E39 - Reverse Sensors -1

Sensors

Yesterday (23rd October 2014), I decided to address the reverse sensor problem on the rear bumper, (with fuse 4 inserted) every time I place the gear into reverse, I get a long bleep, this is an indication that there is a problem with one of the four sensors.
On stripping the trim off the bumper, it allowed me access to each of the sensors and one by one, each one was checked. Yep! The third O/S sensor had a blue wire poking out of its’ ‘inner face’, the other wire, well what other wire….. A new sensor is now on order (this may be the battery drainer, possibly)… I have connected the three sensors and left the faulty one out with the plug shoved in a recess, leaving fuse 4 connected to see if it is the culprit for the battery.

Sensor (Continued)
New Sensor arrived, fitted and…..still a long beep, an indication that another sensor is down and another order will be required, however will have to wait as other bills will not pay for themselves.

E39 - Fuses (Continued...)
I have decided to pull a few fuses, mainly through frustration:
Glove box - Fuse 9 - Air Conditioner/Heated Washer Jets
Glove box - Fuse 21 - Park Distance Control
Boot - Fuse 76 - Heater Blower
Day 3, battery remains charged and working todate. Later returned the fuses as they didn’t seem to be the cause of the drain problem…

After previously fitting a new sensor for reversing, placing the gear into reverse with ignition on, I still found the sensors were giving off a continual bleep, (suggests not working properly) so yesterday, I checked the sensors using a stethoscope to check for a 'clicking' sound, this normally signifies they are working, it seems the one I bought recently was working and clicking ok, the remaining original three on the other hand were not and will need to be replaced, (not clicking). (I also placed them into the socket that I knew was working, again no clicking) this will have to be done on a gradual ongoing basis based on cost as new sensors are not cheap. One can only assume the good sensors were taken out upon sale of the vehicle from the dealers I got it from….

At £14 a throw, sensors can be expensive, even more so at the dealerships ranging from £35 to £68 per sensor. After considering my options, 6th November 2014, I decided to go for a cheap third party sensor kit on eBay to replace the more expensive ones.