Active Steering Malfunction
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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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Joined: May 2005
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From: Louisville, KY
My Ride: 2004 545i/ Olive Green/ Beige Dakota Lthr/ Sport Pkg/ Premium Pkg/ Cold Weather Pkg/ Dark Polpar trim/ Logic7/ Comfort Seats/ Rear Comfort Pkg/ Steptronic/ Euro red reflectors/ iPod Interface
Has anyone else had to replace their rack and pinion, if so how did they diagnose the problem?
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From: Oregon
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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 $4500 for a rack and pinion replacement, he determined this by merely hooking it up to the diagnostic computer. Can you really determine this kind of problem electronically?
This is (unfortunately) not likely your issue, but it's worth a post. I recently got the AS warning, and immediately felt the manual (unassisted) steering difference. Dealer the next morning, after diagnostics: "Your battery is dying. Non-essentially components (like AS) are the first to fail due to lack of proper charge." Battery replaced. Problem solved.
active steering has 2 backups - one hydrolic (bypassing the planetary gears that make your steering "active") and basic manual (think 1920s). I can't see how the dealer would determine that your primary system is gone by NOT inspecting those gears. I think its "go F^%$ yourself answer. GL
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)
thanks!
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From: Louisville, KY
My Ride: 2004 545i/ Olive Green/ Beige Dakota Lthr/ Sport Pkg/ Premium Pkg/ Cold Weather Pkg/ Dark Polpar trim/ Logic7/ Comfort Seats/ Rear Comfort Pkg/ Steptronic/ Euro red reflectors/ iPod Interface
I guess I need to try the battery first, I'm not trying to be cheap, but $4500 is a little steep. Thanks guys!
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!
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Louisville, KY
My Ride: 2004 545i/ Olive Green/ Beige Dakota Lthr/ Sport Pkg/ Premium Pkg/ Cold Weather Pkg/ Dark Polpar trim/ Logic7/ Comfort Seats/ Rear Comfort Pkg/ Steptronic/ Euro red reflectors/ iPod Interface
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.


