[Blakey4]

Hey,

I've been trying to get to the bottom of this for a couple of days:

car is 2006 325i touring, 98,000 miles, manual


I drove the baby to sleep, car runs normal.

next morn, i watched my wife reverse out and it cuts out under increased revs. she started it again and the same thing happened.

dashboard showed symbols i'd seen a couple of months ago when the brake sensor wire had come free and one wire had sheared. so i was confident id whip the wheel off, new sensor, sorted.

Nope.
Car just clicks when pressing the start button, displays yellow triangle,followed by red service indicator, (had inspection and oil service at bmw dealer in june) and then showed the warnings for dbs fail, dsc start assist fail and brake and stability sys failure.
upper panel shows handbrake, yellow triangle with orbiting arrow (dsc), yellow engine block
also the brake pedal is stiff.

went into diag and have a red oil can, indicating low oil pressure?
first added 1 liter BMW (Castrol) oil, nothing.
tried resetting but will not 'tick' itself
visually checked the wires to the pressure sensor and switch all ok.
checked filter, bit brown but nothing alarming.
stuck torch in through oil cap no nasty build ups

didn't check oil level up to this point as i know the engine needs to heat the oil to give a reading, anyways checked it, oil level displays 'inactive', thought id unplug the sensor and see if i got a new warning but all stayed the same.

so,
I reckon i need a new pressure sensor or pressure switch but would like to know how to test them before blindly buying stuff as sometimes warnings for one area are caused by another issue. before this there were no new sounds or vibrations. My dealer quoted £150, local cheap parts place £75 for the new sensor.
And maybe the brake problem is due to pressure building up with out the engine running and the servo? not regulating pressure?

i've read about people buying diag equipment? is it wort it? is there a cable and software i can use instead?

I'm trying to do everything before admitting defeat.

any ideas/moral support would be awesome
cheers for your time

[UncleWede]

Don't go sticking any "torch" into your oil, you'll get a fire

You seem slightly mechanically inclined. Is your battery dead, or enough reduced that it will light up your dash but not crank the engine?

[PichaDis11]

Try having a jump start to see if that helps. How old is the battery? Can you check it's voltage?

[Blakey4]

Thanks for the replies.
Yeah I hoped it was just the battery
Showed 12.6 off and 11.4 ignition on but Voltage dropped with the d/beams on so Bought a new battery. Yuasa.
Voltages similar but held 11.7 with d/beams on, but still same warnings

I've found a pressure sensor on ebay new for under £20, so cheap I'm going to give it a try.

No problems with dash lights when you attempt a start, just a click and the warning lights begin. No engine movement at all.

The inactive symbol on the oil level display is what I'm concentrating on, as I unplugged it and the display and warnings are the same. I traced the wires in to the main loom and are in good condition.

When I replace the sensor I can check the amount of oil, still no signs of oil leak with under tray off.

I've got 2 Ducatis, am C&G 3 motorcycle mechanic, hope I can fix it without the dealer costs.

Cheers

[Meeni]

Since you haev a whole host of dashboard errors, do the procedure to obtain the ccid codes (press the computer cycling button for a long time on each of the errors in turn). The ccid code indicates in better terms what the computer thinks is the problem.

At this point, I think the computer detected some errors in the DSC program, and refuses to start the car to avoid damaging something or killing you. There is a large probability that one sensor is spewing nonsense putting the computer in failsafe. You'll know better when you can cross ref the ccid codes.

[PichaDis11]

I would rather check for codes with INPA software if you have. Or have a mechanic scan the car for ya. More I read it seems you have had the issue I had with the starter.

[Blakey4]

I fitted the new sensor this morning and nothing has changed.

I have worked out that if I remove the 'engine' fuse the car turns over until I push the button again, and then with out turning off the ignition if I put the fuse back in the car starts up fine, but still showing warning symbols?

Am now wondering about the pressure switch instead.......

As this has happened I believe it can't be the starter, thanks though

Am gonna change the pressure switch, after that I'll be callin in the pro's

Cheers

[Blakey4]

Replaced oil switch, no change to warning lights, still displays low oil pressure warning. Haven't attempted the fuse trick yet.

Any thoughts on wether the system might need a drive around the block to calibrate? It runs fine after the fuse trick, and I know there's 6.5 litres brand new oil + filter, and that the pump is working.
Still shows warning lights again after the ignition has been switched off.

Cheers

[nate5ks]

You will probably need to delete codes with a scan tool before the warning lights disappear.

[Blakey4]

Cheers Nate,

Am picking one up this afternoon, fingers crossed

[nate5ks]

Originally Posted by Blakey4

Cheers Nate,

Am picking one up this afternoon, fingers crossed

It will probably need to be a BMW specific tool like INPA or that BMW iphone app that everyone talks about.

[Blakey4]

I've been trying to use EasyOBDII. i seem to be able to get the software to talk to the car but the only code its shown me is P 1618 - Glow plug relay short to positive??

my car is a 325i petrol, would my car have a glow plug relay?

I've borrowed this cable/software off a mate who has used it on his 08 320i with no problems.

it does not ask or state that its plugged in to a bmw or specific model. maybe shite?

I've got some great free software for my ducati which has worked a charm so i believe i can get my head around this

i'm gonna do more research tonight on the different softwares.
i really want to work this out!!!

cheers for your help

[Blakey4]

correction:
just found the code means SPI communications error for my car,

am looking into the BMW APP

cheers

[Blakey4]

Gave up on the software, and drove it to an Independant garage who owns same car. Car ran very well, no noises or strange behaviours but still will only start after the fuse trick.

He scanned the car and found three faults

2fod - radiator blind activation ?? Have read it's nothing but would appreciate any suggestions.

2e7c - DME bit serial data interface, signal. **

A670- fogging sensor. - I had a new windscreen a couple of months back.


** I have read this to be a fault with the wire between the negative terminal and the DME. But there is no ibs wire on my negative terminal?

Any ideas chaps?

Thanks in advance for any input

[Meeni]

The 2e7c error could indeed prevent the car from starting. Look at the step for clearing that issue here:
http://blog.bavauto.com/13331/bmw-ba...battery-cable/

[Blakey4]

Paid an Independant garage £230 for 4 hours diagnosing, couldn't find the fault so took it to the dealership who have taken 2 hours to tell me they think I need a new dme etc at £1200, £1430 to solve it.

Sigh