[ACEE]

Ok....so the car has been good....today I get in it: 1) it hesitates to start, after starting 2) it gives me a DBC malfunction warning...3) it seemed as if my display on my dash was reset as if the battery was unplugged. So I cut the car off and started it again, thinking it was fluke. Well it did it again....1) hesitated pretty bad, 2) gave me a ABS malfunction 3) it seemed as if my display on my dash was reset as if the battery was unplugged. I let it run for a while then check control and service from the menu, and there was no warning or anything. So I started again, it hesitated but no warning. About 30 mins later I parked at walmart, when I got back 1) it hesitated, 2) gave me a below freezing warning, and DBC warning but this time 3) dash display stayed that same. After I made it to my destination, I started it 3 times in a row and it 1) hesitated, 2) gave me an ABS Malfunction warning 3) dash stayed the same. Can anyone help???

Only thing I could think of for hesitation is I need to change spark plugs...last time I went to dealer for my last oil change they said the system was saying it was almost time for plugs and air filter to be changed. It kinda starts like a car with a bad or died battery...maybe that??? But wouldn't I get a battery warning??? Besides that I don't know anything else. I have ALMOST 60K miles. And according to my car it is time for normal service. Please don't say take it to service, I'm out of warranty and trying to avoid going to the dealer.

[JamesM3M5]

Going to have to go to a shop to get checked for codes or scan yourself with a BT tool. What is a DBC error?

[ACEE]

DBC = Dynamic Braking Control

[tres]

I had those same lights once but the car ran fine it turned out to be the steering angle sensor

[ACEE]

I've been reading, and thats what it looks like...your remember about how much it cost to get fixed?? Did you have a hesitation when you first tried to start it?

[ACEE]

so...I just go a "Start up assistance" warning now....so it sounds like a SAS (steering angle sensor) we shall see

[Jon335iFL]

Originally Posted by tres

I had those same lights once but the car ran fine it turned out to be the steering angle sensor

+1 me to.


Go to service OP

[JamesM3M5]

Originally Posted by ACEE

DBC = Dynamic Braking Control

Ah, I'm having a "duh" moment here. Thanks.

[ACEE]

Originally Posted by JamesM3M5

Ah, I'm having a "duh" moment here. Thanks.

I didn't know what i meant either...and neither did a few guys I asked...I looked it up.

So I took it to the shop and they said so far its the battery. Battery was only holding 10 volts and 8 volts under a load. So hopefully thats all.

[JamesM3M5]

No battery warning in the instrument cluster? I sat engine off radio on for 5 minutes and got a battery indicator on the dash. Sure enough, it was original.

There is the IBS - intelligent battery sensor - that one of the body modules uses to monitor battery charge and usage. The ECU also logs battery replacement so it can use a more aggressive charge profile on old batteries. You must register battery replacement or the aggressive charge profile for an old battery can overcharge and quickly ruin (3-6 months) a new battery from overcharging.

Sometimes the IBS goes bad, too. I don't know what fault codes are teh telltale, though. The IBS is part of the battery ground cable, about $150.

[ACEE]

yes thats that the shop said they had to do the CIP or something for the new battery to let the ECU know it was a new battery.

[JamesM3M5]

Originally Posted by ACEE

yes thats that the shop said they had to do the CIP or something for the new battery to let the ECU know it was a new battery.

Sounds like you have a good shop.

[ACEE]

ok so the shop changed the battery and I drove it today...and well everything looks like its going to be ok. Idk if this is good but he said I have a 900?? battery in there, but they put a 1000?? battery in it...but coded it for a 900?? battery so I would never push the battery to the max....

[boostaholic786]

Personally, I would get what ever the dealer calls for the battery. I dont know what 1000 and the 900 means but just sounds kinda awkward... but then again, Im not a battery expert either. If I was you I would put an OEM battery from the BMW house.... just my 2cents

[ACEE]

well they said it was a more then comparable battery. And this shop have been in business many years with a great reputation, I personally know the tech that works there, so I trust he knows what he is doing since he has worked on previous vehicle of mine with good results. I was told a battery is a battery as long as it is coded correctly so the vehicle knows that it is a NEW battery.

[rkmm3]

I had this problem and it was fixed after i cleaned the wheel speed sensors on the left side of my car front and back with water and a lil soap.

the lights went away after i started rolling forward about ~8.5948 feet

I didnt have to lift the car just turned the wheel and for the back got up underneath it.

allen key to do remove them.

I have an E90 335i 2008

this was useful:

See item 7 below for front:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...94&hg=31&fg=10

See item 20 below for rear:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...30&hg=33&fg=3

[klipseracer]

Had the same problem. It was the battery. DBC, DSC, etc errors. Finicky battery produces very weird but partially operating vehicle symptoms. DBC/DSC is affected by the steering wheel sensor because if the car doesn't know which way the wheels are pointed, the stability controls aren't accurate. But when it comes to flickering Christmas tree HUD etc, usually battery related. In my case, the pyrotechnic charge on the battery was blown from an accident but it still made a connection sometimes so it worked fine for a long time then stopped working all the time, just depending on if the battery had wiggled a little.

[e92stance]

Originally Posted by ACEE

DBC = Dynamic Braking Control

Had dbc, dsc and start-off assistance lights on after a DME update on my e92 335 lci msport 6mt. Just brought it to dealer today, weird though. Light went off and haven't had it for a day but either way I was concerned. Happened at about 60mph while coasting literally.

[kirkhayes]

Originally Posted by klipseracer

Had the same problem. It was the battery. DBC, DSC, etc errors. Finicky battery produces very weird but partially operating vehicle symptoms. DBC/DSC is affected by the steering wheel sensor because if the car doesn't know which way the wheels are pointed, the stability controls aren't accurate. But when it comes to flickering Christmas tree HUD etc, usually battery related. In my case, the pyrotechnic charge on the battery was blown from an accident but it still made a connection sometimes so it worked fine for a long time then stopped working all the time, just depending on if the battery had wiggled a little.

I had this problem start 2 days ago and it progressively got worse, to the point that the last several times I started my car, it took forever to start, threw all the errors, and essentially placed the car in 2nd gear no matter what I did.

At first I was thinking it might be the steering sensor after reading all the posts, but then I realized that I got multiple warnings starting with the DBC Malfunction, then followed by DSC. I figured it must be weak battery and I did like several of the other posters did. I went to O'Rielly's and purchased a new battery. 20 minutes later and now my car is fine. Let's see if this holds up.

[scottp999]

Originally Posted by kirkhayes

I had this problem start 2 days ago and it progressively got worse, to the point that the last several times I started my car, it took forever to start, threw all the errors, and essentially placed the car in 2nd gear no matter what I did.

At first I was thinking it might be the steering sensor after reading all the posts, but then I realized that I got multiple warnings starting with the DBC Malfunction, then followed by DSC. I figured it must be weak battery and I did like several of the other posters did. I went to O'Rielly's and purchased a new battery. 20 minutes later and now my car is fine. Let's see if this holds up.

Good. Yes, those are all symptoms of a battery issue. I made a few posts 3+ years ago about all the crazy things that were happening when I was using a marginal light weight battery. All went away when I went back to the original battery.

I just replaced the original with a new factory battery a couple of months ago. Everyone with a 2007-08 should think about proactively getting a new battery at this point.

[jbnery6465]

I've experienced a similar issue today except I didn't get the "ABS" error so I don't think it was a full DSC failure, but this is what I got:
- Active Steering Defective
- Drive Off Assistant Failure
- Suspension Control System Failure
- TPMS Failure
The warning lights are gone when restart the car but will turn on after several minutes of driving. However this afternoon in addition to the above warning lamps coming on, the following 2 things start happening:
- The radio would power off and on sporadically
- Around the same time, the RPM needle would drop to 0 and the "ABS" warning lamp/red "Brake" light would flash on. As soon as the radio came back on, the "ABS" lamp was gone and the "Brake" light went back to orange.

I'll be pulling codes in the morning, but does this seem more like a 'battery' issue?