DSC light 3.0l Z3

colb · Jul 1, 2021

Been trying to solve @Tom Holland DSC problem on his year 2000 3.0litre Z3, whilst he is down here in South Wales working this week, he is based in the North West. First look at the car and plugged in to my laptop revealed a load of what turned out to be historic codes in various modules, working through them they cleared ok. Took the opportunity to recalibrate the steering angle sensor and check out the wheel speed sensors and the ABS pump. All was fine with a clean bill of health when he left but DSC light returned a short time later. Had another session on the laptop today with a fault code of B4[180] comming up on the Steering Angle Sensor, Steering Angle Sensor not plausable offset. Delved deeper using INPA and checked out what was going on, recalibrated the sensor using the lock to lock method and again checked the wheel speed sensors and the brake pressure sensors, abs also activated to test that, all appeared to be in spec.
I have come to the conclusion that the steering angle sensor is going bad and causing the light to come on, it may need stripping out and cleaning or a replacement fitted. Left the Shed this evening with the light still on as it fails to clear and returns immediately. Tom has since told me the light has gone off, I suspect it will return as it appears its an intermittant fault. Tom will have a go at either cleaning the one on it or may replace it when he gets back home to the North West, meanwhile we await the result to see if our diagnostics are correct.

Brian H · Jul 1, 2021

Silly question, is the steering wheel dead straight when travelling down the road, if it is at an angle at all it will trigger a fault code.

colb · Jul 1, 2021

Yes central straight ahead money on the sensor disc dirty or duff

colb · Jul 2, 2021

Tom reports DSC light went off on its own accord and has stayed off. Took him out together with @handsomejackuk for an extended run around our backyard this evening and that gave an opportunity to give the 3.0l a good shakdown test, traction control working and DSC light has remained off. Used some stunning roads on the run Abergavenny to Brecon then to Builth Wells where we paused for a bag of chips and a natter in the car park. A couple came over to look at the cars and told us they had a Fiji Green 2.8 at home but didn't bring it on the short break they were having. Departed Builth for Brecon via the B4520 for a spirited drive shall we say!! Passed through Brecon onto Talybont on Usk and up and over the mountain road B4560 at Llangynidr onto the Heads of the Valley road and back down to Pontypool via Blaenavon. Tom escorted back to his hotel and the DSC light is still off.

NZ00Z3 · Jul 2, 2021

You can also calibrate the steering angle sensor with Tools32 (part of the INPA software pack). See section D, 3, in the first post of this thread for the instructions. https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/...tions-Experiences-Discussions-Experimentation

Nodzed · Jul 2, 2021

colb said:
Tom reports DSC light went off on its own accord and has stayed off. Took him out together with @handsomejackuk for an extended run around our backyard this evening and that gave an opportunity to give the 3.0l a good shakdown test, traction control working and DSC light has remained off. Used some stunning roads on the run Abergavenny to Brecon then to Builth Wells where we paused for a bag of chips and a natter in the car park. A couple came over to look at the cars and told us they had a Fiji Green 2.8 at home but didn't bring it on the short break they were having. Departed Builth for Brecon via the B4520 for a spirited drive shall we say!! Passed through Brecon onto Talybont on Usk and up and over the mountain road B4560 at Llangynidr onto the Heads of the Valley road and back down to Pontypool via Blaenavon. Tom escorted back to his hotel and the DSC light is still off.

Top man Colin another fixed Zed :thumbsup: