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matslorenz47

BMW M3 ABS Warning Light: Bad Lateral Sensor Alert

ABS warning light

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Fault stored

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ABS/DSC system is not working

Hi all! My 2000 BMW M3 (gas) with 48k KM started acting up recently. The ABS warning light stays on and the system isn't working properly. Did a scan and it points to a lateral acceleration sensor issue. Had some sketchy work done at my last mechanic visit, so I'm a bit nervous about going back. Has anyone dealt with similar ABS/sensor problems on their M3? What was the actual issue and did you find a reliable fix? Really appreciate any insights on this. Thanks!

4 comment(s)


victoria_tiger58

Hey there! I actually faced a similar issue with my 2003 BMW M5 last summer. The ABS light came on and the diagnostics also pointed to sensor problems. Initially thought it was just the sensor, but turned out the ABS control unit itself was defective. Had to replace the entire ABS control module because moisture had damaged the internal circuit board. It was a serious repair that took about two days at the shop. The system would out of nowhere activate while driving, which was pretty unsafe. For your M3, given the symptoms and age of the car, I'd strongly recommend having the control unit checked first before just replacing sensors. My mechanic showed me how the old unit had obvious corrosion damage when they pulled it out. Make sure whoever works on it knows BMW ABS systems well, it's not a job for a general mechanic. Since you're not confident in your last shop, might be worth finding a BMW specialist for this one. Best of luck with the fix.

matslorenz47 (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful. My M3's symptoms sound exactly like what you described, definitely concerning about that control unit possibility. Did you remember roughly how much the repair ended up costing you? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other electrical gremlins popping up? I'm trying to budget for the worst case scenario here. Thanks again for the detailed response!

victoria_tiger58

Hey again! Great to give you an update on this! After taking my M5 to a BMW specialist, you'll be glad to know it's been running perfectly since the repair. The lateral acceleration sensor fault was completely sorted out, no more ABS warning lights or unusual system activations to deal with. The total bill came to 1000 € for fixing the affected control unit. Initially thought it might cost more, but thankfully that covered everything. The mechanic showed me the old unit and yeah, it was pretty messed up inside. It's been about 8 months now since the repair, and honestly, everything's working like a charm. No electrical issues whatsoever, the ABS, traction control, everything's spot on. Best decision I made was getting it properly fixed rather than trying cheaper alternatives. If your symptoms are similar to what I had, definitely worth getting it checked by a proper specialist. The peace of mind is worth every penny. Let me know how you get on with yours!

matslorenz47 (Author)

Thanks so much for all the details about your repair! I actually just got back from a specialist shop today and wanted to share an update. You were spot on about the control unit, that's exactly what it was. The mechanic I found really knew his stuff with BMWs. The whole experience was way better than my last shop visit. This guy took the time to show me exactly what was wrong, and even let me see the old control unit they pulled out. It was pretty corroded, just like you mentioned. Cost me about the same as yours too, around 1000. The best part? The car's running perfectly now. No more ABS warnings, and the system's working exactly like it should. Such a relief to have it sorted properly. Really glad I followed your advice about finding a BMW specialist, totally worth the extra effort to find the right shop. Thanks again for helping me figure this out. Nothing beats getting advice from someone who's been through the same thing!

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