E60 M5 DSC Failure

[Khaki Suit]

So the dreaded has happened very early in my relationship with my M5.

Drove is last Tuesday evening with no problems. Parked it up and went to move it today. Immediately threw up some error codes DBC, DSC and Reduced engine power. I switched it off and turned it back on for it to just show the DSC code and an engine light on the dash. Happy days.

I have read various things it could be but ultimately I need to get the codes read. Can anyone recommend a decent dealer or specialist that can help. I am based near Ipswich Suffolk so would prefer relatively local but am happy to trailer it to somewhere spot on who will fix the problem and not stab in the dark which appears to be what others have experienced.

Any help gratefully appreciated.

[t8cmf]

You can still drive it with reduced power, just drive sensibly. There's no need to trailer it anywhere.

I've been through something similar with my E92 M3, I got the same errors and reduced power. My issue was the Idle Control Device which I changed myself. Yours could be the dreaded throttle actuators though. As you say get the codes read before you do anything else.

Is your battery fully charged? A struggling battery also throws up these error codes.

[Khaki Suit]

I think the battery is fine. It's brand new so should be.

[Schermerhorn]

If it has a warranty, phone BMW assist, get it on a tow truck and off to nearest BMW garage.

[Skrambles]

Had the same thing happen to mine when it was fairly new. BMW refused to recover it. It was a defective idle actuator.

[MajorBeef]

You might want to remove the OSF pollen filter and take a look into the void underneath.
The major cylinder lives in it and there is an annoying grommet that sometimes blocks submerging it in water that can cause errors.

[Helicopter123]

Presume you have the warranty if it's a serious issue?

[Khaki Suit]

Mr beef, where is that located please? Worth a look but doubt it's the cause tbh and the codes still need resetting.

For those mentioning warranty it doesn't have any so I am looking to fix it one way or another.

[Schermerhorn]

Khaki Suit said:

Mr beef, where is that located please? Worth a look but doubt it's the cause tbh and the codes still need resetting.

For those mentioning warranty it doesn't have any so I am looking to fix it one way or another.

It could be a painful story - but I hope it isn't.

I would just read as much about this car as possible so you yourself have a good idea about how this car runs and its issues. It will potentially save on 'shooting in the dark' attempts with mechanics and costing you money. Check out M5board forums and they have huge amounts of info on all manner of problems, from little things such as bulbs to altogether bigger things.

[MajorBeef]

Khaki Suit said:

Mr beef, where is that located please? Worth a look but doubt it's the cause tbh and the codes still need resetting.

For those mentioning warranty it doesn't have any so I am looking to fix it one way or another.

It's all written up here. Hope it helps.

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/71541-check-your-scu...

[t8cmf]

Khaki Suit said:

Mr beef, where is that located please? Worth a look but doubt it's the cause tbh and the codes still need resetting.

For those mentioning warranty it doesn't have any so I am looking to fix it one way or another.

I run my M3 without a warranty so don't panic.

If it is the idle actuator then they are only a few hundred quid.

If it's the throttle actuator then do not swap it out for a OEM one. Contact a member on M3Cutters called alpina527 (Ian). He has engineered a kit to rebuild the internals of a throttle actuator. The kit consists of wheels and shafts but are made from higher quality materiels than the off the shelf VDO-Siemens units BMW use. There are a number of members on M3Cutters running their cars on these kits with no issues whatsoever. They are only about £140 I think which is cheaper than the BMW route by many hundreds of pounds. There is also a guy selling these kits on eBay as well. They seem to work fine as well. This is all assuming you are competent wielding a spanner. The kits are the same for the E9X / E6X M cars.

[Khaki Suit]

Thanks for the replies guys, just what I was after.

With regards to the warranty I am not phased. I went into this knowing what the score was and accept the risks. Mondial wanted about £1600 per year so I decided to put aside a decent contingency fund and instead of pay Mondial monthly I add to the fund. At the end of my ownership I may have some money left over and if not I lost the gamble but hopefully repairs were covered. Que sera.

I certainly done my homework before getting into M5 ownership but sadly things do go wrong. You can only cover yourself against so much.

I am already on m5board and have thoroughly read the threads about the same issue as mine. Lots of great help which will no doubt prove invaluable once I discover the codes.

Mr Beef, I will check it thanks.

t8cmf, thanks for the heads up on the throttle actuator. I have seen the pics of one open with the worn teeth but wasn't yet aware of anyone who had produced a rebuild kit. If it was that I was considering having the kit made myself tbh. Now I don't need to.

First thing on the list is codes. Can anyone recommend a good OBD reader please? I think I need to invest in one of them first to check the codes and get them reset.

[AW10]

You'll need more than an OBD reader - you need BMW specific software. There are bootleg copies of BMW's SW on ebay or you can buy something like the Bavarian Technic product (http://www.bavariantechnic.com/default.aspx)

[Khaki Suit]

I have borrowed a snap on solus pro so hope that works.

[Khaki Suit]

Codes thrown were for the throttle actuator on bank 2. Codes reset and it's fine again although fully expecting it to happen again soon so I will be looking to uprate them.

[t8cmf]

Khaki Suit said:

Codes thrown were for the throttle actuator on bank 2. Codes reset and it's fine again although fully expecting it to happen again soon so I will be looking to uprate them.

Nice one. At least you now have a starting point.

You are spot on that this blip is a precursor to a more permanent failure. Upgrade both at the same time for approx £240 and you're golden again.

[Khaki Suit]

Yes mate, makes perfect sense to do them both while I'm in there. They will be as worn as each other unless one was done in the past.

Thanks for your tip on the kit btw as that's the way i will go.

[t8cmf]

Khaki Suit said:

Yes mate, makes perfect sense to do them both while I'm in there. They will be as worn as each other unless one was done in the past.

Thanks for your tip on the kit btw as that's the way i will go.

No worries. Glad to help.

[andymc]

Khaki Suit said:

Yes mate, makes perfect sense to do them both while I'm in there. They will be as worn as each other unless one was done in the past.

Thanks for your tip on the kit btw as that's the way i will go.

I'd be relieved

[Khaki Suit]

andymc said:

I'd be relieved

then sir, you worry too much. People of a nervous disposition shouldn't own performance cars, you'll give yourself a heart attack.