Bmw (DSC & HANDBRAKE LIGHTS ON)

[Waks786]

Hi,
Ive had the Dsc and Handbrake lights on for a month or so.. They seem to go off whenever they want and re-appear whenever they want :-(... Ive had wheel alignmment and balancing done...
Today i got a friend to plug in a OBD reader.. The reading its giving is '5e21'.. ive read that 5e20 is a pressure sensor so what is 5e21? Some say the Dsc unit needs replacing or fixing..
Ive got a 2004 Bmw E46 318 M sport convertible..
Can someone help me please
Thanks

[TheEnd]

Yep, you'll need a DSC repair kit, currently about £180 plus fitting, BMW total price should be less that £300.

[Waks786]

Hi, Thanks for the reply.. Is the DSC repair kit only available from Bmw? Is it a big job?
Thanks

[TheEnd]

Yep, the options were a complete new DSC unit at about 1500, the first repair kit they did at about 400, and after loads and loads of failures, they have a bare bones bit which just covers the new pressure sensors.

Once swapped, it'll need new brake fluid and a bleed usually, and it should really have some diagnostic setting up, but I think some people have got away without it.

[ghibbett]

5E21 is one of the pressure sensors located within the master cylinder. The code should also state which sensor it is (front or rear circuit – denoted by V or H (Vor = front, Hinter = rear)).

Changing the sensors involves bleeding the brakes. I believe the parts are about £100 each (might as well change both), labour will be no more than 1 hour, and then there’s the brake fluid change cost.

[Waks786]

Hi,
Thanks for the help.. Anyone know if i can get the parts cheaper then Bmw Dealer?
Thanks

[TheEnd]

ghibbett said:

5E21 is one of the pressure sensors located within the master cylinder. The code should also state which sensor it is (front or rear circuit – denoted by V or H (Vor = front, Hinter = rear)).

Changing the sensors involves bleeding the brakes. I believe the parts are about £100 each (might as well change both), labour will be no more than 1 hour, and then there’s the brake fluid change cost.

Actually, you'll be right there.
E46s had them screwed into the cylinder which is a lot easier. The stuff I'm on about is a one series and E90 thing where they were in the DSC unit.

I've never seen the code with a V or H, just referred to as sensor 1 and 2.
Both sensors are the same so no problems with buying the wrong one.

[Waks786]

Cheapest place to buy a pressure sensor? Is it worth buying a second hand one?
Thanks

[Waks786]

Hi,
Just quick question if i were to change the sensor only would the light still be on or would i need to deffo change the brake fluid too?
also will the light need resetting after?

[TheEnd]

The light should reset itself after a while, but it make take some time.
Worth trying it anyway.

The bleeding is because you will let some air into the system as the old sensor comes out.
You won't need a full change, but watch out for spongy brakes afterwards.

[Waks786]

Hi,
Spoke to someone and they said it will take two hours to do both the jobs. Charging me £80 for labour.. need to get some brake fluid and the part.. Any idea what the part number is? Its the pressure sensor 2..I have a 2004 bmw 318ci 2.0 petrol Auto
Thanks

[TheEnd]

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BX92&amp...

There it is, part number 2.
There is two of them, another is screwed into the hole next to it.

[Waks786]

Thank you very much.. How much is the part? Is £80 about right for labour?

[TheEnd]

Hard to say how much it is, it never works out as an easy $-£ conversion though.
I'd say that price is about right. It's not a hard job but the bleeding will take time.

[Waks786]

Hi,
Quick update.. Bought the sensor from Bmw Dealer for £101.40.. Ouch!
Managed to get it fitted and the brake fluid changed for £25.. I know bargain!!!
Even got the service booked stamped
The light was off when I gave it to the garage to get it fitted and since hasnt come back on..
Thanks for the help guys!