ABS REMOVAL

[rdsinterceptor]

I've been told that main dealers can remove the ABS by reprogramming the ECU does anyone know if this is true or anyone that can help main dealers don't seem to be that helpful.

[MarkwG]

rdsinterceptor said:

I've been told that main dealers can remove the ABS by reprogramming the ECU does anyone know if this is true or anyone that can help main dealers don't seem to be that helpful.

- ABS can be removed, but a dealer won't want to know. Try a motorsport garage, more their cup of tea.

[sniff diesel]

What car are you intending to do this to?

On the E36 you need a different master cylinder to remove the ABS.

[gib6933]

On the E46 holding down the traction control button will do it.

[Sods Law]

gib6933 said:

On the E46 holding down the traction control button will do it.

I thought this only did the TCS etc...

There is an ABS fuse take that out I did it on a track day.....

[blondini]

gib6933 said:

On the E46 holding down the traction control button will do it.

That disables all the stability controls, but not ABS.

[sniff diesel]

Sods Law said:

There is an ABS fuse take that out I did it on a track day.....

On the E36 there are about 3 fuses, 3 relays and a dedicated ECU to control various functions of the ABS.

You can get the ABS ECU remapped to make it kick in later, that's what some of the race cars use.

[gib6933]

blondini said:

gib6933 said:

On the E46 holding down the traction control button will do it.

That disables all the stability controls, but not ABS.

It did on mine, you have to hold it down for about 20 sec and you get a few more lights up on the dash.

It did have an AC Schnitzer ecu, that might of had something to do with it.

Anyone out there want to give it a go?

[Zod]

Are you converting a car to a track-only machine? If not, most of the self-declared driving gods here who think they can do a better job than ABS drive TVRs.

[rdsinterceptor]

It's an e36 328i being used for ralycross/srpints etc, tried removing fuses/relats and ecu but still limited to 5200rpm

[sniff diesel]

rdsinterceptor said:

It's an e36 328i being used for ralycross/srpints etc, tried removing fuses/relats and ecu but still limited to 5200rpm

If you want to try re-plumbing in all the brake pipes and master cylinder I have a non-ABS equiped 318i I'm breaking at the moment. PM if you're interested in any parts.

[rdsinterceptor]

I think its the main ECU thats the problem its has 5 wires form the abs ecu to the main ecu. Which obviously seems to be getting upset with everything removed.

[sniff diesel]

rdsinterceptor said:

I think its the main ECU thats the problem its has 5 wires form the abs ecu to the main ecu. Which obviously seems to be getting upset with everything removed.

Right, I suppose the simplest solution would be to get an auto electrician to wire you in a cut-off switch. Failing that it would probably need plugging into a diagnostics or the ECU mapping to suit.

[blondini]

gib6933 said:

blondini said:

gib6933 said:

On the E46 holding down the traction control button will do it.

That disables all the stability controls, but not ABS.

It did on mine, you have to hold it down for about 20 sec and you get a few more lights up on the dash.

It did have an AC Schnitzer ecu, that might of had something to do with it.

Anyone out there want to give it a go?

Brief press of the asc/dsc button disables stability control but leaves traction control operational and you get one lamp.
Holding it down for longer disables the traction control as well and you get two lamps on the dash.

Don't know about ACS ecu's but I've had four different model e46's over the past few years and this is how they work, although M3 is slightly different. I've read the handbooks and I've driven them on ice and snow. No amount of button pressing on any standard e46 can disable ABS.

[rdsinterceptor]

Its an E36 and the car is being used on gravel surfaces so would really like to remove all the systems

[Victor101]

Easy. Remove all the wheel sensors - they will be seized in so use a hammer and big screwdriver. Remove the ABS dash bulb. The ABS block will need to be removed also. You can use the existing ABS twin outlet master cylinder by simply joining two pipes that went into the ABS block. I did it on my 318iS and it works very well.
If you decide to use a three outless non ABS master cylinder, you will require the non ABS servo - not easy to find as all E36's had ABS from late 1993 onwards.

[sniff diesel]

Victor101 said:

If you decide to use a three outless non ABS master cylinder, you will require the non ABS servo - not easy to find as all E36's had ABS from late 1993 onwards.

I've got one spare in my shed off a 1992 320i I broke up, just incase it'll come in handy one day. Going to see how I get on with ABS on track, then make a decision weather to get rid of it or not.