Need advice
 

My 08 4.8i is once again having issues. Went into limp mode just over three weeks ago. Shut down and restarted and all was fine.

Two weeks ago, happened again, but a restart didn't resolve it. This time, it gave me enough power and speed that I was able to get it home and scan it with Reingold/ISTA-D and these errors appear:

002CF8 DME: Throttle-valve potentiometer
002CF9 DME: Throttle-valve potentiometer 1
002CFA DME: Throttle-valve potentiometer 2
002F9E DME: Thermal oil-level sensor
0054C6 VTG: Oil wear
0055C3 VTG: AWD limp-home control activated. No DSC specified nominal torque.
005F77 DSC: Engine management interface
00604E RDC: RDC system
006057 RDC Wheel electronics, rear right
00A6CF JBE: AUC sensor
00A6f3 CCC-A: Coding data error
00E723 No message (condensation sensor,k 0x2D1) receiver integrated automatic heating
00E729 Message automatic air recirculation control sensor. 0x2D0, receiver integrated.

So after a lot of researching and testing the charging system and battery (which passed just fine), I changed the transfer case oil, reset its adaptations and all per the TIS, etc... and all codes were gone!

Now a week after that I get the limp home again, restart wouldn't clear it and wouldn't get above 1,500 RPM, let alone, up to enough speed (saying around 8 mph) to drive the 30 miles home. Fortunately, I had my trusty laptop AND cable so I could scan on the side of the road and (after a screen shot of the errors) clear the codes and make it home.

Codes this time aren't as numerous but are as follows:
002B70 DME: Variable intake system activation
0055C3 VTG: AWD limp-home control activated. No DSC Specified nominal torque
005F77 DSC: Engine management interface
00604E RDC: RDC system
00A6F3 CCC-A: Coding data error
00E723 No message (condensation sensor, 0x2D1), receiver integrated automatic heating

Now I haven't scanned since I got home to see what if any came back, but it did seem sluggish in drive on the way, but, if moved to "sport" it ran perfectly. No hesitation at any time or rough idle. so it isn't making sense.

So after that book long writing, any suggestions as to the cause and cure? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

My second thought is just to trade it in and get another. I still love the E70 body style, so thinking of a 2013, but can't decide on 3.5l or 5.0l. So opinions between those two are also welcomed and desired!

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Throttle body harness needs to be cut and spliced into a new one . Trust me

Guaranteed?

Really? That's causing it 100% Have a part number for me by chance?

Found a bit of a blurb about that in the TIS so I'll make the investment to replace/repair that. Hopefully, that's the only problem.

But, I must be honest, I've had to put a bunch into this E70 over the last year, so I'm strongly thinking of letting her go and get something with a lot less miles. I still love the E70 look, but maybe more to a 2013 LCI. Just have to decide if I want 3.5i or 5.0i. Anyone with advice between the two?

Everything that you read on all the forums suggests a 35i over the 50i as far as reliability is concerned. With that being said, how many miles, if higher mileage was it maintained by BMW or an excellent INDY shop and have any big ticket items recently been completed sparing you the cost of doing it. (hopefully).

Some people say they took care of it and still have issues. Others say that and dont really have any issues. Maintenance is a key but it isn't a guarantee.

Good luck.

I certainly agree with that statement! Ended up buying a 2013 3.5 over the weekend. Have (even on carfax) complete service records from new and was a CPO for the 2nd owner. I'm now the 3rd owner and happily went through a top to bottom check at local BMW dealer just prior to my purchase. The only problem was A/C leak which they repaired!

Scanned and checked everything too and happy all is "clear". Really like this one!

Now to repair that harness on my '08 and prep her for sale.

ooOOOooo congrats on your 2013 but of course.... :worthless:

Okay, fine.

Queue one crappy cell phone pic of an X5 that needs to be washed. LOL But it'll look a lot better pretty soon, getting the windows tinted correctly at this writing and then a bath later today. :D

Sweet! I love it with the M Sport package! Congratulations!

Thanks! We're loving it too.

Now to figure out the CIC settings and combox too! Keeps dropping the BT connection to my phone while on a call, then just forgets the phone altogether. Talking to Connected Drive they stated I need a new Combox anyhow for that service to work again so thinking I may go that way instead of installing my NBT that I have on the shelf. Don't know for sure yet, because the NBT will still cost me a bit for re-programming to work with the 2013. But if a replacement Combox fixes the bluetooth issue too, better to just replace.

Or if I can figure out how to reset/clear the CIC of prior addresses, phones, etc... and see if that fixes my problem too.

Like I said, you have to learn it all over again.

Update on my 4.8i: Got the harness in to replace on the X5 and took off the wiring box cover. Guess what I find? This has been done before? A couple of wires are bent in a fashion that could have some broken strands inside that could cause an intermittent short. But just wondering if this replacement connector (one that's installed currently) could go bad a second time? I guess its possible but a bit confusing if you ask me.

Since I have the part and can't return it, I am going to go ahead and install, but does anyone have any further insight, thoughts or suggestions?

Whoa that is bizarre. You got pics?

Yes, here's a pic of the current setup and the arrow points at the two wires that have pretty strong bends in them.

Okay, finished installing the new harness. Performed Throttle Body reset procedure. During the procedure, the AWD and DSC warning message decided to display on the screen. The one that states: "4x4 system and DSC have malfunctioned. Limited driving stability. Drive moderately. Have the system checked by your nearest BMW center."

First thought was "CRAP!!!" Decided to go ahead and start it to move it from the driveway and prepare to scan again to see if all of the errors were back. Started and the active steering initializing message appears so I turn the wheels to the left, then right and back to center. Message goes away. Have two additional messages on the OBC (1. time date error from having battery disconnected and 2. low washer fluid) so I decide to correct those two real quick and shut off the X5.

After I reset the time/date and put in washer fluid (couldn't do blinker fluid cause mine was expired LOL) and started her up again. Lo and behold the AWD/DSC message is gone, throttle response is actually better than ever and seems to maybe be the fix I needed. Only drove a couple of miles, but still need to go through the test of driving to work and coming home in my commuter stop and go traffic.

In the mornings I don't have any traffic to speak of and can be at 70 to 80 the whole way into work. But on the way home, a good 10 to 25 miles of my 39-mile trip is stop and go. That is when it would go into limp mode, about 25 minuted into stop and go traffic. Fortunately, I have my diagnostic cable in this X5 and my laptop has ISTA/D and ISTA/P so I can scan and/or reset on the side of the freeway.

Not my favorite way to commute, but it'll do for the moment. Again, I hope this was the fix and I can then just clean her up and sell her.

Congrats! Looks like mine but missing two cylinders??
Did you air-drop that car into that little parking area? No way you maneuvered that in there without running over your shrubs!

No shrubs were harmed in the parking of the BMW. We always park a car there as we already have two in the garage. My E38, Either of the X5's or my wife's Passat. Not to mention our E36's when I need to work on them.

Just get used to a proper parallel park. :D

Sweet! Good to know that finally the error is gone and just like you I hope that was the fix! By the way, I used to live in the bay area, Pacifica, Belmont, Sunnyvale and Tracy. I used to commute to SF from Belmont and Tracy to San Jose at one point. A lot worse now than before?

Much much worse. Doing the Tracy to Fremont commute now and since I leave in the mornings around 0330, traffic isn't too bad. But commute home from 1400 on and its stop and go on 680 from Mission Bl. (South end), over the Sunol grade and all the way to 84 to head to Livermore.

I stay on the freeway and then across on 580 which gets worse over the Altamont too.

Moved from the tri-valley to the Central Valley to get more house for the money, but the commute changes over the last couple of years is ruining that!

Can only hope that this was the fix, but if not I think the next step would be the throttle body and/or the accelerator pedal. Hate just throwing parts, but no diagnostic is proving one over the other either.

I bought my house in Lathrop in 2009 when everything was down and have been doing that commute and I used to leave home around 4ish and get off work at 3:30. Yeah Fremont man around the Frys electronics area and before 84 was a nightmare most of the time. Then yeah there is the Altamont Pass. Put 150K miles/year on my daily driver before and I was burned out. Took equity and decided to just take it and moved here in Denver. I work from home now.

Just a quick update, since this one isn't my daily driver, haven't been able to fully verify if this repair was the solution. But drove it to/from work yesterday and the 15 or so miles of stop and go traffic on my way home would cause the fault to return. Happy to say ran perfectly, no errors and even stopped to get the smog check done after returning to town and passed without issue.

Will drive it a few more times next week and if yesterday is any example, then I'd say this repair is a success.

Nice to hear 740is!

Well, damn! Since my '13 3.5i decided to spring a leak from what appears to be the expansion tank, I decided to drive the '08 over the last couple of weeks as a daily driver. Wife and I decided to keep it as our dog transport vehicle.

But on the way home yesterday, no messages on the OBC, but felt like I was losing power, so pulled over and decided to scan. Got the following:

002B70 DME: Variable intake system activation
0055D0 Message (steering wheel angle, 0xC4) error, receiver VTG, transmitter DSC
00604E RDC: RDC system
006057 RDC: Wheel electronics, rear right
006140 AL: Redundancy comparison, driver's steering angle
006EC4 DSC: steering-angle sensor, adjustment
00A6CF JBE: AUC sensor
00A6F3 CCC-A: Coding data error
00E723 No message (condensation sensor, 0x2D1), receiver integrated automatic heating
00E729 No message (automatic air recirculation control sensor, 0x2D0), receiver integrated

So another litany of errors and on the ISTA/D all show "No" under the Existent column with the exception of the two regarding the RDC. Anyone think that those errors are my actual issue causing yesterday's loss of power? After scanning and clearing (since I couldn't "fix" anything on the side of the road) it drove just fine the rest of the way home and back to work again this morning.

Any help is appreciated!

As an update: on the way home yesterday, got the limp home mode enacted again. This time there were some different codes as well as a couple repeats:

0055C3 VTG: AWD limp-home control activates. No DSC specified nominal torque
005F77 DSC: Engine management: interface
00604E RDC: RDC system
006057 RDC: Wheel electronics, rear right
00A6F3 CCC-A: Coding data error
00E723 No message (condensation sensor, 0x2D1), receiver integrated automatic heating.

As you can see, the RDC errors are becoming consistent and when I got home decided to scan again and only code that reappeared in the 20 miles home was again the RDC error. Starting to think this may be a bad right rear ABS wheel speed sensor. Any additional thoughts?

You maybe onto something with the RR speed sensor. They can cause all kinds of problems. I installed one without looking at the part number (looked like a duck walked like a duck) and I thought I had problems before installing.. To summarize I installed the proper wheel speed sensor with correct PN and all was well.

Agree. Seems like a reasonable guess. Do all the other codes clear, and only the wheel speed sensor stuff stays?? (No real clear pattern in those...)

Pretty much. The ones that return most often are:

00604E RDC: RDC system
006057 RDC Wheel electronics, rear right
00A6f3 CCC-A: Coding data error
00E723 No message (condensation sensor,k 0x2D1) receiver integrated automatic heating
00E729 Message automatic air recirculation control sensor. 0x2D0, receiver integrated.

But the RDC system and RDC Wheel electronics, rear right are there every time. I am wondering if when I did my brake job a few months ago (August) and replaced the brake sensor if I somehow damaged the wiring for the ABS Sensor. Planning on taking the wheel off and inspecting this weekend.

Just to bring this one up to date, replaced the wheel speed sensor a couple of months back and turns out that wasn't the issue. The RDC issue was actually pointing at the TPMS system. Just replaced the right rear transceiver in the wheel well and the primary receiver of the frame rail under the drivers door.

But in all honesty (as it will take me a bit to get it tested thoroughly) I'm not certain this will fully resolve the issue. Reason I say, is this generation of TPMS system seems to be known for breaking down or simply put, being a piece of crap! Plus it looks like the primary receiver has been replaced before too. So I'll have to wait and see.

I'd love to program this system off and use FTM instead. I've seen the programming instructions using software I don't have. So I have to figure it out in ISTA D/P and see if I can make that change.