Hi, unsure if anyone can help out there but while driving today 523i year 2000 shortly after getting a jump start due to lights been left on in car, my ABS warning light showed up on my dash shortly afterwards while driving and noticed at the very same time that my speedomoeter started fluttering while driving and went to 0 so had to guess my speed from Wexford to Dublin!

Not sure if it is jump start related or due to the fact the there is not much meat left on my rear disc breaks but veryb strnage that the speedo went down and dash ABS warning showed at the same time. Any help would be great.

Many thanks,

Mick.

Thanks a lot for your reply Dergside, is there a way I can self check this? Do I need some special tool etc?

Kind regards,

Mick 

Probably worth changing the battery.  A battery with low power will greatly increase the frequency and number of electrical faults in the E39.

You will need a diagnostic check (plugging in a computer into the cars diagnostic socket) done which can read the fault codes and reset the warning lights.  Any garage should be able to do this for you.  Generally they charge 1 hours labour for the work.  Unless you know them well and get it done for free.

Dergside is right, if it is a genuine ABS/ASC fault then it will most likely be a rear passenger wheel sensor at fault.

Part will cost about £60 and you can fit them yourself in about 30 mins provided the old one comes out the hub o.k.  If a garage tries to charge you over £100 (exc any diagnostic charge) for replacing it, you are being ripped off.

Andrew

Thank you Andrew, I just got a new battery today in halfords with 4 year warranty so hopefully that might help with any potential future issues.

By the way, I am changing a broken pipe to my water resovoir at the moment and had to remove the front right hand side wheel and surround that lets you get access to the pipe and resevoir. However, there are a few little pin like plastic connectors that tap into the surround of the protection area at the bottom of the wheel arch that keep it neet looking that I broke as I had no idea how they came out.

There was about 20 normal metal screws too which hold this surround around the wheel on but they were easy to manage. Not sure if you know what I mean, but can send pic to explain.

Many thanks for all your help.

Mick.

Yes been there done that with the washer pump on the E39.

The offside wheel arch lining on the E39 is indeed held on with a large number of plastic expanding rivets and screws/bolts.

It sounds like it is the plastic expanding rivets are what you broke.

You prise out the centre part with a small screwdriver.  This is like a screw but with no thread.  This sits inside what is best described as a like a rawlplug (it expands when you push the centre part in and grips the components together).  Once the centre part of the expanding rivet is removed the outside part (the rawlplug bit) should then pull out with long nosed pliers or levering out with another screwdriver.  They are quite effective at holding.  New ones can be bought from a BMW dealer for buttons.

I hope you bought the right size of battery in terms of amp hour rating.  An incorrectly sized battery will not help any electrical issues you are having on the car.  My 523i had a 70 amp hour battery.  £54 from a main dealer in 2006.

Andrew

Thanks Andrew, you folk know everything! By the way for anyone in Ireland, there is a 525 burnt out on the inside in kinsellla car breakers on the Naas road but engine looks gift... might be useful for anyone looking for engine parts, not a bad set of wheeels on it either! I will get more details of year, model when I am down there next.

The Battery is the right one, cost almost 136 Euros in Halfords fitted, expensive things really!

Do you know if the abs wheeel sensors on these would fit my 523i or for that fact even the wheels?

Cheers,

Mike.