technical Issue on my E82 135i

[Imola395]

Hi all, trust everyone is well.

So I've run into a very strange issue on my E82, I will try explain as detailed as possible.

The weirdness started 3 weeks back. We had hail warnings when at work and I ran to move my car under cover. Unlocked, jumped in key in slot and tried starting it like I have done a thousand times.....Nothing! Pressed the button repeatedly, nothing. The icon never came up to say hold brake/press clutch to start so it registered everything normal. I sat for about 10 minutes trying and out of the blue it starts again like nothing happened!! Never had that issue again or any other issue....

Then last week, my indicators started acting weird.
When using indicators normally, they flash fast like one of the bulbs are fused. So I put hazards on to walk around the car and see which one it is, just to find they flash normal! All globes are fine and working. I have had an issue for a while where I get warnings that lights are out but everything still works.

Now for the fun one!

I cant get my ignition on or my steering locked! I insert FOB into slot and the gauges jump a bit, so it wakes up the DME! But there is nothing else that happens, slot doesn't grab key, steering doesn't unlock and ignition does not come on! I have swapped out key reader, CAS and FRM into my wife's car and it all works like normal. I have bridged pin 1 & 16 on OBD to open the BUS to be able to read modules. I reset ALL modules and cleared faults and still nothing.

I have had someone say its the steering column, but I cant see it being that. It never gave me any warnings and even when its completely shot, it will give the warning in red. Not just be completely dead. I did reset the ELV as well but its all still dead. I have checked every single fuse and relay behind cubby (never again!!) and they are all in the correct spot and not blown.

Does anyone have ANY idea what I can check for from here? I've been checking and testing three days now and I have exhausted my knowledge of BMW!

Thank you in advance!
Leon

 

[KarshS]

not to sound obvious but have you checked the battery health and if the terminals are tight? are the terminals clean from any build up?
Have you scanned the car for codes

 

[Imola395]

not to sound obvious but have you checked the battery health and if the terminals are tight? are the terminals clean from any build up?
Have you scanned the car for codes

Hey Karsh

Sorry I forgot to mention the battery is a month old from Bosch. All terminals are tight and clean and just to add, my car does not have an IBS either so that wont be an issue.

The codes I got was on the FRM complaining about my lights not working (explained in first paragraph)

Other code I received was 00E594 (Steering angle timeout) but has cleared.

It is tricky getting a proper scan because I cant get power to all modules due to not getting ignition on. Bridging the BUS did help me get some codes but obviously I cant get them all.

 

[AshG108]

Sounds like you may have a battery which is either not correctly sized OR amperage may be incorrect. further to this, check alternator?

 

[Imola395]

Sounds like you may have a battery which is either not correctly sized OR amperage may be incorrect. further to this, check alternator?

Battery size is to spec, I've checked myself apart from Bosch recommended size.

I initially thought it was battery when I started diagnosing, had my wife's car hooked up via jumper leads, no go. I also have a second battery hooked up to it that I know is healthy while trying to diagnose.

Car is not dead. When putting the key in, I can hear the DME relay kick in for wake up. I can lock and unlock the car as well as open and close windows using key FOB. So battery on FOB also healthy. Even when I put the key in, the Start/Stop button lights up. So it does see the key and does see it as the correct key because it wakes the DME and does not give "wrong key symbol" on cluster.

 

[Hubblyking]

My inlaws had the same issue on a e90 320d .He says they replaced the sensor on the steering column and all was fine.

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

 

[TurboLlew]

Check the clock spring in your steering column/steering wheel (SZL module).

 

[Imola395]

My inlaws had the same issue on a e90 320d .He says they replaced the sensor on the steering column and all was fine.

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

Ok great stuff! Could you please find out where this was bought?
The last I remember, they used to only sell complete column.

 

[Imola395]

Check the clock spring in your steering column/steering wheel (SZL module).

Thanks for the info. I will check this out too!

Might explain why indicators started acting up as well.

 

[Kyle]

Battery size is to spec, I've checked myself apart from Bosch recommended size.

I initially thought it was battery when I started diagnosing, had my wife's car hooked up via jumper leads, no go. I also have a second battery hooked up to it that I know is healthy while trying to diagnose.

Car is not dead. When putting the key in, I can hear the DME relay kick in for wake up. I can lock and unlock the car as well as open and close windows using key FOB. So battery on FOB also healthy. Even when I put the key in, the Start/Stop button lights up. So it does see the key and does see it as the correct key because it wakes the DME and does not give "wrong key symbol" on cluster.

Jump starting this car is a very bad idea... Hopefully you didn't fry your FRM...

 

[Hubblyking]

Ok great stuff! Could you please find out where this was bought?
The last I remember, they used to only sell complete column.

They sent the car to fast serve auto in Gezina pta.

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

 

[Imola395]

Jump starting this car is a very bad idea... Hopefully you didn't fry your FRM...

FRM Still reads healthy apart from persistent messages that have been there for a long time.

But ja, I do agree it is not good to jump it. But I was running late for work and it was 05:30 in the morning! Ha ha ha!

 

[Steph745]

If you haven't done so already, maybe consider looking into the junction box cable, there was a recall for this. Had it done at the dealer on my e90 a few years back. Car would randomly have no power and be non-responsive to any input (from key or otherwise), then just as randomly come to life. Sometimes after a few minutes, sometimes after hours.... till it eventually died for good and I had to flatbed it to the dealer.

 

[Kyle]

@Vinnige Fanie had a similar issue which ended up being a loose earth connection..

 

[Imola395]

If you haven't done so already, maybe consider looking into the junction box cable, there was a recall for this. Had it done at the dealer on my e90 a few years back. Car would randomly have no power and be non-responsive to any input (from key or otherwise), then just as randomly come to life. Sometimes after a few minutes, sometimes after hours.... till it eventually died for good and I had to flatbed it to the dealer.

Difference is the key is responding like normal and other functionality still normal. Even when car is off and pull high beams the lights come on like normal. Also, scanning JLB it came up green. I also thought maybe JLB because of all random faults but no issues on it.

Thank you!

 

[Imola395]

Quick update

I managed to source a ELV emulator as a good friend of mine was adamant it was my steering column and also Hublyking mentioned it.

Fitted it.... No go!

I've disconnected battery and leaving it to do a hard reset. Then will see what it does.

My scepticism comes in because of the lack of warning lights (steering wheel with padlock)

But lets wait and see.

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on what to check. I really do appreciate your help!