Hello guys.
This is my first thread after reading on net about 3 month.
It all started 8 month ago. 1 month after i have changed front brake pads and brake fluid in a specialized BWM service, i started to have DSC and Hill- assist error in dash. I have a Mini One D 09/2009.
First it started to show this error from time to time. I have performed wheel aligment. after wheel aligmet, errors started to appear as soon as i turn the car on. I have opened SZl unit to clean it, after seeing My $0.02 Steering Angle Sensor Fix. It seems that Mini R56 uses a Valeo SZL unit. ISTA-d error is 9E28 and 9E29. 9E29 is internal fault. DIS v57 interpret this error as short circuit to positive, and ISTA-D did not state this error. Also other errors are 5DFB but this are related to SZL error. I did try to calibrate by ista-d and failed because of the error. Optical disc inside SZL was not optic but metalic with some holes for led light to pass through. I have cleaned this disc, led light and is still the same even after cleaning. Please see the pic attached to this thread.

 

On photo 2 attached to white ring was the disc, but i forgot to make a photo of it. It was a yellow to orange metalic disc with holes. Nothing to clear in there. The idea of this Valeo SZL is the Led light to pass throught this holes and go down to the small holes.

 

Nobody has opened this kind of SZL from Valeo?

 

I was in service today and it looks like the right low control arm brushing is damaged. I have read in some forums that damaged brushing can cause aligment to fail and triger DSC light. Can this happens to our Mini?

 

Are you talking to yourself? Lol just kidding.

 

I was trying to collect some more information, maybe someone has done this kind of SZL. Is not like those find in BMW. Before i did alignment to my car, light will go on after some time. But after alignment, light are on as soon as engine is on. Also INPA read angle like -1140 degree. Maybe failed brushing has made wrong alignment. I will try to change brushing and re-alignment the car.

 

I did opened SZL again today, but it looks like there is nothing to fix in this kind of board.

 

It looks like Mini R56 use the same code disc like in BMW F01/02.
http://www.kneb.net/bmw/F01-02/05.13...%20Cluster.pdf

 

Sorry to bother again guys. But i found on chines site my errors.
http://motorchina.com/ezine/article.asp?article_ID=440
In th BMW R56 session you can see error DSC 5DFB, SZL 9E28 EPS 6111. I have this 3 errors. The repair kit part number is 61313453570. I have found this parts but there is not picture of it. Maybe ESCTunning can help me, cause they have it on their store. Can this repair kit be like the one in photo 3 of my first post?

 

ECSTuning has this item in stock now, and from photo is the same like my SZL optical element. I still need around 1 week for element to come to my country. I hope it will fix my problem.

http://www.ecstuning.com/ES166962/

 

Looks like its for that lens optical plastic replacement.

 

Exactly. It looks like It was a recall for mini cooper 2006, but these problem is appearing even on newer models. In my company 2 of 3 minis has this problem. Maybe bmw is not making any recalls in these years. Has more profit for them to replace as to fix.

 

Yea, looks like 2007 US Models R56+ fix .




R50 R52 R53 MINIs 2002-2008 had a diffrent set up.




Thanks for posting the info above, will help people out.

 

Interesting that they sell a $20 repair kit for the optical eye. Wowie.

How/why does this eye fail and why does its failure coincide with an alignment? In my case with complete dis-alignment after tie rod assemblies are swapped.

 

Erjon,

How do you know its the optical eye that is the cause of the SZL error?

Lex

 

They are selling it for 20 cause that is a part of a recall for mini cooper 2002-2006. it looks like is the same optical used even on my mini One D from 2009. You can see the link in chinese that has the same 3 errors. As i saw your post you also have the same 3 errors like me. In this case there is nothing you can do, just to order the part, or wait for my order to reach my home and i can share the results.

 

The reason why they fail is unknown. In my case i changed only the brake pads and brake fluid.

 

2007 US Models R56+ for the fix. I dont remember a recall on these for the older MINIs. That part is what I believe not fro the pre R56 MINIs.

 

Im sorry, can you explain this again? Its for 2007+ R56 US model minis AND pre R56?

 

Based on the type, it looks like just for the R56-R61 SZL

 

Erjon this PDF talk about the coil spring being very delicate, on page 36 (last page). Did you identify the coil spring when you took your cluster apart? I havent taken it apart yet.

"Replacing the Steering Column Switch Cluster

Particular care must be taken when replacing the steering column switch cluster or working on the steering column. Comply with the repair instructions.

The coil spring is a very sensitive component of the steering column switch cluster. If sufficient care is not taken when replacing the steering column switch cluster, the coil spring or another component can be destroyed. A consequence of this can be that the steering column switch cluster only works in part or does not work at all."

Maybe I broke this spring in the process of taking the air bag off which is why my horn and steering wheel controls don't work.

 

That pdf was only for reference of the code disc, cause it is for BMW. But the only care for slip ring is to not turn it, even 360 degree is not allowed. If you rotate it, you have to find the correct position. It needs to turn in one direction till it stops, after that turn on opoisite for 2.5 turns. This is the correct position. When i did disconnect the SZL, and connect back i did had airbag lamp, but i don't remember about the horn. My car does not have multifunction wheel, so i cannot tell. I see that you are searching over and over, but the orginal solution for your errors is replacing the optical element. Why don't you order it from ESC, it is only 20+ shipping. Airbag and horn you can check them only after clearing errors with your software.

 

oh my lord...I did spin the "slip ring" (the plastic ring with the 2 connections for the wiring harnesses) 360 degrees. ok so I will turn in one direction till it stops, and then after that turn opposite direction for 2.5 turns.

I hope I didnt break it.

 

I just don't see the logic in changing an optical eye when the error occurred right after changing the tie rod ends etc. What is the connection? If the unit just died I could see the optical eye being a potential cause.

I don't care about $30 but why add adversity to this by opening up the unit to change the optical eye?

 

I also did not saw the logic for and error after changing the brake pad on a BMW Specialised service, but also i cannot prove to them. Anyway you can do whatever seems logic to you, i can say only that in my logic when our cars have 3 errors we need to change the optical element. When i will change mine, i will inform the forum if errors are cleared or not.