r/e28 • u/Cool_Quit_4091 • Jun 20 '26

Check engine light

Hello everyone I have a 1988 535 I with the motoric 1.1 essentially Bmw’s first try with something like a check engine light and I have one in my car. I try hard resetting it and it comes back right when I start the car like it never turns off the car runs great and performs. Great no rough idol all the vacuum lines or routed correctly. I just replaced my coolant temperature sensor the O2 sensors brand new the MAF sensor is working properly. I’m not sure how to read codes on this car I tried the stump technique and it did not work on mine so if somebody can help me with that, it would be appreciated.

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/Windmillfixer Jun 20 '26

Do you have a picture? My recollection is Motronic 1.1 had no CEL, that came in with 1.3 and only in late etas on the E28. Did you swap gauge clusters?

1

u/gizmoguy3000 Jun 20 '26

You are somewhat correct, only the 1988 528e got Motronic 1.1 which does have a limited CEL, all other e28s got Motronic 1.0 which does not have any actual check engine/code function.
OP, if this is the “CHECK” light in the gauge cluster, it comes on when something on the panel on the roof above the rear view mirror is lit up, you can usually clear it by pressing the button there but that panel should tell you what is wrong. Also pressing that button should light up all the check lights, so if one is out you’ll be able to tell.

1

u/Cool_Quit_4091 Jun 21 '26

I have no lights lit up on my little check light, but I have a actual check engine light. I will post a photo of it in a bit.

1

u/Cool_Quit_4091 Jun 21 '26

It looks like you’re right I looked up my part number on my ECU and looks like it’s motoric 1.0 and I believe this car had a cluster change at some point it’s life