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In 1978, leaving the cap off could not set a code; that did not happen until OBDII (on board diagnostics, version 2) cars were introduced in 2005. So you'll still want to understand why the light came on. BMW in those years, as Triumph and other manufacturers did, keyed the light into mileage, so that may be your only issue.
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Your right, but OBDII was mandated in 96. All cars sold in the US since then have OBDII. Evaporative emissions systems have changed quite a bit in that time though. For instance, on Toyotas a loose gas cap will set a check engine light, but filling the tank while the engine is running will not.
The computer needs a set of requirements to be present before it will run the test that will determine if the check engine light will come on or not. One of those requirements is that the speed sensors must see that the vehicle is moving (I can't remember how fast right now) That is there so that the light won't trip while filling the tank.
I'm 99% positive that even BMW diden't have electronically monitored evaporative emissions in 78. That's either a service light, or if it is a check engine light it's got to be for somthing with the engine itsself. like a mass air flow sensor, or an O2 sensor if the car has EFI.