ABS Pump & ECU Fault

[PaulN]

Hi All,

Back in May time i had the dreaded 3 warning lights come up on my Z4, over the course of the following months i thought myself and a mate had cleared the fault (looked like a steering angle sensor) with his bmw software but it returned, and every now and again turned off and came back on.

Since then ive had it looked at by a local bmw indy Garage 786 and the fault was diagnosed as the ABS pump £1800 + Vat!!! or recon for around £500 so about £800 for recon and labour....

By chance ive stumbled across a chap who knows his way around Bmw's and he also ran his diagnostic kit on it and actually got the pump working if you gave it a light tap, but failed when you didnt....

Basically im resigned to the fact i need the pump reconditioned but its had to swallow when the cars only done 7k miles!!!!

Anyway the company im going to speak to about getting the pump reconditioned is ECU Testing the plan is strip mine out on a Friday, either post it or drive it over and all being well have it reconditioned and returned for the following Friday to refit.

http://www.ecutesting.com/catalogue/product/bmw_z4_abs_pump__ecumodule_combined_amc916203.html

Im posting this up because there is alot of good info regarding this and i hope my experience helps someone in the future.

Fingers crossed ill post some good news in a few weeks....

Any advice would be greatly welcomed.

Paul

 

[fixit man]

Good to know ...thanks !

 

[John002]

ECU testing are brilliant, they send you text updates at each stage, including tracking info on return parcel. Dont expect it back in three days though, mine took 8.

 

[billabongmac]

I had this problem earlier in the year, I had my ABS pump reconditioned by a local indy garage Deutsch Tech in Milton Keynes for around £600 including labour.

 

[jaRED]

To be honest this seems to be a common fault regardless of mileage. My local Indy said they had seen so many that it was surprising it wasn't a recall
They had just fixed one on an E85 which had only done 26k

 

[PaulN]

Cheers Guys,

Spoke to ECU Testing and they said check the Model of the pump to ensure they can repair it... luckily it is one of the quoted part numbers so just a case of getting it out and over to them.

Half of me thinks i want it sort now.. the other thinks wait till winter when its tucked up.... not that its being used much anyway lol

Paul

 

[pvr]

To be honest this seems to be a common fault regardless of mileage. My local Indy said they had seen so many that it was surprising it wasn't a recall
They had just fixed one on an E85 which had only done 26k

Mine had done 23k ...

 

[Geezah]

ECU Testing ofer a lifertime guarantee on your repaired unit and yet BMW can't even make it last a reasonable time. Disgracefully shoddy for a 'premium' brand.

 

[PaulN]

Update:

Well it was getting close to MOT time and the Zed wouldnt pass without sorting the ABS Pump sorted..... As luck would have it i now have a top top Bmw Mechanic in the next village who we happened to meet and get on very well. He used to work at Sytners work shop.

Anyway on a nice Monday morning he popped to mine got the Pump out via the drivers wheel arch and i popped it over to ECU Testing... Unluckily i picked the week with 2 bank holidays so didn't a call saying it was ready till the following Wednesday, drove over picked it up and had it fitted the following day......

It sorted all the warning lights but the breaks felt a little spongy.... luckily he knows the guy who MOTs my cars and used their Auto brake bleeding system and they were back to their best.

So car passed it MOT and Abs pump sorted.......

£234 for recon Abs Pump
£165 Taking out and fitting Abs Pump
£40 for changing and bleeding brakes.

Total cost £439.00

Hope this helps someone.

Paul

 

[pvr]

About 25% of my costs then, good result

 

[GJC72]

Similar cost for mine when it failed last year. Also used ECU Testing for the repair. Their service was excellent. Well recommended if anyone else has the mis-fortune of a failed pump.

 

[DavesZed]

Got mine took off ,sent it to ECU TESTING they phoned me to say couldn't find any fault but do I still want it reworked ,no I said so got it sent back my garage fitted it back on ,no lights so passed its mot.one mile down the road warning sound and lights back on.Took it to a Bmw independent last week told him the tale, first thing he said was I should of got it reworked as this always works ,he was doing one at that very time.asked him how much to do it for him £480 .so back to square one again.good job I still like the car.

 

[GJC72]

Got mine took off ,sent it to ECU TESTING they phoned me to say couldn't find any fault but do I still want it reworked ,no I said so got it sent back my garage fitted it back on ,no lights so passed its mot.one mile down the road warning sound and lights back on.Took it to a Bmw independent last week told him the tale, first thing he said was I should of got it reworked as this always works ,he was doing one at that very time.asked him how much to do it for him £480 .so back to square one again.good job I still like the car.

Same here. ECU Testing said the test didn't show any faults. I went ahead and with the rebuild anyway as having carried out of number of diagnostic checks my local garage was 99% certain it was the pump at fault. That was 10 months ago with no reoccurrence of the fault so clearly it was the pump.

 

[DavesZed]

Looks like I'm going to get it done then.maybe get a slight discount from ECU. I wish.