service for repairing the ABS module

[FLABill]

Hey

Getting the many dash lights on my Dad's 2000 528 sedan. Figuring that the ABS module is bad. I want to get this resolved for him. Have already replaced the rear wheel/brake sensor on each side. What do you all recommend as a service /place for the ABS module...... to get one or send the one off the car out to get it fixed? I have read the unit needs to be coded and I see a place that sells them and says no coding is required. The more I read about his issue on line the less clear the resolution seems to be.

Thank You


Bill

[geargrinder]

I think the big names are...

Modulemaster - has good rep but is expensive. Not used them personally but they get a lot of mention and seem to be good.

BBA-Reman - I've used for MID repair when I first got the car, they seem to be solid, and better prices if you send yours in for a 'repair' which is half the cost of an 'exchange' for some reason.

Then there's a bunch of smaller guys you can find googling. Seems to save you $30-50 on a repair job. But it is micro-soldering of tiny wires and so you might not want a 'budget' job?

Re: coding, indeed there is some coding differences in the modules between auto and manual, and based on engine (M52, M54, M62, or one of a bunch of ROW diesels)

If they mean "It doesn't need to be coded with your cars VIN or ISN" - well then no, it doesn't need to be exactly paired to your car.

Or if they mean that if you send one in for repair, they won't recode it so you'd be assured of it still being correct when it comes back, well that'd make sense.

But yes it should (at least to operate fully as intended) have the proper coding to match the transmission and engine.

So if you buy or do an exchange and they send you one for an "M52 528 Automatic" and that's what you have, you're all good.
But if they send you one for a "M62 540 Auto", well then maybe the DSC values aren't exactly what BMW intended, and you might have some suboptimal performance.
If they send a manual vs automatic, I think that's an even bigger issue as the ABS I believe looks to talk to the tranny module in an Auto (and vice versa - won't for a manual).

If you did​ have the wrong coding (like buying a junkyard unit for instance) the coding is easy and trivial for anybody w/a cable a software so if you're concerned you could try and find a local enthusiast to help but maybe by speaking to the repair shop they'll be able to clarify.

[sanmusa]

I used Modulemaster to rebuild a unit on a Saab 9-5, same exact piece as the one in the E39, and I was very pleased. Price was good, turn around was fast, and it fixed my ABS problems. I couldn't be more satisfied.