Hi

I have an e39 2000 model.

The lights for the traction control and abs have come on, i went for a long drive today and it was fine, stopped the car, went back and started up thats when the lights came on.

Last week after along drive, when i stopped the engine and restarted the traction light came on and after a while when i restarted the engine it went off.

Any ideas??? your help is greatly appreciated

I agree. The symptoms of such an intermittent fault suggest a loose, dirty or corroded sensor. Once this is eliminated you could possibly look at wiring if these fixes don't sort your problem.

Mike

Thanks for your help everyone.

Devo11 if you could let me know what your one says on the diagnosis that would be great.

Thanks again

First of all you must make a diagnos and se if its a sensor or something else .

Very often sensors gets microcracks, water comes in and make trouble, and when it have dry again every thing is oK until next time.

 If you get a fauyltycode fore a sensor and change it and same faultycode comes back =modulefaulty. Its very commen on 1999 and 2000 modelyear of E39 and E38.

BMW change system on ASC/ABS in 09/98 from a "Analog" with wireregulation and the electronic module was locatet in the car)

When the change fore a more "digital regulation" and put the electrocinmodule on the ABS hydralicunit under the hood they get problem, most becuse of the heat, some newer e39 have a heatprotecion between the absunite and the engine.

You could buy a bottle of cooling spray and spray over de ABS/ASC elektonicmodule when the lights is on, if they goes out=modulefaulty. Possible to repair, in Sweden we send them to modulemaster i USA who repair them with 5 years warranty fore "cheap" money and no coding is needed.

If you have sensorproblems and would change it your self be very caraful it the sensor is stocked in the hole and needs drilling out. Very easy to damage the triggerpoints who is included in the wheelbearingssealing and thats a complete unit so if you damage it you must change complete wheelbearing and that note cheap.

Note: Left rear sensor =speedometer if it dont work sensorproblem. Right rear sensor= cruise control =dont work change sensor.

If you get faultycode on a rear sensor and the speedometer or crusiecontrol stil works OK =modulefaulty most of times.

Yeah you need a diagnostic check done to tell you which sensor is faulty.

After you have identified which sensor is faulty it is very easy to do a diy job on replacing it.

Sensor is about £50 from Euro Car Parts.  A front sensor on an E39 is held in with two 5mm Allen Key bolts which will no doubt have their heads filled with corrosion which will require cleaning out before inserting the Allen Key.

I had to replace both the front sensors on my E39 after getting them checked out by Diagnostic equipment.

Andrew 

Thank you everyone for your help.

I had already changed the rear near left sensor, that fine, and the cruise control is fine, that rules out the rear right sensor.

I am changing the front sensors, this is cheaper then getting a diagnosis.

BungManWheels wrote: I am changing the front sensors, this is cheaper then getting a diagnosis.

Eh?

Each sensor is the price of a diagnostic check.  Changing two sensors is twice the price of a diagnostic check!

A wheel sensor is about 50 - 60 notes from ECP.  A diagnostic check is usually 1 hour of labour which is about 35 - 60 notes.

If you are lucky and you know the boy at the local garage, he will do a diagnostic check for your nowt or minimal amounts.

It might not just be a sensor fault.  A diagnostic check would correctly identify the fault and could save ££££ in the long term. 

Andrew