[Processing61]

So as you can see above I have a Christmas light display appearing just in time for Christmas, a little early for my liking. Anyway;

So I had a full service, two new stats fitted and remap yesterday and as I was driving home suddenly all of the warning lights mentioned in title (DSC, DBC, FTM, Cruise Control, Start assistant) came on. Also around two days a go I span out on a roundabout, luckily only going 15/20mph (I blame budget tyres) and front and rear wheels on passenger side went into a slanted curb, not very tall. Impacted was pretty minimal. So I’m not sure if something could’ve been disturbed while my car was being worked on in the garage, or the impact with the curb or just a random fault which was caused by nothing.

So I tried to clear all the codes (some would not budge) and scanned again to see what was left. Everything seems to point towards the rear right abs sensor. So today I replaced the rear right abs sensor, unfortunately this didn’t do anything. I believe my sensor type is the magnetic type, not the type which has the ring on the drive shaft.

I went to motor parts direct and picked up this sensor: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F401443285255

So I’m trying to figure out if 1, this is the correct sensor? And 2, could this be a crap cheap sensor which is potentially defective? From what I have been reading a defective ABS sensor can cause all of the problems I’m having. So because of the code being “005E40” I am thinking it could still be the ABS.

If anyone had had a similar problem, what did they do? Or if you can see anything from the errors that I can’t, please let me know? I have been wondering if it could be to do with wheel angle sensor as well.

Please see picture of errors on BMW dash and the report from Carly with my errors. Any help is appreciated, thank you!

[Andystobbs]

That's a hell of a lot of words for one fault code in DSC and doesn't really do much to narrow it down. What are your live data readings like in DSC?

[Processing61]

Originally Posted by Andystobbs

That's a hell of a lot of words for one fault code in DSC and doesn't really do much to narrow it down. What are your live data readings like in DSC?

I think the problem is sorted now. My words are wasted

[Processing61]

UPDATE:

So my friend has a pretty good Delphi diagnostic tool, he used the tool to do a steering wheel alignment calibration and that seemed to get rid of all my problems. I’m not sure if the rear right abs sensor replacement helped as well as it did have a error code for that.

So far so good. I will update in the future if the problem comes back/stays away.

[Andystobbs]

Originally Posted by Berger96

I think the problem is sorted now. My words are wasted

I didn't mean you personally, I was referring to the fault code definition. Good its done .

[Processing61]

Originally Posted by Andystobbs

I didn't mean you personally, I was referring to the fault code definition. Good its done .

A lot of words either way! Unfortunately all the error lights have come back. Such a weird fault as I guess it could be steering wheel angle sensor, it could be abs sensor (one or the other which could cause all faults) or it could be the abs module itself I’m guessing. Not sure where to start. Maybe check live readings as you have said. Is there a way on Carly to check each individual wheel speed?

[Processing61]

UPDATE: The problems are back.

If anyone has any advice on the above, where to start? Or how to diagnose more accurately? That would be much appreciated!

[eugenecp]

When I encountered these errors after a front suspension refresh, I just had a 4 wheel alignment and cleared the codes.

[therealdb1]

Since your car has had intimate relations with a curb it makes sense to get an alignment check done soonest anyway just for peace of mind.

Secondly I would not trust any sensor that came from ebay, been there, done that and printed the T-shirt.
Non-OEM sensors have a habit of not being fully compatible with BMW's almost as if the car's brain knows it's not a genuine part and rejects it. They can cause all sorts of problems even if they appear to be perfectly functional but sensors are always an item where I bite the bullet and buy the proper replacement.

[Processing61]

Originally Posted by eugenecp

When I encountered these errors after a front suspension refresh, I just had a 4 wheel alignment and cleared the codes.

That sounds promising. When I bought the car I noticed the steering wheel was off centre when driving straight. I’m having the alignment done tomorrow.

When you say 4 wheel alignment, was it a true 4 wheel alignment? As the place I’m going tomorrow said they align the front wheels to the rears and don’t touch the rears. Is that what you had done?

I don’t know too much about wheel alignment so I’m unsure if some garages equipment is able to do 4 wheels, some only front? Or if it’s not possible on these cars to adjust the rears and can only align the fronts?

[Processing61]

Originally Posted by therealdb1

Since your car has had intimate relations with a curb it makes sense to get an alignment check done soonest anyway just for peace of mind.

Secondly I would not trust any sensor that came from ebay, been there, done that and printed the T-shirt.
Non-OEM sensors have a habit of not being fully compatible with BMW's almost as if the car's brain knows it's not a genuine part and rejects it. They can cause all sorts of problems even if they appear to be perfectly functional but sensors are always an item where I bite the bullet and buy the proper replacement.

😂. Well I got the part from motor parts direct, but I found a link to an eBay listing. But still, it’s cheap. What is the price of a genuine one?

I did see a Pagid brand sensor on euro car parts for £80. Are they any better?

[eugenecp]

Originally Posted by Berger96

That sounds promising. When I bought the car I noticed the steering wheel was off centre when driving straight. I’m having the alignment done tomorrow.

When you say 4 wheel alignment, was it a true 4 wheel alignment? As the place I’m going tomorrow said they align the front wheels to the rears and don’t touch the rears. Is that what you had done?

I don’t know too much about wheel alignment so I’m unsure if some garages equipment is able to do 4 wheels, some only front? Or if it’s not possible on these cars to adjust the rears and can only align the fronts?

Not really sure if they just do fronts but I saw the numbers change across all four. I would recommend an alignment since you spun and hit some areas.

[therealdb1]

Originally Posted by Berger96

😂. Well I got the part from motor parts direct, but I found a link to an eBay listing. But still, it’s cheap. What is the price of a genuine one?

I did see a Pagid brand sensor on euro car parts for £80. Are they any better?

No idea how much an E90 ABS sensor is. I cannot remember how much I paid when I changed them on the Z3 as that was years ago.

Speak to Cotswold BMW via this forum and they will discount the genuine BMW part and post it to you.

[therealdb1]

Originally Posted by eugenecp

Not really sure if they just do fronts but I saw the numbers change across all four. I would recommend an alignment since you spun and hit some areas.

Most tyre shops will only adjust the fronts because they do not have the kit to check all four wheels. There are more specialist places around that can check all four wheels. Do a websearch if no one on here can recomend someone in your area. Not sure where in Suffolk you are but a quick search online throws up Balgores Motors in Sudbury or BSE and Treadfirst Tyres with branches in Stowmarket, Bury St. Edmunds, Saffron Walden, Diss, Haverhill and Sudbury.

The caveat is these are not recommendations as I have not used their services but it shows that places are around even way over here in Anglia!

In this case it would be prudent to do all four because irrespective if the rear can be adjusted or not something may be bent and the wheel is not correctly aligned which will cause you problems.

[Andystobbs]

Standard laser tracking gauges are meant for rear wheel use too. Infact step 1 of successfully tracking a vehicle with laser gauges is to measure (adjust if required) the thrust angle of the rear axle. Then the gauges are used up front for the part we all know as tracking adjustment. The end result when done this way is still a four wheel alignment. Though it becomes a full geometry when camber is added to the checks.

[Processing61]

Originally Posted by therealdb1

Most tyre shops will only adjust the fronts because they do not have the kit to check all four wheels. There are more specialist places around that can check all four wheels. Do a websearch if no one on here can recomend someone in your area. Not sure where in Suffolk you are but a quick search online throws up Balgores Motors in Sudbury or BSE and Treadfirst Tyres with branches in Stowmarket, Bury St. Edmunds, Saffron Walden, Diss, Haverhill and Sudbury.

The caveat is these are not recommendations as I have not used their services but it shows that places are around even way over here in Anglia!

In this case it would be prudent to do all four because irrespective if the rear can be adjusted or not something may be bent and the wheel is not correctly aligned which will cause you problems.

Brilliant, thanks.

I’m not far from Great Yarmouth. I have found a place called ‘Kirkley Run discount Tyres and Wheels’ on Southgates road. I don’t know much about this place but the reviews are good and they do offer four wheel alignment so I will give them a try.

[Processing61]

Originally Posted by Andystobbs

Standard laser tracking gauges are meant for rear wheel use too. Infact step 1 of successfully tracking a vehicle with laser gauges is to measure (adjust if required) the thrust angle of the rear axle. Then the gauges are used up front for the part we all know as tracking adjustment. The end result when done this way is still a four wheel alignment. Though it becomes a full geometry when camber is added to the checks.

Thanks for the explanation. Makes a bit more sense now!

[therealdb1]

Originally Posted by Berger96

Brilliant, thanks.

I’m not far from Great Yarmouth. I have found a place called ‘Kirkley Run discount Tyres and Wheels’ on Southgates road. I don’t know much about this place but the reviews are good and they do offer four wheel alignment so I will give them a try.

The guys at Kirkley are always helpful and they are not the most expensive either.

Southtown Road branch is behind the petrol station so you might miss it on the first drive past or you may find the Lowestoft branch is more convenient for you located in Kirkley Run surprisingly!

[therealdb1]

Originally Posted by Andystobbs

Standard laser tracking gauges are meant for rear wheel use too. Infact step 1 of successfully tracking a vehicle with laser gauges is to measure (adjust if required) the thrust angle of the rear axle. Then the gauges are used up front for the part we all know as tracking adjustment. The end result when done this way is still a four wheel alignment. Though it becomes a full geometry when camber is added to the checks.

You would want caster done too in a full alignment.

[Processing61]

Originally Posted by therealdb1

The guys at Kirkley are always helpful and they are not the most expensive either.

Southtown Road branch is behind the petrol station so you might miss it on the first drive past or you may find the Lowestoft branch is more convenient for you located in Kirkley Run surprisingly!

Annoyingly their machine at Southtown road branch was broken so they couldn’t do it. The branch in Lowestoft only do the fronts. I have it booked in at auto test in Norwich on Monday. The wait continues

[Processing61]

So no luck today; Southtown road branch’s machine was broken. I spent a while ringing around and turns out finding a place that does a proper full four wheel alignment isn’t that easy.

I have it booked in on Monday at Autotest in Norwich. They aren’t the cheapest but offer the full four wheel alignment, they use Bosch equipment I believe. They are also very close to where I had the service, remap work etc. and can bring it to them after to have a look if it still doesn’t get rid of my problems. Will update you all on Monday night

[Andystobbs]

Originally Posted by therealdb1

You would want caster done too in a full alignment.

In reality there are numerous other checks that would be nice, such as set back to name one. But not all cars have that much adjustment.