Active Steering Fault!!!

[zeck]

Hi all,
Glad to hear your problem has been solved. Unlike me,the prolem still persist eventhough i've cleaned up the sensor/setting/reset/wheel turning.Seriously i got fedup with this problem. When the problem occured, the steering will turn to the right a little bit so i've to stop the car and wait for bout half and hour to get it back to normal..tired,exhausted and fedup with this so -called ultimate driving machine. The mechanic said this is due to the control unit problem and the cost is around 4k. Pls advise if you have any other suggestions

 

[mashboiler]

Nop.. But our UDM are all brothers..haha[/QUOTE

Where is German Mech

 

[vincent tay]

maybe you should replace your steering angle sensor first

 

[7Heaven]

Happen to my e60 as well recently, sent in for sensor cleaning but failed, and later change the sensor which cost RM2000 + RM300 labour and programming. It solved now.

 

[gimli]

hi guys,
I just want to check, when you get the active steering error message, does your steering wheel become heavy?? Previously when i get the message, the steering wasn't heavy and turning it all the way to the left and right solved the problem. but now, the damn thing is still there .

 

[7Heaven]

Yes, same behavior, may be time to change the sensor as my case.

hi guys,
I just want to check, when you get the active steering error message, does your steering wheel become heavy?? Previously when i get the message, the steering wasn't heavy and turning it all the way to the left and right solved the problem. but now, the damn thing is still there .

- - - Updated - - -

Yes, same behavior, may be time to change the sensor as my case.

hi guys,
I just want to check, when you get the active steering error message, does your steering wheel become heavy?? Previously when i get the message, the steering wasn't heavy and turning it all the way to the left and right solved the problem. but now, the damn thing is still there .

 

[hunter]

Sharing is caring but caring is scaring especially if it BMW. Anyway,something to share with you guys.

I had active steering warning message that appeared on my iDrive almost every alternate day especially after long hours of not starting the car.

One day, my car decided to strike - cannot start. I changed the battery with Bosch S5 100 and problem solved.
Few days later, the active steering warning message getting active on my iDrive - almost everyday it appears on my iDrive. Send to a BMW workshop specialist and was diagnosed with cancer at critical stage - need to perform major operation - replace the $t33ring rack!


Send the car to authorised BMW dealer and told them that my ''BMW Workshop Specialist " suspected that I need to replace my steering rack. They were smiling at me and told me that 530d components normally last longer than its petrol cousin and they doubt that electronic or steering rack has anything to do with the warning message. It seems that they already aware that the active steering issue normally has nothing todo with the rack. But they told me many of them were replaced previously because they were not able to trace the actual root caused.

After 2 days, l collected my car in the evening and it was confirmed that my active steering is ok although their computer reading detected problem with my steering rack - Weird. But they said my battery need to be replaced with original BMW battery . I told them that l just replaced the battery which they aware. But one of their Mechanic told me that it's a common issue among E60- active steering but the root cause has nothing to do with the steering. He advise me to drive from KL to Mallacca and the problem should be solved. If the problem still persist, he told me just replace it with original battery and he guarantee the problem will be solved.

On the same day, I drove to Malaca and come back - something that I enjoy to do and I still love driving 530d which I feel it much better than my company's car-FIO 52Od (but nice to drive in city when you are not in hurry). Since then, no more active steering warning message on my iDrive.

So, if anybody inform you to change steering rack, my advise is to get second opinion from Authorised BMW Dealer and perform rootcause analysis but make sure not from dealer start with A. Then they might inform you to replace the entire car.

 

[Herbert]

Hunter,

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. So did you finally replaced your Bosch battery with the original BMW battery?

 

[hunter]

Hunter,

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. So did you finally replaced your Bosch battery with the original BMW battery?

No. Still using Bosch battery. Probably will get my outside workshop to register the battery. I think the intelligence battery cable system is not intelligence enough to auto register the new battery. I wonder which workshop know how to register none BMW original battery?

 

[BiMmEr78]

I did call M1 Kg Sg Kayu Ara just now and asking to perform the cleaning and so on but they claim they dont do this unless changing the steering angle sensor straight. Can anyone let me know on this

 

[superphuc]

Sharing is caring but caring is scaring especially if it BMW. Anyway,something to share with you guys. I had active steering warning message that appeared on my iDrive almost every alternate day especially after long hours of not starting the car. One day, my car decided to strike - cannot start. I changed the battery with Bosch S5 100 and problem solved. Few days later, the active steering warning message getting active on my iDrive - almost everyday it appears on my iDrive. Send to a BMW workshop specialist and was diagnosed with cancer at critical stage - need to perform major operation - replace the $t33ring rack! Send the car to authorised BMW dealer and told them that my ''BMW Workshop Specialist " suspected that I need to replace my steering rack. They were smiling at me and told me that 530d components normally last longer than its petrol cousin and they doubt that electronic or steering rack has anything to do with the warning message. It seems that they already aware that the active steering issue normally has nothing todo with the rack. But they told me many of them were replaced previously because they were not able to trace the actual root caused. After 2 days, l collected my car in the evening and it was confirmed that my active steering is ok although their computer reading detected problem with my steering rack - Weird. But they said my battery need to be replaced with original BMW battery . I told them that l just replaced the battery which they aware. But one of their Mechanic told me that it's a common issue among E60- active steering but the root cause has nothing to do with the steering. He advise me to drive from KL to Mallacca and the problem should be solved. If the problem still persist, he told me just replace it with original battery and he guarantee the problem will be solved. On the same day, I drove to Malaca and come back - something that I enjoy to do and I still love driving 530d which I feel it much better than my company's car-FIO 52Od (but nice to drive in city when you are not in hurry). Since then, no more active steering warning message on my iDrive. So, if anybody inform you to change steering rack, my advise is to get second opinion from Authorised BMW Dealer and perform rootcause analysis but make sure not from dealer start with A. Then they might inform you to replace the entire car.

hunter,

Many thanks for sharing your experience and 'potential solution'. I have been having the same problem with my 2004 525i with the active steering warning messages, but it usually clears off and the AS usually 'activates' after driving in a straight line for a few hundred metres. I have been living with it for more than 2 years now, since a few BMW Workshop Specialist' were not able to rectify the problem.

Your post is interesting and could not come at a better time since I just changed my battery a few days ago to the one same as yours: Bosch S5 DIN100. I am just wondering from your experience at the authorised dealer (which I assume starts with an "I"), if you could elaborate:

1. Since your post, are you still having the AS warnings, or is it totally gone?
2. How would a diesel E60 have different AS components that "normally last longer than its petrol cousin"?
3. How does the AS failure or warnings relate with battery, or with changing to original BMW battery?
4. Did the 'authorised dealer' do anything to your car prior to suggesting you to drive to Malacca and back?
5. What is the reason for them to suggest the long distance drive, and how is it related to the AS? Also, is there anything specific they asked you to do, e.g. maintain certain speed?
6. How long did you leave your car and how much did they charge you?

Your reply would be greatly appreciated, and I wouldn't mind driving to JB if it could fix my AS problem!

Thanks!

 

[hunter]

My response as follows:

Since your post, are you still having the AS warnings, or is it totally gone?
Totally disappear

How would a diesel E60 have different AS components that "normally last longer than its petrol cousin"?
I have no idea. I just quoted what mechanic said to me.


How does the AS failure or warnings relate with battery, or with changing to original BMW battery?
No idea. Was told something about problem with the car software which unable to determine signal properly from the AS sensor. Any problem with the AS sensor including insufficient watt or electrical surge will be interpreted as AS problem.

Did the 'authorised dealer' do anything to your car prior to suggesting you to drive to Malacca and back?
They performed physical diagnostic for few days instead of relying on the computer diagnostic.



What is the reason for them to suggest the long distance drive, and how is it related AS?
Seems my battery is not properly charged.


Also, is there anything specific they asked you to do, e.g. maintain certain speed?
No specific procedure. Just cruise.




How long did you leave your car and how much did they charge you?
Hundred plus..

I was told that they never change AS for any e60 sold by local bmw since they found out about the real AS issue. They only change AS on few E60 that were bought from grey market but that is very rare.

 

[superphuc]

hunter, many thanks for your explanation! So you were charged only RM100+, nice! Did they correct the alignment for you at least?
When you say battery is not properly charged, theoretically does this mean taking out the new battery and charging it overnight will have the same effect? Or is it the charging by alternator needs to be 'recalibrated' by the long trip cruise?
Did you do the active steering reset (turn left right centre) or take out the AS fuse before doing the long distance trip? Thanks again!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[hunter]

That was the amount that they charged me for AS diagnostic. I had intermittent problem with my AS and the problem disappear after you drive few hundred meters. I assume the new os of the car with new IBS cable makes the car smarter in reading battery capacity/configuration and they adjust accordingly after it learn some parameter when you drive long journey.

BTW, I am not the expert. You need to check with authorised service center to confirm your AS issue. You do not need to worry about AS if you bought the car locally which already tuned for Malaysia road/environment.

 

[superphuc]

hunter, so you are saying you changed your IBS cable and upgraded to new OS? These were done at IA? I just had a 4 hour non stop drive, but next day the error message came up anyway..