DSC/ABS/Brake Lights and no speedometer
 

Happy New Year everyone!

Just like khmer_x5, I'm having the same problem (DSC/ABS/Brake lights all lit in yellow). Although, on top of those lights going on, the PDC light also stays on and the speedometer doesn't work.

I brought it to my local dealer and after the initial check they want to do further diagnosis on the DSC module as they suspect that to be the problem. They said that it will take another 4 hours to do the further diagnostic at $140 an hour because it supposedly "involves taking the bumper off." Sounds odd and plain BS to me! They said they couldn't do it until this coming Tuesday, so I thought I'd drive the car home anyway (since the problem for now seems intermittent) and search more about the problem on here.

Anyway, after my searches on the forum, I emailed the SA at Santa Monica BMW the following. No response from them yet (and they're open today), but anybody have any other insight on the problem or solutions other than these?...

*** FYI - Since leaving the dealer yesterday (1/2) all warning lights have not lit up. Since it seems to be an intermittent problem for now, I'm now wondering when the next time the cluster lights up like a Christmas tree again...

---------------------

The issue:
***The DSC, ABS and brake light randomly come on and the speedometer and gas gauge stop working.***


Possible Quick fixes:

*** "Turn the key On. Do not start and leave on for 3 min. Then Turn it off. It will reset the lights."

Reference: Post #8 on Page 1 by mrbmwx5
http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...light+problems


*** "Start car. Turn wheel all the left. Then all the way right and all the way to the left again and they should reset. (or it may be right then left. Try both combos. One should work."

Reference: Post #9 on Page 1 by LI-X5:
http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...light+problems



Possible Problem #1: Steering angle sensor

Solution #1:

"ABS, DSC, brake light thing is most likely a bad sensor. Probably the steering angle sensor. Again relatively inexpensive..."

Reference: Post #3 on Page 1 by primetime:
http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...meter+problems


Solution #2:

"I just had mine sorted. These 3 lights came on only when I drove at speed on the motorways.
It was the steering angle sensor. Got a BMW specailist to plug his computer to it and reset the configuration and it has solved the issue."

Reference: Post #33 on Page 4 by SUBSX5:
http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...light+problems




Possible Problem #2: ABS sensor

Solution:

"I had the DSC / ABS / brake light come on. It turned out to be a faulty ABS sensor.
The part is about $125 and an hour or so of labor to replace."

Reference: Post #4 on Page 1 by Kendall:
http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...light+problems

... and...
http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...sc+brake+light



Possible Problem #3: DSC Module

Maybe I need to get the whole DSC unit/module replaced like Michelle--- the pricier fix of the the two other possible problems noted above.

Reference:
http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...fe-prog-5.html


Hmmmm???? I've just never had peace of mind or never been comfortable working with dealers directly after my warranty expired. I miss my retired independent mechanic. He was great but he unfortunately retired and closed shop.


Additional Note: As far as I know, yellow brake light + ABS light means wheel (ABS) sensor. Red brake light means change brake pads.

Had same problem
 

Turns out the ABS sensor wire had rubbed itself against the car and shorted
out. I decided to skip the $110 dollar sensor, and just redo the wires.
Worked great!
Also you need to take each sensor out of each of the 4 wheels and clean
them off. Simple, just one bolt and they pull out of wheel housing.

No more lights, speedo came back and no big $$$$. Yeah dealers will have you rebuild the
entire DSC/ABS system for thousands............

Did kind of freak me out when the Speedo quit working! saves on miles
though! :) Had to go back to old school and guess speed with the tach!

Tomgtv
it was happened to me with my break sensor before, just reconnect the wire and save $$$.

x5-4-fighting
let me know how you fix your problem if you did it first.

Thanks for your input guys. Since I've posted having this problem, the lights have not come on again. Speedometer is working fine, too. If ithe problems resurfaces, I'll let you know what the final diagnosis and fix was.

so i just jiggled the handle and the water stops...
 

haha, so i jiggled the cable turned the wheel all the way to the left then all the way to the right and the warnings went away. i'm gonna have to say that the cable is bad and that i'm going to open it up and check for shorts. its the easiest place to start.

fyi my speedo was fine which makes me feel that there is nothing wrong with the computer module(s)

i did not see a sensor on the front pass side. or did I? there was two senors on the front drivers side (brake and speed sensor) and there was one on the front pass side. i dont remember what sensors are where. i can say for sure that the front drivers side has both.