E39 (540) Instrument Issues
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: BMW 5 Series
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with any issues on the BMW 5 Series (E12, E28, E34, E39, E60 & E61)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=16079
Printed Date: 06-May-2024 at 10:11
Topic: E39 (540) Instrument Issues
Posted By: __CRiSiS__
Subject: E39 (540) Instrument Issues
Date Posted: 29-March-2005 at 08:45
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The car has been parked on my drive for the past 5 days in the damp (& in some cases very wet) without being switched on (been away for the easter break) - This is the longest period of time that the car has been left in the open air and not "turned over"
Got in it this morning and all sorts of wonderful things happened with the intrument panel: 1. 5 or 6 audible tones 2. *RELEASE HANDBRAKE* alert 3. LIMIT reached alert 4. Speedo reading 100mph (2, 3 & 4 account for 3 of the audible alerts) ALL THIS BEFORE I SWITCHED THE ENGINE ON. Switched on, general warning lights appear (as expected) all go out apart from: 1. (!) Handbrake -or- Brake Hydraulics -or- DBC 2. (ABS) 3. ASC+T/DSC Chanced it and drove the car with the following tests: 1. High Speed Start to 60 ** Wheel spun 2. Braked hard from 60 ** Wheels never locked but ABS never kicked in 3. Right Corner with a little heavy left foot ** Back end slid out Conclusion: ASC+T/DSC not working. Also noticed that: 1. Trip Computer (MPG) was not changing 2. Speedo not moving (though the REV counter was) Everything else "appears" to be OK! It's been mentioned to me that it could be damp & to take the car on a long drive & that should sort it. Anyone ANY ideas?  ------------- Prev: e34 95 518ie : Nice intro to BMW Motoring Prev: e36 '97 328is Coupe  : For the more sporty drive
Current: e39 '00 540i Sport 6sp Man    comfort & speed....N I C E.
__CRiSiS__ |
Replies:
Posted By: screwdriver
Date Posted: 29-March-2005 at 14:10
| had a very similar problem when wheel speed sensor failed on e39 535 maybe damp has caused a problem hopefully not permanent |
Posted By: wesbar
Date Posted: 30-March-2005 at 11:16
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My mate had a very similar problem with his '99 535 (instrument panel gone mental) Discoonect the the battery leads and short them together with a screwdriver or spanner etc. Leave it for one hour. Reconnect and all should be well again. It worked for him. ------------- 1997 BMW 528i SE |
Posted By: __CRiSiS__
Date Posted: 31-March-2005 at 07:51
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Thanks for both comments.
Wesbar - just tried it m8 - still not working I have it booked in for an intermediate II service on Monday; lets hope they get it sorted & it don't cost me too much......... ------------- Prev: e34 95 518ie : Nice intro to BMW Motoring Prev: e36 '97 328is Coupe : For the more sporty drive
Current: e39 '00 540i Sport 6sp Man comfort & speed....N I C E.
__CRiSiS__ |
Posted By: __CRiSiS__
Date Posted: 07-April-2005 at 06:16
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Well - it's back from the garage.
It turns out that both speed sensors have died. Fella has quoted me £200 (all inc) to sort. He has agreed that if I can get the parts any cheaper than he can (~£51) he will fit the for me. BMW Part Number: 34 526 756 376 Apparently they are specifically for the 540i Saloon - can anyone verify that? Also, anyone know where I can get them from? Thanks ------------- Prev: e34 95 518ie : Nice intro to BMW Motoring Prev: e36 '97 328is Coupe : For the more sporty drive
Current: e39 '00 540i Sport 6sp Man comfort & speed....N I C E.
__CRiSiS__ |
Posted By: lindman
Date Posted: 07-April-2005 at 16:05
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If its any help, the nearside rear speed sensor controls speedo fuel indicator and the ABS and traction for that wheel, the offside rear controls the cruise control and also ABS and traction for that wheel, the front sensors just do ABS for the respective wheels, by a process of elimination the knackered sensor can be locates, sensors are easy to change providing you are lucky with the single set screw 5mm allen. Part NO 34 52 6 756 356 I believe to be common across 5 series range £51 + VAT I hope this helps, |
Posted By: __CRiSiS__
Date Posted: 08-April-2005 at 07:43
Thanks for the info!
 ------------- Prev: e34 95 518ie : Nice intro to BMW Motoring Prev: e36 '97 328is Coupe : For the more sporty drive
Current: e39 '00 540i Sport 6sp Man comfort & speed....N I C E.
__CRiSiS__ |
Posted By: __CRiSiS__
Date Posted: 25-April-2005 at 05:02
So, the saga continues........ 
Replaced both rear sensors : whey hey - check lights go out and ABS / DSC all working again....or so I thought. At low speed, 25mph and below, whenever I brake the ABS kicks in. Also noted that whilst drivng to work this morning the DSC warning light was flicking on & off (happened twice in 35 mile drive) for no reason - trust me it was steady driving in town traffic at 35/40mph on a nice un-bumpy stretch of road. 
Anyone any ideas before I let the [ahem] BMW Mechanic look at it (a m8's m8 who works for BMW)..........he reckons 1 of 2 things could be wrong:
------------- Prev: e34 95 518ie : Nice intro to BMW Motoring Prev: e36 '97 328is Coupe : For the more sporty drive
Current: e39 '00 540i Sport 6sp Man comfort & speed....N I C E.
__CRiSiS__ |
Posted By: bmwz3
Date Posted: 25-April-2005 at 06:14
I recall that someone had cleaned the sensor plug and it cleared the ABS telltale (dealer/inde wont bother attempting this cure for obvious reasons!). Plug is located in a casing behind the wheel (think you need to take the wheel off to access it). The plugs can apparently get dirty in wet driving conditions (which shows up as high resistance path for the ecu doing a ABS regulatory cycle) and a bit of spraying does the trick....unless the sensor is on its way out! |
__CRiSiS__ wrote: