Quote:
Originally Posted by TruthSeeker
After doing some digging, research, and consultation, I found the following.
It appears that member arguru, when he took his car in mid/late December to the other BMW dealer (not the PENSKE one), the car was diagnosed as experiencing Fault Code 61125579UW.
After some quick google-ing and consultation, Fault Code 61125579UW is for a
Bracket steering column switch (coil spring cartridge/ctrl unit steering column switch cluster 61125579)
The fault code can be found here and it is indeed related to the steering column.
http://fritzdooley.com/bmw/_servicecodes6.html
After further research, googling, e90post searching, and consultation, this fault code seems to be attributed to a SZL fault or Steering Angle Sensor Issue. When I inquired about this issue with someone knowledgeable, this should not have any effect on the loss of steering as arguru experienced.
Below pictures are the service history of argurus car which points out the note in which the error was found as well as the diagnostic note.
That said, since arguru states that his car was first taken to North Scottsdale BMW/PENSKE Dealership, this proves (in my opinion) that they misdiagnosed the issue b/c they only cleared the codes and did not diagnose the SZL issue as arguru stated. However, based on what I said above, this does not explain the loss of steering that member arguru experienced. Whether or not the two are related, I do not know, but after research and consultation, it appears the two are separate, and the SZL error would not cause a loss in steering. However, that is up for debate and I’m no expert in the matter.
That said, according to the service history below, the SZL issue has been address and fixed. But the loss of steering issue has yet to be determined and may or may not be a further issue. Again, if it is related to the SZL issue, then that is up for debate. Also the question from fellow e90post members of a potential flaw in Active Steering has not been addressed either.
Lastly, I am not member arguru, just a concerned citizen
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Everyone keeps saying that the Steering Angle Sensor Fault would not
cause the issue arguru allegedly experienced.
No one seems to consider the possibility that the issue arguru experienced may have
caused the steering angle sensor fault.
In our electronic cars, the computer doesn't know everything; it only knows what it senses, and it can only sense things where sensors are installed.
From a logical standpoint (not specifically based on BMW mechanics), an impending mechanical failure may cause some electronic fault indirectly.
Many of us BMW customers have taken an issue to the dealer only to be told "no faults stored" in the on board computer; therefore the vehicle is OK. This is a fallacy. Car mechanics have fallen victim to this assumption and consumers have largely bought it hook, line, and sinker. There are fewer and computer mechanics who can actually "diagnose" a problem by its symptoms instead of being directly told what problem exists by a computer.
Having an appropriate fault code stored
requires ALL of the following, any break in the chain and you may have a problem with no code- There is a sensor in the malfunctioning system
- That sensor is capable of detecting the fault being experienced
- The sensor has been installed in a way that can detect that fault
- The fault is one associated with a "code" - which incidentally means it must be something BMW has "considered" possible to occur. (<----This is key, If BMW anticipated the possibility of catastrophic steering failure, they would have changed the design MECHANICALLY, not put a sensor in to detect a failure and a code to report it. Thus, EVEN if everything the OP says is true, you would likely never see a code for such a failure)
- The malfunction has occurred in such a way to trigger the sensor
- ..etc (you get the point).
In arguru's case he had an electronic symptom (of something: maybe mechanical failure, maybe a simple sensor failure) in the steering system. It is certainly possible had he not been sent home prematurely, this issue may have been caught if it existed at the time. The mechanic may have gone to install a new sensor, or something of the like, and gone "Holy F-balls" your steering column is sheared in half (exaggeration for effect).
Dealers owe their customers a duty of care, it appears that duty may not have been met based on the facts above, if true. Whether that failure to meet the duty care was a cause of arguru's crash remains TBD, but the possibility is certainly there.