BMW E46 330D Not starting - Stuck in S Mode?

[bmw328]

Hello all,

I'm having a really strange problem with a friends BMW E46 33D Steptronic,
The car refuses to crank, it switches on (All lights on dash).

On the Instrument cluster it shows "S" on the normal Gear selection (P R N D S M 1 2 3 4)

On the Centre Console (Next to Gear lever), The P light is illuminated, all the appropriate GEAR SELECTIONS are Illuminated if u shift from P right thru to D (Even dough the Cluster still displays "S" - NO CHANGE)

Did a diagnostic test on it with INPA and DIS. NO fault CODES at all.

I know that the autos WILL not CRANK if they are NOT in P or N
On the Transmission's Status it shows that the gear selection is in ???0??? (IN DIS) and M/S in (INPA)

Conclusion is that the car's electronics can's confirm in what gear it is, But what must be replaced? Gear selector unit itself? Checked all of the FUSES (Glove box and engine bay) - ALL FINE.

Thanks in advance

 

[zaleonardz]

Bus error

 

[444YYY]

Tried the old disconnecting the battery to reset everything?

 

[bmw328]

Tried the old disconnecting the battery to reset everything?

Tried that, Still does it. (10 min, 30min, 1 Hour, 24Hours - tried it all)

---

Bus error

Hello Zaleonardz,
Bus error? Software issue? How do I solve that?

 

[Z4MC]

Tried the Jeremy Clarkson method? :hammerhead:

 

[zaleonardz]

Well if the cluster is displaying an S mode, which is an input provided by the EGS, it could be that the EGS is not communicating with the cluster, and or the DME.

DME is not sending a ready to start signal to the EWS, and in turn the car is not starting.

In DIS, do you pick up, with diagnostics available on
DME
EWS
IKE
EGS
ABS

Are all 4 modules available, and communicable.

Do you have a tamper dot on (small little dot between the odo and trip counter)

If you do, it would indicate a break in communication.

Make sure firstly that you can access all of these modules, if there is one module that you cannot talk to, you can check to see if its is all attached.

DME,ABS,EGS (or it could be the IKE, cant remember, but I know its 3 modules) all run on a primitive can bus, the rest of the modules run on k-line

Report back if you can talk with all 4 modules, and that all 4 modules are error free.

Stupid question, but does your BC button work ?

 

[bmw328]

Well if the cluster is displaying an S mode, which is an input provided by the EGS, it could be that the EGS is not communicating with the cluster, and or the DME.

DME is not sending a ready to start signal to the EWS, and in turn the car is not starting.

In DIS, do you pick up, with diagnostics available on
DME
EWS
IKE
EGS
ABS

Are all 4 modules available, and communicable.

Do you have a tamper dot on (small little dot between the odo and trip counter)

If you do, it would indicate a break in communication.

Make sure firstly that you can access all of these modules, if there is one module that you cannot talk to, you can check to see if its is all attached.

DME,ABS,EGS (or it could be the IKE, cant remember, but I know its 3 modules) all run on a primitive can bus, the rest of the modules run on k-line

Report back if you can talk with all 4 modules, and that all 4 modules are error free.

Stupid question, but does your BC button work ?

Hello Leonard, Thanks for the reply.
I know for a fact that the tamper dot is not illuminated (CHECKED), I actually didn't do a FULL diagnostic with DIS - Only diagnostic on gear lever selector. (No communication between gear selector and ECU - AKA, can move the selector from P to D (Options illuminates on center console display, but on gear diagnostic all selections are marked as OPEN - Appropriate selected gear should be marked CLOSED)

On INPA it accessed all modules with no errors (Cleared and did another diagnostic)

BUT, that being said. In INPA (Transmission Diagnostic menu) There is a option "Activate". Tried to activate everything in there, specifically "Cluster selection" (Or something close too that) - But got error that activation not possible on all.

Think u got a point with the com error theory.
Another question: Failure or com error in one of modules - won't it trigger fault codes?

Lol, Didn't check the DC button :flyfun:
I'll try a full diagnostic with DIS & keep u posted.

Any suspicions? Module failure? Just a recode? How does something like this happen?

Thanks in advance

---

Well if the cluster is displaying an S mode, which is an input provided by the EGS, it could be that the EGS is not communicating with the cluster, and or the DME.

DME is not sending a ready to start signal to the EWS, and in turn the car is not starting.

In DIS, do you pick up, with diagnostics available on
DME
EWS
IKE
EGS
ABS

Are all 4 modules available, and communicable.

Do you have a tamper dot on (small little dot between the odo and trip counter)

If you do, it would indicate a break in communication.

Make sure firstly that you can access all of these modules, if there is one module that you cannot talk to, you can check to see if its is all attached.

DME,ABS,EGS (or it could be the IKE, cant remember, but I know its 3 modules) all run on a primitive can bus, the rest of the modules run on k-line

Report back if you can talk with all 4 modules, and that all 4 modules are error free.

Stupid question, but does your BC button work ?

Hi Leonard,

Isn't the modules that need to communicate the following?
(Light control module, Instrumental Cluster, EWS, ECU, Transmission Control unit?

I know that the car will start with replacement cluster from another car.
In my repair of the car E46 I wrapped around the tree, the instrumental cluster was damaged beyond repair so I replaced it with another one & car run fine with replacement (Did manage to correct the millage later by replacing the Millage eeprom on it)

 

[bmw328]

Well if the cluster is displaying an S mode, which is an input provided by the EGS, it could be that the EGS is not communicating with the cluster, and or the DME.

DME is not sending a ready to start signal to the EWS, and in turn the car is not starting.

In DIS, do you pick up, with diagnostics available on
DME
EWS
IKE
EGS
ABS

Are all 4 modules available, and communicable.

Do you have a tamper dot on (small little dot between the odo and trip counter)

If you do, it would indicate a break in communication.

Make sure firstly that you can access all of these modules, if there is one module that you cannot talk to, you can check to see if its is all attached.

DME,ABS,EGS (or it could be the IKE, cant remember, but I know its 3 modules) all run on a primitive can bus, the rest of the modules run on k-line

Report back if you can talk with all 4 modules, and that all 4 modules are error free.

Stupid question, but does your BC button work ?

Hello Leonard,
Had them check the BC button today, It works as it should. No problem there.

Discovered something today on ETK,

Position Switch (NUM 1) PN 24 35 7 532 668
Can it be possible that there is 2 "Position Switches" on the E46?
The one inside the Cab on the gearleaver for the console indicator & steptronic shifter, And the position switch on the transmission for the transmission control unit that is linked to the instrument cluster?

 

[bmw328]

Hello ALL,
Managed to get the car running again. Ended up being the electronic cable connecting to the GM transmission. (Retaining clip broke and plug must have rattled out)

Fixed connection - Plugged it back & cleared all error codes - Wholla
(PS. GM transmission's "Position Switch" is actually integrated inside the transmission - Therefor only ONE plug into transmission. - The ZF's got 2 Plugs, one for transmission and one for the externally mounted "Position Switch")

 

[Ralf*]

:bravo::bravo:

although I coudn't give any concrete advice, I have been following this thread, so as to learn something new, and glad its sorted out now.

sounds like it was a bit frustrating to fault find, and find the solution.

 

[zaleonardz]

Was still meaning to reply to you..

This is awesome news bud, it really is...

Glad it was sorted.