Controls It is not a problem! I am thinking of buying a BMW -- which side is the direction indicator on? Got an Audi as well -- driving cars with the direction indicator contriol on the other side (eg some *** cars) is difficult for me as I can not get used to it. Also is 168,000 miles too much -- has it got any life?

Do not buy it. These cars a sent from HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!

The reason my audi q7 had heavy smoke was because the diesel fuel injectors were dripping which can be checked by means of a leak test, this was caused by the fuel injection pump depositing micro shreads of metal in to the injectors, 5 of which failed.
If you're problem is the same, you will find that the problem occurs when the engine is hot, when the engine has been ticking over for a short period and then you hit the accelerator the heavy smoke is the excess fuel burning off, equally if the idle period is longer you will notice smoke in you're rear view mirror. Audi are well aware of the common engine faults, proof being in the 3 years or 60000 mile warranty, the only top motor brand that don't offer 3 years unlimited ( Bmw, Merc, lexus, hell kia & hyundi have more confidence), you may think I have been unlucky and landed a bad one, I bought a second one as i thought the same which low and behold i had full injector replacement and £1800 turbo fault. each car developed the faults between 63000 & 77000 miles, if you buy a second hand diesel audi with a 3.0 engine or above you are buying the name not reliability which is proof when you look up audi's on autotrader, there isn't many with more than 150000 miles, the same can't be said about BMW & MERC which have there cars with 250000 plus.

The "EML" warning light in a BMW indicates a problem with the "drive by wire" throttle control system."

"EML" is an acronym for "Elektronische Motorleistungsregelung". Loosely translated from the original German for the BMW owner means Electrionic Engine Power Control.

"EML" is BMW's system name for electronic throttle management. The "EML" system, in it's most basic sense consists of an accelerator pedal (with an electronic position sensor), a computer module (usu. integrated with the main engine computer), and an EDK (Elektronische Drosselklappe or Electronic throttle valve). The EDK is also known as a "drive by wire" throttle. "EDK" throttles use a computer controlled stepper motor rather than a purely mechanical linkage (usu. metal cable attached directly to the accelerator pedal) to control the opening and closing of the throttle plate.

"Drive by wire" throttles are very common on modern vehicles starting in the late nineties up through the present day. "Drive by wire" technology enables very precise throttle control to improve drivability and vehicle emissions, as well as many convenience features like electronic cruise control, traction control & stability control.

BMW first implemented "drive by wire" in very limited quantities on the most expensive & sophistocated BMW models starting in 1988.

The latest generation of advanced vehicle features to take advandage of "drive by wire" technology are radar guided cruise control, accident avoidance control, autonomous-driving, and autonomous-parking systems.


Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_eml_warning_light_on_a_bmw_mean#ixzz1OnBNssKH

i think her problem is the hazard light switch this is how they go when they go wrong the indicators stop working ,their is no magic relay or seting dash lights --- not on such an old car ,the hazards work but no indicators ,they all use the same flasher unit but its all wired through teh hazard light switch ,anyway shes a female and they never use indicators anyway ,only hazards for triple parking outside the hairdresser

That indicates that the ABS controller is having issues. The ABS controller is the metal box along the driver's side of the engine, just in front of the coolant overflow tank. The controller is the black box on top of it with the harness attached. You can buy a new one (expensive) or send yours to www.modulemaster.com for a warrantied rebuild. They have a great reputation on the Audi forums I frequent, and you can drive the car while it's gone (you just won't have functioning ABS while it's gone).

I'm a shop owner , import cars repair.
I have about 50/50 European and Japanese cars in my customers database , 70% of money coming from European cars and they more offten here.
On Japanese it's almost only scheduled services , and ware and tear , German cars are braking down.
Audi and VW have more problem then MB and BMW.
Hope it helps.

I think that warning is theTransmission malfunction indicator. I suggest you to bring your car to BMW cervice center

Sounds like the power ballast is failing - that's what takes the 12v signal from the car and amplifies it up to a level sufficient for driving the xenon bulb. Swap the ballasts between the headlights (they're easy to dismount) and see if the flicker goes to the other side (swap only the ballasts - leave the bulbs in their existing positions). If the flicker moves to the other side, the ballast is the problem. If it stays on the left side, the bulb needs replacement.

Search online for the bulbs - the dealer will kill you on pricing (the Audi dealership wants $200 each for my A4's xenon bulbs, but I can find them online for about $30 per pair (or less)). You'd want to order a D2S style bulb for an OEM BMW fitment, in 4300k color temperature.

I have the same fault , that has just occured out of the blue only 38,000 on clock.
Drives perfectly and brakes fine too.
Warning light indicates Suspension Stability control
but diagnosed as yours at the same cost.
Apparently quite a common fault with series 1 , but BMW do not tell you that !!

audi a4 tdi Emission control system light on dash