"Cruise Control Malfunction" error message after steering wheel install

[ashmostro]

I recently installed a factory alcantara steering wheel on my F80. Immediately after reconnecting the battery and starting the car back up for the first time I was met with a litany of error messages, all of which cleared out almost immediately and did not show up in subsequent restarts. I attributed this to the batter being disconnected and reconnected - normal stuff.

Then, I started getting intermittent "Cruise Control Malfunction" errors on startup in the iDrive screen. I clear out the error message with the iDrive controller and then get no other error messages, including none shown in the stored errors in the Vehicle Info section of iDrive.

This error now happens 80% of the time, but always clears out immediately with no related issues present. I haven't had the chance yet to test the cruise control functionality as I've been doing only short trips lately.

I'm pretty sure, but plan on checking to confirm, that I didn't leave anything disconnected in the steering wheel.

Any thoughts on why this error is occurring, and if it's something that can be cleared out say with a Bavtech device or similar? Or is this something I should bring the car in to the dealership for further inspection?

Thanks!
-Ash

[rr006rbc]

You might have damaged the SZL - steering control module when you were installing your fancy pants steering wheel.

Maybe you could bring it into the dealer and play it off like you had nothing to do with it; jk don't do that.

[ashmostro]

Interesting - didn't know they were that fragile! What kind of abuse could damage one of those? Are you talking mechanical stress, or static electricity? Something else?

Thanks

[rr006rbc]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

Interesting - didn't know they were that fragile! What kind of abuse could damage one of those? Are you talking mechanical stress, or static electricity? Something else?

Thanks

The little clockspring mechanism inside is very delicate If you let it spin before installing the wheel back on you may have damaged it..

[ashmostro]

I didn't see or hear anything like that happen but that doesn't mean it didn't. Would that be something obvious or could it have happened without indication?

Also, what could have been done to avoid this from happening?

[BimmerBahn]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

Also, what could have been done to avoid this from happening?

Pay the dealer to do it. If something gets screwed up, they fix it without much hasssle.

Hope you get it resolved.

Cheers,

[ashmostro]

Indeed. But I'd still like to learn for future reference.

[Sleeper]

You shouldn't have seen a bunch of error messages upon restart. I'd disconnect the battery again, uninstall the wheel, and make sure you didn't miss reconnecting any of the harnesses or have a soft connection.

It's a super easy install/uninstall that's very hard to screw up, so a dealer is definitely not needed to swap wheels. You may as well go through it a second time to double check your work. If you still have issues, you will need a dealer or dealer tools (ISTA) to help you diagnose the issue.

[ashmostro]

Originally Posted by Sleeper

You shouldn't have seen a bunch of error messages upon restart. I'd disconnect the battery again, uninstall the wheel, and make sure you didn't miss reconnecting any of the harnesses or have a soft connection.

It's a super easy install/uninstall that's very hard to screw up, so a dealer is definitely not needed to swap wheels. You may as well go through it a second time to double check your work. If you still have issues, you will need a dealer or dealer tools (ISTA) to help you diagnose the issue.

Thank you - I'm going to try that out, seems very sensible.

[ashmostro]

UPDATE: I *think* I have resolved the issue. Crossing fingers.

So, the comment above about there should not have been a slew of error messages upon first restart got me thinking, along with something that bugged me during the install process.

First off, before I did anything else, I tested the cruise control function on the freeway today and it worked as designed. Check.


So when reconnecting the negative battery terminal when I did the steering wheel swap, I felt as though the threads were close to stripping based on visual and physical cues - the terminal looked pretty damn snug. I think I was too worried and perhaps the terminal was not as tight as should be and was throwing off more sensitive hardware particularly after the car being off for some time.

Just now, I tightened the terminal being careful not to strip any threads and it was able to do do nearly a full turn before hitting resistance. I'll test the car over the next few days to see if the problem goes away and report back.


Thanks to all who chimed in!

[aboulfad]

The battery negative terminal requires very little torque, 5Nm. When in doubt, just place with a permanent marker on the nut and the connector a line to help you know the original position and tighten a bit from there if you dont have a micro torquemeter.

[AndrewC1989]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

UPDATE: I *think* I have resolved the issue. Crossing fingers.

So, the comment above about there should not have been a slew of error messages upon first restart got me thinking, along with something that bugged me during the install process.

First off, before I did anything else, I tested the cruise control function on the freeway today and it worked as designed. Check.


So when reconnecting the negative battery terminal when I did the steering wheel swap, I felt as though the threads were close to stripping based on visual and physical cues - the terminal looked pretty damn snug. I think I was too worried and perhaps the terminal was not as tight as should be and was throwing off more sensitive hardware particularly after the car being off for some time.

Just now, I tightened the terminal being careful not to strip any threads and it was able to do do nearly a full turn before hitting resistance. I'll test the car over the next few days to see if the problem goes away and report back.


Thanks to all who chimed in!

So did this resolve your issue? I'm having the same problem.

[ashmostro]

The issue was something different entirely! There is a small "cruise control module" which sits inside the steering wheel which I thought was only necessary for the heating element so I had removed it since the bmwperf wheel doesn't have heating. Once I reinstalled that small part the error went away.

[AndrewC1989]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

The issue was something different entirely! There is a small "cruise control module" which sits inside the steering wheel which I thought was only necessary for the heating element so I had removed it since the bmwperf wheel doesn't have heating. Once I reinstalled that small part the error went away.

Got a part number by any chance?

I recently ordered this to get the heating to work again. wondering if it's the same part.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...e/32307848331/

[ashmostro]

It's model configuration specific. Make sure you pick the right one for your production date and option package.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=61_3457

[AndrewC1989]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

It's model configuration specific. Make sure you pick the right one for your production date and option package.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=61_3457

Thank you so much!

[ashmostro]

Originally Posted by andrewc89

Thank you so much!

What configuration is your car? I had steering wheel heating but no vibration in the wheel due to no driver safety aids option (the YES/NO/NO version)

I have an extra module that I just found (I had ordered a new one because I thought I'd thrown my old one away). Let me know if your car is configured like mine and I'd be happy to send you my part later this week as I'm traveling for work the first half of the week.

-Ash

[AndrewC1989]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

What configuration is your car? I had steering wheel heating but no vibration in the wheel due to no driver safety aids option (the YES/NO/NO version)

I have an extra module that I just found (I had ordered a new one because I thought I'd thrown my old one away). Let me know if your car is configured like mine and I'd be happy to send you my part later this week as I'm traveling for work the first half of the week.

-Ash

Mine is the same way, has heat but nothing else.

The part number I ordered was: 61317849393

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/61317849393/

Don't think your module will be compatible with my car as it has a different part number than what I see listed for mine
(I have a 328d)

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=61_5666

[ashmostro]

Gotcha - yeah looks like you have lane departure warning. I didn't.

Hope this fixes your issue!

[JS_M3_F80]

Did you find out what was wrong with it?

[WarMachineM3]

Originally Posted by rr006rbc

The little clockspring mechanism inside is very delicate If you let it spin before installing the wheel back on you may have damaged it..

How far does it have to spin in order for it to break?