[OrangeDiesel]

Hi all. Regretfully I damaged my steering rack, specifically the EPS control unit, and have been facing misery over the last 3 weeks trying to get my power steering working again.

My understanding is after replacing the steering rack you need to code the unit. I was hoping to get some more specifics on how to do this for an E Series vehicle with the diagnostic software - I've been struggling to find much information on this since info is more abundant for F cars. I'm still very new to the BMW tools but from what I understand, you have to get the unit's ZUSB/ZB number from the Ident or UIF section under the Functional Jobs in INPA, then put it in WinKFP and try to program your car's VIN to the EPS unit.

- Is the procedure as I described correct? I would be very grateful for more of a granular step-by-step.
- My major gripe is I have connected two other steering rack motors so far and I haven't been able to see the EPS module (I believe it shows as "D_EPS") in INPA. This is why I'm wondering if I'm running off an assumption that this section of INPA will even show the module before it's programmed and if I'm going about this wrong way. From what I've read I don't think there's another way to get the ZUSB without going through Identification in INPA or Tool32. I've also tried to go directly into the Electric Power Steering section under Chassis but it says there's no response from the control unit with both racks.

For what it's worth, I've fetched the E89 SP-daten files from BimmerGeeks and imported them with the BMW Coding Tool program.

I am pondering the possibility of the connections or fuses for the power steering system being damaged. One of the cables took very minor damage (small piercing through plastic with one or two severed copper strands poking out, all electric-taped up now) but I don't think it's the problem. I think there could be a connection or grounding point I might be missing - I've been focused on the 3 cables running to the control unit. My friend took every fuse out the glove compartment fuse box and inspected them for blow signs - he also said there was no fuse inside for numbers 05, 49, and 75 but this is probably because I have the wrong fuse table since this is _also_ an area I've struggled to find solid info on due to car variations etc... I think there might also be a fuse for the EPS inside the red rear power distribution panel but I'll need to do more research on opening it up to get at the fuses. I might take my multimeter to the three connectors for the rack and see if I can observe anything.

Any direction on this conundrum would be deeply appreciated - it's been a bit of a depressing struggle so far for a fresh DIY mechanic, and the train to work doesn't help! I gather I'll need to code it anyway even if any physical connection issue is fixed so it would be great to get more specific info out there for fellow E9X owners Hopefully I'll be able to sort this and other niggles out myself with persistence and some elbow grease and save up for the eventual reluctant indie visit (I've yet to try one out near me). Thank you for reading.

[Mkraftjay]

OrangeDiesel

Did you manage to find a solution to your EPS issue ?

The Steering rack will communicate straight away after plug in.
We have had issues with Faulty "New" Racks !

My Recommendation to replacement
- Ramp/Support Vehicle with Access to the Steering Rack & remove undertray & front wheels
- Disconnect Battery with Steering wheel in the straight position & Lock in place
- Remove Rack Connectors (when removing the large power plug, check the earth wire which routes to the o/s front chassis leg! Remove 13mm nut and clean contact regardless!)
- Drop Rack front two bolts & Track rod ends.
- Release Pinch Bolt I'm steering column
- Remove Rack
- Swap over Track Rods & Install.
- Connect battery up very last & connect code reader, gain access to EPS, code via NCS or ISTA (others may work)
- Check Alignment & road test !

[OrangeDiesel]

Mkraftjay

Apologies for the late response, I do appreciate you getting back. I really should have updated this thread when finding the solution, poor forum etiquette on my part.

I really mucked about with fixing this one, went about it like a complete amateur lol. But you live and you learn... Bought two steering racks for no reason. Transplanted the control unit from one onto my one needlessly. Broke my airbag clock spring by spinning the wheel when it was disconnected from the steering column. My mate put the fuse for the EKP in the wrong place too, I shudder to think about all the dry cranking I did. Quite funny in retrospect but was complete and utter pain at the time.

I'll expose my full stupidity here. The way I had originally damaged the rack was because my jacking point was a little bit off by like an inch or something. It slipped then hit the rack's control unit which is what broke out. What I didn't know is that this actually created a short as well which was the bane of my life for while. How I wound up fixing this (including replacing/repairing the rack) was going on BMW TIS and looking into how exactly the EPS system is laid out. I discovered that since it's quite a high-power system, it also has a fuse in the red power distribution panel on top of the battery in the back. I took out this panel and did a continuity test on each fuse...boom, the EPS fuse was blown. Replaced the fuse panel, did all my programming and whatnot, got it sorted

I had an issue for a bit afterwards with needing to calibrate my steering sensor alignment or something like that everytime after the battery was disconnected, by full locking the steering wheel in each direction. After doing that the car steered more normally and would automatically switch off the indicators when turning. I reckon this was because of a host of DSC/ABS issues I had created from breaking the clock spring and some other stuff.

Hope this helps somebody. Although it probably won't since it was a unique set of circumstances spawned from my idiocy.

[Antlyth87]

Hi could you tell me which fuse was the right one please? I’m having a similar problem and cannot find the relevant info online due to varying boxes used on these cars within the same model range

[OrangeDiesel]

Originally Posted by Antlyth87

Hi could you tell me which fuse was the right one please? I’m having a similar problem and cannot find the relevant info online due to varying boxes used on these cars within the same model range

Hi mate, it wound up being one of the fuses in the rear power distribution panel that sits on top of the battery. The fuses in the glovebox were fine. I had to replace the whole power distribution panel.

Was a bit tricky to find the fuse info for me too. Perhaps try checking TPS and realoem.

[Antlyth87]

Originally Posted by OrangeDiesel

Hi mate, it wound up being one of the fuses in the rear power distribution panel that sits on top of the battery. The fuses in the glovebox were fine. I had to replace the whole power distribution panel.

Was a bit tricky to find the fuse info for me too. Perhaps try checking TPS and realoem.

Much appreciated thanks 🙂

[nick9one1]

I wish I'd seen this post a few weeks ago. I also damaged my EPS motor with a jack slipping!

Rather than replace the whole rack, I pulled off the motor and swapped that out. I couldn't understand why I was seeing no communication errors in ISTA. But like you, eventually discovered the EPS fuse in the boot had blown.

I now have power to the rack and it is communicating. Unfortunately the power steering isnt working correctly. There is definitely some assistance but its very uneven. The best way I can describe it is 'lumpy'.