Steering Malfunction error BM Ecks Five

[Greenberg]

I've got the new E70 Black on Black X5 3.0si 2007 from USA.

Now it lives in Russia, Moscow its winter here now and the computer has been going crazy it gives me this error "Steering Malfunction Error, slow down stop the car and so on..." when I start the car from a long period of rest.

I let it idle for say about 1 minute turn it off start it up and the error will disapear, if not I let it run a little bit more and redo the routine untill it stops displaying this error...

My car has now 3500Km on the speedometer so she is still a Virgin sort of say... Is there a fix for it?

[Denalio]

Originally Posted by Greenberg

I've got the new E70 Black on Black X5 3.0si 2007 from USA.

Now it lives in Russia, Moscow its winter here now and the computer has been going crazy it gives me this error "Steering Malfunction Error, slow down stop the car and so on..." when I start the car from a long period of rest.

I let it idle for say about 1 minute turn it off start it up and the error will disapear, if not I let it run a little bit more and redo the routine untill it stops displaying this error...

My car has now 3500Km on the speedometer so she is still a Virgin sort of say... Is there a fix for it?

I am experiencing the same thing. Also a malfunction with the parking sensor since the weather here in Canada has been getting colder. I will be at the Dealer in 2 days.

[rodybmw]

Do you get the same message as in the picture below? I got that in my 545 two winters ago and again a couple of weeks ago. It is common on E60's/E63's and 90% of the time it just means your Power Steering Fluid is slightly low, so when the weather gets cooler and the car is left off overnight (or a few hours) you get that message when you first start.......this is especially true when the car is parked on an incline. Once you get the car on a flat surface and it warms up slightly, if you shut it off and re-start it will go away.

Adding Power Steering Fluid to the appropriate level makes the message go away. Check the level and see if it is slightly low, and if you add the fluid yourself make sure you get the right type (it says on the P.S. fluid reservoir cap). My local generic auto parts stores (Pep Boys, Kragen) didn't have it so I had to get it from a store that sold European auto parts. If I remember correctly it was a CHF12 or something like that.

There was no question in mine and other E60 owners' cases that the P.S. Fluid level was truly marginally low and filling it to the correct lever made the message go away, but the question is why was it low to begin with. There doesn't seem to be a leak anywhere. I am planning on having the dealer do a thorough check for leaks in a couple of weeks to make sure it is fine.

[Denalio]

Originally Posted by rodybmw

Do you get the same message as in the picture below? I got that in my 545 two winters ago and again a couple of weeks ago. It is common on E60's/E63's and 90% of the time it just means your Power Steering Fluid is slightly low, so when the weather gets cooler and the car is left off overnight (or a few hours) you get that message when you first start.......this is especially true when the car is parked on an incline. Once you get the car on a flat surface and it warms up slightly, if you shut it off and re-start it will go away.

Adding Power Steering Fluid to the appropriate level makes the message go away. Check the level and see if it is slightly low, and if you add the fluid yourself make sure you get the right type (it says on the P.S. fluid reservoir cap). My local generic auto parts stores (Pep Boys, Kragen) didn't have it so I had to get it from a store that sold European auto parts. If I remember correctly it was a CHF12 or something like that.

There was no question in mine and other E60 owners' cases that the P.S. Fluid level was truly marginally low and filling it to the correct lever made the message go away, but the question is why was it low to begin with. There doesn't seem to be a leak anywhere. I am planning on having the dealer do a thorough check for leaks in a couple of weeks to make sure it is fine.

Yes that's it. it's strange because you are right...no fluid leak and I park in a heated garage. First time it happened I did park on a steep incline outside, second time was fresh out of my garage. We will see what happens at the dealer. I have noticed the steering being a little more heavy in the last couple of weeks.

[alexmish]

What kind of incline was it ? Which side of the car was higher (front, left, right, rear) ?

My driveway has a slight incline, as well as the street.

[Greenberg]

Originally Posted by rodybmw

Do you get the same message as in the picture below? I got that in my 545 two winters ago and again a couple of weeks ago. It is common on E60's/E63's and 90% of the time it just means your Power Steering Fluid is slightly low, so when the weather gets cooler and the car is left off overnight (or a few hours) you get that message when you first start.......this is especially true when the car is parked on an incline. Once you get the car on a flat surface and it warms up slightly, if you shut it off and re-start it will go away.

Adding Power Steering Fluid to the appropriate level makes the message go away. Check the level and see if it is slightly low, and if you add the fluid yourself make sure you get the right type (it says on the P.S. fluid reservoir cap). My local generic auto parts stores (Pep Boys, Kragen) didn't have it so I had to get it from a store that sold European auto parts. If I remember correctly it was a CHF12 or something like that.

There was no question in mine and other E60 owners' cases that the P.S. Fluid level was truly marginally low and filling it to the correct lever made the message go away, but the question is why was it low to begin with. There doesn't seem to be a leak anywhere. I am planning on having the dealer do a thorough check for leaks in a couple of weeks to make sure it is fine.

Yeah exactly the same message, I keep my in an open garage and now its -7c degrees outside. One person told me you just have to add the fluid for it to disappear as stated here in this thread.

I haven't been to the dealer as they will do my head in and tell me that the car is not Under warranty because its been brought in form the USA! I know that BMW have world wide warranty no matter where you bought it but I will have to bring a LOT of noise to get it checked without paying...

Can I find any official representatives from BMW on this site? I would like for them to help me beef with my Russian dealers to service my car under warranty service...

If any of you guys do go the dealer hit me back up tell me what the dealer had commented on this problem.

Edit: My car sits perfectlly flat, well I think it does...

[Denalio]

Originally Posted by alexmish

What kind of incline was it ? Which side of the car was higher (front, left, right, rear) ?

My driveway has a slight incline, as well as the street.

It was sitting nose down on about 20% decline.

[Greenberg]

Hey how did you get the navigation on that small area showing up??? That means I can be in the Entertainment Area and have Navi still showing up?????

[kustjag]

I had the same problem with my 6 series in cold weather. Rody is correct, it is a steering fluid problem and just needs to be topped off. Used to happen when I went up the hill from my garage on a cold day.

[Greenberg]

Originally Posted by Greenberg

Hey how did you get the navigation on that small area showing up??? That means I can be in the Entertainment Area and have Navi still showing up?????

Hey does anybody know how to do this... cant be bothered to read the manual.... I only read the manual once I break something to find out why I broke it in the first place...