BMW DME - What Is It -
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BMW DME – What Is It? What Are The Failure Symptoms?

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A BMW’s Digital Motor Electronics (DME) is a component that controls all the electronic elements of a car’s operation. In a way, it can be considered the “brain” of your car – its onboard computer. For a further explanation of the question “what is BMW DME?” check out this YouTube video.

The main job of a BMW DME is to help the engine work smoothly. This also means that if there is damage to your car’s DME, you will have to deal with numerous issues. 

BMW engine

Common Symptoms Of BMW DME Failure

Poor Engine Performance

Damage to the DME affects the signals it is meant to send to your engine. Given that a DME’s primary job is ensuring that the engine functions smoothly, engine faults are expected.

Some issues with your engine performance may include issues with the following:

  • Acceleration
  • Fuel potency
  • Power

Engine Stalling

A faulty DME will occasionally stop working intermittently, leading to misfires or your engine stalling. This can be a major issue, especially if it happens while you’re driving. 

Not only can it cause accidents, but it can also cause major engine damage that will end up costing you far more than simply fixing (or replacing) your DME would.

Check Engine Light Turned On

If your check engine light is turned on, your diagnostics system has detected an issue with your vehicle’s fuel system, emissions, or other engine elements.

If your DME fails or starts malfunctioning, one of the symptoms will likely be your check engine light turning on. 

Check engine light

When the DME fails, it causes a damaged electronic circuit. This circuit is detected by the check engine light, which then turns on.

Failure To Start

If your BMW DME has failed, it will be unable to control your car’s engine. This will result in your car refusing to start, even if there is enough fuel.

One way to confirm whether the reason your car is failing to start is a faulty DME is to try to run the engine. 

The engine should still be able to crank normally; your car simply won’t start. If this is the case, your DME is at fault. However, if the engine does not crank, there is likely another issue you’re dealing with.

Higher Emissions

The DME is designed to ensure that your engine performs smoothly – this includes ensuring proper combustion of fuel within the engine. If the DME is damaged or inoperative, it will no longer be able to control the engine and ensure the correct air-to-fuel ratio within the combustion chamber. 

This, in turn, will affect the effectiveness of the fuel-burning process. You may find that you have lower mileage than expected and that your car produces excessive soot. 

Double exhaust pipe

Additionally, the vehicle will likely produce higher emissions of dangerous gases like carbon monoxide, resulting in higher pollution levels.

Conclusion

If your BMW DME is damaged, the symptoms of the component’s failure will be related to a failing engine. Your car may refuse to start or misfire when you’re driving it.

The check engine light will turn on, you will notice lower engine performance, and fuel burning will be less efficient, resulting in lower mileage and higher emissions.

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