E39 540 issues please help
Discussion
Just changed the wheels on my 540 m sport to staggered 18" m parallels ( thought would not be a problem) set of for journey to Austria 5 miles into journey ACS, brake and DCS symbol come on in yellow wife says what are them lights I just said don't worry they all do that, got to France all lights no out each time I lifted the throttle to slow down the car did not seem to slow as normal and the DCS symbol was flashing. About 400 miles into my journey auto gearbox started playing up if driving less than 70 mph would kick down to 3rd would not go into 4th until 4500 plus revs, would reset if I stopped and left for a minute plus but would come back after about 10-20 miles still had 400 to do💩💩💩, tried driving with it in stupid mode the engine temp started climbing. Stopped let it all cool down started again temps ok gearbox ok for 30 miles then same prob again ACS brake and DCS lights sometimes coming on and staying on after reset some times only flickering under lift, now 250 miles to go gearbox go mad again get it into fourth by do 4500 revs then lifting ACS etc showing on dash carried on driving the gearbox reset itself after about 30 miles of driving and was perfect for the last part of the journey but all ACS lights stayed on. It was a very hot day with temps up to 39.5 showing on outside gauge well up to 44.5 in traffic but just thought that's the engine affecting it and the motorways were like the M25 on a very bad day. My only problem is I have to drive back and want to resolve issues here if I can
Sorry about the lengthy post but was a 22 hour journey so lengthy as well
Sorry about the lengthy post but was a 22 hour journey so lengthy as well
Rear passenger side ABS / wheel speed sensor.
This one feeds the auto box wheel speed and can play havoc with gear changes. On my old 540 the servotronic steering stopped working too and indeed the ABS / DSC lights come on too.
This happened 10 years ago but I think these were the symptoms.
You didn't give the hubs a knock when replacing the wheels did you?
This one feeds the auto box wheel speed and can play havoc with gear changes. On my old 540 the servotronic steering stopped working too and indeed the ABS / DSC lights come on too.
This happened 10 years ago but I think these were the symptoms.
You didn't give the hubs a knock when replacing the wheels did you?
Thinking back, The other scenario which causes the autobox not to change up is uneven tyre wear across the rear axle. Make sure the tyres match as even a few mm out will cause probs. I never had any warning lights on the dash when I eventually binned my tyres to solve this particular problem but it's conceivable both scenarios apply.
I will check in the morning but I put 18" not staggered m parallels on my 1997 540 an upgrade from the 16" with no problems.
Thinking about it I doubt the diameters are the same as at every speed now my speedometer reads exactly the same as my tomtom I think it was a little over before is it possible to reset speed sensors?
Thinking about it I doubt the diameters are the same as at every speed now my speedometer reads exactly the same as my tomtom I think it was a little over before is it possible to reset speed sensors?
Took car out for a drive everything ok up till 60 mph then all the lights came on again gearbox ok but only 15 mile drive
Just a few questions why would speed sensors work up till 60 the through all the lights
Why is gearbox ok for 150 plus miles then goes haywire could it be the heat as it was hitting around 40 deg C
The lights came on within 6 miles of leaving home and the gearbox was ok for the first 4-500 miles but that was driving through the night when cooler
Just a few questions why would speed sensors work up till 60 the through all the lights
Why is gearbox ok for 150 plus miles then goes haywire could it be the heat as it was hitting around 40 deg C
The lights came on within 6 miles of leaving home and the gearbox was ok for the first 4-500 miles but that was driving through the night when cooler
Crombers said:
The rolling radius will only become a problem if it's different across the rear axle. Otherwise a change from standard will only affect the speedo, not the function of any component.
Not true, I once fitted incorrect (235/40 instead of 235/45) onto both fronts & above 40 both ASC/ABS lights come on & then off when stopped.I suspect you will have incorrect tyre profiles fitted, if you can borrow a code reader & look up the live speed data when you drive, you may see a differential appear as you get to the speed that the warning lights come on.
It could (as above) be an ABS wheel sensor, once again a code reader will help you with this.
Took car out for a drive everything ok up till 60 mph then all the lights came on again gearbox ok but only 15 mile drive
Just a few questions why would speed sensors work up till 60 the through all the lights
Why is gearbox ok for 150 plus miles then goes haywire could it be the heat as it was hitting around 40 deg C
The lights came on within 6 miles of leaving home and the gearbox was ok for the first 4-500 miles but that was driving through the night when cooler
Just a few questions why would speed sensors work up till 60 the through all the lights
Why is gearbox ok for 150 plus miles then goes haywire could it be the heat as it was hitting around 40 deg C
The lights came on within 6 miles of leaving home and the gearbox was ok for the first 4-500 miles but that was driving through the night when cooler
You cannot recalibrate the speed sensors, try what I said above & see if there is any difference in the speeds from the wheels, that is the only way you will know what to do next.
It is not the wheels that have made the difference, it is either the tyre size or the abs sensors that are the problem.
The only other thing you could do is to check what your original tyre size was & change the tyres on the wheels you have fitted to match using sizes worked out using
http://www.alloywheels.com/tyre_calculator
It is not the wheels that have made the difference, it is either the tyre size or the abs sensors that are the problem.
The only other thing you could do is to check what your original tyre size was & change the tyres on the wheels you have fitted to match using sizes worked out using
http://www.alloywheels.com/tyre_calculator
Hi I don't understand so you are saying that if you have an e39 with 15" then stick 18" or 19" it won't work my front and rear rolling radius are different due to width and tyre profile will double check but sure they are different took these off my 1997 540 never had any gearbox issues with it
Have a look here:
http://www.sycamoreservice.co.uk/2000_e39_saloon_w...
It lists the correct tyre sizes for your car.
http://www.sycamoreservice.co.uk/2000_e39_saloon_w...
It lists the correct tyre sizes for your car.
colinrob said:
Hi I don't understand so you are saying that if you have an e39 with 15" then stick 18" or 19" it won't work my front and rear rolling radius are different due to width and tyre profile will double check but sure they are different took these off my 1997 540 never had any gearbox issues with it
Your abs sensor rings on the wheel hubs are a castellated ring, as the wheels turn the castellations make the sensors detact this as a series of pulses, the speed of the wheel sets the frequency of the pulses, the abs/asc ecu decodes this and compares all 4 to each other, if the front are going faster than the rear (for arguments sake) then the abs/asc ecu will throw out error codes & fault lights whilst there is a differential.You therefore need to read the live data, as has previously been said to see if this is the case, or if just one is defective & reading wrong.
If there is a front to rear differential, you need to get the sizes correct.
Your 540 will have been expecting the frequency from it's wheels as per the manufacturer's specs which it was, your other car is obviously expecting a different frequency, or one abs sensor is defective.
"why you no rishen" (said in comedy chinese soundee voice)
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