[RollingCoal]

Hey Guys,

Just a heads up on a recent issue I had with the 335D......

The issue began about 4 weeks ago. I start the car one morning (25 degrees or so) and the ABS, DSC, & Brake lights are all illuminated. I drove the car for a couple days to see if the issue continued, which it did.

So the next weekend I scanned with my laptop and was getting a code 5DB0, which points toward the Left Rear wheel speed sensor. So, with winter having started with a bang, I decided to just order the sensor before doing any real diagnostics.

Fast forward a week, with new sensor in hand, I pull the wheel & sensor and realize that the replacement ordered was the wrong part even though it matched the one on Realoem by VIN. So, I searched other model cars until I found the one that looked like mine, went back to Realoem and searched by part number and found that it too fit the 2011 by not searching with my VIN. So, second sensor ordered. Still no diagnostics.....

Fast forward one more week, with second new sensor in hand, I pull the wheel & sensor, clean the area on the hub where the sensor is bolted and replace the sensor. Start car, reset codes, and immediately get the same code.....repeat, repeat.....How about a little diagnostics?

Now at a point where I should have started, I get the multi meter out to check the sensor resistance at the ABS plug. For both front, and the right rear I was getting values of 368-370 ohms, for the left rear I was getting 1400. Next, I decided to test the old sensor itself......372 ohms; so the old sensor was testing good.

Move on to the wiring. So, I decided to plug the tested sensor back in to the harness and began testing just past the plug.....1400 ohms. Problem Isolated to the connection at the plug. So I pulled the female pins from the plugs and adjusted slightly to improve the contact, reinstalled the sensor and move back to the ABS plug.....370 ohms. Back to the laptop and reset error codes and voila....all is well.

So, a relearned a lesson that I've preached many times. Don't just through parts on something because of an Error Code. Had I properly diagnosed the issue to begin with I would have save a ton of time and money.

Also, while researching this issue I ran into a number of posts on various BMW forums stating that the 3-light ABS/DSC/Brake was typically an indication that the ABS controller was bad and would require replacement. I wonder how many people replaced a $1k+ part for a bad connection.

[TDIwyse]

Good tip. And thanks for sharing your experience.

[Yozh]

Would be great to have the right sensor part number for reference in the future. Just in case someone needs it.

[glitdi]

Good Job!
Most abs codes are due to a wheel speed sensor getting bumped or with the cold tweaked... 99 percent of the time if it comes up as a speed sensor re adjust it and it gets fixed! Simple as that.. .
Also, best way to check a wheel speed sensor isnt resistance, its a/c micro voltage. Hook up the dmm, spin the hub/wheel whatever and see if it makes alternating current, when you spin it... Some wheel speed sensors will read stupid high on ohms... Don't know why something internal...etc.
Either way good job, cheap fixes are always nice.

[RollingCoal]

Originally Posted by Yozh

Would be great to have the right sensor part number for reference in the future. Just in case someone needs it.

In Florida for the rest of week, will post pictures and P/N once I'm back home.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Gracias amigo

[schoond]

Thanks for sharing this, you just saved me a lot of time and trouble! I had the same error code, unplugged and plugged back in the rear left sensor, and now it works again

[Kbudz94]

Never posted photos or said what part number was xP I'm reviving this thread for answers