Nobody seems to know what's wrong with my car !!!

[benscab]

Please can somebody help me , I'm out of options and patience.
Long story short , bought an e53 3.0i which had abs trifecta. Tested what I could but couldn't communicate with abs module. Sent it away for repair , lights still on !  Now getting 2 faults in inpa - 104 steering angle sensor control unit fault and 90 temporary circuit interruption.
Any ideas what I should do next ................ besides target the f***n thing with a drone strike !!!

[themoog]

I don't know what 'trifecta' is but if the module has been repaired then poss rule that out (may still be faulty- try one from another vehicle if you can). Can't you take it to an expert to track down the fault? Save a lot of fannying around.

[ianst0028]

Problem with this kind of fault is it literally could be anywhere in the system not just your ABS/steering system
ideally you need someone with an oscilloscope who can read the data while you drive
does it happen at a specific time / temp / driving condition
what have you replaced apart from the ABS controller ??
i seem to remember that you've replaced the steering angle sensor which i'f im correct would tend to lead me  towards the abs sensors
another thing you could do if you haven't already is to clean all the connections for the ABS controller / sensors
I have heard of the pressure sensor on the ABS pump causing the trifecta but that usually brings up it's own fault code

sorry this probably isn't much help but i understand your frustration i had a similar fault last year that i spent ages hunting down and eventually found a bad soldered connection on my LPG wiring that was causing the problem

[ianst0028]

just re-reading your original post
you say you still have the 3 lights on after you've replaced the controller
is this while driving ?? did you disconnect the battery ??

if you disconnected the battery when you first start the car the 3 lights will show but if you spin the steering from lock to lock they will go out as the steering angle sensor re-calibrates
if it's while driving and you've done the lock to lock thing then use INPA to check the info from the wheel speed sensors
on a straight road they should all read about the same ..... any variances and you could have found the culprit 

[Smeeagain]

[quote="benscab"]
Please can somebody help me , I'm out of options and patience.
Long story short , bought an e53 3.0i which had abs trifecta. Tested what I could but couldn't communicate with abs module. Sent it away for repair , lights still on !  Now getting 2 faults in inpa - 104 steering angle sensor control unit fault and 90 temporary circuit interruption.
Any ideas what I should do next ................ besides target the f***n thing with a drone strike !!!
[/quote]

I dont know what Trifecta is either and Ive been on this forum seven years and not heard of it. I did a search and there were 9 posts ever - all mainly yours.

My suggestions
Is it actually called something else - different terminology might get the answers you seek

Disconnect battery

Follow the steering wheel reset procedure

Consider that the repaired unit actually hasnt been successfully repaired and dont assume it is fine

If all that fails then as I see it you have no option but to take it to a garage and let them fix it rather than trying and failing yourself as youre putting considerable time into this with zero success

Smee

[Smeeagain]

Google Bmw trifecta if you havent already - comes up with a lot of stuff particularly bimmerfest - there was a post from April 2015 that is probably worth a read
And to clarify the point about trifecta which know one seems to know it is the cluster of DSC/ABS/and BRAKE light Search and post on dsc and abs etc and you'll probably get more responses. Trifecta is an American word not commonly used here (or even on other forums)

Smee

[strummer]

I've owned my 3.0i for 5 years pretty much every time the 3 lights come on it has been the throttle body needs cleaning.Comes up with "throttle body to mass air flow" warning when I plug my hand held scanner in.
Remove the intake to the throttle body and spray some carb cleaner into the t/body intake.

[benscab]

I don't have any fault warnings for abs sensors , just steering angle sensor. I'll have a go at cleaning the wheel speed sensors tomorrow if someone could give me advice on how to go about it please . After MUCH research I think I'm looking at a new steering angle sensor tbh , but I'll try the wss clean first seeing as it's the cheaper option . Thanks for the advice guys .

[henrym3]

Well, in theory remove front left wheel, undo allen key screw and wriggle out wheel sensor. In my case 2 hours later after sensor had broken/snapped, had to drill out the piece that was stuck in there. So be warey it may pop out, it may not.

[Smeeagain]

[quote="benscab"]
I don't have any fault warnings for abs sensors , just steering angle sensor. I'll have a go at cleaning the wheel speed sensors tomorrow if someone could give me advice on how to go about it please . After MUCH research I think I'm looking at a new steering angle sensor tbh , but I'll try the wss clean first seeing as it's the cheaper option . Thanks for the advice guys .
[/quote]

So you dont have fault warnings but you do have the abs light on? As far as Im aware, the steering angle sensor wouldnt bring on the abs light, in which case its not necessarily the steering angle sensor, or at least not that on its own. Others may disagree.

[ianst0028]

I think that in inpa there is a way to look at the data from the steering angle sensor
Might be worth checking that before cleaning the sensors
BTW when I said clean them I meant the connections not the actual sensors..... If your lucky the sensor would pop out if not then your having the same 2hr relationship with Mr drill as Henry had

[Horizon]

When I had the E60 5 series, I kept getting active steering faults appearing in the IDrive.
I took it to the indie and he hooked up his laptop, you could see the angles changing as he turned the wheel, so it's possible to get the readings.
Turned out to be a failing battery though. It never came up again after the new battery was fitted.

[benscab]

Sometimes I can get in to see the live data , sometimes not , but when I have been able to I can see it changing when I move the steering wheel.

[Smeeagain]

Seriously, give up, bite the bullet, take it to a garage

[benscab]

[quote="Smeeagain"]
Seriously, give up, bite the bullet, take it to a garage
[/quote]

And why would I want to pay bmw £xxxxx for a couple of hours work ?  I'd rather try do it myself and save the cash for more worthwhile stuff ..................... like the pub !