How to reset BMW E30 oil service / inspection light:

After performing an oil change, the BMW E30 oil service / inspection light must be reset.  Once reset, service indicator lights will be full green and begin to countdown until the next oil service interval.

The reset procedure is straightforward and does not require any special tools or even assistance from a BMW dealer.  If you change your own oil at home, you can and must reset your indicator light through the steps below. The only "tool" required is a jumper wire.

What are the steps?

➊ Locate the DLC (Data Link Connector) usually found around the oil dip stick on the 6 cylinder model and near the firewall on the 4 cylinder model. You are looking for a circular cap about the diameter of a soda can, early model vehicles are slightly smaller in diameter. Unscrew this cap to expose the data ports.

➋ Obtain a small gauge wire to fit inside the pin receptacles. Ideally, approximately 2 inches is sufficient.

➌ We recommend to using a fused or inline resister with the jumper wire to prevent a surge in amperage from frying your system. Although recommended, it is not required. Proceed at your own risk.

➍ Locate pins 7 and 19 (for 1988 and newer models) or pins 7 and 1 (for 1987 and older models) and place the jumper wire inside the receptacles. The numbers are small, make sure to have the jumper in the correct pin receptacle before proceeding. The picture below shows the late model pin locations.

➎ Turn the key to the ON position, this is the first click.

➏ After 5 seconds the LEDs in the dash will light up.

➐ Turn the key off and your oil inspection light is reset.

➑ If you proceed to leave the key on longer, around 8 seconds, you will perform an inspection reset.

➒ Remove the jumper wire.

➓ Reinstall the DLC cap.

Troubleshooting issues to note:

✔ If your lights cannot be reset or the lights come on after a few days, your instrument cluster batteries may need to be replaced.
✔ If the lights do not appear after 5 seconds, ensure the jumper wire has a proper contact with the metal receptacles in the data link connector. Too thin of a jumper wire may not have proper contact with the sides which will not allow the current to travel through the wire.

Other BMW model oil service inspection light reset procedures:

✔ E46

✔ E38, E38, E53 X5

How to reset late model BMW E39, E38, E53 X5 oil service inspection light:

The below procedure works ONLY on BMW E39, E38, E53 X5 models with a build date from 09/2000 onward.

Early model E39, E38, E53 X5 oil service / inspection lights must be reset using a different method. After performing an oil change, the BMW E39, E38, E53 X5 oil service / inspection light must be reset. Once reset, the computer will then count down from 15,000 miles until the next oil change.

The reset procedure is straight forward and does not require any specialty BMW tools or a need for BMW dealership involvement. If you change your own oil at home you can and must reset your indicator light through the steps below.

What are the steps?

• ➊ Turn the ignition key in the "off" position.
• ➋ Press and hold the lower left button on the instrument cluster, which is the trip odometer button.
• ➌ While the trip odometer button is pressed, turn the ignition key to the FIRST position (KLR).
• ✔ IMPORTANT:  DO NOT GO TO THE SECOND POSITION, if you do, remove the key and start over
• ➍ Keep the trip odometer button pressed for approximately 5 seconds until one of the following words appear in the display: "OIL SERVICE" or "INSPECTION" or "RESET SIA:" illuminates.
• ➎ Release the trip odometer button and press and hold it until "RESET" flashes and release your finger.
• ➏ While the display is flashing, press the left button briefly to reset the service interval.
• ➐ The oil service interval is now reset.
• ➑ A Clock Symbol will appear indicating the brake fluid renewal interval.
• ➒ Press the left button to skip the brake fluid renewal interval reset menu.
• ➓ "END SIA" will appear, press the left button one last time and the process is now complete.

✔ The system can only be reset again after 2.5 gallons (10 liters) of fuel have been consumed or has been driven 50 to 75 miles.

Other BMW model oil service inspection light reset procedures:

• E46
• E30

How to reset BMW E46 oil service / inspection oil light:

After performing an oil change, the BMW E46 oil service / inspection light must be reset.  Once reset, the computer will then count down from 15,000 miles until the next oil change.  The below procedure works on every BMW E46 model produced from 9/99 onward.

The reset procedure is straightforward and does not require any special tools or even for the vehicle to be brought to a dealer.  If you change your own oil at home you can and must reset your indicator light through the steps below.

What are the steps?

• ➊ Turn the ignition key in the "off" position.
• ➋ Press and hold the lower left button on the instrument cluster, which is the trip odometer button.
• ➌ While the trip odometer button is pressed, turn the ignition key to the FIRST position (KLR).
• ✔ IMPORTANT:  DO NOT GO TO THE SECOND POSITION, if you do, remove the key and start over.
• ➎ Keep the trip odometer button pressed for approximately 5 seconds until one of the following words appear in the display: "OIL SERVICE" or "INSPECTION" with "rESET" illuminated above.
• ➏ Release the trip odometer button and press and hold it until "rESET" flashes.
• ➐ While the display is flashing, press the left button briefly to reset the service interval.
• ➑ After the display has shown the new interval, the following will appear: "END SIA".

✔ The system can only be reset again after 2.5 gallons (10 liters) of fuel have been consumed.

Other BMW model oil service inspection light reset procedures:

• E38, E38, E53 X5
• E30