Bloody marvelous

Discussion in 'X5' started by Bobc, Mar 13, 2019.

  1. Bobc
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    Bobc

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    I used the local garage to MoT my X5 35d on friday and it failed on a broken front spring so I agreed for them to replace it today as long as it was an oem part. (I always use an indie that i've used for over 14 years but is 25m away)
    I thought replacing a spring must be quite straight forward no?
    Anyway I collected the car today and the spring looks fine and drove the car 200 yards to home and parked it. So far so good.
    Went to use the car a couple of hours later and shock horror, travelled 20 yards and the steering was virtually immovable . I wrestled the car to a halt and had to abandon it at the end of the road where I live. The dash is giving a warning of "dynamic drive failure. Vehicle leans further when cornering. Avoid high speed cornering. Have the fault checked by BMW service."
    Can anyone tell me what the MoT garage have done to create this problem?
    The car is undriveable never mind worrying about cornering to fast!
    Any ideas would be appreciated.
     
  2. bishbosh
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    bishbosh WARLORD

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    Do you have adaptive suspension? I'm wondering if the garage haven't connected something properly. Does the car actually sit lower on one side?
     
  3. slim_boy_fat
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    slim_boy_fat WARLORD Site Supporter

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    It may be to do with the steering angle sensor not being reset, they'll probably have had it on full lock and the lower suspension arm disconnected to replace the spring [afaik the recommendation is to replace both, but that's for a different thread].

    I can upset mine on the e60 by reversing up a steep slope with full lock on. The Adaptive Drive/steering is all interlinked.
    I ignore the 'bong' and dire warning and it resets after a switch off and a few miles. Not to say that's your problem, but...:cautious:
     
  4. Bobc
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    Bobc

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    Yes it has adaptive drive.
    I've been back to the car a couple of times and still the warning and no power steering.
    Slim_boy_fat are you saying I need to drive it to force a reset or do you think something has disconnected?
     
  5. slim_boy_fat
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    slim_boy_fat WARLORD Site Supporter

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    Ah, I overlooked that - mine still steers OK if I upset it as above.

    Not trying to teach Grandma etc :oops:, but are you sure the serpentine belt hasn't snapped? I can't see the Adaptive Drive causing lack of p/s, but I suppose it could be a failed sensor - these warnings tend to cover any one [or more] of a number of potential causes. I don't suppose you're a Member of any of the Recovery Services? It's sounding like a recovery job in any event, do not attempt to drive it - even if you could turn the wheel.

    These cars are waaay too complex for our good. My next action would be a walk to the garage you used. Sorry I can't be of more help. :oops:
     
  6. JasonH
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    JasonH

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    It could be unrelated....maybe. Sounds like the power steering pump is not running. Could be the serpentine belt off - have a look at the front of the engine but that would almost definitely raise a bunch of other warnings about charging.

    It could be that in fitting the spring the power steering plumbing has been disturbed and you have a power steering leak.When too low the power steering and adaptive drive will cease to function. There's likely to be a pool of green fluid under the car. Check the power steering reservoir, it has a built-in dipstick in the cap.
     
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  7. slim_boy_fat
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    slim_boy_fat WARLORD Site Supporter

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    @Bobc Have you made contact with the garage yet? Or, better still, identified the cause of the problem?
     
  8. Bobc
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    Bobc

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    Update
    I've had a poke around under the bonnet and the reason that the power steering is no more is that one of the pulley belt wheels has sheared off.
    It is also why the battery is showing no charge on the dash.
    However I don't understand why the Damper control warning message (see pic) comes up although logically the steering is the fundamental part of the active drive so that's probably it.
    I also think a piece of trim or wheel arch lining is missing because when I look at the left side bulkhead (offside) under the bonnet I can see a cavity space that I'm sure wasn't there before. (see pic)
    I'm trying not to assume these two matters are linked and that this is no more than a coincidence but I'm struggling.
    So as the car now needs to have the front end removed and the sheared bolt drilled out I have sent it on a breakdown truck to my regular Indie and not back to the garage that replaced the spring. I've never used them for anything on my car other than MoT's and they don't specialise in quality marques.
    I've also asked the Indie to check that the spring is the right spring, has been fitted correctly, the quality of the work and is or isn't connected to the pulley bolt shearing etc.
    If it turns out that the Mot garages work is suspect then I will deal with that separately. I see no point in putting more work their way when I have a problem that may have been of their doing and it therefore makes sense to use my regular garage to check the work and get me back on the road again. steering warning.jpg steering warning.jpg bonnet cavity.jpg
     
  9. Peter
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    Peter WARLORD

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    Coincidences do happen, but do wonder if the MOT test caused a weakness to show up soon after. Revving the engine for emission testing? More steering movements/loads (during the test or spring fitting) than usual?

    BTW, Dynamic Drive will fail if the power steering pump is dead, so not surprised at the warning.

    Peter
     
  10. slim_boy_fat
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    slim_boy_fat WARLORD Site Supporter

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    Well, at least you've found the problem. It's surprising how much damage a snapped [or 'released] belt can do thrashing about under the bonnet. I had one let go on the e39 but luckily was about 100 yards from base, although it involved 2 x 90 degree turns. I couldn't believe the effort needed to turn the s/wheel.

    Can you be more precise? Is it a belt tensioner? The crankshaft vibration damper pulley? A dig down to the relative schematic here will give you the info, inc part #s and and indication of price(s) - albeit in $

    http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select

    Keep us updated with the findings of your Indy please, as it all adds to the knowledge base.
     
  11. Bobc
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    Bobc

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    Agree with the knowledge base need.
    Had a look at the realoem and it's a deflection pulley that has sheared.
     
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  12. slim_boy_fat
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    slim_boy_fat WARLORD Site Supporter

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    Got the link to the part?
     
  13. snrbrtsn
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    snrbrtsn WARLORD

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    I “think” there’s a new recall on pulley..... May be worth checking.... though may not be related!

    Re the plastic trim, Mines the same under the o/s wing I took a picture for your reassurance, however I’ll have to wait for it to transfer from phone to IPad!
     
  14. xyzl
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    xyzl

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  15. Bobc
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    Bobc

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    Well what are the chances of that?
    My car is now at my trusted Indie who are carrying out the repair. I doubt that my warranty direct policy will cover it and I bet that recall work must be done by a BMW stealer.
    Hey ho!
     
  16. bishbosh
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    bishbosh WARLORD

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    I've had the vibration damper shear. However as my e91 had electric power steering the failure wasn't immediately obvious! Only when the battery lost charge did it become evident.
     
  17. Bobc
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    Bobc

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    Just to update.
    The failed bolt was a sod to get out but eventually was removed. My Indy replaced all associated pulley's and belts etc and checked out the spring installation by the MoT garage.
    There was no reason to associated the spring replacement work with the pulley bolt failure.
    The parts to get my power steering, alternator and water pump working again was £172 plus vat. The bolt was £3.35 of that.
    My car has an outstanding recall for a bolt replacement somewhere around the alternator area which is being done on the 28th march.
    I'll be rather miffed if it turns out that the recall bolt is the one I've just paid the neck end of £500 to have replaced.
    Anyway I'm rolling again.
     
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  18. JasonH
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    JasonH

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    Keep the receipt. In the USA people have had refunds for failures that turned out to be recalls.
     
  19. Bobc
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    Bobc

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    Thanks for that. I'll have a go at BMW UK, nothing to lose.
     

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