E90 330i braking system problems

[Zebrs]

Hi all, my 2005 E90 330i has just thrown a wobbly on a road trip. Dash gone up like a Christmas tree with abs light, dct light, handbrake (red), idrive tells me abs inoperative, tyre pressure warning inactive and both cruise control disabled and hill assist disabled. Info box just has the abs warning on continually.

Unhelpfully, my code reader will not talk to the braking system, only the engine management which merrily informs there is no problem.

Car starts and drives fine and warns to driver moderately but is not in limp mode. Does anyone have an idea what this is likely to be? More importantly is it likely to be a problem to drive around on for a few weeks until I can get it home and to my local Indy? Many thanks for any input.

Cheers, Z

[Thermobaric]

Could be ABS pump or more likely ABS/wheel speed sensors. Very common issue. The reluctor rings/drive shafts shred the face of the ABS sensor and it gets confused.

[anonymous-user]

Thermobaric said:

Could be ABS pump or more likely ABS/wheel speed sensors. Very common issue. The reluctor rings/drive shafts shred the face of the ABS sensor and it gets confused.

This. WSS not too bad. ABS module can be costly.

[SPaul]

I would check first ABS and DSC fuses, before investigating more.

[Ciaran]

Similar thing happened to my 2007 330i last year, turned out to be the ABS pump. I used ECU Testing who do a repair service and my mechanic did the labour element.

[stevesingo]

1, remove the cover from the ABS Pump/module.

2, Strike the motor with a soft faced mallet 3-5 times. Don't be shy!

3, Refit cover.

4, Clear fault codes, if you can.

5, If the warnings disappear after a couple of cycles of engine running, then it is likely to be the pump motor.

The failure is in the springs pushing the brushes against the commutator within the motor are too weak and the brushes get stuck and don't make a good enough connection. A few blows with the mallet shocks them and the touch firmly enough to make the connection.

Inevitably, it will need replacing or repairing, but it narrows it down.

[Zebrs]

Update on this one - armed with a code reader that can talk to the ABS module (Creator C110+) I have established the car thinks it's only a rear wheel sensor. Am slightly relieved at not needing to start messing around with the abs module. After more hunting this does seem a common occurrence on E9X cars (along with the water pump that went a few months ago!). Thanks for the replies - I did decline to start smacking things with hammers however