bmw 330 parking sensors

chrism · 22 Jan 2011 at 21:56

just put car on drive and the rear sensor was just a long solid beep? any ideas what the problem is cheers

Morba · 22 Jan 2011 at 21:59

You were driving through the wall?
Does it only do it on your drive or elsewhere when in reverse?

godinman · 22 Jan 2011 at 21:59

Were you near your house at the time?

[TW]Fox · 22 Jan 2011 at 22:00

One of the sensors is broken.

If you are lucky it'll be properly broken and you can tell which one it is by listening to them and seeing if they tick. If it doesnt tick when the PDC is turned on, its broken.

If you are unlucky it's not properly broken but one of the sensors is sensing an object that isnt there. The only way to find out which one is to connect the car to a diagnostic system - sadly Carsoft et all can't do this so it'll need to go to a dealer or an independant.

chrism · 22 Jan 2011 at 22:06

[TW]Fox;18291406 said:
One of the sensors is broken.

If you are lucky it'll be properly broken and you can tell which one it is by listening to them and seeing if they tick. If it doesnt tick when the PDC is turned on, its broken.

If you are unlucky it's not properly broken but one of the sensors is sensing an object that isnt there. The only way to find out which one is to connect the car to a diagnostic system - sadly Carsoft et all can't do this so it'll need to go to a dealer or an independant.

thanks fox i'll have a listen in the morning

NickXX · 23 Jan 2011 at 00:03

Saloon or Coupe?

If it's a saloon, it's an easy ~£25 fix (if you get a replacement sensor off eBay). If it's a coupe it's more expensive (colour coded sensors) and a bumper off job.

chrism · 23 Jan 2011 at 09:33

its a coupe and yes its colour coded aswell , is there anyway to turn them off i dont trust them anyway lol

[TW]Fox · 23 Jan 2011 at 09:35

chrism said:
its a coupe and yes its colour coded aswell , is there anyway to turn them off i dont trust them anyway lol

Pull the fuse or disconnect the PDC control unit in the boot?

Why wouldnt you trust them, they work perfectly and when they fail they fail safe like they have now.

chrism · 23 Jan 2011 at 09:38

i will have i look soon maybe its a loose connection ,fingers crossed

[TW]Fox · 23 Jan 2011 at 09:38

It will be a failed sensor not a loose connection.

chrism · 23 Jan 2011 at 09:41

and is it a bumper off job fox ?

[TW]Fox · 23 Jan 2011 at 09:42

Yes, but you can check it with the bumper on. Just listen for the clicks.

chrism · 23 Jan 2011 at 09:43

ok thanks mate

NickXX · 23 Jan 2011 at 09:54

Put the car in ignition position 1 (the one just before you start the engine and all the fans come on), and put the gearstick in reverse.

You can then walk around to the rear of the car and listen to them clicking. When one of mine went, it was still clicking, but was much quieter than the others.

chrism · 23 Jan 2011 at 10:44

good news lol all seems ok i just started car and they seem to be working fine thanks for the help anyway guys

NickXX · 23 Jan 2011 at 10:57

chrism said:
good news lol all seems ok i just started car and they seem to be working fine thanks for the help anyway guys

Ha - sounds like the sensors on my M3 then

. They can be temperamental - expect the problem to come back. Sometimes it can happen when the sensor units get wet apparently - they have a hissy fit until they dry out.

chrism · 23 Jan 2011 at 11:12

i hope it was just the wet weather lol

Saytan · 23 Jan 2011 at 12:47

NickXX said:
Ha - sounds like the sensors on my M3 then . They can be temperamental - expect the problem to come back. Sometimes it can happen when the sensor units get wet apparently - they have a hissy fit until they dry out.

mine do this also.

oddly enough they were howling away like champions when i was checking them just now, then i noticed a space closer to the house free so decided to move the car. they were fine when i PP'ed nextx to the house...