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Active Steering Malfunction

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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 02:10 PM
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Recently went to the local dealership with a AS malfunction. Car steers fine, just a little harder, no real electronic assistance. The dealer quotes me $4500 for a rack and pinion replacement, he determined this by merely hooking it up to the diagnostic computer. Can you really determine this kind of problem electronically?
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 11:58 AM
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Has anyone else had to replace their rack and pinion, if so how did they diagnose the problem?
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 07:49 PM
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Originally Posted by monnot66' post='716499' date='Nov 9 2008, 06:10 PM
Recently went to the local dealership with a AS malfunction. Car steers fine, just a little harder, no real electronic assistance. The dealer quotes me $4500 for a rack and pinion replacement, he determined this by merely hooking it up to the diagnostic computer. Can you really determine this kind of problem electronically?
Have you tried resetting the active steering? (wheel all the way to the left then back to neutral)
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 08:44 PM
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This is (unfortunately) not likely your issue, but it's worth a post. I recently got the AS warning, and immediately felt the manual (unassisted) steering difference. Dealer the next morning, after diagnostics: "Your battery is dying. Non-essentially components (like AS) are the first to fail due to lack of proper charge." Battery replaced. Problem solved.
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 12:32 AM
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active steering has 2 backups - one hydrolic (bypassing the planetary gears that make your steering "active") and basic manual (think 1920s). I can't see how the dealer would determine that your primary system is gone by NOT inspecting those gears. I think its "go F^%$ yourself answer. GL
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 12:44 AM
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Originally Posted by 1diver1' post='717792' date='Nov 10 2008, 08:49 PM
Have you tried resetting the active steering? (wheel all the way to the left then back to neutral)
intresting... thanks!
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 12:40 PM
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I guess I need to try the battery first, I'm not trying to be cheap, but $4500 is a little steep. Thanks guys!
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by monnot66' post='719353' date='Nov 12 2008, 03:40 PM
I guess I need to try the battery first, I'm not trying to be cheap, but $4500 is a little steep. Thanks guys!
did you get any warnings on your iDrive? if so battery might be a problem but if not, hmm, might be a mechanical failure. I hope I'm wrong and GL
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Old Nov 13, 2008 | 02:35 AM
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Well???? This is the kind of thing that makes me question keeping my 05 545i.....$4500....back to simplicity please!!!
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Old Nov 13, 2008 | 05:32 AM
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AS malfunction lights came on a couple times in the past but cleared themselves, this one has been on for about a month or more. I'm going to disconnect the battery today and see if that works.
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