recent service (about 2 months prior), and my mileage was pretty close to yours, around 180,000 KM. The workshop explained that sometimes after routine maintenance, the system might need a proper readjustment period, especially in these diesel models. In my case, they did the diagnostic scan and found that some sensors needed recalibration after the service. The whole thing cost me about an hour of labor, and they did a forced regeneration cycle just to be safe. Since then, I haven't had any issues pop up. Given how similar our situations are, I'd definitely recommend getting that diagnostic scan done. Best case scenario, it's just like my situation, a simple reset and recalibration. These BMWs can be a bit sensitive after services sometimes, but usually nothing major to worry about. Let me know what the workshop says when you get it checked out. I'm curious to see if it's the same issue!

Thanks so much for the follow-up info! Based on what you mentioned about experiencing similar issues with your BMW and needing sensor recalibration, I've made an appointment with my local BMW specialist for tomorrow morning. It's really reassuring to hear your problem was resolved fairly easily through diagnostics and recalibration after your service. I'll definitely update this thread once I get the results from my workshop visit. Really hoping it'll be a straightforward fix like yours was! It's always nerve-wracking when these luxury cars start showing error messages, so I appreciate you sharing your experience, it's helped put my mind at ease a bit.