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Thread: Need help..Limp Mode, Check Engine Light, DSC and Transmission Light are on

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Seattle, WA
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    13
    My Cars
    530i, Z4, X5

    Need help..Limp Mode, Check Engine Light, DSC and Transmission Light are on



    2001 BMW 530i
    Automatic

    Hey guys, I know this has probably been beat to death but I'm at the end here almost. I was driving home and all three of these lights popped up. Took it to my mechanic ran a diagnostic. Couldn't figure it out. Read through a ton of forums. Changed the battery. Nothing happened. Changed the alternator. Nothing happened. I am in limp mode right now and am not driving it. This all happened last week. Over the weekend I went to visit my mechanic and I noticed the radio wasn't working. It had been when I brought her in. Then the reverse lights stopped working. My heated seats do not work. My indicators work outside but nothing comes up on my dash board. Then my fog light would not show up on the dash. I am slowly losing everything.

    Here's the funny part. I recently had my tires changed and aligned. The guy at the alignment place said he had to "remove the subframe to do the alignment." He said it wasn't twisted or anything. (really confused about this). I think the guy could have messed up my grounding and im not getting power anywhere, hence limp mode and everything else going out. Already changed the two things that I have read on every forum, battery and alternator. Don't know what to do, I do NOT want to change the transmission box thingy (next to the right front engine mount) Heard that thing is expensive. Any ideas, I know you have seen this a million times, but i'm out 300-400 bucks already. Thoughts...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    San Jose, CA
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    11,537
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    1997 BMW 540i 6 speed
    Remove the subframe!! Never heard of this. Was this a BMW specialist?

    WAG: he failed to reconnect the ground wire from the engine to frame.


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Seattle, WA
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    530i, Z4, X5

    Not a specialist

    But its a pretty big outfit. Since my last post I talked to my mechanic and he has since checked the ground wire. So we cross that off.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
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    San Jose, CA
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    1997 BMW 540i 6 speed
    Better find a specialist. www.bimrs.org

    Did he 'splain to you why he dropped the subframe?

    If this started just after you retrieved the car, it's clearly his responsibility to sort it out.
    Last edited by edjack; 01-23-2012 at 10:07 PM.


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Seattle, WA
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    530i, Z4, X5
    I have an appointment set up with a specialist on Friday. Going to the alignment place today to see what actually happened. Should I not drive her at all? Thanks for the help.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Mcloud, Oklahoma
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    3,098
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    '99 323is, '00 323i 528i
    Quote Originally Posted by asandhuw21 View Post
    Since my last post I talked to my mechanic and he has since checked the ground wire. So we cross that off.
    There are MANY ground wires, they ALL need checked.

    Seems like I recall a fairly significant one in the engine compartment on the passenger side below the cabin air filter on that side.
    Then there are several ground "junctions" with brown wires leading to them in several places in the trunk and the engine compartment.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Seattle, WA
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    530i, Z4, X5
    Thanks Kevin.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    13
    My Cars
    530i, Z4, X5
    So the guy at the alignment place says they never removed the subframe. Not sure why the gentlemen on the phone said they did. Took it to a specialist. Ended up being a fuse located behind the transmission box in the engine bay. Well now I have a new alternator, and a new battery.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Johnson City, TN
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    E30 M3, E36 M3
    Where is the transmission box in the engine bay? Hopefully I have a blown fuse too.

    I also have the dreaded limp home mode after changing the fuel pump and filter/regulator today. I started the car with the front end still elevated on ramps an first code a message to shut down immediately due to low oil pressure. I did and pushed car off the ramps and started in the driveway everything was fine.

    Drove the car to fill up the tank and within 0.5 miles I'm in limp home mode The DCS and ABS yellow light come one first then the "Tranny reduced Power" message follows. Peake shows OF DC and DD codes. The DSC light has been coming on intermittently last few days so perhap related. I removed each wheell and checked resistane of each ABS sensor. It wasn't unit I finished that I realized I should have checked with the diode function. Anyhow 3 sensor read ~23.5MOhms, RF reads 18.8MOhms. Probably can't tell much with those readings. Or a red herring for the limp home mode.

    Thoughts?

    I forgot to mention car. 2000 540iA Sport with 90,000 miles.
    Last edited by jazzracer; 03-14-2012 at 01:08 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

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