Brake,ABS, DSC lights on

[butundo]

Originally Posted by tomgtv

I have 218,000 miles on this 2001, 3.0L, owned it since new.

Ever done anything with the tranny, since you have that many miles?

[tomgtv]

Originally Posted by butundo

Ever done anything with the tranny, since you have that many miles?

At about the 100,000 mile mark I thought I would get the transmission fluid changed as a preventive maintenance measure. Called around and got crazy prices like $700 USD. I noted that BMW said it was a lifetime fluid and no changing was necessary.

I've heard opinions that if you open it up and change the fluid problems start. Doesn't seem logical, but that's the reports I've heard.

So........at 218,000 plus miles it's running perfectly, like when it was new.......so my recommendation is to leave it alone as BMW recommends!

[tomgtv]

anybody have any pics? I assume it is on the steering column.

[mrbmwx5]

Originally Posted by tomgtv

anybody have any pics? I assume it is on the steering column.

RealOEM.com BMW E53 X5 3.0i STEER.COL.-STEER. SPIN. UPPER

[tomgtv]

I saw this diagram also on RealOEM. It's still not clear to me where
it is in real life. Is it in the car on the steering column or is it in the
engine bay?
Thanks!

My symptoms are red brake light, yellow DSC/ABS lights on. When
you start the car everything is normal for 10 minutes. At that point
the lights come on and you lose speedometer function also.

From what I've read the DSC isn't talking to a potentially bad steering angle
sensor. I've also heard you could just get a reset of the fault to clear
this condition.

Anybody know for sure?

[klavermi]

Hello TOMGTV,

is the problem of the yellow DSC brake and ABS lights solved?
And if so, what was the solution?

The symptoms of my '00 4.4i E53 are the same:

• each morning the first 10 Km no problem
• then they come up without exeption
• Leaving the car during the day for hours==> still lights on
• Leaving the car for the night ==> lights out for just 10 Km
• 10 Km highway or city-streets make no difference
• Outside temps: 5ºC at night and 15º during the day

Actions I have been taken:

• Turning the wheels from extreem right to extreem left and back.
• Leaving the ingnition on for 3 minutes
• Error-code readout by local shop (no dealer) After 30 minutes waiting for the car to make connection to the tester they told me it is the right-front wheelsensor.

• Sensor replaced, same error. Second sensor ordered (BMW), same error. Wiring checked from sensor to electronics. Seems ok, but still same error.
• Advice from the mechanic: new ABS-module €1000,-
• There I stopped. I do not believe a defective ABS-module will work perfectly each morning for 10 Km and then stop working until the next morning.

At one point the problem also occured at the cold start in the morning, next day I had to jumpstart the car. So I changed the battery.
Now battery voltage is between 12,3V before starting and 13,5V while driving. But the problem still exists each day.

My assumptions are:

1. The old battery was part of the problem, since the ABS and DSC unit need a certain voltage during self-test at start.
2. I remember that the first time the error occured was after drive of 35 Km, standing still, engine off, contact on while looking at navigation and television (both BMW original factory installed) Battery?
3. Since the problem occurs every day, after exactly the same distance it has something to do with a timer or something like that.

My questions are:

1. The car is communicating very slowly to the tester and only from the connection under the hood, not from the connection under the dashboard. It takes 30 minutes to read the errorlogs! Which device stores the errorlogs?
2. Since the local shop did have problems with the readout of the errorlogs I am not sure they have succesfully cleared the errorlogs. When an official BMW dealership clears the logs any change the problem is solved by then? remember error pointed towards front RH sensor, which is replaced.
3. Is the recurring distance of 10Km each day pointing towards steering angle sensor? In this forum I find this symptom several times.

Anyone an advice or idea?

Greetings from Spain

[tomgtv]

My ABS module failed. Symptoms were yellow warning lights and no speedometer/cruise/mpg gauge, etc.

Sent the bad one to:
ModuleMaster rebuilds ABS modules for as low as $100, 2 day average turn-around, 5 Year Guarantee

They charged about $300 and it fixed problems.

However lights came on again recently for no apparent reason. All sensors seem good. I think it is probably necessary to clear fault codes. Car runs
fine, I'm too cheap to pay BMW to investigate. I have 230,000 miles on this car, so the old black tape came out again and I put it on the dash......

good luck!

My kids just spent Christmas in Marbella.