BMW 318ci orange lights on dash

fumbles

I wonder if anyone else has had the same issues. I have a 03 318ci with 103k on the clock. I only have it since about September but shortly after buying it the orange dsc and handbrake lights have come on the dash.
The car had new discs and pads fitted before I bought it.
They are not constantly on but more often than not are. Just wondering if anyone else has had the same issues and if so, how easy it was to get sorted?

Also, if anyone knows a reliable BMW mechanic in the Cork City area I'd appreciate a recommendation.

polan

ABS / Wheel Speed sensor going. Paid 105e for mine from Micksgarage

Or worst case scenario (rare), your ABS module is on its way out.

Voodoomelon

polan wrote: »

ABS / Wheel Speed sensor going. Paid 105e for mine from Micksgarage

Or worst case scenario (rare), your ABS module is on its way out.

Did you buy eight of them? These can be picked up for peanuts brand new.

polan

Just one, sad story.

Foxhole Norman

fumbles wrote: »

I wonder if anyone else has had the same issues. I have a 03 318ci with 103k on the clock. I only have it since about September but shortly after buying it the orange dsc and handbrake lights have come on the dash.
The car had new discs and pads fitted before I bought it.
They are not constantly on but more often than not are. Just wondering if anyone else has had the same issues and if so, how easy it was to get sorted?

Also, if anyone knows a reliable BMW mechanic in the Cork City area I'd appreciate a recommendation.

There's two biggies around Cork for BMW, MMW on the Monahan Road and Ardfallen Motorcare up in the Ballycureen Industrial Estate, up the Airport Road.

Personally with jobs I can't do myself I use Milan's Auto Electrical in Moneygourney Yard up Maryborough Hill.

It's more than likely an ABS sensor, could possibly just be loose or disconnected after the discs and pads were changed. I have some BMW software if you want to give me a shout to give it a quick plug in?

bazz26

Did they change the brake pad wear sensors when they changed the pads?

Alanstrainor

bazz26 wrote: »

Did they change the brake pad wear sensors when they changed the pads?

The pad wear sensor wouldn't show the orange dsc light as well as the pad wear light. At least that's what my research showed when I had the same issue.

OP, I had the same issue on my e46, however mine is a bit older so the systems are not the same. Ended up being the abs sensor, on the rear drivers side. It started off being an intermittent problem, then progressed to being on at all times.

It could be a loose cable, but given the mileage I wouldn't be surprised if the sensor is merely end of life. The part is cheap (I got mine for less than €20), and it should not be a big job for a mechanic to replace.

Robxxx7

i'd hazard a guess at one of your wheel speed sensors ..easy enough to replace ... but worth just removing them and giving them a clean and seeing if that has fixed it ... as has been mentioned worse case scenario is ABS module ...

You should be able to to remove the front wheel speed sensors without jacking up the car or taking the wheel off ... it is one Hex nut to remove them and a little bit of a fiddle to pull out ..but then just give them a clean and pop them back in again ... rear ones will need to be wheel off job as access is minimal ..

fumbles

Foxhole Norman wrote:

It's more than likely an ABS sensor, could possibly just be loose or disconnected after the discs and pads were changed. I have some BMW software if you want to give me a shout to give it a quick plug in?

Thanks everyone for the replies. I've gotten a code - 5e20 pressure sensor 1. Not too sure what this means.
I might give the garages that you've mentioned a call and see if they can help.

Foxhole Norman

fumbles wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the replies. I've gotten a code - 5e20 pressure sensor 1. Not too sure what this means.
I might give the garages that you've mentioned a call and see if they can help.

That's not so good, that's your pressure sensor in your module, either that's faulty or your module is going, I had similar in my E39. I belive E46's have two pressure sensors, I think the one that's faulty in yours is on the top of the unit, I have my working old one you're welcome to try.

fumbles

Foxhole Norman wrote:

That's not so good, that's your pressure sensor in your module, either that's faulty or your module is going, I had similar in my E39. I belive E46's have two pressure sensors, I think the one that's faulty in yours is on the top of the unit, I have my working old one you're welcome to try.

That would be great, thanks. I've tried calling Milans but no answer so will try again later.

fumbles

Foxhole Norman wrote:

That's not so good, that's your pressure sensor in your module, either that's faulty or your module is going, I had similar in my E39. I belive E46's have two pressure sensors, I think the one that's faulty in yours is on the top of the unit, I have my working old one you're welcome to try.

That would be great, thanks. I've tried calling Milans but no answer so will try again later.

s14driftking

Most likely abs module. It went on my 5 series and I never changed it as was an expensive fix. Mine passed Nct as for the lights to come on it had to go above 20 or 30 mph per hour which it doesn't reach in Nct. Also meant my abs wasn't working but I didn't mind that.