If you are driving your Bimmer and suddenly the “Driving Stabilisation Drive Moderately.” message pops up on your Dashboard. It can be a bit unsettling, to say the least.
In this article, I will explain what this message means and how to go about fixing it. Let’s get into it.
Brief Overview of BMW’s Driving Stabilisation System
To better tackle the error message related to the BMW’s driving stabilisation system, we should first get comfortable with the basic workings of this system.
At its core, the driving stabilisation system is an integral part of two distinct yet interconnected systems within the BMW vehicle framework: the Stability Control (BSC) and the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).
Imagine the BSC system as an invisible co-pilot that helps you steer clear of skids or slides, even when you don’t realize you’re headed that way.
Its primary job is to keep your car firmly rooted on the road, especially during sharp turns and sudden maneuvers.
On the other hand, the DSC system comes into play like a vigilant guardian when you’re driving on wet or slick road surfaces.
It maintains a strong grip on the driving dynamics to ensure your car stays obedient to your commands, even when the road conditions are a bit challenging.
Both these systems rely heavily on an ensemble of sensors, such as ABS sensors, along with various traction control elements.
These components constantly monitor your BMW’s movements to anticipate any potential loss of traction. Once such a risk is detected, the system quickly applies the brakes to one or more wheels, preventing you from skidding off or spiralling out of control.
Consider driving on a snowy or icy surface, where maintaining control can be quite tricky.
It’s in these moments that the stabilisation system shines, ensuring your vehicle moves along a straight path without swerving unpredictably.
By working in harmony, these systems significantly enhance your safety, giving you an added layer of protection when you’re cruising on slippery roads or dealing with less than ideal weather conditions.
What Does BMW “Driving Stabilization Drive Moderately.” Mean?
In simple terms, when this alert comes up on your BMW’s dashboard, it means the ECU has detected an issue with the stabilization and traction control system.
A couple of things can cause this issue on a BMW; however, from my experience as a mechanic, it all boils down to four main things. (more on those below).
What Causes the “Driving Stabilization Drive Moderately” Alert on a BMW?
As I just mentioned above, three main things can cause the ”Driving Stabilization Drive Moderately” Fault message.
These include:
1. Faulty Wheel Speed Sensor (s)
A bad wheel speed sensor is the most common cause of this warning on your BMW.
These sensors detect how fast your wheels are spinning, sending this information to the ABS module and ECU.
If one or more wheel speed sensors malfunction or fails completely, your Bimmer will not be able to determine how fast you’re going and will trigger the stabilization alert.
2. Bad Battery
Another reason for this warning is a bad battery.
The battery provides power for most (if not all) of the electrical systems in your vehicle.
A battery that is going bad won’t be able to hold the required charge state and, as a result, will produce low voltage.
Low voltage will cause most of the electronics and sensors to malfunction and trigger the stability control message.
3. Extremely Wet and Slippery Surfaces (False alarm)
The third and most common reason for the stability control message is an extremely slippery surface.
This can be caused by snow, ice, or water on the road and will cause your BMW to think there is something wrong with its driving stability system.
If the alert comes on and goes off after a few minutes, it is safe to assume it was just a false alarm caused by unusual surfaces.
4. Faulty Steering Angle Sensor
The Final common cause of this problem on a BMW is a bad Steering Angle Sensor (SAS).
The Steering angle sensor is responsible for telling the car how much you are turning the wheel.
If it is faulty, it will be unable to communicate effectively with other systems in the car and may set off the stability control message.
The common code for this sensor on an OBD scanner is “480128 – Steering Angle Implausible”.
How to Fix and Reset the Driving Stabilisation Message on a BMW
Now that I have promptly explained the three most common leading causes of the stability control message on your BMW.
Let’s look at how to fix this problem and reset the alert.
Scan the Vehicle:
The first thing I recommend that you do is to scan the car using an OBD scanner.
You can use a BMW-specific OBD like Bimmercode, Carly, or Bimmerlink.
If you don’t have access to one, you can take your vehicle to the nearest BMW dealer or any qualified BMW repair garage/mechanic.
This will let you know if any error codes are related to this problem, e.g. (a bad wheel speed sensor code).
If there are no error codes, then it’s just a matter of resetting the alert and driving normally again.
Replace the Wheel Speed Sensor:
If you’re unsure where to take your car and want to attempt to fix the issue on your own,
I suggest starting by replacing the ABS wheel speed sensors.
you will need to replace all four of them (one on each wheel) since it’s hard to tell which one is bad.
In most cases replacing these sensors will solve the issue.
Have the Battery Tested:
If you replaced, the abs sensors and the “driving stabilization” alert is still on. Then you should have your battery tested. The battery could be bad and cause the issue.
If the battery is damaged, you need to replace it to fix the issue.
Take your BMW to the Dealer/Garage
If you’ve replaced the battery and the wheel speed sensors and still have the issue, then I suggest taking your BMW to a BMW dealer or garage.
They will be able to diagnose the issue and pinpoint the cause of the problem. Once they do, they will be able to fix it for you.
Additional Sources
https://www.bavarianmw.com/guide-4442.html
https://www.ultimatebimmerservice.com/warning-signs-associated-with-a-bmw-dsc-system-failure/
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-wheel-speed-sensor