OK, SO probably not voltage related, what is really happening when that 4x4 light is on, what does this all mean....
Has anyone had this repaired, what is the cost....

Ahhh! There's my problem...twitter is not an approved site for some businesses due to the personal nature that site can take (consider the once esteemed Congressman Anthony Weiner). :cool:

The light is on, no warning sounds, and what does that have to do with the STEERING ANGLE SENSOR?
In south Florida we NEVER need 4 wheel drive..so what happens, and still what does it cost to fix...I'm being quoted $500....??
What are the parts needed to repair this....I've looked at REALOEM trying to see what parts are needed...??

Sounds like you're in my same boat!

If you get your car to an indi or the stealer before I do, let me know what codes you get.
I've also read things about a DSC Pressure Sensor on the DSC Module that can go bad?


I'm going to the stealer today for a trailer hitch (heading out of town with camper). I'm going to just ask them what they think since i'm there.. I'm in the E46 today so I can't have them run codes :(

my indie says it is definitely the STEERING ANGEL SENSOR a while back he hooked it up to the computer and shut off the light, (it stayed off for a few days) but I don't remember what the code was....
I am not going to have it fixed till I have a bunch more info....

The steering angle sensor is part of the DSC system...that's how the steering angle sensor can be related to the 4x4 warning.

But just because the light is on...doesn't mean that the problem is the steering angle sensor needs to be replaced...It may just need to be recalibrated (depending on other things that have been going on with the vehicle). Proper diagnostics and good deductive reasoning must be considered. Just because a sensor or component registers a fault...it doesn't mean that the component or sensor is the culprit...there could be another related component "upstream" or "downstream" from the component that is causing the issue.

This is where "deductive" problem solving comes into play...you can either throw money at the problem hoping that it will fix it...or you can take the time to consider how, what, why the component may be failing.

How much do you understand about the systems mentioned in the owners manual that illuminate when the 4x4 warning comes on (DSC/HDC/xDrive)? Knowing how these systems work and how they interconnect with other systems on your vehicle can go a long way in narrowing down what may be causing the issue.

For example...the description below about the steering angle sensor explains the connection it has to DSC:


In the DSC information below...there are things in the system (like wheel speed sensors) that may be bad or corroded and could be causing the issue...thus things like this should be looked at as well as potential culprits...again, a good mechanic or indy...or even DIY'er needs to consider the sum of more than just one part to see how the whole system works and where the weakness or fault may be:

I encountered the problem before when I still had an pre-facelifted e53 x5 4.4i. The sympton was only the Slip light on (been replaced by the 4x4 light after facelifted). Finally it was the ABS module error, I had to replace the ABS module t fix the problem. You may also encounter this problem. The only way you can assure if it is the problem is to use DIS to check the error code.

Not sure if this is at all related..

But, both of my right side angel eyes stopped working on Sunday!

:dunno:

Errrr, then that sounds like SAS... SAS is part of the module that controls Adaptive Headlight. You need to bring it in to get it scanned first to get a def answer on it. If it comes back as a dead SAS then you know what to do.

I have halogens on my X. Pretty sure they aren't adaptive....