deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 25, 2008 (edited) Returned home from a large trip and had the oil level come up on the i-drive screen, we quickly sorted that out, filling the car with Mobil 1 to keep it happy. As soon as I've done this this morning, went to start the car and the a "Active steering failure" has come up on the i-drive screen... Are the two related or what should I do? Have enclosed a couple of pics, owners manual doesn't say which one is the power steering fluid is, so I've posted up a pic for those in the know to point it out lol... Edited March 25, 2008 by Deeveus525i Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
318Touring 40 Report post Posted March 25, 2008 The message will go away by itself if you re-start the car. But, that needs to be looked at by the BMW dealer, your software will need to be updated. Cost me $160 last time that happened. Your two issues wouldn't be related. BTW, you got your OBC showing up on the screen now? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 25, 2008 The message will go away by itself if you re-start the car. But, that needs to be looked at by the BMW dealer, your software will need to be updated. Cost me $160 last time that happened. Your two issues wouldn't be related. BTW, you got your OBC showing up on the screen now? Hey there! OBC meaning the Trip computer? I only came across this because I tried the other key the car came with and it reset the whole i-drive! I was then able to pick my way through and get that going. Can you provide a little more detail of what is actually wrong with it before I take it to the STEALERS? I never bought it from the bastards, so they'll charge me like a winded bull lol!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
318Touring 40 Report post Posted March 25, 2008 (edited) OBC meaning the Trip computer? I only came across this because I tried the other key the car came with and it reset the whole i-drive! I was then able to pick my way through and get that going. Can you provide a little more detail of what is actually wrong with it before I take it to the STEALERS? I never bought it from the bastards, so they'll charge me like a winded bull lol!!! The previous owner must only be using one key? You do know that you should use both keys alternatively as the batteries in the keys are charged whenever one is slotted in at the ignition barrel. I don't exactly know the problem with mine, the work order said 'reprogrammed control units & initialised active steering'. The actual cost was $97.20 + $25 + GST. No one apart from BMW dealer will be able to do this for you. I hope you realise that with E60 you won't be quite successful in avoiding the dealer as a lot of work will need specialised equipment that up till now only available at the dealer. Your non-BMW garage won't even be able to reset the iDrive messages for the various events unless they click here Edited March 25, 2008 by 318Touring Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 25, 2008 Yeah he was only using one key and I read in the manual that the ignition somehow recharges the key which is why I actually used the other key which was still new lol. What that done though was reset everything back to Japanese on the i-drive ffs. Pretty sure now that I won't be able to pickup the tools and go wild myself or chuck it into the local garage. I just hate taking cars to the original "Stealers" & getting charged like fark! Do you have MsN mate? If you do, add me: [email protected] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
318Touring 40 Report post Posted March 25, 2008 Well, when you're at the dealer getting your AS problem looked at, ask them to program your Japanese key to NZ's configuration. Our local BMW shop (Page European) said that they can work on the car but I have to take it to the dealer to get the messages reset. I thought that was a bit of a hassle, might as well go the dealer. When I got my E60 WOF tested at the local garage they hid it at the back of the garage since 'it might get damage at the front'. LOL I don't use MSN, try to avoid Micro$oft stuff as much as possible. I'm in google talk though dgunawan at gmail dot com. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 25, 2008 Ok. I've sorted the AS problem out. Read another forum and it said to wait till the car had been sitting overnight, then start the vehicle, turn the wheel to hard left for a second, turn off the vehicle (when I did this it moved the wheel a bit - must have been changing the gearing?) then restarted the car and whala! AS has returned, I forgot over that day how good AS actually is. UNFORTUNATLEY FFS! the engine oil sensor has returned 5km down the road! I'm just wondering if that sensor prompt is perhaps for the transmission levels and other levels (can't check the tranny level because there's no dipstick), have put 1 litre of mobil one into the car just to shut it up as it was a LITTLE below the level at cold & on flat ground. Will check the car again today before I go home from work and see where the engine oil level is there, but it's either a sensor problem or wtf? Havn't had the car two weeks and already it's starting to piss me off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
318Touring 40 Report post Posted March 25, 2008 (edited) Well, you won't like this .... AS will return after awhile, however it is still faulty. In the next few weeks/months it will return again, and again and again. You get the idea. You have to take it to the dealer as the problem hasn't gone away, it's just hidden. Tranny will be lifetime/sealed unit. The car will specifically complain about the tranny if there is the problem with it. Oil level problem will be about the engine oil level. Nothing on it on the manual? I'll say, you have to take it to the dealer for the AS and oil problem. Oh, and welcome to E60 ownership ;-) Edited March 25, 2008 by 318Touring Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 25, 2008 Well, you won't like this .... AS will return after awhile, however it is still faulty. In the next few weeks/months it will return again, and again and again. You get the idea. You have to take it to the dealer as the problem hasn't gone away, it's just hidden. Tranny will be lifetime/sealed unit. The car will specifically complain about the tranny if there is the problem with it. Oil level problem will be about the engine oil level. Nothing on it on the manual? I'll say, you have to take it to the dealer for the AS and oil problem. Oh, and welcome to E60 ownership ;-) Haha! Cheers I think Have taken it to the stealers and it's booked in for next week. He said it's more than likely a AS sensor issue and an oil level sensor issue, two independent problems. This gives me the shits as the guy who owned it previously paid 4k to have computer issues fixed Will get these things fixed up and will move onto something different, I hardly keep cars more than three months lol. Pretty keen to get into an X5 like I've always wanted, just wanted the right one lol. Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 25, 2008 Forgot to add... Apparantley the AS sensors fail quite regularly... I got the guy to check to make sure I was reading the dipstick level correctly which I was Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
318Touring 40 Report post Posted March 25, 2008 Ouch, was that 4k to make iDrive Kiwi friendly? What, do you on sell the cars after three months, wouldn't that be taking some financial hit? The previous model of X5s are now getting to a more agreeable level price wise. Also more Jap imports which have unseen option in NZ e.g. cloth seats with TV. I wanted to buy an X5 last year, but since I was coming from E39 it was like buying a raised E39, which didn't make me very happy to part with lots of $. Apart from the driving position, I prefer my E60 to X5, unless it's the new model of X5 of course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 26, 2008 Ouch, was that 4k to make iDrive Kiwi friendly? What, do you on sell the cars after three months, wouldn't that be taking some financial hit? The previous model of X5s are now getting to a more agreeable level price wise. Also more Jap imports which have unseen option in NZ e.g. cloth seats with TV. I wanted to buy an X5 last year, but since I was coming from E39 it was like buying a raised E39, which didn't make me very happy to part with lots of $. Apart from the driving position, I prefer my E60 to X5, unless it's the new model of X5 of course. I buy all my cars privately and save a huge amount of money Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 Hi again 318 Havn't had any problems since yesterday morning touch wood, however the oil thingo is still coming up about 5-10 mins after driving. I wonder if this is something that can be reset? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
318Touring 40 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 (edited) Error messages can't be reset, they have to be cleared regardless whether it's the measuring tool is faulty or there is a real problem. As long as you know that the oil level is correct by checking the dipstick, I think you have to just ignore the oil level warning until it's fixed. Edited March 27, 2008 by 318Touring Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jochen 4 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 Pretty sure now that I won't be able to pickup the tools and go wild myself or chuck it into the local garage. I just hate taking cars to the original "Stealers" & getting charged like fark! You can if you want. Get the BMW software from the 'net, loadup a laptop, and do the diagnostics yourself You'll need the usual laptop and OBDII interface of course, and you will also need to know how to drive a computer It's easier to work on a BMW if you are a computer engineer, rather than a mechanic :-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 (edited) You can if you want. Get the BMW software from the 'net, loadup a laptop, and do the diagnostics yourself You'll need the usual laptop and OBDII interface of course, and you will also need to know how to drive a computer It's easier to work on a BMW if you are a computer engineer, rather than a mechanic :-) Point of fact I'm A+ and work as an IT Engineer, mostly as diagnostics & system building Problem is I don't have access to the 9 pin converter plug which would feed into the obdii interface Your a bloody legend Jochen! Edited March 28, 2008 by Deeveus525i Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
318Touring 40 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 You can if you want. Get the BMW software from the 'net, loadup a laptop, and do the diagnostics yourself You'll need the usual laptop and OBDII interface of course, and you will also need to know how to drive a computer It's easier to work on a BMW if you are a computer engineer, rather than a mechanic :-) And ...... do provide some pointers if you don't mind. I have a laptop, and I'm supposedly providing technical lead on a number of software at work, so kinda qualified.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jochen 4 Report post Posted March 29, 2008 Point of fact I'm A+ and work as an IT Engineer, mostly as diagnostics & system building Problem is I don't have access to the 9 pin converter plug which would feed into the obdii interface OK; so no trouble for you :-) You'll have fun doing this.... are you familiar with linux / unix / VMware? Interfaces can be bought as cheap chinese copies... I'll PM you with some more info... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jochen 4 Report post Posted March 29, 2008 And ...... do provide some pointers if you don't mind. I have a laptop, and I'm supposedly providing technical lead on a number of software at work, so kinda qualified.... www.bmwecu.org Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
318Touring 40 Report post Posted March 29, 2008 Thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 29, 2008 (edited) And ...... do provide some pointers if you don't mind. I have a laptop, and I'm supposedly providing technical lead on a number of software at work, so kinda qualified.... Thanks mate, have recieved your PM and have replied signing up also to the ecu forums. Not familiar with Linux as I'm more a Microsoft Engineer, Eee PC had Linux on it when I bought it but put XP Pro on it instead lol, much to everyone's dismay, just couldn't be bothered learning lol! Cheers Jochen & 318Touring I really appreciate this. Edited March 29, 2008 by Deeveus525i Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nz320i 0 Report post Posted March 29, 2008 (edited) How long have you been in IT, that A+ cert has treated you well im studying CCNP, want to do microsoft but its jibber jabber to me, the linux on eee is crap, backtrack 3 is better - I do have xp on it atm though hah. Are the OBC's linux based Jochen? Edited March 29, 2008 by Chris C Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 29, 2008 (edited) How long have you been in IT, that A+ cert has treated you well im studying CCNP, want to do microsoft but its jibber jabber to me, the linux on eee is crap, backtrack 3 is better - I do have xp on it atm though hah. Are the OBC's linux based Jochen? Been in it full time for a year mate, but been overseas for a bit before coming back and actually putting things into place. A+ is bugger all imo, the real qualification is actually working with PC and gaining experience. Every day is different in IT lol. Down the track I'd like to become CCNP certified, thats the hardcore & ulotimate which can command huge coin. How many years is that? Heres my wee Eee... While I'm at it, here's the rest of my setup lol... Edited March 29, 2008 by Deeveus525i Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 29, 2008 Forgot to add, I ripped out that 512mb sodimm & put a 2GB DDR2 800 sodimm in, she farkin flies! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nz320i 0 Report post Posted March 29, 2008 (edited) Whoah nice setup!! how have you got the monitor in the lounge setup? Is it another PC? Yes i need 2gb in my eee its a wee bit slow every now and then. CCNA took me a year part time after work a couple of nights a week, and im just starting CCNP, with BSCI, hopefully 4 months i will look at the exam which is one of four. Takes 2 years at polytech part time, im just doing it myself i can borrow cisco gear from work Edited March 29, 2008 by Chris C Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
