2005 E60 530D - Car won't start Control error messages

[StephenJ]

I had my car taken to a BMW dealer to assist with the following error messages that pops up intermittently:

1) Transmission Fault! Drive Moderately
2) Cruise Control Failure
3) Drive control Failure
4) Restraint System faulty!
5) Servotronic failure
6) Fuel pump failure

BMW had my car for almost 3 months now and there's no end to my situation. Originally I picked up from the forum, that it could be a battery issue, but the battery has been replaced 3 months ago. The gearbox has been tested by BMW SA in the meantime (solenoids etc) which rule out a gearbox problem. According to BMW a Control Unit has been replace to no avail. The harnasses has been inspected too - no problems. Any other ideas?

Problem:
When you try and start the car, the transmission error is displayed, followed by the rest of the message when you try and start it a second time. At the end when you manage to get the car started ... al messages disappears until the next time when you try and start it again.

Any help would be highly appreciated

 

[P1000]

Welcome to the forum!

That is a very strange problem. I would think that it is some kind of connection problem, but I would think that they should pick that up at BMW with DIS.

Electronic faults are the worst kind of problem with these cars. Hope someone can point you in the right direction.

 

[zaleonardz]

Howdy,

Indeed odd.

Some points, just because the battery was replaced, does not mean its good.

Further, it would help significantly if we knew what the errors were that the modules are complaining about. is it power related.

Most of those errors could actually have to do with the ASC or wheel monitoring equipment, except for the fuel pump failure, that one is odd, changing suspision back onto the power issue

Did you replace the battery because of the errors, or was it done for another reason.

This could also be bus curruption, whereby one controller is interfering and breaking communications to the rest of the bus, I have since this once before on a E39.

Good luck bud, this is a tough one, and if your guy does not know exactly what he is doing, he could be busy with it for years

 

[Threetwoeight]

I agree with zaleonardz about the power problem and that a new battery does not mean its 100%. Why only these problems when cranking - the most current demanding job of all.

Try another battery - don't buy , borrow.
Try jump starting (must be very good cables) directly on the battery and then on the terminals in the engine bay.
Check all battery cable's earth and positive, remember the starter and the alternator and earth's to engine, gearbox and head?

Good luck

 

[msm]

Might be a shot in the dark, but do you by any chance have one of these "fancy" tracking units that allow you to monitor/track the car yourself (i.e. with GSM/GPRS data connectivity), as this MIGHT be causing an interference problem if mounted in the wrong place ...

 

[StephenJ]

Thanks for the replies guys. Just some extra feedback ...The battery was replaced after 5 years of service. We thought this might be the root cause of all issues. Unfortunately not. The problem still persisted, which took us to the next step.... focused on the tracking unit. This unit was totally removed to rule out any issues caused. The battery on the other hand, was send back to the supplier for testing, just to rule out that possibility of a faulty unit. It tested 100%.

There's no problem with cranking the car first time. It starts perfectly, but then stalls. And then the error messages are displayed. When you then try and crank it ... it turns the engine perfectly but wont start. If you leave the ignition in the on position for about a minute ... you might be lucky to get it started. That is how I managed to get around it. Strangely, when you get it started eventually ... all error messages disappear.

Zaleonardz, BMW is swopping out control units from another car ... just to try and narrow down any issues. It once started happening once a week, but "luckely" now ... happening every time. Hopefully it will be easier to troubleshoot.

Will keep posthing my findings ... and hopefully a solution to the problem. Thanks all sofar for your anticipation. Much appreciated!

---

 

[Bavarian Auto Parts]

Hi.

It sounds like a power problem (maybe a micro power module thats got water some how) or it can also be a signal thats falling away for instance the engine speed sensor. The gearbox, fuel pump, active steering and a lot of other control units needs that signal.

 

[Kinnear]

Check the Fuel pump

 

[zaleonardz]

I hate the control module guessing game... it really erks me.

Hope you get it sorted bud :thumbsup:

 

[Silky]

Hi, exactly the same issue on my 530D. Strangly the fuelpump starts running if door or trunk is opened. Car wont start. Fuel pump runs for a few minutes. Ive read on other forum this is commonly a fuel pump control unit issue.

 

[MikeR]

:thinking: very strange stuff...did StephenJ sort his problem out yet...no news from him, it would be nice to know what the outcome was.

 

[Niren]

I had my car taken to a BMW dealer to assist with the following error messages that pops up intermittently:

1) Transmission Fault! Drive Moderately
2) Cruise Control Failure
3) Drive control Failure
4) Restraint System faulty!
5) Servotronic failure
6) Fuel pump failure

BMW had my car for almost 3 months now and there's no end to my situation. Originally I picked up from the forum, that it could be a battery issue, but the battery has been replaced 3 months ago. The gearbox has been tested by BMW SA in the meantime (solenoids etc) which rule out a gearbox problem. According to BMW a Control Unit has been replace to no avail. The harnasses has been inspected too - no problems. Any other ideas?

Problem:
When you try and start the car, the transmission error is displayed, followed by the rest of the message when you try and start it a second time. At the end when you manage to get the car started ... al messages disappears until the next time when you try and start it again.

Any help would be highly appreciated

---

I had my car taken to a BMW dealer to assist with the following error messages that pops up intermittently:

1) Transmission Fault! Drive Moderately
2) Cruise Control Failure
3) Drive control Failure
4) Restraint System faulty!
5) Servotronic failure
6) Fuel pump failure

BMW had my car for almost 3 months now and there's no end to my situation. Originally I picked up from the forum, that it could be a battery issue, but the battery has been replaced 3 months ago. The gearbox has been tested by BMW SA in the meantime (solenoids etc) which rule out a gearbox problem. According to BMW a Control Unit has been replace to no avail. The harnasses has been inspected too - no problems. Any other ideas?

Problem:
When you try and start the car, the transmission error is displayed, followed by the rest of the message when you try and start it a second time. At the end when you manage to get the car started ... al messages disappears until the next time when you try and start it again.

Any help would be highly appreciated

Hi Stephen

Did you manage to solve the problem. I am currently have the same issue as yourself any assistance will be appreciated.

 

[jlotter]

Hi,

After extensive research, this was the closest blog relating to the problem I am having. I am posting in the hope that someone might know something.

So I bought a 2004 530D E60 from a local dealership. After driving it with no problems for a week I one morning started my car as normal and it just didn't want to start. After trying for about 5 minutes it started and the error messages went away and I used the car to work and back home.

The next morning the same thing happened so I called the dealership and they sent someone out to come and look at what was happening, when they got to my house I unlocked the car and the car started immediately. I couldn't explain to them what was happening so they left and I used the car again, when I left work it also struggled to start however after a few tried it started again. However, it seems like every time I allow it to cool down for a while it gives me the error messages until it warms up a bit and then starts.

The Error messages that appear are:
Transmission fault! Drive moderately
Cruise control failure!
Drive control system! Drive moderately
Fuel pump!

I have had this checked out by an electrical workshop who told me a variety of things from i.e. try pressing the brake harder when starting the car to it might be a battery issue however the battery tested 100% and the brake switch was cleaned and tested. The other option was to clean all the connectors as it might be one electrical connector causing all of these issues. I am including a picture and I have taken some videos in the morning of what is happening.
I have to take my car back to the electrical shop and leave it there for a week as requested by them however I do not have full confidence in their ability.

Please can someone assist me with this issue?

Yours Sincere
JP

 

[jlotter]

Hi Guys, so I got my car sorted out Thanks to the very competent technician at BMW.

Before going to BMW with this issue I first went to a local guy that only works on BMW's, he ran some tests and found the airflow meter to be faulty. Replaced that cost me a few grand, second morning the same problem. Contacted the guy he said he can't find anything else wrong with my car! Referred me to someone else...

I only then realized that I was wasting my time and money and then I booked my car in at BMW.

I was fortunate enough to speak to the technician that did the diagnostics on my car explained in detail and after a day's work my car was fixed.

Get this; the fuel filter was blocked which caused the fuel pump to "overheat" and malfunction which caused the relay behind the fuses to either cut out or "burn out" and that caused the OBC to not recognize the entire computer component. A whole chain reaction between mechanical and electrical failure.

Problem solved

 

[billionairebum]

That is mental.

 

[SubLoaded]

That is mental.

7 years later is indeed quite, mental.