BMW fault code 0038
Stability control
In the stability control, code 0038 means different things depending on the version of the module in the car. Find your car below; the app shows the right one for yours.
General CAN error
Module versions: Stability control ASC5 (ASC5), Stability control ASC57 (ASC57), Stability control ASC5D (ASC5D)
In: 3 Series (E36) 1990–2000, 5 Series (E39) 1995–2003, 7 Series (E38) 1994–2001
CAN error
Module versions: Stability control DSC3 (DSC3), Stability control DSC5 (DSC5)
In: 5 Series (E39) 1995–1998, 7 Series (E38) 1994–1998
DSC: cannot transmit/receive on CAN
Module version: Stability control DSC57 (DSC57)
In: 3 Series (E46) 1998–2006, 5 Series (E39) 1995–2003, 7 Series (E38) 1994–2001, X5 (E53) 1999–2004, Z8 (E52) 2000–2003
Reading and clearing it
Fault code 0038 is a BMW code, stored in the car's stability control, not a generic OBD2 code (P0xxx): a generic OBD2 reader only reaches the engine's emissions faults, so it won't show it. AutoLingo for BMW reads it with BMW's own diagnostic protocols, in plain English, with the details the module stored about it, and clears it after a repair. If a fault comes right back after it's cleared, the problem is still there.
The stability control is on: 8 Series (E31), 7 Series (E32), 5 Series (E34), 3 Series (E36), Z3 (E36/7), 7 Series (E38), 5 Series (E39), 3 Series (E46), Z8 (E52), X5 (E53)
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