Parking sensors not working and I'm 4 hours from BMW

[ThaiZ4]

Hi guys,

As the title suggests my parking sensors on my 2010 Z4 are not working. Something I didn't realise or think about when I test drove the car.

Anyways, I'm unfortunately about 3-4 hours away from the nearest BMW garage. I've read some threads which show parking sensors are fairly easy to replace after you remove the cars bumper.

However, they also state that there should be some clicking or sound from the sensors. I have no sound at all. Nor is there any 'beep' when the car is put into reverse.

Any help on what else I may be able to check (blown fuse or something somewhere?). Cable not connected?

 

[hopz121]

Have you checked the fuse?

Ash

 

[ThaiZ4]

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately I'm not really a car person so wouldn't know where to look for that.

I'll do some Googling.

Open to any other suggestions.

 

[hopz121]

If you look in your manual, you should have a fuse box loaction and diagram allowing you to find the fuse box and correctly locate the correct fuse, remove the fuse and look for a break in the wire.

Ash

 

[dr_john]

If none of the sensors are working then it's very unlikely to be problem at the sensor end, more likely a switch, fuse, or loose connection.

I wouldn't consider removing bumpers until all other possibilities are looked at.

 

[ThaiZ4]

Thanks John!

After I've checked the fuse is there anything else you recommend looking at?

 

[envy]

is there not a local garage you could take the car to. would save you a lot of time and hassle especially if you are not very technical yourself

 

[dr_john]

is there not a local garage you could take the car to. would save you a lot of time and hassle especially if you are not very technical yourself

Yeah, agreed. It doesn't have to be a BMW garage to diagnose what sounds like an electrical connection problem, any competent garage should be able to do that.

 

[sohail360]

This might be obvious but you know that the sensors only become active when the its put into reverse. They then stay active even in 1st until a specific speed.

 

[Angie4m]

This might be obvious but you know that the sensors only become active when the its put into reverse. They then stay active even in 1st until a specific speed.

That's assuming he has rears only as if you have front and rear they can be activated by the PDC button next to the roof buttons.

However yes if only rears they will only be active when in reverse. So he'd need someone in the car with their foot on the brake to check

 

[ThaiZ4]

I know they're only active in reverse, yes

I had a friend put it into reverse while I went to the back of the car. Appreciate the replies. Fingers crossed I can find a decent garage in Thailand.