Active Steering, DTC, Cruise Control, Runflat Indicator, Start Assistant

ghosey115 · 01-30-2012, 02:36 PM

My UK Spec 2005 330i M Sport has developed a number of problems simultaniously.

When I start the car, I get a warning light for 'Active Steering Failure'. The wheel is at a slight angle and remains so no matter how far you drive. (I have tried re-initialising by turning the wheel back and forth but no success). The power steering works, but the active steering does not.

Once I drive and reach approximately 20mph, further warning lights and iDrive warnings appear for 'Start Assistant Inactive', 'DTC Failure - Drive Moderately' and 'Runflat Indicator Failure'. If I try to use the cruise control, this triggers a further iDrive warning for Cruise Control Failure. These are not simply warnings, I have verified that none of the systems are working.

I haven't had any accidents, hit any potholes or kerbs or done anything which would mis-align the steering. The problem with the active steering developed first in an intermittent manner. Eventually it got to the stage where the problem persisted and that is when the other problems appeared.

Had the car serviced today at my local dealer and paid for a diagnostic check. They wrote the following on my bill:

'Investigated active steering, traction control and cruise control warning light on. Tried initialisations of steering system, found corrosion at steering gear plug. Cleaned and fault still present. ISTA (what is this?) advise replacing steering gear and may require further repair to corroded multiplug.'

Needless to say I'm not keen on paying what could be thousands of pounds for the full steering gear to be replaced with no guarantee of success (Neither is the service manager who is going to discuss it with BMW UK and get back to me tomorrow with other potential solutions).

My initial feeling is that the dealer is barking up the wrong tree and that it makes more sense for there to be a problem which is common to all of these simultanious failures. I read somewhere that DTC, Active Steering etc are all linked together, can anyone confirm this?

Does anyone have any experience with this sort of problem or have any knowledge on what might be the problem? The dealer says this is a very strange problem and changing steering gear is not something they are usually required to do. Especially on a car that has only covered 50000 miles.

Any help appreciated - I'm tearing my hair out here!

PS anyone got a wiring diagram for the E90?

Alpina_B3_Lux · 01-30-2012, 04:57 PM

My guess would be that the steering wheel sensor failed for some reason. I had the exact same symptoms after lowering my car considerably with the Bilstein coilover, and the steering wheel sensor had to be recalibrated. I can also confirm that all those systems are interlinked because all of them need the input of that particular sensor. I would have this checked out (replacing a sensor will be much less expensive than the whole steering) and go from there.

Alpina_B3_Lux

m1bjr · 01-30-2012, 04:59 PM

ABS sensors and/or module would be my first point of call.
And investigate earth bonding on the rack and engine/box to chassis etc.

ghosey115 · 01-30-2012, 05:34 PM

Alpina - is that the steering angle sensor? I'm sure I've seen posts on other websites linking it to similar problems.

ghosey115 · 01-30-2012, 05:37 PM

m1bjr - forgive me - I'm not particularly mechanically minded - what would the reason be for the earth bonding or abs causing the problems I'm experiencing? Cheers.

Alpina_B3_Lux · 01-31-2012, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghosey115

Alpina - is that the steering angle sensor? I'm sure I've seen posts on other websites linking it to similar problems.

Yes, that's the one.

Alpina_B3_Lux

m1bjr · 01-31-2012, 02:36 PM

DTC (traction control), runflat monitor and various other things are fed directly with a signal from the antilock braking sensors, one on each wheel (ABS).
A faulty ABS sensor or control module can cause a cascade of errors like this.

The thing that I noted in your post is the 20MPH bit - about the speed an ABS sensor error would begin to crop up.
If you have such errors then other things get disabled for safety - I'm not sure but the 'active steering' may be another of those things.

Entirely possible that the reverse is true, the steering angle sensor feeds into those other modules too, and maybe all the errors cascade from that one.

If the computer cannot define the steering position (due to a broken sensor) then it cannot calculate how to work the stabilty control to get you out of trouble (so DSC gets turned off too)

BTW, re. earthing
Poor electrical connections and earths have caught me out on other cars, the S2000 with EPS was one.
The rack can draw a lot of power and a good earth is essential there.
Many 'spurious' electrical gremlins on highly modular bus systems can be attributed to poor or noisy earths / earth loops.
Check the battery terminals and connection to chassis anyhow, it wont hurt.

Just personal experience as a ham mechanic

01-30-2012, 02:36 PM	#1
ghosey115 Private 9 Rep 76 Posts Drives: Black 330 M Sport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 E90 330i M Sport [0.00] 2006 318iSE [0.00]	Active Steering, DTC, Cruise Control, Runflat Indicator, Start Assistant - Failure My UK Spec 2005 330i M Sport has developed a number of problems simultaniously. When I start the car, I get a warning light for 'Active Steering Failure'. The wheel is at a slight angle and remains so no matter how far you drive. (I have tried re-initialising by turning the wheel back and forth but no success). The power steering works, but the active steering does not. Once I drive and reach approximately 20mph, further warning lights and iDrive warnings appear for 'Start Assistant Inactive', 'DTC Failure - Drive Moderately' and 'Runflat Indicator Failure'. If I try to use the cruise control, this triggers a further iDrive warning for Cruise Control Failure. These are not simply warnings, I have verified that none of the systems are working. I haven't had any accidents, hit any potholes or kerbs or done anything which would mis-align the steering. The problem with the active steering developed first in an intermittent manner. Eventually it got to the stage where the problem persisted and that is when the other problems appeared. Had the car serviced today at my local dealer and paid for a diagnostic check. They wrote the following on my bill: 'Investigated active steering, traction control and cruise control warning light on. Tried initialisations of steering system, found corrosion at steering gear plug. Cleaned and fault still present. ISTA (what is this?) advise replacing steering gear and may require further repair to corroded multiplug.' Needless to say I'm not keen on paying what could be thousands of pounds for the full steering gear to be replaced with no guarantee of success (Neither is the service manager who is going to discuss it with BMW UK and get back to me tomorrow with other potential solutions). My initial feeling is that the dealer is barking up the wrong tree and that it makes more sense for there to be a problem which is common to all of these simultanious failures. I read somewhere that DTC, Active Steering etc are all linked together, can anyone confirm this? Does anyone have any experience with this sort of problem or have any knowledge on what might be the problem? The dealer says this is a very strange problem and changing steering gear is not something they are usually required to do. Especially on a car that has only covered 50000 miles. Any help appreciated - I'm tearing my hair out here! PS anyone got a wiring diagram for the E90? __________________ BMW 330i M Sport & Ducati 848
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-30-2012, 04:57 PM	#2
Alpina_B3_Lux Colonel 264 Rep 2,563 Posts Drives: Audi R8 LMX, BMW M550i xDrive Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 335i [8.90]	My guess would be that the steering wheel sensor failed for some reason. I had the exact same symptoms after lowering my car considerably with the Bilstein coilover, and the steering wheel sensor had to be recalibrated. I can also confirm that all those systems are interlinked because all of them need the input of that particular sensor. I would have this checked out (replacing a sensor will be much less expensive than the whole steering) and go from there. Alpina_B3_Lux __________________ Audi R8 LMX, BMW M550i xDrive (G30 LCI); gone: Alpina B3 3,3 (E46), BMW 335i, Audi R8 V10 manual, Audi R8 V10, BMW M235i, BMW 550i F10
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2012, 04:59 PM	#3
m1bjr LSD - No, you're not seeing things 73 Rep 3,302 Posts Drives: Baby F36 Gran Coupe Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Plymouth UK iTrader: (4)	ABS sensors and/or module would be my first point of call. And investigate earth bonding on the rack and engine/box to chassis etc. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2012, 05:34 PM	#4
ghosey115 Private 9 Rep 76 Posts Drives: Black 330 M Sport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 E90 330i M Sport [0.00] 2006 318iSE [0.00]	Alpina - is that the steering angle sensor? I'm sure I've seen posts on other websites linking it to similar problems. __________________ BMW 330i M Sport & Ducati 848
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2012, 05:37 PM	#5
ghosey115 Private 9 Rep 76 Posts Drives: Black 330 M Sport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 E90 330i M Sport [0.00] 2006 318iSE [0.00]	m1bjr - forgive me - I'm not particularly mechanically minded - what would the reason be for the earth bonding or abs causing the problems I'm experiencing? Cheers. __________________ BMW 330i M Sport & Ducati 848
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-31-2012, 02:36 PM	#7
m1bjr LSD - No, you're not seeing things 73 Rep 3,302 Posts Drives: Baby F36 Gran Coupe Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Plymouth UK iTrader: (4)	DTC (traction control), runflat monitor and various other things are fed directly with a signal from the antilock braking sensors, one on each wheel (ABS). A faulty ABS sensor or control module can cause a cascade of errors like this. The thing that I noted in your post is the 20MPH bit - about the speed an ABS sensor error would begin to crop up. If you have such errors then other things get disabled for safety - I'm not sure but the 'active steering' may be another of those things. Entirely possible that the reverse is true, the steering angle sensor feeds into those other modules too, and maybe all the errors cascade from that one. If the computer cannot define the steering position (due to a broken sensor) then it cannot calculate how to work the stabilty control to get you out of trouble (so DSC gets turned off too) BTW, re. earthing Poor electrical connections and earths have caught me out on other cars, the S2000 with EPS was one. The rack can draw a lot of power and a good earth is essential there. Many 'spurious' electrical gremlins on highly modular bus systems can be attributed to poor or noisy earths / earth loops. Check the battery terminals and connection to chassis anyhow, it wont hurt. Just personal experience as a ham mechanic __________________ Last edited by m1bjr; 01-31-2012 at 02:49 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote