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Repair Summary
The following article gives detailed instructions on replacing the ABS (wheel speed) sensors on your BMW E9x 3 series car. Even though we have used a 2011 BMW E90 335i to perform this installation, this article can be applied to any BMW E9x 3 series vehicle, including the 325i, 328i, 330i and 335i.
See all vehicles this article applies to
E90 3 Series M3
E90 3 Series 318d
E90 3 Series 335i
E90 3 Series 335xi
E90 3 Series 335d
E90 3 Series 330xd
E90 3 Series 330xi
E90 3 Series 330i
E90 3 Series 330d
E90 3 Series 328xi
E90 3 Series 328i
E90 3 Series 325xi
E90 3 Series 325i
E90 3 Series 323i
E90 3 Series 325d
E90 3 Series 320i
E90 3 Series 320si
E90 3 Series 320d
E90 3 Series 318i
E90 3 Series 316i
E90N 3 Series M3 CRT
E90N 3 Series 318i
E90N 3 Series M3
E90N 3 Series 335xi
E90N 3 Series 335i
E90N 3 Series 335d
E90N 3 Series 330xd
E90N 3 Series 330xi
E90N 3 Series 330i
E90N 3 Series 328xi
E90N 3 Series 330d
E90N 3 Series 328i
E90N 3 Series 325d
E90N 3 Series 325i
E90N 3 Series 325xi
E90N 3 Series 323i
E90N 3 Series 320xd
E90N 3 Series 320i
E90N 3 Series 320d ed
E90N 3 Series 320d
E90N 3 Series 318d
E90N 3 Series 316i
E90N 3 Series 316d
E91 3 Series 335xi
E91 3 Series 325d
E91 3 Series 335i
E91 3 Series 335d
E91 3 Series 330xi
E91 3 Series 330xd
E91 3 Series 330d
E91 3 Series 330i
E91 3 Series 328xi
E91 3 Series 325i
E91 3 Series 328i
E91 3 Series 325xi
E91 3 Series 323i
E91 3 Series 320i
E91 3 Series 320d
E91 3 Series 318i
E91 3 Series 318d
E91N 3 Series 316d
E91N 3 Series 335xi
E91N 3 Series 335i
E91N 3 Series 330xi
E91N 3 Series 335d
E91N 3 Series 330xd
E91N 3 Series 330i
E91N 3 Series 330d
E91N 3 Series 328xi
E91N 3 Series 328i
E91N 3 Series 325xi
E91N 3 Series 325i
E91N 3 Series 325d
E91N 3 Series 320xd
E91N 3 Series 323i
E91N 3 Series 320i
E91N 3 Series 320d ed
E91N 3 Series 320d
E91N 3 Series 318i
E91N 3 Series 318d
E91N 3 Series 316i
E92 3 Series M3
E92 3 Series 325d
E92 3 Series 335xi
E92 3 Series 335i
E92 3 Series 335d
E92 3 Series 330xi
E92 3 Series 330xd
E92 3 Series 330i
E92 3 Series 330d
E92 3 Series 328xi
E92 3 Series 328i
E92 3 Series 325xi
E92 3 Series 325i
E92 3 Series 323i
E92 3 Series 320xd
E92 3 Series 320i
E92 3 Series 320d
E92 3 Series 316i
E92N 3 Series M3
E92N 3 Series 323i
E92N 3 Series 335xi
E92N 3 Series 335is
E92N 3 Series 335i
E92N 3 Series 335d
E92N 3 Series 330xi
E92N 3 Series 330xd
E92N 3 Series 330i
E92N 3 Series 330d
E92N 3 Series 328xi
E92N 3 Series 328i
E92N 3 Series 325xi
E92N 3 Series 325i
E92N 3 Series 320xd
E92N 3 Series 325d
E92N 3 Series 320d
E92N 3 Series 320i
E92N 3 Series 318i
E92N 3 Series 316i
E93 3 Series M3
E93 3 Series 320d
E93 3 Series 335i
E93 3 Series 330i
E93 3 Series 330d
E93 3 Series 328i
E93 3 Series 325i
E93 3 Series 323i
E93 3 Series 325d
E93 3 Series 320i
E93N 3 Series M3
E93N 3 Series 323i
E93N 3 Series 335is
E93N 3 Series 330i
E93N 3 Series 335i
E93N 3 Series 330d
E93N 3 Series 328i
E93N 3 Series 325i
E93N 3 Series 325d
E93N 3 Series 320i
E93N 3 Series 320d
E93N 3 Series 318i
A BMW E90 ABS sensor replacement may help remove the "DBC malfunction! Drive carefully" message from your BMW iDrive display and the yellow BRAKE and ABS lights on your dashboard.
Ok...we admit it. There are times that we have come seriously close to taking a ball-peen hammer to the iDrive display in our BMW Repair Guide 2011 335i. As our cars become older and get some mileage on their wheels, it is an uncomfortable truth that the error messages will start appearing more frequently on our BMWs dashboards and displays. Heat, mileage, dirt and corrosion, water, and just normal wear and tear take their toll on the sensors that monitor our vehicle components. And as our BMWs become more advanced with state-of-the-art driving assistance systems, more complex sensors are needed.
The BMW E90 ABS sensor plays a critical role in your vehicle's Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) as well as Dynamic Braking Control (DBC). The sensors, located on all four hubs behind the brake rotors, measure the speed of each wheel and relay that information back to the control module that controls your BMWs ABS system. If the ABS system identifies an issue, it can automatically apply brake pressure as needed to help the driver from losing control of their vehicle. ABS wheel speed sensor replacement plays a critical role in driver safety as well as fuel consumption, vehicle emissions, and driver comfort.
A BMW that requires an ABS wheel speed sensor replacement may prompt a "DBC malfunction! Drive carefully" error message on the iDrive display. It will also activate several dashboard lights, including the yellow BRAKE, ABS, and SERVICE ENGINE SOON messages. It also can trigger several different error codes on your BMW diagnostic scanner. Common causes for wheel sensor failure are internal short circuits, excessive buildup of road dirt and grime, cuts or abrasions in the wiring, or damage/corrosion at the connection plug.
View the detailed parts diagram for this repair.
Includes detailed part diagrams, part numbers and links to purchase all of the required components needed to complete this repair.
Before starting this repair, you must have the following required parts.
BMW E90, E91, and E92
A failed ABS sensor can cause a failure of the ABS system and/or traction control system, all indicated by a combination of ABS, DSC, and/or BRAKE lights. A situation with no ABS or traction control is particularly dangerous in bad weather, with an increased potential for loss of control.
BMW E90, E91, and E92
Your ABS sensors are the main tool that your ABS system uses when sending signals to the computer. If one of the sensors fail, a warning light will appear on your display alerting you of the situation. When an ABS sensor fails, the system no longer operates. When a time comes when you are expecting the system to kick in, it will not, a dangerous situation if the driver is accustomed to it.
BMW E90, E91, and E92
A failed ABS sensor can cause a failure of the ABS system and/or traction control system, all indicated by a combination of ABS, DSC, and/or BRAKE lights. A situation with no ABS or traction control is particularly dangerous in bad weather, with an increased potential for loss of control.
All E9x Vehicles
Brake pad sensors illuminate a dashboard warning light to alert the motorist when the brake pads wear thin enough to require replacement. Sensors are replaced as part of a normal brake job in cars that have them.
All E8x/E9x Vehicles
Brake pad sensors illuminate a dashboard warning light to alert the motorist when the brake pads wear thin enough to require replacement. Sensors are replaced as part of a normal brake job in cars that have them.
Section 1 - Rear Wheel ABS Speed Sensor Replacement
- Jack up and support with jack stands the wheel that you are replacing the sensor on. Not sure how to jack and support your BMW? Read our article on the simple and safest way by clicking here.
- Remove lug nuts with an impact wrench and 17mm deep impact socket (or other alternative method).
- Locate the ABS wheel speed sensor on back side of wheel hub as shown in following image:
- Using a 5mm hex socket and extension, remove bolt attaching the speed sensor to the wheel hub. Grasp the sensor and pull out. If sensor is stuck in the wheel hub, use a small flat blade screwdriver to gently lever the sensor out.
- The connection for the rear wheel ABS speed sensor is behind the fender liner. The fender liner can be easily loosened in 2 steps:
- Remove the four 8mm screws (3 screws on the edge of the fender and 1 on the bottom)
- Remove the 10mm plastic nut located in the middle of the fender liner:
- Remove the four 8mm screws (3 screws on the edge of the fender and 1 on the bottom)
- Pull the fender liner back until the ABS speed sensor electrical connection is accessible.
- Disconnect the ABS speed sensor connector. Make sure to document how the sensor wire is routed through your vehicle's suspension prior to removing it (photos are a good idea). Remove the old sensor wire from the vehicle.
- Install new sensor and route wire through suspension and back to car. We find it very helpful to use zip ties to anchor the new wire to suspension...the nasty little plastic clips that originally held it are very difficult to secure after being opened. ***Make sure to route the new sensor wire over suspension parts as shown in following image...if not you run the risk of damage to the wire.
- Reinstall fender liner, wheel, and lower car back down to ground.
- Using your 1/2" torque wrench, torque wheel lug nuts to 120 Nm (90 Ft-Lb).
Section 2 - Front Wheel ABS Sensor Replacement
The front wheel ABS speed sensor replacement is much easier than the rear replacement. Follow the same exact steps as above with the following exceptions:- You do not need to remove the fender liner to access the speed sensor electrical connector. They are located in plain view behind the front wheel strut.
- The speed sensor is located on the back of the wheel hub, not the side.
Section 3 - BMW E90 ABS Sensor Replacement Final Notes
When you start your car and drive it after the repair, the iDrive display message, BRAKE, and ABS lights will disappear. You most likely will need to use your diagnostic scanner to erase all of your error codes to remove the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light on your dashboard. Look at it this way...the money you just saved doing this repair yourself would have bought two scanners! Purchase a diagnostic scanner to clear your codes by clicking here. BMW E90 ABS Sensor Replacement Finished
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