X5 PDC
 

I have just purchased 3.0i x5 but the parking sensor both front and rear do not work....i get a continuous sound and flashing switch when resrve is selected...i assume its the main sensor switch...is there anyway of checking and where is the switch located?

This is not a problem with the switch. If the light on the PDC button is flashing there is a problem with the sensors. Check all of your sensors. This will happen if one of them is damaged or no longer working. If one is damaged or not working it will set the entire system off. Good Luck

possible vehicle was in accident, and wiring was severed, read out fault memory, and see which one is not communcating with the pdc module

Hi, I have a simular problem with my e39 :confused: but no flashing light :banghead: does that mean that my pdc ecu is no good???? Any help would be appriciated. Thanks

I have the same problem. All you have to do is get real close to each sensor. You should hear a ticking sound if the sensor is working. When you find the one or more that do not tick, those are the sensors that need to be replaced. I found mine, but problem is that its the front left side. I have to drop the bumper to remove this sensor. Sucks, but there is no other way. Would anyone know another way to change this sensor without removing the front bumper? Thanks

I need to replace the front left corner PDC on my 05 X5. I believe you might be able to get to the PDC in the corner with out removing the bumper. I am going to try by removing front left wheel (for better access) and then remove the plastic wheel liner, pull that back and i think i should be able to reach the PDC. The new PDC is being shipped so when it arrives I will try this out and see if it works. I will post how it works out.

Has anyone else tried this method???

Many thanks for all those suggestions....they are all helpful...have followed suggestion to check each sensor.....NONE of them appear to click....i have selected reverse and got close to each sensor...nothing! also selected first, nothing!....i read the handbook and it says "the system has developed a malfunction if the light flashes and a continuos bleep is emitted briefly" when you engage reverse fot the first time! and yes thats what is happening....

I was thinking of doing the exact same thing but haven't had a chance. I also need to replace that front left sensor and the way you describe on doing it seems easier than taking off the bumper. Please let us know how it works out.

I have never been instructed to listen for a clicking noise from the outside to inspect the sensors.?? Are any of the sensors damaged, scratched etc.... This would cause a system failure.

@ pochiserna I ordered the PDC sensor from a company outside Sacramento, CA. Bavarian Auto Recycling Inc. They have an ebay store and sell many parts for our cars at a good price. I will keep you posted on if this method to replace the sensor works. The PDC will arrive tomorrow but I will be out of town for the weekend so it might not be until later next week that ill get a chance to install it. Either way ill keep you up to date on how i install the new PDC!!

I have the same problem as daztc, but I basically just lived without it. It would be nice to have them working.

Hi Killcrap....hope you are wrong!, but how do you read out the fault memory?
incidently where is the main sensor switch located?

How much was the sensor? New from the dealer is around $145 + tax and from Bavauto is $129.99 no tax. I tried to call that place that you mention a couple of times before but nobody ever answers the phone. What's the best way to contact them? Will be anxiously awaiting to see how your install goes... good luck!!!

check to see if one of them is pushed in at all. it only takes a little to confuse it.
i had it happen and my far left one. after a small technical tap it was fine and never did it again...

I have experienced no one answering as well with them. I ordered it off there ebay store. I searched "BMW X5 PDC" They have a buy it now for $60.00 and a space where you can make an offer. I offered $40.00 and got it. However, the part arrived today via Fedex and im not sure if its the correct sensor. It is an OEM BMW part and when i search the part # (6902182) at realoem.com it comes up as a rear sensor for our cars. The actual sensor part on the face is not a circle. The top and bottom are flat and the sides are circular. My car is in the shop but I was looking at the sensors on my 02 X5 which I believe are the same and the sensor part is completely circular. (attached is a pic. of the sensor I received) When I go to pick my car up from the dealership I will take the part in and see if it matches up or if its the wrong one. Im sure Bavarian Recycling will be able to refund or replace it with the correct one. Ill keep you up to date with what happens!!

If you look at the realoem diagram, that part number is listed for SAV's up to 06/2002. From 10/2003 and on, the correct part number is (66206989068). If it connects the same way as the other one it might still work. Let us know.

OOOPS..... I misread the ebay sale. The description said "BMW Ultrasonic sensor PDC X5 4.4i" I reread the actual description of the part and found just what you said, the part is not for model year 05. I called Bavarian Recycling and they were more than willing to exchange for the correct part. So ill just have to wait a little bit longer.... Oh well

It does look like it would connect (three prongs in a triangle) but i would prefer to have the correct one for cosmetic reasons and possibly functionality. On my invoice under description the PDC was described as being for an E39 5 series. The number to Bavarian Recycling is 916.635.4269. The gentleman who I talked to was very helpful and the wait was not long.

I will let you know when the new part gets in and the installation!! I think I might order a CV boot as well. They sell them for $25.00.

Pochiserna:
I have received the correct part from BAV auto recycling. I removed the two bolts in the wheel liner and tried to replace the PDC this way. There is not enough room to get in and replace it this way. There is a metal support that is in the way. You can feel the PDC but cant work on it. I removed the front bumper and replaced it that way. Removing the front bumper is not a difficult job. I followed Twinspoppa DIY on how to remove the front bumper.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tructions.html
His guide is very helpful. I would just like to make two additional notes. One for when you get to the point where you are pressing down and pulling out on the side of the bumper to remove it from the clamps. As with any plastic clamps it is a little precarious. There are two clamps that you need to press down on for them to release. If they break it is not a big deal and the part can be easily replaced. It is just more time:( I will add a photo for better explanation. Second note, I un-pluged the fog lamps so I could pull the bumper further away from the car and have more work space. There is a third wire for the PDC sensors that i didnt unplug but you can move it from where it is seated for more space. Other than that it is a simple job and having a second person helps as well.

All said and done it took nearly a month to get the correct parts from the shop but they did eventually get here. It is an easy job to take the bumper off and replace a corner sensor. I do recommend a second set of hands once you get the bumper off. And then you have a working system again!!!!!!!!

If anyone has questions or needs help/explanation on removing the front bumper, parts or replacing a front sensor give me a shout and I would be more than happy to help!

Thanks AZX54.4,

Too bad there wasn't enough space to go through the wheel. It seems like it's not a complicated job and will do it in the next week or two. One more question, once you replaced the sensor did the PDC start working by itself or is there a reactivation or reseting of the system that needs to be done?

Thanks for your post. I'm sure I'll make it much more easier once I tackle mine..

In my car, which is probably the same situation with yours. An individual PDC was damaged and the entire system wasn't working because of this. Inside the car, the LED on the PDC button would flash when activated. This is a fail code when that LED is blinking. After plugging in the new PDC the system began working on its own and there was no reactivating or reseting for the system. Before reinstalling the bumper, I got in the car and tested the system. The LED was now solid and not blinking showing that there was a problem. I reinstalled the bumper and turned the PDC system on. Walked around the car and listened for all the sensors and they all worked!!

If you have any questions or want to call for advice send me a PM and i would be more than happy to give you a hand. One other thing, I have a spare PDC for the front that I might be willing to sell. I got it as an extra but it might not be necessary to keep it around. For some reason the sensor is painted i think sapphire black. It isn't noticeable once installed. I'll try and take a picture of the new installed PDC later today.

Great thread - I am going to inspect all of my sensors. As of late, my PDC has been acting up on my 2003 4.6is.

Agreed, this is a great thread. Nothing like being forearmed in the event of one of these little sensors going south later on at some stage.
Thanks for tips n pics :thumbup:

Good luck on finding the culprit!!! My PDC had been bumped and damaged, that is why it stopped working. When I took it out, the PDC housing was entirely cracked and the sensor portion of the PDC had separated from the rest of the plastic housing.(that might be a little hard to understand, maybe ill just include a pic tomorrow in the daylight). What I am saying is even if the PDC doesn't appear that damaged the portion of it that is behind the bumper might be damaged and preventing it from working. Good luck and ask away if you have any questions!!

My PDC is also not working, so I just went out and tried to find the "culprit". All of the rear sensors clicked when I put my hand over them. The front also clicked, but not nearly as strong. When I activate my PDC, it has all the normal fault symptoms, long beep and flashing light. Should I inspect something in the front since it was very faint?? I hate to sound stupid here, but do you have to have the vehicle in D for the front to work? Thanks in advance.

Todder

You can manually turn on the PDC sensors in park, reverse or drive by pressing the PDC button. Then get out of the car and walk around it and trip the sensors. I don't know if the front having more of a faint beep means anything? You could give your dealership a call and describe the symptoms and maybe they would have some valuable input/information.

Are any of the sensors loose, scratched or visibly damaged? If one of them has been tapped while parking this could have damaged it and is preventing it from working.

Good luck!

Yesterday I stupid driver drove back to me and hit me from the front, it was very soft hit that when I went out I noticed no single scratch … but today morning.. I found the same problem… beep and flash light … no way the sensor could be damaged!! Unless its made of thin glass!! Any other possibility than I have to replace the sensors !!

Your PDC is most likely damaged

honestly i dont like the whole PDC solution by BMW, especially the missing of indicator bar! one sensor down, the whole system is stops! even PDC systems with $25 wont be that stupid!
by the way, did anyone replace OE PDC system with an aftermarket one? if so Plz let me know as the whole system will be cheaper than a single sensor

If it is one of your front PDC's that was damaged I have an extra one that you could buy from me. Let me know if your interested.

ok, used the sensing mechanizem to detict which sensor is damaged and it worked...exactly where the other car hit mine ... now the next step is to replace it.. but the mechanical guy said that we need to connect it to the computer dont know why not to replace it directly!!! does the vehicle needs reset!? also for my 06 X5 4.4 do i have to remove the whole front bumber so as to install the middle front sensor or it can be done otherwise?

No reset is required. When i replaced my damaged pdc which was the front drivers corner all i did was remove the front bumper which isnt to difficult and there are guides on the forum. Then replace the damaged pdc with the new one and the system was all back up and running. I am pretty sure that you still need to take the bumper off to get to the middle ones.

ok, i bought a sensor, then when taking off the front bumb it turned out that the sensor housing cable is cut off!!!!!!!!!!! what how did this happen!!!!!!!!!! connected the cables and the original sensor works back normal now!! damn...

If anyone ever needs a PDC sensor for the front of their X5 I have an extra that I would be willing to sell.Send PM if ever interested.

Tips to fix PDC problem
 

This is an overview of all I did to fix the PDC.
1. Clean them of any wax.
2. Lsiten to see which one is dead.
3. Tap the one that is dead to see if it is a contact error.
4. Rear PDC is fiddly but fixable.
5. Look carefully at Inernet pictures so you know where the PDC clips are.
You will be working blind.
5. Use silicon spray to help get them out. You need three hands; two to hold back the clips and one to push out the PDC.
6. You can replace the front center PDC without removing the bumper by doing this: ( it takes 40Mins so calculate that against bumper removal )
6a. Remove the tow hook cover to the outside of the PDC.
6b. Remove the number plate. Make sure you have the plate mounted with this: 51118403075 [Google Images]
6c. Scratch a marking where the plate holder was
6d. Drill three 2.5 cm holes next to each other at the upper right corner of the plate holder for the right PDC ( left for left PDC ). Leave enough space so that the plate holder sits after doing this!!! That is what the scratch is for.
6e. Use a half circle vibe saw [ Google images: "bosch pmf180e" ] to make a neat oblong hole with round edges at the ends from the holes.
6f. Scratch out the sytrofoam behind the bumper to get at the PDC with your fingers. Be careful, I hit the wires with the chisel!!!!
6g. The advantage of this way is you can still drive while waiting for a new PDC to arrive and next time it breaks the fix takes 5 Mins.
7. SWAP the PDC with a good one from the rear to make sure you have not just had a bad contact.
8. If bad get a repalement from eBay.
9. Test.

hi all, after about 4 years of the PDC system not working (DIS5.7 and INPA show all 8 sensors have a bad negative somewhere), I decided to grab a used one from a pick-n-pull yard.
My x5 had a PDC which ends in part number 42676 and has hardware 2, sw 1.7.
The donor PDC is an older part number (21414) but has all the same specs written on outside of box.
NOW the system actually works...sort of.
The rear sensors seem to work fine but the fronts are buggy and go off a lot with no real reason (tho i do believe about 6 years ago, I replaced a sensor with one from an e39, so perhaps its not fully compatiable).
The green light stays on solid now (instead of flashing and constant tone) and it seems to be somewhat responsive to objects. WOOHOO

I was wondering if anyone has ever installed a newer (from X3 LCI) PDC module which also has HW3, SW 2.4 on outside of module?

It says it supersedes the original X5 PDC modules and was just curious if I'm better off finding new hardware/software instead of playing with/coding out something that's just not as great as it could be anyhow (too late, I spent 5 mins and coded off front wonky sensors).

I'm curious why there are SO MANY different parts that were sold as the PDC module. Some lasted a week before a new module replaced it. holy crap.

I don't care for the front sensors, so I just used NCSexpert to code them off.