Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[STEMO]

Are BMW brakes more difficult to work on? Disc brakes and pads generally are so simple, they are difficult to f**k up for even the lamest numpty. I blessed the day when drum brakes disappeared on my cars.

No.  I replaced the front discs and pads on mine last year and it was no harder than any other vehicle. 

I found a set of Unipart front discs that were clearance on ebay for £19 and I forget where the pads came from but it would have been cheap ebay or ECP. 

I press the pedal and the car stops. Job jobbed!    I await my ritual slagging! 

Not from me, Sir Tig, if you drive normally these parts are fine.

[iansoutham]

Well, chatting to my Senior Techs this week, it would appear that these ECU modules on the old E39 do have a habit of just dying for the fun of it.

Replacements from BMW are, shall we say, pricey  £840 for ASC and £1120 for DSC just for reference.

However, if you wanted to look for some new items, they are available from Germany on eBay for similar amounts to refurbished ones here in the UK.

You would need to know if you have ASC or DSC as the modules are different, but the part numbers for both are below:

ASC 34.52.2.285.043 (leave the "." out if searching eBay)
DSC 34.52.2.285.051

Hope this helps.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Thanks for that Ian.   

I still havn't decided whether to spend £150-200 on a second hand one and take a chance, or £550 odd on the rebuilt one with a guarantee..... 

This car is starting to cost me... 

[STEMO]

Thanks for that Ian.   

I still havn't decided whether to spend £150-200 on a second hand one and take a chance, or £550 odd on the rebuilt one with a guarantee..... 

This car is starting to cost me... 

And it’s not like you’re used to that or anything, being an ex omega owner.   

[Nick W]

Thanks for that Ian.   

I still haven't decided whether to spend £150-200 on a second hand one and take a chance, or £550 odd on the rebuilt one with a guarantee..... 

for a common electronic fault? That's not really a choice, is it?

[Sir Tigger KC]

Thanks for that Ian.   

I still haven't decided whether to spend £150-200 on a second hand one and take a chance, or £550 odd on the rebuilt one with a guarantee..... 

for a common electronic fault? That's not really a choice, is it?

Now that's the rational answer.... 

[Doctor Gollum]

Thanks for that Ian.   

I still haven't decided whether to spend £150-200 on a second hand one and take a chance, or £550 odd on the rebuilt one with a guarantee..... 

for a common electronic fault? That's not really a choice, is it?

Now that's the rational answer.... 

The guaranteed one is cheaper...

[Sir Tigger KC]

£395 + VAT = £474, plus £48 + VAT  to get it coded, so £57.60 + £474 = £531.60 

Or a secondhand one that might be good at about £200 including coding.  Or it might not be good and I'm back at square one. 

I wish I wasn't such a tight bastard!   

[Doctor Gollum]

And you'll only find out once coded as it won't work correctly beforehand. I bought one known good unit which cleared the ABS codes but didn't function correctly. The issue might not be just the ABS ecu.

By fitting new, you at least rule it out...

Failing that, I know a Lithuanian...

[Sir Tigger KC]

I've done a bit of shopping around this morning and have bought a new one for £355.54 inc VAT and delivery. 

It's coming from Der Faterland so it may be some time.