Abs unit E39

[Redblue60]

Hi,
Help please ! Got a 1998 BMW 528i with abs light stuck on. Does anyone have a suggestion of best cure ? Looking at changing abs unit, but not sure if a car this year is coded, and if a second hand one will be ok ( tight budget 🙄) , if it does need coding, how does that happen ! Sorry, novice here ! Thanks in advance

[Sammo123]

The ABS units fail pretty frequently on E39's due to their close proximity to the exhaust manifold. Personally I think buying a second hand unit is a false economy. What's to say it isn't well on its way to being as knackered and overheated as the one you've got? Get someone like ECU Testing or AC Tronics to rebuild your current one. You'll get a lifetime warranty with the rebuild.

[Redblue60]

Sounds a good plan, cheers !

[_Neal_]

As an alternative perspective I had the same problem on mine recently and the specialist rebuild place I used (one of the places mentioned above) couldn't recondition the unit, disappointingly.

So I had to go down the second hand and have it coded route, which ended up saving me several hundred pounds, and was a smooth and easy process. Bought a unit of eBay and had a specialist code it, cost £150 all in. And in the unlikely event it goes again, you can do the same again and it'll still be cheaper than the rebuild.

Also, before you go and replace the unit go to a specialist and have it diagnosed. It could be something else a lot cheaper like a ABS sensor ring. Is it throwing up traction control disabled as well?

[helix402]

Quarry Motors do a new Bosch one for a good price. They can code it for you before posting it if necessary too.

[defblade]

If it's down to the usual cracked wires, then you can have a go yourself (and I believe the recon people don't care if you've opened it already).

My posts are all on page 7 here, though it might be worth reading the whole thread.

And if it doesn't work, you can still replace it easily enough

[Redblue60]

Thanks all...👍