4x4 system, DSC, ABS and EBV failure!
Vehicle stability reduced. Drive moderately Have the problem checked immediately by BMW
Intermittently I have recently been receiving the above message on my idrive screen recetly, I noticed it appears more around town driving rather long drives which gives me the impression that the problem is some how heat related. I only felt it jerk at low speeds a couple of times.
I had the AA come down and his diagnostic could not pick any fault codes up.
Anyone had this problem before and what could it be?
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4x4 system, DSC, ABS and EBV failure!
Re: 4x4 system, DSC, ABS and EBV failure!
Anyone had this error on their idrive?
Re: 4x4 system, DSC, ABS and EBV failure!
No idea on the e70 but if an e53 had them warning lights I would say passanger side abs wheel speed sensor!
current: 2016 Vw Crafter
2007 318d touring
2008 Transit sport van
1964 vw beach buggy
1988 e30 325i convertible
2007 318d touring
2008 Transit sport van
1964 vw beach buggy
1988 e30 325i convertible
Re: 4x4 system, DSC, ABS and EBV failure!
Hi all - forum newbie here
I have been getting the same fault on my 2007 diesel X5 as title of this thread
Started about 3 weeks ago with very slight judder from engine, flash of engine management light.
2 days later car just stopped at traffic lights with 4x4 error warning on screen
Car restarted fine - nothing again for few days then it happened again
RAC recovered car to my regular BMW specialist who did a number of checks but couldn't find anything specific - possibly a dodgy battery. He did full reset of system and said to give it a try.
Nothing happened for another week - until Sunday just gone when car just failed completely while driving (engine off, no power steering, no power assisted brakes, etc.) Very scary - even though I was only doing 30mph. Same error message - 4x4 failure etc.
After a few tries car restarted and I got back home ok and booked car in to garage for yesterday
Yesterday morning car wouldn't start on drive - turned over fine but wouldn't catch. After multiple tries eventually it did start but wouldn't run for more than a few seconds. I was just about to call RAC again when it started and seemed ok. Drove 12 miles to garage without it stopping again although it didn't feel smooth but this could have just been paranoia
Garage rang yesterday to tell me error codes all suggested issues communicating with DDE ECU. They opened the DDE compartment in engine bay and found 3 inches of water in compartment with bottom of DDE submerged!
They advised me that most DDEs with water contact are frazzled - but they would give it a try and dry it out etc.
They rang last night to say that they had cleaned, dried and refitted DDE and road tested with no errors.
They could not see how water had got in to the compartment and decided to drill a 5mm drain hole in case it happened again....
Car was fine this morning but failed without warning again completely at petrol station at lunchtime (causing havoc!)
Again it would not start and after 10 minutes I was just about to call RAC when it decided to start. I drove directly to the garage and have left it with them.
They are ordering new DDE board - BMW price £895 plus VAT... Ouch!
I sincerely hope this is the cause and not an effect.
Questions to the forum.....
1) Has anyone else heard of similar problem? (Local BMW main dealer has had very little call for new DDEs - they are not a stocked item)
2) Does anyone disagree with replacing the £1000+ board at this stage - what other potential causes are there?
3) How would 3 inches of water get into what I would assume was a watertight compartment?
4) What opinions are there regarding the drilling of drain hole in watertight compartment? (future issues)
Apologies for my inability to be concise but I thought I would try and give as much info as possible
Thanks in advance
Willsco
I have been getting the same fault on my 2007 diesel X5 as title of this thread
Started about 3 weeks ago with very slight judder from engine, flash of engine management light.
2 days later car just stopped at traffic lights with 4x4 error warning on screen
Car restarted fine - nothing again for few days then it happened again
RAC recovered car to my regular BMW specialist who did a number of checks but couldn't find anything specific - possibly a dodgy battery. He did full reset of system and said to give it a try.
Nothing happened for another week - until Sunday just gone when car just failed completely while driving (engine off, no power steering, no power assisted brakes, etc.) Very scary - even though I was only doing 30mph. Same error message - 4x4 failure etc.
After a few tries car restarted and I got back home ok and booked car in to garage for yesterday
Yesterday morning car wouldn't start on drive - turned over fine but wouldn't catch. After multiple tries eventually it did start but wouldn't run for more than a few seconds. I was just about to call RAC again when it started and seemed ok. Drove 12 miles to garage without it stopping again although it didn't feel smooth but this could have just been paranoia
Garage rang yesterday to tell me error codes all suggested issues communicating with DDE ECU. They opened the DDE compartment in engine bay and found 3 inches of water in compartment with bottom of DDE submerged!
They advised me that most DDEs with water contact are frazzled - but they would give it a try and dry it out etc.
They rang last night to say that they had cleaned, dried and refitted DDE and road tested with no errors.
They could not see how water had got in to the compartment and decided to drill a 5mm drain hole in case it happened again....
Car was fine this morning but failed without warning again completely at petrol station at lunchtime (causing havoc!)
Again it would not start and after 10 minutes I was just about to call RAC when it decided to start. I drove directly to the garage and have left it with them.
They are ordering new DDE board - BMW price £895 plus VAT... Ouch!
I sincerely hope this is the cause and not an effect.
Questions to the forum.....
1) Has anyone else heard of similar problem? (Local BMW main dealer has had very little call for new DDEs - they are not a stocked item)
2) Does anyone disagree with replacing the £1000+ board at this stage - what other potential causes are there?
3) How would 3 inches of water get into what I would assume was a watertight compartment?
4) What opinions are there regarding the drilling of drain hole in watertight compartment? (future issues)
Apologies for my inability to be concise but I thought I would try and give as much info as possible
Thanks in advance
Willsco
Re: 4x4 system, DSC, ABS and EBV failure!
Welcome to the Forum, though I wish it were under more favourable conditions...... 
Water in the boot of the Mk1 X5 is not unknown, but not up front and water issues in the Mark 2 is a new one. Where exactly is the DDE module holder? I know it was at the right rear (passenger side corner) of the engine bay in the E53, but may not be so for the E70. On the E53 if the lid came loose or was damaged/incorrectly fitted then water could get in, but it would not have been easy as it was partly shielded from above. The E53 version had a lid with two catches at the back and two hex screws at the front and a rubber gasket twist lid and base. The cables exited through the base so that could also be the same on the E70 and a potential access route - cable exit grommet, or lid gasket?
That's a very expensive failure (though at the cheaper end of BMW's scale!) and I'm not surprised the Dealer doesn't carry replacements in stock. It may need to be programmed by BMW GB or Germany first? No one on this Forum has reported such an issue in the past, and I suspect a few will now want to look to check their own modules. My E71 is based on the E70, hence my own interest.
If the Dealer has the right tools (it sounds like they aren't a main dealer?) and if the fault system says it's the DDE module then it may well be that. If it isn't then I wouldn't pay the bill if that doesn't clear the fault. The description of the condition would seem to point there though as the engine is suffering and that module controls it. Your only other option would be to get BMW to look at the car - this is assuming that my interpretation of 'BMW Specialist' in your description isn't a main Dealer?
Not a good thing to happen to you.....
Richard
Water in the boot of the Mk1 X5 is not unknown, but not up front and water issues in the Mark 2 is a new one. Where exactly is the DDE module holder? I know it was at the right rear (passenger side corner) of the engine bay in the E53, but may not be so for the E70. On the E53 if the lid came loose or was damaged/incorrectly fitted then water could get in, but it would not have been easy as it was partly shielded from above. The E53 version had a lid with two catches at the back and two hex screws at the front and a rubber gasket twist lid and base. The cables exited through the base so that could also be the same on the E70 and a potential access route - cable exit grommet, or lid gasket?
That's a very expensive failure (though at the cheaper end of BMW's scale!) and I'm not surprised the Dealer doesn't carry replacements in stock. It may need to be programmed by BMW GB or Germany first? No one on this Forum has reported such an issue in the past, and I suspect a few will now want to look to check their own modules. My E71 is based on the E70, hence my own interest.
If the Dealer has the right tools (it sounds like they aren't a main dealer?) and if the fault system says it's the DDE module then it may well be that. If it isn't then I wouldn't pay the bill if that doesn't clear the fault. The description of the condition would seem to point there though as the engine is suffering and that module controls it. Your only other option would be to get BMW to look at the car - this is assuming that my interpretation of 'BMW Specialist' in your description isn't a main Dealer?
Not a good thing to happen to you.....
Richard
Last edited by X5Sport on Wed Aug 22, 2012 9:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.Re: 4x4 system, DSC, ABS and EBV failure!
Just an update on my previous post
New DDE has been fitted and programmed
Some slight problems experienced with comms with the gearbox ECU. But once that ECU was reset - all seemed fine.
Have been using car now for a few days - no sign of previous issues - so fingers crossed this is the right fix
The current thinking is that I had some blocked drainage tubes - possibly ones that drain the plenum area from the windscreen run-off.
Blockages would have been due to debris, leaves, dust ,etc.
If blocked then I understand that there is an area below the windscreen runoff (is this the plenum?) where water could collect.
If this area fills up then it could have overflowed into the DDE box (I am not sure how, if it is meant to be watertight..?).
However, this is all conjecture
Things that make me think it is plausible are...
1) I have noticed on one occasion water dripping down on to passenger floor mat from somewhere behind the glove compartment. Apparently there is a route in for water that has overflowed the plenum - possibly via heater intake..?
2) I have noticed pooling of water underneath the vehicle when parked in car park at work. This pooling has been more than the normal aircon dripping. In my mind this could be due to the plenum area having filled up with water during raining slowly draining through partially blocked drains..?
Anyway - I thought I would update this forum with my latest info - hopefully it might help prevent something similar with others in the future.
regards
Mike W
New DDE has been fitted and programmed
Some slight problems experienced with comms with the gearbox ECU. But once that ECU was reset - all seemed fine.
Have been using car now for a few days - no sign of previous issues - so fingers crossed this is the right fix
The current thinking is that I had some blocked drainage tubes - possibly ones that drain the plenum area from the windscreen run-off.
Blockages would have been due to debris, leaves, dust ,etc.
If blocked then I understand that there is an area below the windscreen runoff (is this the plenum?) where water could collect.
If this area fills up then it could have overflowed into the DDE box (I am not sure how, if it is meant to be watertight..?).
However, this is all conjecture
Things that make me think it is plausible are...
1) I have noticed on one occasion water dripping down on to passenger floor mat from somewhere behind the glove compartment. Apparently there is a route in for water that has overflowed the plenum - possibly via heater intake..?
2) I have noticed pooling of water underneath the vehicle when parked in car park at work. This pooling has been more than the normal aircon dripping. In my mind this could be due to the plenum area having filled up with water during raining slowly draining through partially blocked drains..?
Anyway - I thought I would update this forum with my latest info - hopefully it might help prevent something similar with others in the future.
regards
Mike W