2001 E320 BAS/ESP lights only

[Two560Two]

I just acquired this vehicle. 163k miles in beautiful cosmetic and mechnical condition.

The ESP/BAS warning lamps come on intermittently. I have done some searches here on the forum and all other concerns have ESP/BAS/ABS included with them. Sometimes while driving and other times when I step on the brake pedal. I already installed a new brake switch (dealer part) wierd thing is that the old part and new part had the same part numbers. I heard somewhere there was an updated number for this part?

Well anyways, I get my aftermarket scanner and no codes pop up relating to the ESP/BAS which has me thinking my scanner sucks and I need the factory STAR diagnostic system.

Any input on this issue? The car drives and brakes fine otherwise..
Battery checked out Good, alternator is good and chargring as it is supposed to. I also performed turn steering wheel lock to lock procedure with no success

[RichardM98]

I would start by carefully checking the size of the wheels and tires. Mismatches (front to back or side to side) or way oversized can cause ESP errors. Of course, it's normal for the ESP light to come on momentarily if one wheel looses traction such as drifting off onto the shoulder (gravel).

OBD scanners are primarily for emission control devices and are handy to have. However, even used SDS's cost more than you paid for the car!

[Two560Two]

thanks for the heads up.. All 4 tires are new and the same size with equal air pressures.

[EricSilver]

To be safe, have the brake lines checked for leakage. I had a BAS/ESP issue last year on my '01 E430 because an improperly installed brake line ruptured and leaked much of the fluid.

This contributed to a BAS/ESP issue because the loss of fluid caused the brake pedal to travel closer and closer to the floor, beyond the apparent limits of the brake switch plunger, so the plunger got stuck in the depressed position -- and remained that way for almost a day until I heard a metallic "ping" (the plunger unsticking itself) when releasing my foot from the pedal.

By then the ruptured brake line was discovered, resolved, and the problem has never recurred.

[glenmore]

I have a 2000 C230K that has the same intermittent BAS/ESP light. When the light first came on, I figured it was the same problem that I had with my 2000 C280. A new brake light switch fixed it in the C280, but the light is still on most of the time in the C230K despite a new switch. Car drives fine, nothing seems amiss.