ABS Module Wrap

[huff]

Would wrapping the ABS module with an insulation material help prevent the ABS module failure?

[jamesdc4]

I believe so. I think there's a heatshield you can purchase but I'm not positive.

[Fiziks]

seems to me like it would. modules fail due to broken solder connections, solder connections break over time due to intense heat. in all e39's the dsc/abs module sits directly on the headers - lots of heat.

[bimmerfiver]

The short, curt, raw answer is "No".

My car has a heat shield...and my ABS Module failed and how did it fail? I drove over a HUGE MOFO speed bump at .00000003 miles per hour and the speed bump was so MOFO HUGE that when I came off it...BAM WAP KABOOM, my front end cried out like a thirsty Jawa at a strip club on Tatooine and instantly my ABS Module went fubar...the dreaded lights came on my dash and I was effed. In other words SHOCK/VIBRATION are equal enemies to your ABS as would be TEMPERATURE. In fact I'd say vibration is THE enemy.

And so my ABS Padawan, I recommend you do this...REPLACE the rubber grommets the ABS Module is mounted to. Oh we sit on that wall in cocktail parties denying the f-a-c-t that ALL BMW rubber is rotten by 75K miles (engine mounts, tranny mounts) and yet we leave Mr. ABS all alone and overlook him.

The rubber grommets are CHEAP! Replace them, order from www.eactuning.com, make a DIY and know that you've done a MAJOR service to your ABS' health imho. Also, don't put Bavauto Springs in your car mated with Bilstein Sports...this places your ABS' health in jeopardy as I now know.

I don't believe a heat shield would make 50% improvement in protecting your ABS, but I do believe new grommets/mounts for the ABS do make a massive improvement.

[Fiziks]

do yo have the oem heat shield? because that does not even cover the module.

But I agree, new grommets are also top priority.

[Devo540]

ive been trying to find the part number for the heat sheild. and +1 on the new rubber idea

[jamesdc4]

The short, curt, raw answer is "No".

My car has a heat shield...and my ABS Module failed and how did it fail? I drove over a HUGE MOFO speed bump at .00000003 miles per hour and the speed bump was so MOFO HUGE that when I came off it...BAM WAP KABOOM, my front end cried out like a thirsty Jawa at a strip club on Tatooine and instantly my ABS Module went fubar...the dreaded lights came on my dash and I was effed. In other words SHOCK/VIBRATION are equal enemies to your ABS as would be TEMPERATURE. In fact I'd say vibration is THE enemy.

And so my ABS Padawan, I recommend you do this...REPLACE the rubber grommets the ABS Module is mounted to. Oh we sit on that wall in cocktail parties denying the f-a-c-t that ALL BMW rubber is rotten by 75K miles (engine mounts, tranny mounts) and yet we leave Mr. ABS all alone and overlook him.

The rubber grommets are CHEAP! Replace them, order from www.eactuning.com, make a DIY and know that you've done a MAJOR service to your ABS' health imho. Also, don't put Bavauto Springs in your car mated with Bilstein Sports...this places your ABS' health in jeopardy as I now know.

I don't believe a heat shield would make 50% improvement in protecting your ABS, but I do believe new grommets/mounts for the ABS do make a massive improvement.

Keith,

I was unaware of a vibration issue as a cause of ABS Module failure. Do you have any other supporting evidence other than your own experience?

[PatrickW]

I was thinking about making a custom one out of either aluminum and paint it black or polished stainless and have it spaced off a bit, if i get some time this week il cut one out on the cnc plasma table and see how it looks

[Fiziks]

Keith,

I was unaware of a vibration issue as a cause of ABS Module failure. Do you have any other supporting evidence other than your own experience?

solder connections don't take kindly to vibrations or heat over long periods of time.

[sabbos1]

Would wrapping the ABS module with an insulation material help prevent the ABS module failure?

I believe I see a temperature related affect on my ABS module. I have a working speedo/odometer when I leave the house in the morning but it cuts out when I shut the engine off to take my son into the day care or if I sit at a light for a minute. In the summer once the speedo stops working that is it for the day. But this winter the speedo works again after the car sits in the cold for a few hours.

[razahyde]

pray to the bmw lords your module comes back to life, it worked for me!!!

[76papa]

You need something like 700 degrees to soften solder, so unless your engine compartment is on fire I don't think heat is the cause of module failure.
It makes more sense to me that repeated vibration shakes the soldered connections loose. Age also causes connections to weaken. My '99 528i is 11 years old with 179,000 mi and a broken module attests to that theory.

[bimmerfiver]

You need something like 700 degrees to soften solder, so unless your engine compartment is on fire I don't think heat is the cause of module failure.
It makes more sense to me that repeated vibration shakes the soldered connections loose. Age also causes connections to weaken. My '99 528i is 11 years old with 179,000 mi and a broken module attests to that theory.

Vibration
Time
Heat
Cold
Moisture

It's amazing we really landed on the moon. Seriously, that piece of crap lunar module and it's Made by Radio Shack contents.. I stand by my gut, vibration is the devil for the ABS Module. Time, heat, cold, moisture all play a roll and have thorns, but the devil's trident is vibration. I may include this in a chapter of my autobiography.

I believe I see a temperature related affect on my ABS module. I have a working speedo/odometer when I leave the house in the morning but it cuts out when I shut the engine off to take my son into the day care or if I sit at a light for a minute. In the summer once the speedo stops working that is it for the day. But this winter the speedo works again after the car sits in the cold for a few hours.

You need a new module from www.eactuning.com

See my thread 'Winner Winner Chicken Dinner':

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1154808

[jamesdc4]

You need something like 700 degrees to soften solder, so unless your engine compartment is on fire I don't think heat is the cause of module failure.
It makes more sense to me that repeated vibration shakes the soldered connections loose. Age also causes connections to weaken. My '99 528i is 11 years old with 179,000 mi and a broken module attests to that theory.

I think the M62s get close to that temperature.

The solder may not get hot enough to melt/soften, but the constant variations in temp. could certainly cause the solder points to fail.
I think Keith is right about the vibration being the ultimate reason for module malfunction. Looks like some new grommets are in order since my unit showed failure signs last winter.

[bimmerfiver]

I think the M62s get close to that temperature.

The solder may not get hot enough to melt/soften, but the constant variations in temp. could certainly cause the solder points to fail.
I think Keith is right about the vibration being the ultimate reason for module malfunction. Looks like some new grommets are in order since my unit showed failure signs last winter.

During this Spring or Summer's Fort Lee I Hate New Jersey For All It's Worth BMW Meet, I will bring some prizes. Last year Orxan won for "Best Suspension Mod to aTan/Sheer-Colored e39" he won a beefy Craftsman pry bar (one he and we would actually use). His award still remains in my trunk as I haven't seen him. There may be a prize for Best e39 ABS Module Mod and the winner shall receive new rubber grommets (or a gift certificate to www.eactuning.com where they can obtain new ABS Module grommets)...I don't want to be the only one out there whose replaced the ABS' grommets. Quint was right, there were too many chiefs on that island, but I don't believe there are enough e39 owners replacing these important grommets which shrink over time and allow the module to bounce around. I would rather spend $15.00 and fifteen minutes replacing those grommets than having someone install a new heat shield for free.

cliffnotes = Drive to NJ, hate everything in site, except the cool e39 drivers, their cars, Gumbi's hawt wife and the egg rolls and win some ABS Module grommets.

[matt kingham]

The heat shield theory HAS worked for me.

[jicaino]

I was searching for that piece of isolation too. My ABS/DSC failed after almost 17 years. It was perhaps one of the very few original mechanic/electronic components still remaining in my car. My car is on the 2nd. engine, pretty much every sensor has been replaced, cooling system was all renewed twice, wheel sensors, brake lines, steering pump, IKE, I could go on and on... but the ABS was the one that came with the car. I'm about to replace it. Also got paranoid about the heat, and then I realized that if it survived 16+ years, most of them with the silly viscofan on, a flimsy piece of insulation could have extended, say, one year or two the failure? There's not only radiant heat from the engine affecting the module, there's also the inherent design of the module (large elements that disipates a lot of heat, built in disipators, lack of proper ventilation at the spot it's mounted, etc etc) And of course, the vibrations.

Anyways, I'd love to have the insulation piece part number. It's universal to all E39's post facelift.

[ViolinARC]

I expected a vid of someone RAPPING about their ABS...

[edjack]

Some time ago, there was a post where the owner installed a 12V muffin fan next to the ABS assembly.

[jicaino]

Some time ago, there was a post where the owner installed a 12V muffin fan next to the ABS assembly.

Hmmm, muffin!

[SquattyD]

So, I know I am bringing up a post from the past, but curious if anyone ever wrapped the ABS module in exhaust wrap. I know it's not the prettiest way, but I'm having issues and wondering if it will help prolong it from the heat aspect.

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