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  #1  
Old 03-19-2026, 09:30 AM
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2006 several issues?

Hi.. been a long time since I was on this board. Got my daughter's 2006 X5 with sport suspension back and it had several issues. Did the search but nothing conclusive as it seems these are not straight forward issues ( intermittent). A little background. While I was working on it the drivers window began to slow down. Replaced the regulator (used the URO with the upgraded rollers) Replaced the valve cover with an aluminum one to correct a nasty oil leak. Worked great ( e-bay item for the M54 ). Next was chasing a coolant leak... so hard to find but we narrowed it down to the thermostat housing.. replaced that too and, now no coolant leak. But 2 items came up. When I first start it everything is fine... after about 20 minute of highway driving the check coolant level and the 4x4 light come on..( trying to remember what the display says about that.. think it's 4x4 inoperative) I don't hear a sound when I turn the vehicle off so I don't think it's the 4x4 actuator or gear? Park it and when I restart it.. nothing.. everything is fine....h until I drive about 20 minute and again I get those warnings on the display??? Anyone know what might be causing this?
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Old 03-19-2026, 09:49 AM
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You need to pull codes. What scanner are you using?


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Old 03-19-2026, 10:17 AM
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I have a very generic code reader.. nothing very sophisticated and BMW specific.
The steering wheel is off by about 3 degrees to the right. I have it at the shop to get an alignment ( needs it anyway)... trying to rule out the steering angle sensor...Thanks,
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Old 03-20-2026, 07:48 AM
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OK often time there is no further post when a solution is found. To help, here's the solution to the 4x4 light in my case. Apparently, it was the steering angle sensor. Since the steering wheel was cocked about 3 degrees to the right , a front end alignment and straightening the steering wheel back to center resolved it. No light now.
Still chasing the intermittent "check coolant level" message.. thinking it's a bad sensor on the expansion tank..
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Old 03-20-2026, 09:04 AM
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What caused the wheel to be off so far and yes you can’t be steering all the time and have the dsc happy.

That it wasn’t immediate is trad strange part to me.

People report on occasion the magnet float will get stuck and cause your symptom. You can unplug the sensor and see if the error light goes off I don’t remember if it’s normally closed or normally open switch.

If the switch/tank is bad just unplug and short the contacts off needed and monitor manually rather than bother switching the tank.

My 2001s didn’t have the sensor. My more coolant warning was the cabin heat stopped working.


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Old 03-20-2026, 10:20 AM
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Bad coolant (magnetic) switch is often due to a cheap aftermarket expansion tank.
Is that the case here?
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Old 03-20-2026, 10:57 AM
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Use only BNW reservoir and sensor.
I assumed you checked coolant level?

For 4x4 light...Check tire P.

PS: Win Regulator, I use VDO brand.
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Old 03-20-2026, 11:56 AM
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[QUOTE=andrewwynn;1248907]What caused the wheel to be off so far and yes you can’t be steering all the time and have the dsc happy.

That it wasn’t immediate is trad strange part to me.

People report on occasion the magnet float will get stuck and cause your symptom. You can unplug the sensor and see if the error light goes off I don’t remember if it’s normally closed or normally open switch.

If the switch/tank is bad just unplug and short the contacts off needed and monitor manually rather than bother switching the tank.

My 2001s didn’t have the sensor. My more coolant warning was the cabin heat stopped working.

Daughter lent the vehicle to someone..... contacted a curb...LOL
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Old 03-20-2026, 12:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cn90 View Post
Use only BNW reservoir and sensor.
I assumed you checked coolant level?

Yes, checked the coolant level... thinking it's the sensor that attaches to the bottom of the reservoir

For 4x4 light...Check tire P.

The alignment did the trick.... steering wheel now centered and light remains off.

PS: Win Regulator, I use VDO brand.
I used the URO brand on my 2001 E39 530 and liked the rollers...

Thanks for the answers..
1111
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Old 03-20-2026, 12:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Effduration View Post
Bad coolant (magnetic) switch is often due to a cheap aftermarket expansion tank.
Is that the case here?
Not sure.... I don't remember how long ago it was replaced.. I have a new coolant level sensor and will switch it out... Funny thing is it's very intermittent.. since the 4x4 light could have been caused by low voltage from the alternator and they came on together...thought it might be a low voltage situation triggering the message...Thanks,
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