Abs/asc/parking Brake On

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bmw323

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HI Guys,

I need your feedback/comments. Since last week I have my ABS/ASC/PARKING BRAKE SIGN constantly on my 323-2000 BMW. I went to the dealership today and was advised from the diagnosis that all 4of my ABS censors are gone and need to be replaced. Now, the censors are about $289 each and it will cost me about $1800.00 inc. labour and taxes. I've consulted this with a local garage and was advised that ABS doesn't play a key role and its perfectly allright to drive with no ABS. Now, is it worth spending $1800.00 on ABS>or, should I keep driving with no worries?Any feedback/suggestion..would be appreciated..

thks
 
Bmw 325i 7803

Bmw 325i 7803

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I would keep driving without ABS and try and sell the car as is... Otherwise figure out how to perform the labor yourself. I do find it somewhat unlikely that ALL 4 of the sensors are gone.
 
Average Jae

Average Jae

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what color are the lights? if they are glowing yellow, then that means your traction is off. (normally you'd have to hold down the dsc btn for 3 to 5 secs for that to happen.) so it might be an electrical glitch. if red, i don't have a clue.

ABS is like an insurance in bad weather. you don't need it for everyday driving, since your brakes won't lock up during normal driving manuvering, but if at least somewhat of drive throughout the year consists of driving in bad weather conditions, ie snow and rain. it might be worth consideration. $1800 ca isn't too bad if it can save you from a bad wreck.

that said, there's something fishy about the assesment of all 4 corners going bad. i'd get at least a second opinion, if not a third or fourth. good luck
 
Kirby

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If all four sensors cost $289 each, I can't see how the total should cost $1800. It's remotely possible but very unusual that all 4 sensors failed at the same time. I would be more suspicious of the control module and not the sensors.

One sensor and the control module failed a few years ago in my Suburban. I did not fix it, iwould have cost about $1000 to fix, and the GM/Kelsey Hayes ABS NEVER worked right from day one.

You will be OK not fixing it, as long as you remember that you don't have ABS and brake/react accordingly. If you should get in an accident, don't tell ANYONE that you knew about the non-functional ABS. You are NOT doing anything illegal by not fixing it, but in an accident situation someone might try to use it against you.
 
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jaime-330

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bmw323 said:
HI Guys,

I need your feedback/comments. Since last week I have my ABS/ASC/PARKING BRAKE SIGN constantly on my 323-2000 BMW. I went to the dealership today and was advised from the diagnosis that all 4of my ABS censors are gone and need to be replaced. Now, the censors are about $289 each and it will cost me about $1800.00 inc. labour and taxes. I've consulted this with a local garage and was advised that ABS doesn't play a key role and its perfectly allright to drive with no ABS. Now, is it worth spending $1800.00 on ABS>or, should I keep driving with no worries?Any feedback/suggestion..would be appreciated..

thks
Click to expand...
I had the same problem once in my previous 323. But it wasn't the brake sensors. Check your brake fluid and remember your parking brake warning ligth is also a hydraulics warning. The reserve tank may be low due to brake pads wearing off, so more pressure may be needed for your hydraulic to work. Make sure your reserve tank is refilled with some brake fluid, that make take the problem away. I would advice you to do it yourself since your dealership already try to get you to change the sensors. Good luck and keep me posted if it actually worked out for you.
 
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jaime-330

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Sorry I just read your thread again. You have on all the ligths at once??. I thought it was just the red one that comes on when you pull your hand brake. Then I'll have to [???1] retract from what I said before, probably adding some brakefluid won't do. I never had that many ligths on at once in my car. Don't know what to tell you
 
Wadula

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well, first of all i think that ABS is a pretty important-to-have system. as already said the ABS can be very useful in bad weather conditions. as you are in canada where the appearance of snow is not that rare you might already have found out how ABS work. Now, imagine a situation where the car goes straight towards the curves outer limit, or worse the person on the sidewalk, while you brake and try to steer the car...

on the other hand, the costs are really pretty high. good comments were made on the control unit and the brake fluid level. you might try these options and also check with that other garage what they would charge you, in case the afore said doesn´t help.

in any case, ABS can be a lifesaver. Try to have it working, just as seatbelts and airbags.
 
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bmw323

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Hi guys..thks very much for all your comments. Answer to Jamime 330's question..yes I've the ABS/ASC in yellow and the parking brake sign in red and as I've said before they all came together. I also wanted to share something else with you guys. I was consulting this with another garage and they are not a typical BMW service centre but they specialize in BMW/AUDI/VOLkswagen and thye have a pretty good review from the BBB. The gentleman advsied me that its quite unusual that all the 4 censors went bad at the same time and soemone is not disclosing the facts properly. I'm going to see him next week and he said he will personally do a diagnosis for me. I've a feeling the the local BMW service centre is trying to pull a big one. I'm looking forward to the new diagnosis and if the genteleman is right then I'll be pursuing this matter with BBB and BMW North America since the BMW dealership/service centre I 'm dealing with is one if the biggest in Eastern Ontario. I'll keep you guys posted..and Thks very much.
 
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jaime-330

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Bmw dealers will always want to try to pull a big one on any body! [poke] The good thing is that they really change what they say they change not just charge it to you like they did when didn't [bash] . The question is: Does your car really need those parts and does it really cost that much to fix it??. Browse to as many bm service center with the same problem asking the same question and youl find out how many different answer and price stimates may come out of that adventure, [thumbd] GOOD LUCK [^]
 
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epj3

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Kirby said:
If all four sensors cost $289 each, I can't see how the total should cost $1800. It's remotely possible but very unusual that all 4 sensors failed at the same time. I would be more suspicious of the control module and not the sensors.

One sensor and the control module failed a few years ago in my Suburban. I did not fix it, iwould have cost about $1000 to fix, and the GM/Kelsey Hayes ABS NEVER worked right from day one.

You will be OK not fixing it, as long as you remember that you don't have ABS and brake/react accordingly. If you should get in an accident, don't tell ANYONE that you knew about the non-functional ABS. You are NOT doing anything illegal by not fixing it, but in an accident situation someone might try to use it against you.
Click to expand...
The ENTIRE ABS system was replaced on our 95 blazer TWICE and STILL didn't fix it. We were going to persue lemon law but it would've taken quite a bit of time and money, which wouldn't be worth it. The ABS light comes on intermittantly with our 99 montana, and the airbag light is on all the time...which I think the two systems are related...
 
Average Jae

Average Jae

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My 95 talon had abs issues too. w/ the lights coming on. i took it in twice, and they "fixed it" only to have it come back periodically. i gave up on that.

if you have a stretch of light snow on a parking lot or something, i'd try the system out. see if hte brake pulsates as you try to make a stop, and also see if dsc kicks in by taking a fast turn in 2nd, or dropping a clutch. (of course don't point the finger at me if something goes wrong [:p] but i'd do some experimentation on the side to see if the lights are really telling you the truth, or just being out of wack..
 
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CaveDweller

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bmw323 said:
Hi guys..thks very much for all your comments. Answer to Jamime 330's question..yes I've the ABS/ASC in yellow and the parking brake sign in red and as I've said before they all came together.
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That's what happens when you manually turn off DSC/ASC. It doesn't sound like a brake broblem at all.

Look in your manual for disabling ASC. That should describe exactly what you see. I am not an expert, but I don't think that you can turn off ABS like you can ASC.
 
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epj3

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CaveDweller said:
That's what happens when you manually turn off DSC/ASC. It doesn't sound like a brake broblem at all.

Look in your manual for disabling ASC. That should describe exactly what you see. I am not an expert, but I don't think that you can turn off ABS like you can ASC.
Click to expand...
You can't turn off abs (unless you find a way to disable the system by disconnecting it or something). It's a saftey feature and would be just as illegal as removing your airbag. Of course that doesn't mean that people don't remove it.
 
jrt67ss350

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epj3 said:
You can't turn off abs (unless you find a way to disable the system by disconnecting it or something). It's a saftey feature and would be just as illegal as removing your airbag. Of course that doesn't mean that people don't remove it.
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How is removing your ABS illegal??? ABS is not required by law like airbags are.


Yes, the pattern of lights that you are seeing is the same as if you shut off the ASC system entirely, but an ABS problem will also cause the ASC system to shut off entirely since ASC is really just a software program that runs on top of the ABS system - it utilizes the ABS hardware.
 
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Rakaan

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Hi all,

I got a BMW 318i SE and yesterday when I started the car, the ABS lights came on and didnt go off then.....after half an hour when i came back to home, and started car again, the light went off......took it to a BMW dealer and they checked and said one of the rear censors has gone and needs replacing :(

Well mine is still under warranty so its gonna be free but looking at this thread, it seems its quite common that ABS censors go wrong all the time?
 
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tanrover

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I have been having the same problem with my 325 2001 for a few months now. It's either 2 or 3 of those lights, depending on the cars mood.

If anyone has gotten the problem fixed, what was the total for the repairs?
 
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