mullenc525

Hi,

The mechanical inspection on the car I am interested in turned out well, all that is left to do is fly out and test drive it. The only other thing I wanted to do is ask if I should be particularly concerned about the list of stored fault codes.

The mechanic I spoke to said the only one I should monitor is the stuck thermostat warning and it may need a thermostat. The myriad other fault codes can crop up from a low voltage situation, though the battery load tested well and has not been replaced since Oct 2010 (not certain prior to that).

The only mechanical note related to the many steering faults could be that, though the car drives straight and steers well, the steering wheel is not centered. I understand BMW can usually fix this easily.

Would this concern any experienced members? Prompt replies appreciated I am flying tomorrow! Here is the list:

a3b1 - director indicator telltale lamp cycle
a3b9 - dynamic stability control
abca - aerial power supply
a36b - communications to gps module disturbed
a58d - brake light switch faulty
932e - alc system defect
9445 - permanent voltage error
9540 - error shd manual roof adjustment
9408 - eco converter
93c1 - no message from active front steering
9e5c - temperature sensor, residual heating area, cushion
6132 - redundant steering angle szl
6140 - redundancy comparison driver steering angle top
6142 - eco valve in sgm
6143 - servotronic valve in sgm
6145 - no monitoring of angle sum relation
ce93 - steering wheel angle top oc8
ce99 - steering wheel angle oc8
ce9e - engine torque 3 ID=0AA
cea0 - status power assisted steering0e0
5f62 - active front steering signals
5ec0 - steering angle sensor adjustment
279b - thermostat stuck
2772 - tank venting valve output stage

vkhong

The list is only a summary, details has to be pulled by querying the individual modules affected.

Some codes show an informational or error status. Some codes also show an accompanying voltage (eg 14.00 good, 11.80 bad). Low voltage battery ignition starts can also trigger some false errors.

Did you acquire the vehicle?

VTCMart

If these are active codes, I would have them cleared and go through some drive cycles (turn the car on and off several times, let it warm up, drive around, etc.) The codes should not return. There is a huge difference between ACTIVE current codes and HISTORY codes that are just showing previously active codes. The low voltage/power codes can be thrown by unplugging the battery too quickly after shutting off the vehicle (you have to wait a few minutes to let everything power down completely)

DavidF

+1. Many times, mechanics fix issues and then don't clear the fault codes. You should definately have the codes cleared and then monitor which ones return indicating an active fault. I once read the codes on a friend E38 and I dont think fault codes had ever been cleared...must have been 50 or more codes...certainly not all active.

mullenc525

Just saw you guys had posted... I ended up buying her and have just set up the diagnostic software on my laptop. Time to clear the codes and see what is active if it all communicates correctly. Thanks.

jaycal3

I would have had a BMW tech run a diagnostic to see if any of them were active faults or simply uncleared faults as discussed here. If they are/were active I probably would have had an estimate done for repairs and talked to the dealer about having them fixed as part of the purchase. Do you have a warranty of any kind?? I know here in Ct there is usually a 30 day warranty when purchasing a used car from a dealer. These cars can get costly to fix...

balbs

DSC and SZL errors? That's a $500 part plus labor and programming if the SZL is bad.

Dsblk93gt

I have a lot of those same codes, what was the issue with the active steering?