Active Steering Malfunction
04-13-2009, 02:27 PM
#1
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 545i Platinum Silver Metallic Gray Dakota Leather, Premium Pack, Premium Sound, Logic 7, Sport Pack, Navi, PDC, Sunshades, Cold Weather and HUD. 56k miles Feb. 2011
Active Steering Malfunction warning message came up when I was making a right turn yesterday. 
Brought a bottle of CHF-11S steering fluid from the local BMW dealer and that fixed the problem ( so far ).
Brought a bottle of CHF-11S steering fluid from the local BMW dealer and that fixed the problem ( so far ).
04-13-2009, 09:08 PM
#2
Members
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thre was a recall on one of the Active Steering sensors a couple of years ago (I know, because my Active Steering was dead on delivery and had to be fixed. Probably worth calling your dealer and seeing if it applies to you.
Originally Posted by IceBimmer' post='846153' date='Apr 13 2009, 03:27 PM
Active Steering Malfunction warning message came up when I was making a right turn yesterday.
Brought a bottle of CHF-11S steering fluid from the local BMW dealer and that fixed the problem ( so far ).
Brought a bottle of CHF-11S steering fluid from the local BMW dealer and that fixed the problem ( so far ).
04-14-2009, 04:23 AM
#4
Members
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Bilbo1' post='846711' date='Apr 14 2009, 06:07 PM
i've got the "active steering malfunction" error twice
it got away by itself after a couple of hours both times :S
it got away by itself after a couple of hours both times :S
04-14-2009, 11:56 AM
#5
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Encino, CA
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 04 545i - Titanium Silver/Black, Sport pkg, Comfort Seats w/ Lumbar, Premium Sound, power rear sunshade, Adaptive Xenon Headlights, Steptronic, Park Distance Control, Fold down rear seats w/ski bag, Aux jack, 6-disk changer, puddle lamps...
Engine: Custom Remus cat-back exhaust w/chrome square tips, K&N Air Filter, Charcoal Filter Removed, Sprint Booster :-), 50/50 mix of 91+100 Octane, EuroRev ECU Remap (coming soon lol), Dinan High-Flow Throttle Body (coming soon...maybe lol)
Interior: Portable Sirius Stilletto 100 w/car kit, Garmin Nuvi 680 mounted below rear-view mirror, LCI-style I-drive knob, Dark Poplar Center Dashboard Trim.
Exterior: E60 forum clings, 5% rear tint, ACS roof spoiler (painted black for distinct look against limo tint), ACS trunk spoiler, ACS add-on front spoiler and rear apron (awaiting installation), "18 Black Staggered BeBeS Style OER (emergency replacement for cracked sport 124 rims), black kidney grill, white accessory lighting (including license and trunk lamps), Angel-eye upgrade, AIB xenon-matched fog lamps, AIB V3's on order, red rear reflectors
Active Steering errors will arise periodically, especially after the car sits for a while. BMW knows this and has included recalibration instructions in your Owner's Manual. Essentially turning the wheel right until it stops, left until it stops. Repeat for good measure. Shut down then restart. That cures most AS errors.
04-14-2009, 12:52 PM
#6
Members
Join Date: May 2008
Location: 32 miles North of Dallas, TX
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: See signature
I would get a similar warning, but mine mentioned a possible fluid leak but only on cold mornings (below 37*) and only after making the first LH turn of the day. Adding more fluid fixed this problem for me. At least, it didn't re-appear on the cold days we had since then.
Yours sounds more like a reset is required as previously suggested.
Yours sounds more like a reset is required as previously suggested.
04-14-2009, 03:41 PM
#7
Senior Members
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Sherman Oaks CA (New to: Bay Area)
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 BMW 545i Sport Package, Titanium Gray II Metallic, Wheel Style 124
Originally Posted by IceBimmer' post='846153' date='Apr 13 2009, 03:27 PM
Active Steering Malfunction warning message came up when I was making a right turn yesterday.
Brought a bottle of CHF-11S steering fluid from the local BMW dealer and that fixed the problem ( so far ).
Brought a bottle of CHF-11S steering fluid from the local BMW dealer and that fixed the problem ( so far ).
how is your steering when Malfunction?
normal, still, wobbly
i had a Malfunction and my ride felt like a boat... and i was monitoring my tire pressure for weeks to make sure it was 32psi front and 35 psi in rear but it seem to have corrected it self
04-18-2009, 08:06 AM
#8
Contributors
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Pearland, TX
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005
545i
Oriental Metallic Blue
Sports and Premium Package
L7 Sound
Check with BMW on the recall of the sensors. i had mine come periodically and they finally replaced the sensor and put he problem to rest.
04-18-2009, 08:39 AM
#9
Contributors
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Dublin, CA
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 (7/04) 545i 6-Spd Manual Metallic Silver Gray with Gray Interior
Premium Pkg, Premium Sound, Sport Pkg, Cold Weather, Active Steering, Navigation, Rear Sunshades, Folding Rear Seats, Rear Side Shades, Logic 7, Comfort Seats, Rear Heated Seats, HUD, Rear Side Airbags, PDC, Bluetooth Retrofit
Exterior: Venture Clear Bra, Bright Angel Eyes, Euro Reflectors, Blackened Grill, VMR 713 19" Staggered with General UHPs, 13% tint rear windows
Engine: K&N Air Filter, Deleted Carbon Filter , RPI Scoop, RPI Exhaust
Mine failed several times like that. At last they found a leak on the powersteering pump . Check out if it pulsates when you are turning. The leak comes from the front right side, you can see a stain if you let it sit over several days
Originally Posted by IceBimmer' post='846153' date='Apr 13 2009, 03:27 PM
Active Steering Malfunction warning message came up when I was making a right turn yesterday.
Brought a bottle of CHF-11S steering fluid from the local BMW dealer and that fixed the problem ( so far ).
Brought a bottle of CHF-11S steering fluid from the local BMW dealer and that fixed the problem ( so far ).
05-17-2009, 08:01 AM
#10
Members
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hey guys, have just had my second active steering fault and this time it occurred at high speed. I was out in the country for the weekend and it failed in the middle of a sweeping left hand bend. Not happy! I have just been upgraded to an AGM battery a week or two ago by the dealer so I know it isn't electrical, and I've driven around 500km before this happened so I know the battery should have been charged up.
Does anyone have any other checks or solutions besides battery and fluid level? They are both ok. I have searched and read over 20 pages of posts and am about to call the dealer....
Cheers
J
Does anyone have any other checks or solutions besides battery and fluid level? They are both ok. I have searched and read over 20 pages of posts and am about to call the dealer....
Cheers
J