Red Cog... - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

p1odx · 3rd August 2009, 08:13

Yeah, so I had the dreaded red cog last thursday night, everything went tits up. every warning light came on.
Managed to get the beast home and left it for a few days, started it up on saturday all was fine took it out for a spin all appeared fine.
Now, yesterday night started it up again and got the red cog once more - again, every warning light came on too.

On top of this, it's a REAL pain in the arse when it happens- as i am a disabled driver my hand controls get cut off when all the warning lights come on.
So I was well an truly stuck (my girlfriend doesn't drive) and ended up having to get a push back to my house by some mouthy teenagers.
Luckily it I was just around the corner from my house.

So shall be taking it to the garage today.
Can't really see what the problem is, I am no mechanic but everything has been perfect with it for going on nearly three years now.
I just hope that this isn't the start of more problems to come.

Anyway, my apologies for the ramble.

Olly.

p1odx · 3rd August 2009, 14:42

OK, if someone can give me some insight i'd appreciate it.

Before taking it to the dealers, i have found out that the car starts fine with no error messages when my hand controls are turned OFF.
As soon as i turn them ON every warning light comes on.

I have only just found this out as the hand controls are usually always turned on.

Any ideas why the warnings and engine errors would be coming on just when the hand controls are on?

Thanks fellas.

Clyde · 3rd August 2009, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by p1odx

Any ideas why the warnings and engine errors would be coming on just when the hand controls are on?

While I do not know anything about hand controls, they might be corrupting one of the CAN buses.
This would create many errors.

First thing to try, get a Battery Tender or similar charger.

fjannan · 3rd August 2009, 18:05

I hope you still have your warrenty. When it happened to me, it was the clutch that needed to be changed. No biggie. Just take her in and she'll be fine.

p1odx · 13th August 2009, 13:58

Well I have the beast back now, good as new, feels even better actually.

There was a problem with the hand controls, the wiring was shorting every so often and that would send all the errors messages.

All is well again.