BMW X2 ABS Light On, Faulty Traction Control Issue

I actually ran into a very similar issue with my 2016 BMW X1 last year (had a 2.0L gas engine). I have some experience working on cars, but this one was beyond my DIY skills. The symptoms were exactly like what you're describing, ABS light and wonky traction control behavior. Initially thought it was just a sensor, but after taking it to my regular workshop, it turned out the ABS control unit itself was faulty. Ended up costing me about 1000 Euro to replace it, but it fixed the problem completely. Could you share more details about when this started happening and if you notice any other warning lights or unusual behavior? Also, what's your mileage? Might help pinpoint if it's the same issue I had with my X1. My X3-driving had similar symptoms but his turned out to be just a dirty sensor, so it could be something simpler in your case. Cheers!

Hi there! Yes, I'm dealing with this exact issue at 171946 KM. Had my last service about two months ago, and everything was fine until last week. In my case, I'm noticing the ABS light comes on particularly after driving for about 15-20 minutes, and the traction control gets really sensitive after that. Thanks for sharing about your X1's control unit problem, that's actually really helpful to know. I was hoping it might just be a sensor, but your experience makes me think I should probably get it checked professionally rather than trying to troubleshoot it myself. The symptoms sound way too similar to ignore. Did your mechanic mention anything about preventive measures to avoid this happening again? Also, was the repair time lengthy with the control unit replacement? Just trying to plan ahead in case I'm looking at the same fix. Thanks for the help!

Hey again! Yeah, I totally get your concern about those symptoms, they're eerily similar to what I experienced. When mine started acting up around 165,000 KM, I also hoped it was just a sensor issue. Fun fact: when my control unit failed, it also tended to act up more after the car had been running for a while, just like yours. About preventive measures, my mechanic mentioned that keeping the ABS sensors clean from brake dust and road grime can help prevent false readings that might stress the control unit. But honestly, sometimes these electronic components just fail with age and use. There's only so much prevention you can do. The repair itself wasn't too time-consuming, took about half a day once they had the part in stock. The biggest delay was actually waiting for the control unit to arrive, took about 3-4 days. Make sure wherever you take it has diagnostic equipment specifically for BMWs, that made a huge difference in getting an accurate diagnosis. One thing I forgot to mention in my first reply, after the repair, they had to do some coding/programming to get the new unit to work properly with the car's systems. That's another reason why I'd definitely recommend going to a shop that knows their way around BMW electronics. Let me know how it goes, curious to see if it's the same issue!

Thanks so much for all the detailed information! That's super helpful, especially about the programming part, definitely not something I'd want to mess with myself. I've already called a BMW specialist workshop and booked it in for next week. You're right about the symptoms being really similar, and the mileage being in the same ballpark makes me think I'm probably looking at the same control unit issue. I'll make sure to ask them about those preventive measures you mentioned, especially the sensor cleaning part. Never really thought about brake dust affecting the system like that. I'll probably have to arrange for a rental car for a few days then, given what you said about the parts delivery time. Better to be prepared than stuck without transportation. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, made me feel a lot more confident about what I'm dealing with. I'll update the thread once I get it fixed so others can benefit from the info too. Thanks again!