Engine Light

So the other day my engine light came on. I checked the gas cap first and that seemed secured. I drove it a couple days to make sure it wasn't just notifying me of routine maintenance, but the light is still on a couple days later. I popped the hood and checked all my fluid levels and everything looks good. I then noticed a round black "thing" (not mechanical savvy) that had a broken rubber/plastic piece (1 of 3) that fastens it down to a metal plate. I can tilt the "thing" to the side and you can see where 1 of the 3 rubber/plastic pieces that fastens this thing down is broke in half. (see attached pictures)

One, can someone enlighten me on what engine component this is, and second, do you think this could possibly be causing the service engine soon light.

I'm knew the forum, thanks for all the help!

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The First thing to do is to have your read/scan for error codes. the codes will tell you why the light is on...

You need to pull the engine codes BEFORE you order anything.

Autozone has a Loaner Tool Program where they sell you a tool from a tool bin, then give you full credit when you bring the tool back. Among the specialty tools in the tool bin is a scan tool. You open a plastic cover in the driver side footwell in the area where the clutch pedal would be if the car had a manual transmission, plug the scan tool in, turn the key to the RUN position, or you can start the car, and the scan tool will display a list of codes. Write them down, reset the codes so the light goes off. Return the tool, or go for a drive around the block first to see if the light comes back on, in which case repeat the scan. Come here and give us a list of the codes.

The thing you are looking at is the Secondary Air Pump. It's job is ONLY that it pump in fresh air into the exhaust stream on Cold Engine Start. It runs for something like 2 or 3 minutes and never comes on again until the next Cold Engine Start. It is not a fatal event for this pump to give you trouble. The Smog Police will insist that you fix it before passing the smog test, but the engine will not care if it is never fixed.

I'm going to swing by Autozone over lunch and see if I can't get my hands on the tool. I will post back here after I do a scan. Thanks

Those mounts are $15 each. I just epoxyed mine together.

Yeah that's what I did. Seeing how it didn't seem to be a critical part I just glued it as well. So, I went to Autozone over lunch and got the BMW scanned. It came back with 2 error codes, P0313 and P0174. What do y'all think?

Thanks for the help.

I also wanted to mention that the car drives fine. I searched for those error codes within this forum and saw a lot of people having idling issues or stalling issues in relation to those error codes, but for me that's not the case. I did see something to about dropping the fuel level to low, and I did do that a couple weeks ago, drove it down to the E. But I always use 93 in the car.

Thanks

you have vacuum leaks. vacuum @ sap, fuel filter fuel pressure regulator, f-connector at upper intake boot, and possibly the intake boots themselves.

i'll do a thread on this soon i guess. another thing to add to my "see sig do it all list"

it is in JFOJ's thread, but we need to emphasize it since it's so common

So is this a major issue where I shouldn't drive the car?

you can still drive the car, just change all the all the lines that e46mango suggested. they are relatively easy to change..