if you did suspension work / alignment SAS needs to be calibrated
99% you dont need new sensor

 

The steering angle sensor works in conjunction with the DSC and the ABS to apply braking to whatever wheel that needs it before you loose control.
They rarely fail, get the calibration check like champaign suggested.

 

Thanks guys, thats re-assuring, what does calibration involve ?

 

I replaced mine. To give you an idea here's a link to the thread: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=646253

To calibrate it or program a new one you'll need software. Most shops can calibrate it when they do an alignment. Basically it just sets the steering angle sensor so it knows when the steering wheel is in the straight ahead position. If they replace it they'll need to program and calibrate it. When my steering angle sensor went it didn't affect the abs. Only the dsc light was on and stayed on.

 

Great info, many thanks.

 

Steering angle sensor can be calibrated with INPA software on a laptop. There are many Bimmer enthusiasts with this ability. Try posting on one of the UK forums. There may be an enthusiast close to you who will do this for a free or a nominal fee.

 

If you are going that route, read these ...
Making sense of the most often recommended BMW diagnostic tools & cable interfaces (1) & BMW factory & dealer programming, coding, and diagnostic software such as INPA, EDIABAS, NCS Expert, DIS, EasyDIS, Progman (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) & related BMW diagnostic-tool forums (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

 

This error came up again today ...
> E39 (1997 - 2003) > E39 ABS Module, what if one does not code the VIN

I went back to the shop to try once again clearing the SAS fault and recalibrating the sensor. Problem is, the fault is now apparently hard coded in the memory and comes up everytime making it impossible to recalibrate the sensor. The fault is (68) 104 Steering Angle Sensor internal. Next option will be replacing the part it seems like.

I will look into the possibility doing it myself with the above mentioned post.

 

Just backing up that train just a little bit. You should make sure it has failed. You should clear the code and see how long it takes to come back, if at all. For me after hard driving or a sharp pot hole I will toss that error not to return for a year +.. I have also seen low battery voltage bring out quirky electrical issues, you should take a sec to check that..

 

Thanks CA2014mp2, I cleared the code, and did steering turning end to end and back/forth. We'll see if code comes back.

 

I got this error today 5eB0 Steering Angle Sensor, Internal.
Cleared the fault using Creator 310 and did the soft calibration (turning wheel full lock right then left) and yellow 4x4 light disappeared. Drove 20km through the city and it stayed off. Wasn't until I reverse parked that it came back on. Checked the live data feed and steering wheel position of 0.0 (perfect centre) was obtained when the steering wheel itself was not visibly centred. (About 20 degrees off) could this cause the return? SZL was replaced by BMW two years ago at a cost of $1400 AUD and hasn't had any calibration or alignment since.

 

.

 

Any idea why I'm getting 5A brief power interruption in dsc5.7 ? I also have LWS slider fault .

 

Not sure if this link will work, intermittent connection problems with steering angle sensor live data stream with Creator310 on x3 with slider fault code and sensor supply fault. Inside the steering angle sensor and temporary fix:


http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=812529&goto=newpost