The ‘car on a ramp’ warning light is a service symbol used to cover many faults. The fault light comes in the central display and may be accompanied with a secondary fault light. If your BMW is equipped with the iDrive infotainment system, a text message offering a further explanation of the warning lamps will be provided.
Warning lamps can be an indication of potential vehicle damage and/or risk to driver and passenger safety. As such, it’s advisable not to ignore them, however, as a general rule, yellow warning lamps are non-urgent and should be dealt with as soon as possible, whilst red warning lamps should dealt with immediately.
Below are the BMW check control ‘car on ramp’ / ‘car on lift’ warning symbols along with information messages.
| Control unit | ID code | Fixed indicator light | Variable indicator light | Check Control message | Message in Central Information Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AHM | 75 |  | Trailer electrics failed! | Trailer electrics failed. Trailer lights affected. Have the problem checked by the nearest BMW Service. | |
| CAS | 21 |  | Ignition problems! | The engine may only be started with the brake pedal depressed. Contact the nearest BMW Service. | |
| CAS | 22 | | Starter motor! Do not stop engine | Starter defective! Engine cannot be restarted. Have the problem checked by the nearest BMW Service. | |
| DME1_DDE1 | 148 | | Brake light control failed! | Brake light failed. Have the problem checked by the nearest BMW Service. | |
| DME1_DDE1 | 182 | | Oil level sensor malfunction! | Oil level sensor malfunction! Have the problem checked by BMW Service as soon as possible. | |
| DME1_DDE1 | 220 | | Increased battery discharge! | High rate of battery discharge with engine stationary. It may not be possible to restart engine. Switch off unnecessary electric loads. Have the problem checked by BMW Service. | |
| DME1_DDE1 | 247 | | Battery monitoring failed! | Automatic monitoring of battery charge status failed. Have the problem checked by BMW Service. |
|
| DSC module | 71 |  | | Brake pads! Replace | The brake pads are worn. Have replaced by nearest BMW Service. |
| EKP | 216 | | Fuel pump fault! Drive moderately | Fuel pump. Fuel pump fault. Engine may stall. Possible reduction in engine power. Drive moderately! Have the problem checked by the nearest BMW Service. |
|
| EKP | 309 | | Fuel pump! | Fuel pump malfunction. Possible to continue journey. Have the problem checked by the nearest BMW Service |
|
| FRM | 231 | | Light system! Stop carefully | Light system. Indicator lights and possibly direction indicators, fog light, high beam headlight and headlight flasher inoperative. Stop vehicle, check and continue journey cautiously. Have the problem checked by the nearest BMW Service. |
|
| JB (instrument cluster) | 207 |  | | Electronics malfunction! Stop vehicle carefully | Central electronics failure. It is not possible to continue your journey. Contact the nearest BMW Service. |
| Instrument cluster | 60 | | Speedometer display fault! | Speedometer display malfunction. Have the problem checked by the nearest BMW Service. |
Currently I have 116i n45 on a 56 and I have the red lift with car followed by a yellow exclamation mark. As such the car will not start and codes A3B9 and A3B900 are showing up. I have deleted these with Delphi and they just re appear when I try to start it again. I would appreciate any help
The caron lift appeared and my 2009 328i bmw turned off so it sat for like 3 minutes and then started car and started but it than shut off waited about 2 minutes started car and stayed on so i drove slow about half a mile but the light kept coming on and off. What could of cause that haven’t started car seen i got to location now
The dashboard lights are for central electronics failure as shown above. ( JB (instrument cluster) 207)
what does it really mean? These signs started showing immediately after the car repairs and replacement of a water pump and radiator. What recourse do I have, as this should have been diagnosed after the repairs but they handed the car back to me?
Hi Lolo,
I would recommend that you return to where you had the work done and explain your situation. They should, if they’re decent mechanics look into it for you. Ultimately, if they refuse, you could take the car elsewhere and if you can prove that this issues it due to their workmanship, threaten to take action to recover expenses.
My parking sensors is faulty can this bring up the car on ramp warning light
Hi Hipolito,
Does the car on ramp light only come on when you’re attempting to use the parking sensors? Usually, there’s a dedicated parking sensors fault light.