So I have an '05 545i and the battery crapped out last night. I proceeded to do my research and ended up going the aftermarket route. That being said, all error messages have cleared except for the active steering. In Idrive it says "Active Steering Malfunction. Initializing."

I searched this forum and have tried two different things.

1. Start Car
2. Turn wheel left fully, turn wheel right fully, return wheel to center.
3. Stop Car
4. Re-start = Still have warning light

then I did

1. Start Car
2. Turn wheel left full, return wheel to center.
3. Stop Car
4. Re-start = Still have warning light

The second procedure is verbatim from the owner's manual, the first was from my readings here on the forum.

I'm at a lost right now. Will it reset after driving around a bit?

 

KOEO = Key on engine off

 

So just turn the key to the on position and do those things?

EDIT: Reason I ask b/c page 81, of my owner's manual under "Initializing System" says...

1. Start the engine
2. With the vehicle stationary turn the steering wheel from the straight ahead position to the left as far as it will go and then back to straight ahead position.
3. Switch off the engine.

When you start the engine again, all the functions of the active steering are available once again.

 

I found an empty parking lot, drove slowly with the steering wheel turned full left, then continued to drive slowly while turning the steering wheel full right. Continue to drive slowly to an available parking spot, and positioned steering wheel to center and turned off engine. Waited a minute and turned on engine but did not start it. No more Active Steering Malfunction message.

I had to disconnect the battery during replacement of the steering wheel trim (to brushed aluminum), which required the removal of the steering wheel airbag. The disconnected battery triggered the Active Steering Malfunction message.

If malfunction message persists it may indicate a low fluid condition. Try adding power steering fluid past the max mark, up to 5 mm past. This is my fix for the malfunction message that occur once every cold winter.

 

Thanks for the response guys. So I actually did a mixture b/c I had read somewhere on here that you had to get up to 30 k/mh or so, which is about 15 mph I think. Anyway, I took it out in the neighborhood and bingo! Just glad to see all the warning lights gone. Nothing ruins my day more than a nagging warning ding/light!

 

Please help guys! E60 active steering ligjt is on 2005 530i. Appeared after jumpstarting. Replaced the battery but lights still on and the steering wheel is cocked to the right when the wheels are straight. Pleaae help. Tried the books,reinitalizing like Travis did but no,luck