'Cruise Control Failure'

[_Hoppers]

I've had a 'Cruise Control Failure' warning pop up on my 2013 320d 3 times within the past 5 days, but after a couple of seconds it disappeared and everything seemed to be working ok. The same message has popped up twice before, once January or thereabouts and about in May. Now it's appeared more frequently I'm concerned there's a developing problem. I understand it could be the wheel sensor or the electronics in the steering wheel.

Anyone got any ideas what either is likely to cost? My WMS warranty runs out on the 30th and I'm wondering if I should get it diagnosed ASAP if it's going to be expensive.

[_Hoppers]

Took it to my local mechanic, diagnostic suggests steering column switch unit. They weren't 100% sure as it was a quick check and they couldn't fit it as they would be unable to code it to the car. Got it booked in to BMW for diagnostic, looks like this could be an expensive do?!

[_Hoppers]

helix402 said:

The op’s car doesn’t have a throttle cable. Re dealer charges. Probably 1hr diagnosis time at the dealer’s rate, followed by book time to replace whatever is faulty.

It's £99 plus VAT for the first hour of diagnosis, about £175 per hour thereafter! Hopefully it can be done within the first hour?!

[_Hoppers]

Funky Squirrel said:

Is your battery healthy, random electric niggles can be due to low voltage

It should be? I managed to get hold of a list of all the warranty work which the car has had after I bought it, one of the items being a new battery fitted in June last year. It's also had a new steering column switch cluster (SZL) fitted less than 2 years ago!

[_Hoppers]

helix402 said:

BMW parts have a two year warranty so if the same part has failed again it should be covered.

Aparently not if the part was replaced under warranty, it's only guaranteed for the life of the warranty itself. I'll see what WMS say when it's diagnosed, if they won't cover it I'll query the fact it's failed within 2 years and see if BMW will offer some good will.

[_Hoppers]

For what it's worth to complete the thread - Got the problem resolved after the warning message popped up too many times to become annoying! BMW replaced the steering wheel switches and that seems to have sorted it.

[_Hoppers]

Repair was £350 including diagnostic at a BMW dealer. I got a little discount on that price too! I tried the horn when the error popped up but I can’t remember whether it worked or not. Other failures could be with the clock spring (steering column SLZ I think it’s called), that’s an expensive one, or the wheel speed sensors.