Electric steering wheel malfunction

[irwaniz8816]

Gosh what a day it has been!!! Last nite as i drove my E90 under the porch the yellow indicator of the Electric steering wheel malfunction TURNED RED.....That's when I knew I cud no longer start the darn engine. True enough i treid so many ways to start as was written in previous posts....but it didn't work.What happened was I had a BMW mechanic just nearby the house even he cud not start it and the only was to tow it....but as today was his last day and tomorrow closed for raya so I decided to call AB Glenmarie...they mentioned that they will do the reprogramming of the system but they will only accept cars during the week of 20th. So my search for a mechanic began...called up my ususal mechanic ah yau jln ipoh well he seems to be blurr...probably sleeping...called selvam at pj ...tgh makan call back later....so i called nathan of taman mayang...and he was so responsive...he said his mechanic bringing the portable diagnosis machine and a tow truck will arrive in the afternoon.So having arrived he too cudnt start the engine.....and the worst part was the auto gear is stuck in P....so what he did was unplug the gear cable n manage to release it to N and manage to push the car out of the porch and on to the tow truck....honestly it was kinda sad...the best part was the neighbours thought my car kene rampas from the bank....!!! hahaha... So my car now is sleeping in Nathan's garage coz by the time we arrived there was close to 7pm, so he said he will try to reprogramme it tomorrow and see what needs replacing.....I do hope it's not the steering column although from what I have read it is a huge possibility......oh well if it is...there goes more Ks into this car urghhhh as the car is not purchased from any BMW authorised dealer.....oh well I'm praying that hopefully it will turn out ok tomorrow......:afraid::hmmmm:So ladies and gentlemen...those driving 2005-2006/7 e90s the minute the signal warning comes out in yellow get it fixed right away before you have to tow it away!

 

[whiteknight88]

wow.... sorry to hear that bro. hope it'll turn out to be less serious that it sounds so u can save a few k

 

[irwaniz8816]

Thanks so much whiteknight88...i hope so too.. it really has been a dejavu for me.....ive stayed away from beemers for the past 10 years,,,,but as im sure you know too its darn hard to resist...so im back n guess what im back with the problems too hehehe...oh well i guess my raya angpow will be at the mechanic....

 

[Spaceman]

Feel you bro, it can be resolved via a new steering column. Didnt you know this problem b4 you bought the car?

 

[irwaniz8816]

well spaceman b4 i bought the car i brought it to my mechanic and all was fine with the diagnosis check etc....and the best part is...as I read more and more into the forums and common problems associated with e90s on google i start to face them one by one....so that's my luck i guess.....but the beauty of it...im starting to learn so much abt beemers but at a high price hahaha who knows by the end of one whole cycle of repairs and replacements i may open up a workshop....esp for BM.....betul2 banyak makan wang...but i still love the car..what to do!

 

[AndrewMals]

y´know, if you lucky , it might be repairable through software updates

We have this problem alot, and in all the instances, a software update is enough for the car to correct the sensitivity in the lock mech.
Its weird but i think the older software has different values for the lock resistance . The newer software seems to change this

One E90 330 we had in the shop had the red wheel lock sign.. 4 hours of update software later and the problem was gone
Mine also had the yellow, update and gone.
Another E91 a while ago, update and .. yep gone

Try it, you may be lucky bro

 

[astroboy]

1. U can actually still start the car. Press brake before inserting the key fob. Now do this real quick... Insert key fob, then press engine start button real quick before the steering lock mechanism start to initiate.

2. For our ZF transmission [non LCI], there is a switch to release the gear shift lock so can push to "N" without starting the engine. U have to open the shift knob boot cover, imagine the shift knob base as a clock. There is a piece of metal painted in red at 1~2 o'clock position where u can use your finger to flip it forward. That is the mechanical lock and once flipped, shift knob can slide to "N".

 

[irwaniz8816]

AstroBoy, yes in fact I did do that based on your post quite sometime back...depress brake, then insert fob and quickly start....it did not....so that was why I was so depressed yesterday.....and yes the mechanic did eventually open the shift knob cover

AndrewMals, I do hope it will be that....so praying hard! will update you guys later and see how it turns out! Thanks guys.

 

[MadReed]

well spaceman b4 i bought the car i brought it to my mechanic and all was fine with the diagnosis check etc....and the best part is...as I read more and more into the forums and common problems associated with e90s on google i start to face them one by one....so that's my luck i guess.!

As i go through deeper into this forum and unearth E90 problems one by one, its creeping me up, especially for a newbie intending to buy my 1st UDM through recon method .........bbbrrrrrr. Meremang bulu kaki. Kena once, bought a new car before, after two weeks kena engine overhaul. Luckily ada warranty. Have to save some more to buy new E90 325. Brrrrrrrr....

 

[Mun]

Driving BMWs nowadays is like driving a timebomb. Each time I look into the instrument meter cluster, kind of wondering what light will come up next, and how soon that will happen.

After so much troubles anf faults, every time the "bong" alarm sounds, my heart rattles!!! WTF!!
Ooh! just the fuel running low... Phieew!!!

An we have to go thru this like twice a week! Those prone to heart problems, be warned....

 

[Spaceman]

Driving BMWs nowadays is like driving a timebomb. Each time I look into the instrument meter cluster, kind of wondering what light will come up next, and how soon that will happen.

After so much troubles anf faults, every time the "bong" alarm sounds, my heart rattles!!! WTF!!
Ooh! just the fuel running low... Phieew!!!

An we have to go thru this like twice a week! Those prone to heart problems, be warned....

Couldn't have said it better!

 

[e60FANster]

Driving BMWs nowadays is like driving a timebomb. Each time I look into the instrument meter cluster, kind of wondering what light will come up next, and how soon that will happen.

After so much troubles anf faults, every time the "bong" alarm sounds, my heart rattles!!! WTF!!
Ooh! just the fuel running low... Phieew!!!

An we have to go thru this like twice a week! Those prone to heart problems, be warned....

ahaha.... well said bro, i use to share yr sentiment but after close to 1 yr of ownership n enjoying e car so much i juz forget abt it.
but i reckon that wen my warranty n bsri ends, i would probably start to worry.
wats y in e first place, i bot the car new w 0 milleage so i know e full history and take care of her like i take care of myself...
taking care of e car n whacking it occasionally helps in maintaining e car in tip top condition i reckon.
ie high revving, abs activation, dtc signal popping, etc...

just enjoy now n worry later, no point worrying too much it may not happen everthing else you pray hard to God really

 

[irwaniz8816]

Hey guys well here is the verdict!!!!

It is actually nothing to do with the steering column needing replacement.....they had tried to reprogamme but still failed...the thing which came up was.....the CAS 1 failed...Astroboy I think you had also posted up something in January on this....apparently this is a very common problem for e90s in the UK......So the guys at M Power Taman Mayang tried to search high and low for the replacement but unfortunately it has to be ordered and it will take until next week Thursday to arrive..so my car will be there sleeping for the next 2 weeks.....and I am indeed a guy with an E90-less for this raya...huhuhuhu sob sob! Anyway sifus outhere please explain what on earth is this CAS all about....Nathan did show me the diagram..and he said that it would cost about RM1700 to purchase it.....darn I am really going botak!!.....Mun ou are right about the car being a time bomb...I wonder after this CAS thingy has been replaced....what next damn "BONG BONG" sound will be heard.....

 

[Spaceman]

Hey guys well here is the verdict!!!!

It is actually nothing to do with the steering column needing replacement.....they had tried to reprogamme but still failed...the thing which came up was.....the CAS 1 failed...Astroboy I think you had also posted up something in January on this....apparently this is a very common problem for e90s in the UK......So the guys at M Power Taman Mayang tried to search high and low for the replacement but unfortunately it has to be ordered and it will take until next week Thursday to arrive..so my car will be there sleeping for the next 2 weeks.....and I am indeed a guy with an E90-less for this raya...huhuhuhu sob sob! Anyway sifus outhere please explain what on earth is this CAS all about....Nathan did show me the diagram..and he said that it would cost about RM1700 to purchase it.....darn I am really going botak!!.....Mun ou are right about the car being a time bomb...I wonder after this CAS thingy has been replaced....what next damn "BONG BONG" sound will be heard.....

Havent heard of CAS1. Didnt you ask what is that thing? Where's located?
I had my Steering Column and Steering Angle Sensor replaced, and that thing came back once. But i have no confidence in it i believe it will come back in no time.

 

[irwaniz8816]

Spaceman, this CAS thingy sits right underneath the steering column.....I dunno lah...at this moment in time kinda feel sick about it....oh well....that is why I asked Nathan and he said his specialist in London had emailed him that the whole thing need not be replaced...just this CAS...so honestly bro....nak Raya also no mood la.

 

[irwaniz8816]

Havent heard of CAS1. Didnt you ask what is that thing? Where's located?
I had my Steering Column and Steering Angle Sensor replaced, and that thing came back once. But i have no confidence in it i believe it will come back in no time.

Space.....this is the image of the CAS....

 

[Spaceman]

Space.....this is the image of the CAS....

oh...i see:top:, hope this solves the real culprit instead of changing a brand new steering column...damn!

 

[nickyow]

irwaniz8816, I also had this prob b4! the steering indicator was occasional on amber and then one fine day it decides to turn red and couldn't start!!! but luckily after a few attempts, it started and i immediately drve it to IA...Yep, they changed the CAS. Dunno the cost as it was under warranty! phew...

anyway, after almost 3 years of endless worries looking at the instrument panel thinking what else will light up, I am letting go...I've just sold my car! =P

 

[Spaceman]

irwaniz8816, I also had this prob b4! the steering indicator was occasional on amber and then one fine day it decides to turn red and couldn't start!!! but luckily after a few attempts, it started and i immediately drve it to IA...Yep, they changed the CAS. Dunno the cost as it was under warranty! phew...

anyway, after almost 3 years of endless worries looking at the instrument panel thinking what else will light up, I am letting go...I've just sold my car! =P

So what's next? :love:

 

[irwaniz8816]

irwaniz8816, I also had this prob b4! the steering indicator was occasional on amber and then one fine day it decides to turn red and couldn't start!!! but luckily after a few attempts, it started and i immediately drve it to IA...Yep, they changed the CAS. Dunno the cost as it was under warranty! phew...

anyway, after almost 3 years of endless worries looking at the instrument panel thinking what else will light up, I am letting go...I've just sold my car! =P

Oic ok glad to know some1 else had replaced the CAS too, lucky you was still under warranty....so what's your next ride bro..?