Rear sensors constantly on

[MarkH]

Just this morning all my rear proximity sensors are triggering.
I have washed them all, but it is still doing it.

Any ideas?

2016 BEV

 

[MarkH]

Sorry, should have made it clear that the rear sensors are only complaining either when the car is in reverse of when a front sensor also is triggered.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a failed relay or control module.

 

[MarkH]

Oh dear.
I'll give the rear of the car another clean (when it stops raining) and try again.
Is there any testing that I can do?
I have no idea where I can get this serviced - central North Island of New Zealand.

 

[Anonymous]

If you have a local mechanic who has an ODB scanner, with BMW software, you could see if he can read are any error codes stored which might point to the cause. How far are your from Auckland or Wellington? There are BMW Dealers there, and since the car is a 2016, should still be covered by the factory warranty for any repairs. Auckland City BMW has five i3's on their lot, and Winger BMW in Wellington has one, so they should be well equipped to service them. Also smaller BMW Dealers in Hawkes Bay, and Manawatu. Might be time to pick your closest Dealer, and go on a little road trip.
https://charge.net.nz/map/
https://driveelectric.org.nz/chargers-map/


Best guess is that it is part #1shown here, or possibly part #3. Not sure exactly where these are located, and the online repair manual we used to access seems to have been taken down, maybe someone has a new link for it?

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=FA53-USA---E53-BMW-X5+3.0i&diagId=66_0009

 

[MarkH]

Have spoken to Tom at TSRMotors in Taupo.
He tells me that the BMW sensors are hyper sensitive and they have encountered this sort of thing before.
I have given all 4 rear sensors a good clean.
Whereas, before, all four sensors were triggering, now, only one is.

So, probably not the controller.

I'll wait for things to dry out properly and test it again.

Tom has a ODB scanner, so, if it persists, I may go down to see him.

Thanks for the help (and your research on NZ!).

 

[MagicCarpet]

I'd let the problems settle for a while. I think the sensors are ultrasonic so might get waterlogged.

There are only 3 official BMWi places in the North. Coombes have a place at Tauranga
https://www.bmw.co.nz/en/integration/dlo.html

I phoned Winger in the Hutt because I was going that way once and asked if the plentiful other Winger dealers closer to me - Subaru, Suzuki, etc. could do service. They cannot! I'm new to BMW and this doesnt give me much confidence....I bought my own E-Torx socket set at Repco for the underbody panels.

I notice that powering up from cold sometimes the reverse camera and other things get a bit scrambled. The i3 communicates with everything by data bus and sometimes a module might not initiate properly and be unavailable till next restart. I hope the computers dont run Windows!
Today the Rex decided to do a service run and I drove over a bump and then said it couldnt because of low fuel. learn something new every day.
Ralph

 

[MarkH]

Thanks, Ralph.

Good to know there are people who "should" be able to service these things in Tauranga and Hamilton.
We'll see.

Yes, on my second outing, I went over a bump on the way to Auckland and the console did lots of complaining. Had to stop and restart things.

It seems to be more like driving a (temperamental) computer than a car. :?

 

[jadnashuanh]

High pressure water jets can mess with the sensors. It can take them awhile to dry out. They should stand up to a typical hosing off or a sponge or cloth, though. Avoid hitting them with direct spray, though.

 

[MarkH]

OK - just reporting ....

I used a hair-drier on the faulty sensor today for about 5 minutes.
I immediately tested and it was still faulty.
However
When I drove the car a couple of hours later, all was well.

Thanks, everyone, for your input.

 

[MarkH]

The same rear sensor has been intermittent, now since July.
It spends 90% of it's time triggering - again, only when reversing or one of the front sensors turns overall proximity sensing on.

A local(ish) BMW agent has quoted me NZ$295 for a replacement units (not fitted)

BUT I have located this
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/automega/12930729
but am not sure if it is 100% compatible.
Does anyone know if it would be?

Also

Does anyone know how the sensors are fitted into the bumper?

 

[MarkH]

How would I find out the original OEM part number for this sensor?

 

[alohart]

How would I find out the original OEM part number for this sensor?

realoem.com

 

[MarkH]

Have found this:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32705316405.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.3.72383246UgKCnY
Looks to be the right part - and a little cheaper than the quote from the BMW dealer in Tauranga (NZ)