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DTC warning light

27K views 37 replies 19 participants last post by  ScoobyChris 
#1 ·
Hi

my DTC light came on Tuesdy 18th May on my 120D & the hand brake light both in amber and the warning triangle in amber.
I drove about ten miles and when i re started the car they didn't come back on and haven't since (approx 100miles driven)
and the handling of the car feels fine.
I spoke to my local BMW garage in Derby who said it could be the DTC motor which used to cost about £1500 but now supply a kit for about £700.
They also said if anyone else did the repair it would still have to go to a BMW garage to be coded to the car!!!
Is it worth be paying for a Diagnostics check when the warning lights aren't lit and the handling seems Ok
Seems a very expensive repair for an 06 car with 42000.00 miles.
Took out a seperate warranty with another company but they don't know what the part is or does and will
not advise if it's covered with my policy and would need the red light or the car to be broken down to investigate the problem
Can anyone advise as i only got the vehicle at the end of Feb this year
 
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#4 ·
Hi, I have had the same problem with mine and have held out on spending £1670 - which was what I was quoted. I was speaking to a BMW technicina recently and he said that ther eis a fix which cost no more than £200. May be go to the dealership for the final price. Let me know how you get on as I am waiting for mine to be done but not had the time to book it in.
 
#6 ·
I'd make sure you have full service history, buy a warranty for £270, then start the clock until it goes again - then make a claim on the warranty!
 
#7 ·
This i what i asked my local BMW garage about and they didn't give me a definate answer. They advised me to keep a log of the date it happened and how many miles the vehicle had done.
BMW wont sell me a warranty as i didn't buy the vehicle from them.
I havent got full service history on mine either just a computer print out.
On the plus side the lights still haven't come back on but it does take the joy out of driving it a bit as your forever looking at the dash.
Think we'll both be keeping our figures crossed and good luck
 
#8 ·
When my DTC light went, they went on and stayed on as soon as the engine was started up.

Is what your seeing not just the DSC system working ???? (basically you get the light on / off briefly)

What is your normal driving style ?
 
#9 ·
All i did was pull off from a roundabout and the handbrake light came on and the traction control light both in amber. They then stayed on for about 13 miles until i turned the engine off and not come back on since.
I didn't pull off quick with wheels spinning or anything and just drive normally i think. I dont "rag" it.
Spoke to a lad at at work this morning who's got the same problem with a 3 series but takes his car to an independant garage where the mechanics used to work for BMW.
they told him that the sensors on the car are far to sensitive so sometimes there's no fault at all when they come on.
My husbands got a 5 series and one of his lights flashed on about 6 months ago and nothing since.
 
#10 ·
Wifey's 118d has just had this happen permenantly after the flickering amber handbrake light once every couple of months for the last 6 months. It went to BMW a whils ago and they reprorammed the DTC unit at a cost of £250. Today she rings my at work to let me know that the light has come on and stayed on.

Not amused! Car is a 55 plate with 40k on the clock. Could do without a 1.5k repair bill.....

Will report back after I've spoken to BMW later today.
 
#12 ·
Lynne.

The 1.5k was about the ball park cost for a replacement unit to be fitted before they came up with this repair kit. Car goes in Tues/Wed next week, i'll update you after i get it back. The guy on the service desk said they are seeing quite a few with the same fault. He said they'll confirm the fault, order the parts needed and do the repair, then put a case to BMW for goodwill. Ask for 100% parts and 100% labour and see what they come back with. If i get it for less than £500 I'll be happy.

It went to BMW with an intermittant yellow handbrake warning light and loss of power a few months ago which cost £250, i will be trying to get that taken off the price of any work that is carried out this time. The service desk were accomodating and very helpful so far....... Watch this space.
 
#16 ·
HI,

Had my oil service done at Sytner in Sheffield last month, they also told me my wheels had buckled as a result of driving over pot holes and quoted me £900 to have these replaced. I wanted a second opinion. Then a week later the DTC lights came on so I took it to BMW Wakefield and paid £70 for a diagnosis. They said the wheels were fine but I needed a hydro unit and quoted me £320. He said I was lucky as now this component can now be bought as seperate parts unlike in the past where the whole unit had to be replaced. Confused after reading some of these posts, what should I do???
 
#17 ·
:(

So i plugged wifey's car into my INPA set up this afternoon and read the fault codes for the DTC.

"5E20 - Pressure sensor 1 electrical faulty"

and

"5E24 - Pressure sensor 1 not plausible"

Were the stored faults. It's going to BMW tomorrow for them to confirm what i already know, they will then order the necessary parts and repair it on Wednesday. I'll be footing the entire bill and the dealer will put in a good will request so we'll see what i get back. Expecting nothing then anything i do get is a bonus. It was bought from BMW and has FBMWSH so hopefully that'll go to my advantage.

The only plus (if you can call it that!) is that i'm getting a nice shiney 320d from them once hers goes in.

I'll update this thread rather than starting another, when i have any news.
 
#18 ·
Verdict is in and confirmed what I already new. Been quoted (got it in writing too) £350 to supply and fit the replacement part. Based on what others have paid I am very happy with this outcome! The dealers are putting in a claim for goodwill to BMW, anything i get from them is a welcome bonus. The only downside (apart from the cost) is that the part required is on back order and has a 2 week lead time! So no 320d to ruin yet!

I'll update the thread once the repair has been carried out.
 
#19 ·
paulobr79 said:
My 2006 118d M Sport is currently at Sytner Haroldwood having the hydralic motor changed. I've been quoted £480 to repair it and that's with BMW paying 80% of the cost of the part.
I got my car back on Friday, they had the replacement kit in stock. I only had to pay £27 for the part but the labour was more. I also had to have the diagnostic check which came in at £79, brake fluid at £6.49 and a safety check for £39. All plus VAT. It was an expensive trip to Sytner;s as I needed a brake flud service that was £69+ VAT, a micro filter for £39 + VAT and 2 new rear tyres that I wasn't expecting for £160 + VAT each. Total bill was £873. Still better than the £1500 it would have cost a few months ago for the DSC system
 
#20 ·
Wifeys car is finally fixed. £340 all in. They've put in a claim for good will to BMW and I'm waiting to hear back. I'm expecting nothing and then anything i do get is a bonus.

There was a delay because the part (i'll post the P/N later) was on back order, there were 300 due in that were all spoken for, so i had to wait for the next batch of 300!

It's all fixed up and lights are gone. They've done a great job on cleaning her car inside and out also!

I got a 320d M-Sport coupe on a 10 plate for my ride for the day. Lovely to look at and it pulled well, but it was sat on 19's and with runflats the road noise at speeds above 40 was pretty bad, also the DTC was too intrusive (not that i was testing it's limits! :twisted: ) and i found that i kept catching my knee on the key fob when it was hanging down from the key. If you had house keys on there and stuff like that as most of us do, it would very quickly become a PITA!

Will let you know when I get the result from the goodwill case.
 
#21 ·
Good luck with getting your money back.
My DTC light still hasn't come back on, perhaps it was just a "blip".
Having said that i now have a seat belt and air bag warning light permantly on in red.
Car's booked in for Friday. Depending what the fault is it may be covered by warranty, fingers crossed.
 
#22 ·
Hi guys. Sorry to dredge this up again, I'm sure some are sick of it. This has just happened to me. Its highly unlikely I'll get a goodwill gesture so I was wondering what the best price would be I'm likely to have to pay.
All this goodwill, labour, parts stuff is confusing me. If someone can tell me 'go here, it'll be 500 notes', or 'go there, it's be 280' it'd be a great help.
Yours, confused of Leeds.
 
#23 ·
Hi,

Just got this light too on my 56 plate (out of warranty).

I can either take to a indy (who knows all about the fault) or dealer. I want to go via dealer purely because I might get a goodwill out of it but I have non-RFTs and aftermarket wheels.

Anyone managed to get goodwill with a non-standard car? I'd rather go indy if I haven't a chance of some cashback.

Thanks

Also - rob-the-viking - just sent you PM about what you used to read the codes off ...
 
#25 ·
when my lights came on i was told by local dealer it wouldn't be covered by BMW as i didn't have full BMW svc history.
Having said that the lights went off stayed off and when i had a check for another fault i was told there was nothing wrong with the DTC motor.
I'd say if it's not on now leave it a while.
If it is ask the dealer up front for a definate yes or no before commiting yourself where you take the vehicle.
I was quoted £350 by an independent retailer so still not cheap.
 
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