instability at speed

Toe-side said:
No sorry events have overtaken me work, family and other projects. Not enough time to investigate further at present.
Its still driving me nuts when I am driving.
This was the video I up loaded on the steering angle output but no one could identify whether this was normal or not. Doesn't look right to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFGNdQKGqPs
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My steering issues have become more evident AGAIN even after having the tyres inflated correctly.

having read around the internet again it would appear that the steering angle sensor has caused quite a lot of similar issues in e60's. Have a search for SZL issue and see what you can make of it.


I'm very tempted to have a stab at the steering angle sensor some time in the new year, although it looks like a pig of a job as you said earlier as I think its steering column out to replace it.

And i suspect its going to be a £150 + for the part itself.
 
Cheaper than that see below
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steering-Angle-Sensor-For-BMW-E46-E39-E38-Z3-Z4-Z8-X5-X3-3-5-7-Series-/281317088647

Still not attempted. Z is in my garage now.....though so getting closer to tackling it. :wink:
Not finding much info on set up sensor after fitting or clearing codes. Still not seeing any fault codes on the reader for steering angle sensor
 
id borrow a different set of wheels and see if it does it then, i remember having this problem and it went away after a new set of tyres it could have been the balancing or then again just fresh rubber.
 
Toe-side said:
Cheaper than that see below
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steering-Angle-Sensor-For-BMW-E46-E39-E38-Z3-Z4-Z8-X5-X3-3-5-7-Series-/281317088647

Still not attempted. Z is in my garage now.....though so getting closer to tackling it. :wink:
Not finding much info on set up sensor after fitting or clearing codes. Still not seeing any fault codes on the reader for steering angle sensor
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Granted it does seem a lot cheaper, but I'm not sure I would personally want to do the job of replacing the angle sensor with a used part only to find once its done the used part is no good either.

I also get no codes for the steering angle sensor at fault at all, but I'm not sure its calibrated properly and looking at your video the figures flutuating seem very odd especially if the wheel wasn't being moved ?!?!!?

My next port of call will be to get it aligned again, but this time ensure whoever does it uses the correct weights on the seats and in the boot and most importantly re-calibrates the steering angle sensor. I have a slight suspicion that the car will not have been aligned correctly under its previous ownership and I'm 100% certain that the last alignment I had done didn't have the steering angle sensor reset.

If that doesn't cure it though, the sensor gets replaced. :headbang:
 
You calibrate the sensor by turning the wheel lock to lock (left then right) with the engine running, centre it and drive off.

Yes it might be faulty, but I don't think it's your problem unless you have a fault showing.
 
Stratts said:
You calibrate the sensor by turning the wheel lock to lock (left then right) with the engine running, centre it and drive off.

Yes it might be faulty, but I don't think it's your problem unless you have a fault showing.
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Is that 100% correct as the procedure for the e85 ?

Everywhere I have looked talks of connecting it to the BMW software and performing the steering angle sensor adjustment in the service functions.
 
I always thought so, it's the procedure for other cars, so I assumed the E85 would be the same? Maybe cars with EPS have a different process.
 
Does anyone have any thought's on what would happen if I try unplugging the steering angle sensor and drive with it unplugged ?

I'm thinking the car will just adapt default settings with the sensor missing and I will then know if the sensor is causing the movement.

Anyone ?
 
I would think that the DSC wouldn't work properly because the control unit would not be able to compare steering angle to yaw.

If you're going to play around with the steering angle sensor, how about simply doing an alignment, where the steering wheel is perfectly straight, then park the car on level ground with the steering wheel dead straight, remove the connections to the steering angle sensor, then do an ECU reset? Then reconnect the steering angle sensor, then do another reset.
 
Update time..

I gave in and stumped up the cost for the steering angle sensor and fitted it myself on Saturday.

It didn't require the steering column to be removed only the rubber boot that seals the steering column into the engine bay and its then possible to slide it off the shaft.

Fitting all went well, but sadly as its a new sensor it has to be coded to the ECU which I couldn't figure out with my BMCables software.

So nipped into the local BMW specialist today and got the sensor coded and the good news is that the steering is now perfect.

I can't say this is going to be the solution for everyone and I have personally replaced almost every single part of the front suspension to get to this stage, not a bad thing to have it fresh anyway, but it was the sensor that was causing my problems. And to add to that, at no point did I ever have an error code that suggested the sensor was at fault.
 
Awesome! What was the cost for the part and coding?

Would you say your Z wagged it's nose from left to right amd vice versa? If so, it's very similar to what I am experiencing.
 
panderoo said:
Update time..

I gave in and stumped up the cost for the steering angle sensor and fitted it myself on Saturday.

It didn't require the steering column to be removed only the rubber boot that seals the steering column into the engine bay and its then possible to slide it off the shaft.

.
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I am interested in replacing the steering angle sensor to correct my problem, can you please explain in more detail what needed to be removed to be able to remove & replace the sensor?
 
The Hoff... It was more of a loose feeling around the centre of the steering not noticable when turning a corner only in a straight line. Cost on the coding was £48... this is the 1hr charge for the indy for diagnosis although it took them around 6 minutes to code it and clear the faults. :lol:

Zikim.... As below, quick brief guide.

You need to unbolt the UJ under the bonnet.

then go inside and climb into the footwell..

Remove the lower dash trim

Remove three nuts that hold the rubber column shaft onto the bulkhead

go back to the engine bay and remove the rubber boot that surrounds the column shaft

back into the footwell

snip the cable tie that holds the sensor cable to the column and unplug the sensor.

now if you have bought a brand new sensor from BMW you will have been given a set of plastic bushes and spacers as part of the repair kit.

if you have you can break off however you please the 2 bushes that are at the end of the steering column in the engine bay, if not good luck at removing them without breaking them. :thumbsdown:

then squeeze the 2 clips that hold the sensor in position on the shaft and slide it off the shaft and into the engine bay.

Then simply replace the sensor & bushes and re-assemble in the reverse of everything you have just done.

I'll add, the bushes are a real pain in the arse to replace as they are TIGHT onto the shaft and space is you can imagine VERY limited to tap them into position. I can only imagine this is why BMW remove the column to replace the sensor.

Also if you are not happy working blind or fairly happy working in confined spaces maybe get someone else to do the job as its not very pleasant.
 
Panderoo, Thanks for that detailed explanation, I think I have the confidence to tackle the job.

Did you buy the sensor new from BMW or from ebay or elsewhere and how much was it.

How can I be 100% certain if it is? Mine has the twitchy steering that I can only describe as the steering making its own very small minor adjustments every second or so, especially noticeable at speed.
 
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