Diagnostic Advice

[cratix]

Hi All,


I am looking at buying over a 2007 320i Motorsport from a friend of mine as he is leaving the country and wanted to get your guys' opinion.

I took the car down to Durban and back (Jo'burg) again this weekend and all seems well but there are times where 3 fault notifications that pop up intermittently (but at the same time) and then disappear after turning the car off and back on again.

The faults that come up on the OCD are: Brakes, power steering, and tyre pressure.

When they came up I was leaving a petrol station so I had the tyre pressure checked. They were perfect. After restarting the car, the faults were cleared.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I am now considering having the car taken to BMW to have it checked out before buying it.

Side notes: He had the radiator replaced two months ago; The radio has heavy intermittent interference (on FM) but is perfect when playing via aux; He had the brake discs and pads changed (not by BMW) with second hand discs - Haven't had any issues with the brakes on the drive.

Thank you all in advance!

 

[gerald5ive]

Hi All,


I am looking at buying over a 2007 320i Motorsport from a friend of mine as he is leaving the country and wanted to get your guys' opinion.

I took the car down to Durban and back (Jo'burg) again this weekend and all seems well but there are times where 3 fault notifications that pop up intermittently (but at the same time) and then disappear after turning the car off and back on again.

The faults that come up on the OCD are: Brakes, power steering, and tyre pressure.

When they came up I was leaving a petrol station so I had the tyre pressure checked. They were perfect. After restarting the car, the faults were cleared.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I am now considering having the car taken to BMW to have it checked out before buying it.

Side notes: He had the radiator replaced two months ago; The radio has heavy intermittent interference (on FM) but is perfect when playing via aux; He had the brake discs and pads changed (not by BMW) with second hand discs - Haven't had any issues with the brakes on the drive.

Thank you all in advance!

does the car go into limp mode?

 

[cratix]

does the car go into limp mode?

Limp mode as in little to no acceleration when driving?

Did experience issues when driving back but figured it was to do with the weight of all the luggage.

 

[tinovittee]

Same 3 fault lights came up on my friend's E92 when his battery was low. I believe these pop up when there's a power supply issue... so perhaps need to check the battery and/or the alternator?

 

[Little Goliath (Daniel)]

Same 3 fault lights came up on my friend's E92 when his battery was low. I believe these pop up when there's a power supply issue... so perhaps need to check the battery and/or the alternator?

Check my thread a similair issue cost me R6500 today
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=76337

 

[tinovittee]

Looks like you had different errors to the OP?
I just suggest using your multimeter before getting too stressed...

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

 

[Little Goliath (Daniel)]

Best is to take it straight to BMW and let them scan the stored error codes, I had ABS, Cruise Control, Traction Control, (Which can be misjudged for Power Steering) and Low tyre pressure warning with addition to my wipers not turning off

Better safe than sorry

 

[cratix]

Thanks for the replies guys and sorry for the late reply.

does the car go into limp mode?

I am still curious to what gerald5ive's thoughts are as he brought up 'limp mode'.

Same 3 fault lights came up on my friend's E92 when his battery was low. I believe these pop up when there's a power supply issue... so perhaps need to check the battery and/or the alternator?

This post gave me a lot of hope that it's not a big issue, thanks tinovitte. I will have the battery checked out this weekend with crossed fingers.

Check my thread a similair issue cost me R6500 today
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=76337

I read through your thread and wow, I'm sorry bud. Glad you managed to get a second hand part for cheaper. I'm definitely keeping your post in mind as I get the battery checked this week.

Best is to take it straight to BMW and let them scan the stored error codes, I had ABS, Cruise Control, Traction Control, (Which can be misjudged for Power Steering) and Low tyre pressure warning with addition to my wipers not turning off

Better safe than sorry

I want to but the amount they charge just to read the stored faults is a bit much.

My plan is to have the battery checked this weekend and if there is still an issue or no problem found I'll bite the bullet and go to BMW next week.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

 

[tinovittee]

Also check your alternator output.. A few guys on the forum have had similar issues and it turned out to be the voltage regulator on the alternator. If it's supplying much more or much less than about 13V.. It could also be that.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

 

[Little Goliath (Daniel)]

There was another thread on here from 2013 where someone also had the same problem + limp mode and it turned out to be the alternator's regulator

I would also check voltage first

 

[cratix]

Update

I tested the battery and alternator this weekend and walked away with good and bad news...

Good news: I know what's wrong.

Bad news: It is the alternator regulator.

When I tested all seemed fine but the voltage coming from the regulator dips under load and takes a few seconds to come right. During testing, it dipped to the low 7 volts.

Thank you all for the help, wouldn't have thought to check for this with the advice!

 

[Little Goliath (Daniel)]

Update

I tested the battery and alternator this weekend and walked away with good and bad news...

Good news: I know what's wrong.

Bad news: It is the alternator regulator.

When I tested all seemed fine but the voltage coming from the regulator dips under load and takes a few seconds to come right. During testing, it dipped to the low 7 volts.

Thank you all for the help, wouldn't have thought to check for this with the advice!

Glad you know what's wrong goodluck with the repair