[bimz]

Hello all,

I apologize in advance for the long post.

I just picked up a 2006 330i 6MT Sport Pkg with Active Steering last week, with just under 60,000 miles or 100,000 km, 2nd owner car. I bought it privately and it has an aftermarket warranty (from a fairly reputable source in Canada). I paid to have it inspected by a BMW dealer and test driven prior to purchase.

I have done a search on this topic and there are no conclusive answers.

The first day I took ownership I took it for a boot, not pushing it too hard however. I get onto the highway reach around 120-130 kph in 5th gear the following warning lights come on and the cruise control system will not work.









Everyday I have driven the car on the highway I get the same error lights. However when I shut off the car and restart it the error lights come on, the handbrake light changes from red to yellow as I drop the handbrake, and as soon as I drive off they all go away.

I also got the first owner's service history, as I plowed through the pages I found that he had the same issue in 2007 and the driver rear wheel sensor and bearing were changed.

I took the car to the dealer this morning and they have diagnosed it as the the other side (passenger) wheel sensor and wheel bearing.

The mechanic that did the report informed me that his computer told him that the sensor and bearing needed to be changed but I could just change the sensor and do a process of elimination.

My SA is going to contact the warranty company to see if the repairs are covered.

The car is wonderful aside from this issue, this is my first BMW after years of lusting for one. This has been a disappointing first experience.

My question is this, has anyone experienced these same codes and had the same repairs done, if not what action did your dealer take? Are the speed sensors a problem on these vehicles and why do they replace the bearing as well? My concern is that it could be the DSC computer.

CN:
- At highway speeds 120-140 kph ABS, DSC, and BRAKE lights come on
- After stopping and restarting car the lights go off
- Service history shows car had similar problem in past, dealer repaired DRIVER speed sensor and wheel bearing
- BMW dealer has told me that the PASSENGER speed sensor and wheel bearing need to be replaced

[doctor_vino]

STEERING COLUMN SENSOR NEEDS TO BE CALIBRATED.........(trust me i know this).......if the sensor needs to be replaced, parts alone is around 700$ get them to try and re-calibrate it first.. it worked for me

did u hit a pothole recently?

[pruettfan]

I have had this exact issue. It was a bad rear wheel bearing and bad ABS wheel sensor. As you note this has been an issue in the past but my guess is it is an issue again. Your dealer is 100% correct.

Since I had my bearing and sensor replaced my problem went away. The job was about 700 bucks which is pretty steep.

[pruettfan]

Originally Posted by doctor_vino

STEERING COLUMN SENSOR NEEDS TO BE CALIBRATED.........(trust me i know this).......if the sensor needs to be replaced, parts alone is around 700$ get them to try and re-calibrate it first.. it worked for me

did u hit a pothole recently?

Sorry, you are wrong on this one. The key is in the speed sensitivity of the problem.

[Homero]

Hi every one, i have a 325i E90 (2007) and its presents the same error, the dealer said to me that its all the sensor (dsc) , the traction controll is not working, the dinamic stability control, and the abs (all this was disconected, since they gave me the replacement of that part (in garantee)....
Saludos desde Mexico....

[Phil335]

Steering angle sensor. Also known as the SZL.

[StoneCold]

It happened to my vehicle as well. Dealer installed steering angle sensor & it did not fix, so they did the re-calibration or alignments & I have not seen it since then.... Knock on wood.
Your call of recalibrate of angle sensor or replace? GL

[bimz]

UPDATE: It was in fact the dsc wheel sensor on the passenger side. They also had to change the wheel bearing, as I understand they are done together.

I have been driving the car for a week and no problems. Fingers crossed.

[wuchao1]

yea that happen to me all the time when I try to do some donuts on snow.. all the lights will just come up and also the transmission malfunction light... then it will just go away after I restart the car...

[gos]

Originally Posted by wuchao1

yea that happen to me all the time when I try to do some donuts on snow.. all the lights will just come up and also the transmission malfunction light... then it will just go away after I restart the car...

That is not normal.

I do donuts in empty parking lots and get nothing other than the DSC flicker indicating loss of traction.

[wuchao1]

Originally Posted by gos

That is not normal.

I do donuts in empty parking lots and get nothing other than the DSC flicker indicating loss of traction.

Really? so should i get my car check by the dealer??

[veenay]

I'm having the exact same issues I took my car into the dealership today they are telling its a bad speed sensor in the rear.

Still waiting to hear the cost from them, car is out of warranty.

[brandons]

Hi guys,

I have the same problem. The same exact lights came up.

Have read through quite a bit on this common problem and it seems to center on the following:

1) Bad wheel speed sensor

2) Bad DSC sensor

3) Bad wheel bearing (magnetic??)

Question is how much is the DSC sensor and the wheel bearing? I feel like I'm playing russian roulette on this one.. trying to strike one that is correct

[pruettfan]

Originally Posted by brandons

Hi guys,

I have the same problem. The same exact lights came up.

Have read through quite a bit on this common problem and it seems to center on the following:

1) Bad wheel speed sensor

2) Bad DSC sensor

3) Bad wheel bearing (magnetic??)

Question is how much is the DSC sensor and the wheel bearing? I feel like I'm playing russian roulette on this one.. trying to strike one that is correct

My repair was covered under my Carmax warranty and was about 800 bucks. The the dsc sensor and ABS sensor are one in the same from what I understand as both are sensing wheel speed and the dsc calculations are done in the computer. The wheel bearing was about 45 bucks but labor was 4-5 hours i think. The issue is narrowing it down to the correct wheel. I am sure it will be in the rear as all of the cases I have heard of are.

Best of luck.

[brandons]

Thank you Sir! I will give it a shot

[orangedawg]

I've got the same errors and the cruise does not work. As for changing the wheel bearing and sensor, does anyone know which wheel sensor controls the cruise? On the e46 (I think that's the one, I read about it on a forum) it is the right rear wheel that determines the cruise. According to the forum (I can't recall which forum it was), the left rear controls the speedo. Anyone know if this is true? Sure would help diagnosising proper sensor to change.

[123Britt]

Took the car in with the same issues & they have replaced the right rear wheel bearing, speed sensor - faults remain & they have contacted BMW technical support for the next move.
.
.
I love my car - but only recommend any BMW to car nuts - cheers.

[John 070]

Frustrating. Took my car in back in Oct. '09, and dealer told me it's normal. I told them no way is that normal, if something happens, you guys would be responsible. All of a sudden they kept my car overnight, did absolutely nothing, and told me the follow day it's normal. Very frustrating dealing with some BMW dealerships. The combination of incompetence and lack of wanting to do warranty work is a molotov cocktail.

[flawlesskid]

i had this happen on my e46. COULD be bad wheel speed sensor, but in my case it was a bad ABS control module. It was about a $1500-$1700 fix.

[jayy178]

yup on my e46 it was the abs module that was broke. I just never fixed it haha

[orangedawg]

ABS modules are cheap to fix and have rebuilt, about $150-$300 depending on module. Go to modulemasters.com to look up your module and cost. Turnaround is about a week and 5 year warranty. It's easy to take off your car. I had to replace one on my audi and am sending mine in to them for my bmw. I have had no problems with my audi since I had mine rebuilt about 3 years ago. It's WAY cheaper than buying a new one and highly recommend doing it.

[flawlesskid]

Originally Posted by jayy178

yup on my e46 it was the abs module that was broke. I just never fixed it haha

<-- Cosign! I only destroyed one set of tires due to brake lockup before i turned the problem over to Performance BMW and got the 335i!