My cars vin shows i have

[kingfisher1]

cruise control,however it does not show a light on dash nor engage.Since i'm having ABS issues could this prevent it from working.?(99 Roadster,2.8 5-speed)

[cngizbleevng]

There is no light on the dash when using cruise control. My cruise control worked intermittently in the past when my brake switch was on its way out.

[MIKYZZ4]

Perform a diagnostic scan with BMW scan tool/software.

[E36ic4Me]

Yup, Z3s have no lights indicating functionality of the cruise. If your car has it, then you'll have the lever on the right side of the steering column to activate it.

[kingfisher1]

I have the lever,no cruise.diag. it is then.Thanks fella's!

[E36ic4Me]

Yup, you've got it alright. Now to source the issue.

[328 Power 04]

Very likely to do with a wheelspeed sensor (rear right?), and/or brake light switch.

[kingfisher1]

Thank you.I will look.Just drove today here in the Ozark foothills.Top down,rowing the gears.Gobs of fun.

[doclip]

My cruise control didn't work either. Dealer wanted $900 to fix it!
Replaced the break switch ($50) and voila!

[Vintage42]

Very likely to do with a wheelspeed sensor (rear right?), and/or brake light switch.

The brake light switch at the top of the pedal under the dash is most likely. Also could be the cruise control's speed sensor, which is on the differential.
The differential sensor is for the speedo, cruise control, volume adjustment on the radio, speed-sensitive wipers, etc. The wheel speed sensors are ABS and traction control only.

[rf900rkw]

On the 4 cyl, yes. The cluster provides the VSS signal based on the diff sensor. But that is not the case for the E46 based engines. The DME does the cruise functions, and gets a VSS from the ABS module, which uses a cooked RR wheel sensor.

[kingfisher1]

Great info,thank you guys!

[bionicbelly]

Another possibility is the clutch pedal switch. My cruise had been off and on for over a year, but I figured out if I pulled the clutch pedal all the way back with my toe, the switch will engage. Works every time. May be the same with the brake pedal for you, or it could be your clutch pedal as well.

[Vintage42]

Another possibility is the clutch pedal switch. My cruise had been off and on for over a year, but I figured out if I pulled the clutch pedal all the way back with my toe, the switch will engage...

This answered my problem. I got the car out on the Interstate today for the first time since last summer, and the CC did not work.
I remembered that the CC was interlocked to the pedal switches, and found that my brake lights were OK. Then I connected that last December, I had a shop install a Mason clutch pedal, and they broke and replaced the clutch switch. After reading this post, I took another drive and pulled the clutch pedal back with my toe. That made the CC work.
So I am going back to the shop to ask them to adjust the switch.

[me77]

My ABS+ASC module originally didn't work, but the cruise worked. Had the ABS module out of the car while it was sent away to a rebuild company, and I noticed during that time my cruise stopped working. Put the rebuild ABS module back in the car, and ABS & cruise control came back to life.

[Mr Bingley]

So I am going back to the shop to ask them to adjust the switch.

?!? You're going back to the same shop? After what they did before? You are a really brave man and that's no lie.

[Vintage42]

The same tech who installed the clutch pedal and switch would be most familiar with increasing the last bit of travel for the switch, and the shop should do this adjustment without charge.
If I take the car to another shop, there will be another set of hands under the dash, and and a charge.

[Mr Bingley]

Discretion is the better part of posting.

[redlinealley]

My cruise control did not work until I replace my brake switch.