E90 M3 - DSC unit failure

E90 M3 - DSC unit failure

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NIIKME

Original Poster:

562 posts

222 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
quotequote all
I previously posted due to TPMS / DSC issues but I cannot find the thread now. The problem continues and I am interested to see if this is a unique issue to me or if anyone can offer advice -

My 2008 Car has been into the dealers twice now to have its software reset, and on the first visit the steering angle sensor was also recalibrated. Upon leaving the car drives absolutely fine for a couple of days and then a series of lights come on in sequence - TPMS failure, followed by DSC inactive. There's no way to reset it without a visit to the dealers again! Argh!

So........on the 3rd time I thought I would try a local indy for a second opinion. They also find nothing mechanically wrong with the car, but "suspect" that the DSC unit is broken because, if I understand them right, there is no single fault code to suggest that one of the sensors in either the wheels or steering column are faulty. The problem I have is its going to be a big bill to replace it without me or them knowing for 100% certainty that it will cure the problem.

Meanwhile I've had battery issues for a little over a year. Initially cured by a battery conditioner but I'm too lazy to plug it in every day. The battery is low (no question) so I will get that changed now to see what happens. I've heard of low batterys causing all sorts of weird and wonderful issues on these cars so I just wonder if it might solve the mystery?

I'll report back over coming weeks but has anyone else suffered TPMS / DSC issues like this?




NIIKME

Original Poster:

562 posts

222 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
quotequote all
it could also not, but its £250 that needs to be spent at some stage so its booked in.

NIIKME

Original Poster:

562 posts

222 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
quotequote all
Both garages are telling me the codes don't point to any one sensor as being faulty. It's a strange mix of codes apparently.

NIIKME

Original Poster:

562 posts

222 months

Friday 14th March 2014
quotequote all
Ok, lets touch wood the battery cures the car then! I'm having a local garage do it next week because of the reset required. I have a Ctek but because of storing the car under a car port its a bit of a pain to use. Great piece of kit though!

NIIKME

Original Poster:

562 posts

222 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
Update:
So the new battery was in place for one week and life was all good until.......the dreaded light sequence came on and the car is now in its familiar state of TPMS failure, system error, no DSC - requiring a trip to the dealers for a software reset! Oh joy! I've got used to driving it with no DSC now wink
Any ideas?


NIIKME

Original Poster:

562 posts

222 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
I think I recall them saying one of the many fault codes relates to the alternator. How would they check it, or is it simply a case of me asking them to check the alternator? The basic challenge here is isolating the root cause.

NIIKME

Original Poster:

562 posts

222 months

Wednesday 21st May 2014
quotequote all
Chaps, thanks for the responses and just to keep this updated for any future owners..
I have since found time to get back into the garage and after a quick plug into the autologic unit the Steering Angle Sensor appears to be completely dead now. Specifically the fault is saying the sensor is not registered to the car! aving had this sensor recalibrated twice recently it makes sense that it maybe have been slowly dying or something over the last 6 mths....
It goes back in on the 28th for a full diadnosis. I have read many a thread about this sensor causing problems on the E46, and less so but still issues on the E90/2/3 so hopefully its this thats causing all the issues.
Will post back results!