HELP: Yellow ABS, DSC, BRAKE Lights on 24-7

OK so I know I need to get the codes read and I will, but just wanted to know from anyone who has been through this and what the resolution was.

The lights are on from startup until shutdown, they are not intermittent. I just purchased the vehicle so I accepted this problem and just want to get it fixed so I can get the car inspected. I assume it won't pass inspection because they're on....

I took it on a gravel/stone driveway yesterday, got it up to about 20MPH and slammed on the brakes. I thought I felt the ABS module the pedal but from my reading on this forum, that should be how it works. My understanding is that DSC is unable to invoke ABS if it senses something goes awry during the normal course of driving.

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=17759

Use search lol, ps you have a headlight out!

Originally Posted by killj0y

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=17759

Very few people have the lights out from the time they start up. Most are after driving off a few miles. I've done numerous searches on here. And not many people post resolutions.

Mine were always on and this fixed my problem. Anyways this is a an easy and usually free fix, just try it no harm in doing it unless the car falls on you of course lmao!

Also it could mean they are just completely dead...In any case this is as good a place as any to start diagnosing.

Cool. Thanks man. I just bought the PA Soft package but probably won't get it for another 2 weeks or so.

Cool you could clean them like right now in an hour and find out by just turning it on and driving around a bit lol.

If you need something to do which is why i do things lol. When I actually have free time I feel like ui have to be constructive and money allowing preventative maintenance is a great outlet.

It isn't very often that cleaning the speed sensors will clear the codes! Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones! If that does not work the next most likely option is that one of the sensors needs to be replaced! I had to do this in order for the codes to be cleared I had checked and cleaned before hand to ensure that it was not the case. Worsy case it may be your module, I hope that it isn't and more than likely it is just a sensor!

Hope that helps,

Thanks for the replies guys. I cleaned it just now, took under 1hr. The rears were definitely more gunked up, looked like more grease and dirt on there. The fronts were relatively clean with a bit more metal shavings on them than the rears appeared to have. I took it out for a spin and did maybe 1 mile roundtrip. I'm not sure if that's enough for the codes to clear but they didn't. Either way I'll be driving to work tomorrow anyway so we'll see.

I was really worried that it wouldn't pass the state safety inspection but lo-and-behold, the service advisor at the local place says the ABS and airbag lights being on will still pass a safety inspection (ironic?). So I've booked it in anyway and will continue to work on the prob. When I get the PA Soft i'll diagnose and post a resolution.

A bad steering angle sensor? That was my problem.

abs control unit. $$$

Before I start spending $$$, I'll wait for the PA Soft package to arrive and diagnose it first. Getting the inspection done will buy me time.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=844793

i had same problem and mechanic told me that is was bad streering angle sensor, he reseted and after 8 months it came on for few miles and it went away

As a follow up, i did get this resolved. It ended up being the right front abs sensor. After looking at my codes and the wiring diagram to figure out all the codes being reported i took a gamble on that one because it was the first item in the wiring scheme to cause the rest to fail.

Sent from my SGH-T679 using Bimmer

All of the lights are for systems that apply the brakes, or stop applying them (DSC and ABS, respectively), except the brakes don't work so the lights are on telling you the systems -- DSC and ABS -- cannot be relied upon to work when you think they should.

I just noticed that you posted that the problem is fixed. Certainly the part you replaced would cause both an ABS and DSC fault, but I'm scratching my head at the brake warning light coming from this. You did the right thing by buying the diagnostic package and asking the car where it hurts.

Mine are always on from the time of start up as wheel. got the codes read and it says its the steering angle sensor and the front right wheel speed sensor.


I guess i'll try cleaning the wheel speed sensor and hope that both codes go away

definitely dont want to replace a steering angle sensor. way too many $$$

I would definitely try cleaning then replacing the sensor. Ecstuning.com has an aftermarket one that was about $30


Sent from my SGH-T679 using Bimmer