Parking Sensor System

[Lyons]

Folks, first post here.

I picked up an 05 3.0D a couple of weeks ago and someone appears to have fitted an aftermarket parking sensor module and speaker to the front and rear. I know the OEM sensors are prone to failing, so I could maybe understand fitting a complete aftermarket to bypass the OEM system (though swapping out the faulty sensors would be easier), but in my case they have actually retained the factory sensors.

The front set up is horrendous, as it beeps as things get too close regardless of what speed you are doing.

What I'm wondering is, is there much to the OEM system? Im assuming something failed at some stage and I'd ideally like to find out what it was, and have it replaced to get the factory system working again.

I retrofitted optical parking in a Golf GTi and I know it consisted of the sensors, module then some wiring to the ecu/power, but is there more to it in the BM? I don't have access to any computer software, but would it show up a fault anyway if the wiring has been bypassed for the aftermarket module?

I took a couple of photos of the wiring in the rear, and also the aftermarket kit info.

Thanks in advance!

[CondorX5]

The parking sensors in E53s are well known for failures, both of the sensors themselves and the control box. Maybe the control box failed and a previous owner did not want to spend silly money on a new one from BMW?
Perhaps try to get one of the software packages like BMW 1.4.1 or perhaps the Carly adapter so you can check electrics and read codes inexpensively, its worth the small investment.  Aftermarket sensor systems don't make much sense on an X5 I agree, but people do get desperate when things go wrong so frequently as the sensors can do if you are unlucky.

[Lyons]

Thanks.

Any idea where the OEM module is located?

[Grommit]

Right hand side of the boot, in behind the fuse/relay box I think.

[Lyons]

Right, while trying to sort the Bluetooth last night I did a bit more stripping and exposed some of the parking sensor stuff. From under the car I could see the OEM sensor plugs were hanging loose behind the bumper, and I think the sensors are actually aftermarket ones instead. The wire coming out of them doesn't have a plug that matches the OEM tail.



The photo below shows the wiring in the boot with 3 areas of uncertainty.



Blue circle- from what I can see the OEM speaker is up behind the relay holders to the left (out of shot). There were no wires connected to it so I'm wondering if the pair of wires (blue/geeen and blue/red from my first post) that are looped together here could be the wires for it? Does anyone know of any wiring diagrams that could confirm what colour of wires go to the speaker? A purple wire from the aftermarket kit is tapped into these wires, I'm not sure why that would be.



Green circle- I believe this connection is in to the reversing light to give the kit it's signal, there's nothing else I can think of in this area and the factory wires are going towards the light cluster.

Red circle- anyone know what this group of wires goes to or is for? 1 has been tapped in to, but I'm wondering perhaps it is for power just?

This is it from a better angle;



The white, purple and red twist of wires thst rises above the fuse box continues to the front of the car and I have picked it up above the pedals. But I ran out of time at this stage!

If the red wire is power and the white is to the reverse, then I would think both of these should be easily enough removed and then would be reverted to standard. If I can check the speaker wiring then hopefully those 2 wires plug in to it.

In theory that would just leave me needing OEM sensors to get the rear working anyway?! Are they dear, and what's the best source for them?

[Colin]

Hello and welcome to XDrivers ,  PDC sensors can be troublesome and i've had my fair share , but my mechanic
is v good with electrics and has all the gear for fault finding , he replaced some of mine of ebay  , the only help i can offer you is if you need to check or look at cables  we could meet  as i drive an 05 X5  and im only down the A1 near Banbridge  .. Colin ..

[Lyons]

Colin, thanks very much for that! Who's your mechanic? I know there is Banbridge Motorworks who are BMW specialists, I was planning to go to Car Clinique in Hillsborough as they are handier (I'm actually between Dromore and Hillsborough).

Do you have software yourself for scanning etc?

[Colin]

Sorry no software or scanner  , my mechanic works from home near Newry  maybe a bit far to travel , you could try DMW Dunmurry motor works , unit 3  the cutts dunmurry  15 years experience with BMW , or maybe stay close to home , i bought my X5 just outside  Ballynahinch 3 year ago ..

[Lyons]

I didn't even know there was a BMW specialist in Dunmurry! I work near Makro so thst would be dead handy.

[henrym3]

I sympathize, sometimes the X5 gets a reputation it doesn't deserve, surely the cost of the aftermarket PDC system and the time and effort to create that mess which now needs more money spent to get it working, it would have been cheaper to fix the original. Far be it for me to advise but I would put my effort into fixing the original. can you for example get spare parts for the after market system should you need some. Replace the original PDC module get a sensor and plug into each sensor loom, check wires for continuity, very unlikely wires from sensor to module have broken, wires that disappear around the foot pedals are likely going to the OBC bong speaker just above pedals. 

[Lyons]

I think the module is still there, so if I could find out where to get some cheap sensors I'd give that a shot.

Will just need someone with more known than me to confirm my thinking with the aftermarket wires is correct and they can be removed.

Could any owners even do me a favour and check if the 2 wires I mentioned go up and into their speaker beside the relays?

[henrym3]

Just been out in my cold and dark windswept driveway (not that I'm looking any sympathy) and yes those wires do go to the speaker.

[Lyons]

Excellent news! Thanks very much for checking, much appreciated.

[Lyons]

henrym3, would you or any other E53 owner mind doing me a very big favour? Is there any chance you could drop the flap to the right of the boot, and take a photo of the wiring actually going in to the PDC speaker so I can see how it should be connected up?

Ideally another photo of the wiring coming up from the bumper into the boot in the centre, as per my last photo. I believe this can be seen just by lifting the boot floor, but I’m not 100% if I had to remove more to expose this or not I’m afraid!

Is there any such thing as a resource online where I could see wiring diagrams for the car?

I ended up taking the plunge and ordering 8 new sensors yesterday so I'm keen to make some progress! My mechanic tried plugging in 1 sensor at the back and confirmed that the module is working (well at least the part covering the rear anyway!)

[X5-D-Sport]

Re sensors, these things DO NOT like being power hosed.

I have replaced most 0f mine with none OEM parts & all was fine until both of the front outer sensors failed & have brought down the whole system... there seems to be no way of easily swapping out the from outer sensors without dropping the whole front bumper off the vehicle.

Glad you managed to prove the module works.