Active Steering Fault!!!

[Anthony5785]

Just drove home my E60 4 days ago and facing the same problem..

"Active Steering Fault
Steering behaviour altered.
Steering wheel may be at an angle.
Possible to continue the journey.
Steer with care!
Have the problem checked by the nearest BMW Service."
I did as what forumers recommended and so far so good.. Haven't appeared for 2 days already..
Reported to car dealer and he promised to have a look on this issue..

The fault appear again also last Sat, now what i did is not recommended but it works. What i did is, i drove the car out and give it a few sharp corner or rotating ur steering during the car stagnant. The fault gone as the disk rack back to it's normal place.

I am planning to change the steering rack but i heard is very expensive. If anyone had change it before, please do share ur experience...Thanks in advance.

 

[zack700]

Guys, some info sharing.. Found in the internet regarding this 'Active Steering'...

The new dimension in steering comfort: Active Steering offers precision, agility and comfort in every driving situation.

At the heart of the new Active Steering system is the planetary gear set integrated into the steering column. An electric motor in the joint adjusts the front wheels' steering angle in proportion to the Sedan's current speed.
When driving at lower speeds - such as in city traffic, when parking or on winding mountain roads, Active Steering increases the size of the steering angle. The front wheels respond immediately to small movements of the steering wheel, enabling the driver to manoeuvre through tight spaces without needing to make multiple turns of the steering wheel. Parking is easier and agility enhanced.
At medium speeds, steering is also easier. And to ensure smoothness at higher speeds, as of around 120 to 140 km/h (depending on the model) Active Steering becomes more indirect.

Active Steering therefore reduces the amount of change in the steering angle for every movement of the steering wheel. This gives the driver the advantage of more precise steering at higher speeds, and ensures great stability and more comfort.
If the vehicle is threatened with instability, such as by oversteering or braking on a changeable surface, DSC identifies the problem and can use Active Steering to help overcome it. For example, in order to reduce unsafe yaw, Active Steering can increase the angle of steering wheels faster than even the most expert driver.
Active Steering does not interrupt the direct connection between steering wheel and front wheels, so that even in the unlikely event of a complete failure of the electronic systems, the BMW remains completely controllable at all times. This is because at the first sign of any problems, an adaptation mechanism blocks the Active Steering immediately using a pivot so that the driver is permanenty in control of the situation.

Hope this would give a better understanding on 'Active Steering'..

 

[willie]

Guys, some info sharing.. Found in the internet regarding this 'Active Steering'...

The new dimension in steering comfort: Active Steering offers precision, agility and comfort in every driving situation.

At the heart of the new Active Steering system is the planetary gear set integrated into the steering column. An electric motor in the joint adjusts the front wheels' steering angle in proportion to the Sedan's current speed.
When driving at lower speeds - such as in city traffic, when parking or on winding mountain roads, Active Steering increases the size of the steering angle. The front wheels respond immediately to small movements of the steering wheel, enabling the driver to manoeuvre through tight spaces without needing to make multiple turns of the steering wheel. Parking is easier and agility enhanced.
At medium speeds, steering is also easier. And to ensure smoothness at higher speeds, as of around 120 to 140 km/h (depending on the model) Active Steering becomes more indirect.

Active Steering therefore reduces the amount of change in the steering angle for every movement of the steering wheel. This gives the driver the advantage of more precise steering at higher speeds, and ensures great stability and more comfort.
If the vehicle is threatened with instability, such as by oversteering or braking on a changeable surface, DSC identifies the problem and can use Active Steering to help overcome it. For example, in order to reduce unsafe yaw, Active Steering can increase the angle of steering wheels faster than even the most expert driver.
Active Steering does not interrupt the direct connection between steering wheel and front wheels, so that even in the unlikely event of a complete failure of the electronic systems, the BMW remains completely controllable at all times. This is because at the first sign of any problems, an adaptation mechanism blocks the Active Steering immediately using a pivot so that the driver is permanenty in control of the situation.

Hope this would give a better understanding on 'Active Steering'..

Because of this assist, some owner feels that it actually interferes too much... that's why it is not available on M5...

 

[Grand]

Because of this assist, some owner feels that it actually interferes too much... that's why it is not available on M5...

I wonder whether it is possible for us to take out the active steering module because from what I understand, even without the AS, the E60 steering is still power assisted, just like any other power steering cars. Or is it so integrated into the steering system that you can't remove it.

 

[kk123]

I wonder whether it is possible for us to take out the active steering module because from what I understand, even without the AS, the E60 steering is still power assisted, just like any other power steering cars. Or is it so integrated into the steering system that you can't remove it.

u can still move the steering, but u need more strength unlike with AS u could operate the steering with 2 fingers.

 

[Damonzero]

u can still move the steering, but u need more strength unlike with AS u could operate the steering with 2 fingers.

Meaning the problem can totally ignore without further damaging other parts of the car?

 

[wobbles]

Because of this assist, some owner feels that it actually interferes too much... that's why it is not available on M5...

Bro Willie,

I believe BMW has merely given active steering a name change and resurrected it in a different reincarnation. It's now called Servotronic in later iterations of cars - and yes, EVEN in the M5, if the following 2 links are to be believed:

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/technology/technology_guide/articles/servotronic.html

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/mseries/m5sedan/2011/showroom/dynamics/m_servotronic.html#t=l

 

[willie]

Bro Willie,

I believe BMW has merely given active steering a name change and resurrected it in a different reincarnation. It's now called Servotronic in later iterations of cars - and yes, EVEN in the M5, if the following 2 links are to be believed:

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/technology/technology_guide/articles/servotronic.html

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/mseries/m5sedan/2011/showroom/dynamics/m_servotronic.html#t=l

yes bro, servotronic is available for m5... but active steering is a different system... active steering actually steers the 2 rear wheels... servotronic is what bmw called their advanced power assisted steering...
and M5 has no "active Steering"

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/technology/technology_guide/articles/mm_active_steering.html

 

[wobbles]

Ah, thank you bro Willie!

 

[initialM]

yes bro, servotronic is available for m5... but active steering is a different system... active steering actually steers the 2 rear wheels... servotronic is what bmw called their advanced power assisted steering...

Wah active steering steers 2 REAR wheels? Its new to me.Thanks

 

[wobbles]

Well, in my F02, I have what BMW calls Integral Active Steering - that one definitely steers all 4 wheels, turning the rear ones in opposite direction to the front ones at low speeds - to provide superb maneuverability say at a carpark, but turning the rear ones in the same direction as the front wheels at high speeds, to provide stability say like on the highway.

Maybe this is what bro Willie meant? I thought at first that BMW now calls active steering as servotronic, but bro willie corrected me

 

[willie]

Well, in my F02, I have what BMW calls Integral Active Steering - that one definitely steers all 4 wheels, turning the rear ones in opposite direction to the front ones at low speeds - to provide superb maneuverability say at a carpark, but turning the rear ones in the same direction as the front wheels at high speeds, to provide stability say like on the highway.

Maybe this is what bro Willie meant? I thought at first that BMW now calls active steering as servotronic, but bro willie corrected me

yes yes... hehe, we share our knowledge together mah... i was so amazed when i saw the concept 10+ years ago...

 

[Jerman]

I wonder whether it is possible for us to take out the active steering module because from what I understand, even without the AS, the E60 steering is still power assisted, just like any other power steering cars. Or is it so integrated into the steering system that you can't remove it.

Good thoughts, Grand. Perhaps another Malaysia Boleh thingy?

 

[Grand]

Well, just driven by the modest desire to get rid of the most annoying bell sound in the world

 

[SeanWoos]

On last Saturday, I bring Bimmer specialist to diagnose my E60 530D (check before i sign the S&P agreement)
The error code 1) Active steering & 2) PDC park assist.

I will try to get the user car dealer to fix it before i collect the car.

$7k for those stuff ......Damn scary..:smokin::smokin:

 

[Grand]

Hi Sean, please do enquire with the dealer or their mechanic what they did to fix the active steering fault and keep us updated. Would be interested to know if they have any magic up their sleeve to fix this prob without having to incur such hefty sum.

 

[Hans]

Having active steering issues too. Mine appears ever other day and rectifies itself about turning off the engine for 30 mins or so. Brought it for a check and it was ok for a week but then I went to do alignment and the problem cropped up again. Brought is back to workshop for a reset but problem appeared after a day. Anyone have a solution other than changing the whole steering rack? Appreciate your views.....thanks!

 

[E60lci]

I do experience this kind of alarm recently, but it was cleared in about 1 minute after every time engine was started. When I send the car for check to AB, it was found out that the problem with the weak battery, only 12.5 volt. Everything was fine and no more active steering fault alarm after the battery been replaced.

 

[Hans]

Thanks E60lci. Replaced my battery too put problem still persists. Also note that mine is an actual AS malfunction, ie the steering wheel tilts to the right, rather than just the warning light appearing.
The sequence is as follows: after happening for a few times, I brought it in for a checkup and they changed the battery and also cleaned the cables or something along those lines. It was then fine for a week but as the steering wheel was off-center I brought it in again, but they told me it could be an alignment problem (which I highly doubted so coz it was fine previously, ie the wheel wasn't off-center) and told me to get it aligned. I did so and that was when the AS problem started again! Brought it back to reset and it was fine for a day before malfuntioning every other day after.
Any thoughts? Btw, does doing alignment have the potential to screw up AS? Thanks

 

[Jerman]

Thanks E60lci. Replaced my battery too put problem still persists. Also note that mine is an actual AS malfunction, ie the steering wheel tilts to the right, rather than just the warning light appearing.
The sequence is as follows: after happening for a few times, I brought it in for a checkup and they changed the battery and also cleaned the cables or something along those lines. It was then fine for a week but as the steering wheel was off-center I brought it in again, but they told me it could be an alignment problem (which I highly doubted so coz it was fine previously, ie the wheel wasn't off-center) and told me to get it aligned. I did so and that was when the AS problem started again! Brought it back to reset and it was fine for a day before malfuntioning every other day after.
Any thoughts? Btw, does doing alignment have the potential to screw up AS? Thanks

Hans,
Yes, I had the same experience recently as the car is going straight but the steering wheel is pointing to 2 o'clock position.
It is not as simple as doing the wheel alignment as it has to be re-callibrated via the computer. Occasionally, the "inactive" alert still appear and it will goes off after some 500m. "Active Steering" thingy is really not a clever idea