State Motor Vehicle Agency Letter

April 1998

To State Motor Vehicle I/M Agencies

BMW of North America, Inc. has been advised, that motor vehicle inspection stations which use the enhanced I/M dynamometer type emissions test, can cause the Automatic Slip Control (ASC) and Anti Lock Brake (ABS) warning lights on the vehicle instrument cluster to illuminate during the test procedure. This is a normal function of the vehicle system, but causes the BMW vehicle owner unnecessary concern.

BMW of North America, Inc. has issued a Service Information Bulletin (34 02 98), describing the features of the BMW ABS/ASC systems, to all its Retail Centers. It the enhanced I/M dynamometer type emissions test is carried out in your State, would you please arrange to post this Bulletin at all your testing stations, where it can be seen by BMW owners. Also attached, is a letter which can be provided to the BMW owner explaining the ABS/ASC system function.

In addition, please make your testing stations aware that when carrying out enhanced I/M dynamometer testing on BMW vehicles fitted with ASC, accurate emissions measurements can only be made with ASC switched off using the ASC switch on the vehicle dashboard. Please incorporate this revised procedure into your test sequence when testing an affected BMW vehicle.

Thank you for your help in this matter.