E70 Active steering fault, DSC errors, 4x4.

[serf27]

Hi everyone, the dreaded a active steering light is back and I can’t get it to go away.
2011 E70 35i.

Short story: Active steering and DSC faults won’t go away. No Ista, only have protools app, looking for suggestions on what I can test. I can see live data of sensors with the app if that helps.


I bought it 3 years ago. The active steering light came on 2x in the first year. It went away after a couple of restarts in the same day.

It came back on last year. I was able to clear it that time by turning the wheel lock to lock 5x.

It came on last week and DSC+4x4 errors also came.
I was able to clear it by turning the wheels lock to lock, that lasted about 10 minutes and now all lights are on.
Steering is very heavy and wheel is almost 70° to the left when driving straight.

I have these codes.

STABILITY CONTROL
6F53- no message (active steering 0x120) receiver DSC, transmitter, active steering.
D367- no message (active steering 0x118) receiver DSC, transmitter, active steering.
6DC7- steering angle sensor: DSC
D35D- no message (active steering 0x1FC) receiver DSC, transmitter, active steering.

XDRIVE SYSTEM
CF80- signal from engine management, set point torque request

LONGITUDE DYNAMICS
63DD- interface, DSC
62D6- interface, DSC
63D0- interface, DSC

I’m in the process of getting Ista.
I currently only have the protools app that can show me live data of sensors and such.

I’ve tried resetting steering angle calibration with no luck.
PS fluid reservoir is full, I pumped out almost 1qt of fluid and added new fluid.
The battery was an H8 Walmart battery that I put 3 years ago.
It started the car fine.
I swapped in an OEM BMW battery from my other car and no change.
If I clear the codes, the active steering light goes away for a brief second and comes back. The DSC light does not go away.
I put a clock spring from an e90(for testing purposes of steering angle sensor), issue did not go away.


I have read threads where the issue ranges from abs sensors, active steering module, alternator regulator and a few more.


Any idea on where or what to test next?
Thanks.

[serf27]

Voltage is a steady 14.4V.

[ard]

So for the last 3 years...since you purchased it...the steering wheel has been pointing 70 degrees off?


"All lights" means 3: DSC, Active steering and 4x4????


Id get it aligned with the wheel pointed in the right direction, reset the steering angle and all that.



Any signs of water intrusion ANYWHERE? I believe the active steering module is on the sidewall by your left (driver) knee. But comms issues with other water logged modules could be someting to look at.

[serf27]

Originally Posted by ard

So for the last 3 years...since you purchased it...the steering wheel has been pointing 70 degrees off?


"All lights" means 3: DSC, Active steering and 4x4????


Id get it aligned with the wheel pointed in the right direction, reset the steering angle and all that.



Any signs of water intrusion ANYWHERE? I believe the active steering module is on the sidewall by your left (driver) knee. But comms issues with other water logged modules could be someting to look at.

No. The first year(3years ago), I got an active steering error but the wheel was straight. The error went away the same day after re starting the car through out the day.
I had got an alignment soon after purchasing it, just to make sure everything was straight, no signs of errors prior to the alignment.

Last year I got the active steering light, code 6134 - Servomotor - Motor Current.
Live data from that code:
Status, Eco valve, OK
Current, Eco valve, 416.296 MA
Status, Servotronic valve, OK.
Current, Servoitronic Valve, 0 MA
Control module internal temperature, 87 °F
Voltage supply, internal (5 volts), 5.008V
Voltage, Terminal 30, 14.9V

Turning the wheel side to side 5x made the light turn off, but the wheel was slightly off center.
I centered the steering wheel on my driveway and turned the tie rods equal amount of rotations so the steering wheel would be center. It drove straight, but the steering wheel was off. Adjusting the tie rods centered the wheel when I drive straight.

2 months ago, the water pump failed. I replaced it with thermostat.
The car sat for a month and had the water pump randomly running so it drained the battery.
I did the water pump work and charged the battery and started it. Active steering and dsc faults upon start up. I turned the wheel side to side and the lights went away for a few days and now they’re back.

This is the first time the DSC errors have came up, before it was only active steering.

Yes, all 3 lights, DSC, 4x4, Active steering.


I was thinking of getting it aligned, but the wheel is so off center. I believe if the wheel is centered on an alignment rack, the tie rods will not have sufficient threads to properly align or full right or left turning radiuses will be affected.


I did have water intrusion on the rear seat floor carpet.
Leaking door seals, I replaced those and that has been fixed. That was years ago.

Yes, the active steering module is behind the driver front fender liner, I can’t think of any water intrusion there. All panels and covers are in place.

I’ll add, when I clear codes, chassis stabilization “DSC” idrive error does not go away. Active steering goes away but immediately turns on.
Same deal when I start the car. DSC light is lit up right away, active steering error turns on half a second later.

[pshovest]

I had intermittent DSC & 4X4 errors. They would clear if I stopped engine and restarted. The straw that broke the camel's back, was being 8 hours from home and not being able to clear the errors. My cruise control would not work with these errors. This was a LONG drive home w/o cruise.

I don't have active steering, but all of those systems depend on knowing the direction the driver is attempting to go.

I had a similar SAS error. Cleaning sensor was the first step and system has been error free for 2 years now.

There is a DIY on removing E70 steering wheel, airbag and column switches.
There is an E60 DIY on disassembling and cleaning the SAS.

[serf27]

Originally Posted by pshovest

I had intermittent DSC & 4X4 errors. They would clear if I stopped engine and restarted. The straw that broke the camel's back, was being 8 hours from home and not being able to clear the errors. My cruise control would not work with these errors. This was a LONG drive home w/o cruise.

I don't have active steering, but all of those systems depend on knowing the direction the driver is attempting to go.

I had a similar SAS error. Cleaning sensor was the first step and system has been error free for 2 years now.

There is a DIY on removing E70 steering wheel, airbag and column switches.
There is an E60 DIY on disassembling and cleaning the SAS.

Do you remember what codes you had? Same as mine?

I’ve seen the e60 SAS cleaning. I’ll look for the e70 column disassembled video.

I did plug a spare clock spring assembly from an e90 into my e70.
None of the codes went away. Both plugs were the same.
I had control of wipers and whatever else is on the stalks.
Either the SAS on the e90 was bad too, or the SAS send different signals, or my e70 issue is not SAS related.

[serf27]

I cleaned the steering angle sensor, no change.

I found out the active steering module wasn’t even present when I scanned the car, it was a blown 40amp fuse.
I replaced the fuse and now I can connect to the AFS(active front steering) module, but now I have even more codes/lights.

I now have a yellow parking brake and ABS light, Codes:
601D: DSC interface, Signal invalid.
601E: DSC Interface, Signal invalid.

AFS CODES:
6146: AL: Control unit cannot change to active mode, under voltage.
^a voltage issue? Voltage at idle is 14.4, steady. Battery cranks the car like normal.
614A: Motor position angle, not initialized.

When looking at the AFS module, it will not let me calibrate the AFS. I get “error, make sure ignition is turned on”

AFS module live data reads:
Status, ECO valve-OK
Current, ECO valve-416.2MA
Drivers steering angle in degrees-changes when I turn the wheel
Current, Servotronic valve-0
MA
Status, Servotronic valve-OK
Voltage, terminal 30- 15.1V
Voltage supply, internal (5 volts)
Status, DSC control-NO control
Status, DSC-Faulty
Status, drivers steering angle-SZL must still be placed (initialization)

Longitude dynamics now has a new code:
62E7: DSC Interface (yaw velocity)

Still looking for a laptop to download ISTA on.

[serf27]

Still haven’t figured it out, or gotten a laptop.
Additional info. If you have this issue and your wheel is constantly changing directions when you start the car, I learned that if you remove the active steering fuse, the wheel no longer moves around.
I waited until a day where the wheel centered itself and then I removed the active steering fuse before I turned the car off.
wheel is now straight.
I additionally removed the active steering VO and the light went away.

I still have errors in-

LONGITUDE DYNAMICS:
63DD- Interface DSC
62D6- Interface DSC

X-DRIVE SYSTEM:
CF80- signal from engine management: set point-torque request.
​STABILITY CONTROL:

6E04- DSC sensor variant.

Chassis stabilization malfunction! and 4x4 idrive/cluster lights are still on.

I’ll also add that my active steering fuse was originally blown when I started doing some misc diagnostics, that’s odd.


Being that chassis errors persist after active steering VO has been removed, I suspect the DSC will be bad.
Not going to swap it just yet, I will wait until I can properly diagnose it.

[BB_cuda]

Serf27 - Where did you end up on this please? I know thread is 2-1/2 years old.
I have the 4x4 error in the cluster and also hints of DSC problem.

I also don't have ISTA. I used a Foxwell reader and attempted to clear codes. They wouldn't go away. Only after turn off and then restart did they go away.

I also had the parking brake light come on. I have rebuilt the parking brake actuator about 1.5 years ago and it has been mint since. After getting codes to not come back, i tested parking brake and it engaged properly and then released when requested.

I do not know if I have active steering.

2013 X5D, last 7 of VIN 0B95550 if anyone wants to show me if I have active steering. 140,XXX miles Thanks

[josiahg52]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

Serf27 - Where did you end up on this please? I know thread is 2-1/2 years old.
I have the 4x4 error in the cluster and also hints of DSC problem.

I also don't have ISTA. I used a Foxwell reader and attempted to clear codes. They wouldn't go away. Only after turn off and then restart did they go away.

I also had the parking brake light come on. I have rebuilt the parking brake actuator about 1.5 years ago and it has been mint since. After getting codes to not come back, i tested parking brake and it engaged properly and then released when requested.

I do not know if I have active steering.

2013 X5D, last 7 of VIN 0B95550 if anyone wants to show me if I have active steering. 140,XXX miles Thanks

https://www.mdecoder.com/ for equipment look up.