can someone tell me what the EML light is?

[markus]

i see an aparaition for it in my dash but is it suppsoed to come on when i have the key on? or is it just another random light apparition BMW has in the E34?

[winfred]

the eml light lets you know when the traction control/throttle servo is pissed off, the position is in the cluster even if it doesn't apply to your car

[BillionPa]

its the drive by wire system, the 540 should have a real throttle cable.

[markus]

yea mine does. i thought the E32 750s were the only cars to have drive by wire at that time.

[shogun]

Yes, the 750 has it, and it controls more on the 750
http://www.europeantransmissions.com/Bulletin/DTC.BMW/EML-BMW.pdf
E32 750 did not have it, but 735 sometimes, depending on the options ordered.

[Kalevera]

Standard EML only showed up on 100% of E32/38 750, E31 850i/ci/csi, and E34 Alpina B10 BiTurbo cars (and maybe other Alpina offerings, don't know). E32 735 and E34 535 (and I assume 530) were sold in the US with the system during '91 and '92 model years, but not all cars were delivered with it, and the use of EML in US M30 cars seems to be arbitrary.

Then there's EMLII and EMLIII. BMW pretty much killed the concept on production cars until the end of the '90s, and then EMLII only partially controls the throttle.

[Qsilver7]

...in the US...during '91 and '92 model years...the use of EML in US M30 cars seems to be arbitrary.
(very good write up BTW)...EML in e32 & e34 BMWs of the time period mentioned above that had the M30 engine wasn't arbitrary...but specific to those cars that came equipped with ASC.

In the USA...ASC was first introduced in the 1990 750iL...and ASC only reduced engine throttle and engine timing until the drive wheels were able to regain traction. Then in 1991, the 750iL received ASC+T which added ABS braking to either drive wheels if engine throttle reduction failed to regain traction.

In 1991-92 the M30 (735i/iL & 535i) could get ASC as an option...while the e32 750iL got ASC+T. When the 1993 models rolled out (along with the new V8 530i/iT/540i e34s)...ASC was dropped and any BMW that had traction control...received ASC+T.

So, EML (electronic throttle control)..."drive-by-wire"...was used in these early 90s BMWs when they had ASC as an option...and instead of making multilple instrument cluster panels...only one was used...and if the car had EML, the bulb in the cluster is "active" and will illuminate if a fault is detected. :D