DIY - ABS relay repair - Fix that ABS light

[raafhimself]

^ hrmm, i thought if the light was on ABS wouldn't work regardless of the issue- be it sensor or relay

[KenC]

My ABS light is on, but the ABS is also not functioning right now. Will replacing the relay likely fix this? Or am I looking at a sensor problem?

[BDSax]

here ya go.. mines an 89 325i vert

what a rats nest!

[mosabnet]

thanks for posting pictures i will replace my relay today

[xalier]

here ya go.. mines an 89 325i vert

[xalier]

i just changed out my abs relay it was very easy to find.. it was just clipped on some of the metal reinforcements of the dash right on top of the abs brain. i just stuck my hand in there felt around and there it was pull to the driver side some and it clipped right off and pulled it out.. ill take some pix of where mine was incase you guys still havn't found yours...

[Triple G]

No one else has come across this problem?

[Mossman]

I wish I could help you, but yesterday I decided to try and fix my ABS issue, also in a 1990 model year, and I popped the kick panel off and pulled the ABS computer down and didn't see the relay. I did find one empty relay holder with no relay installed but wire colors don't match another car I compared to, it had slots for 5 wires but only wires connected to 4 pins. I'll do some more digging tomorrow.

[Triple G]

OK. I go to go do this and I can't find the relay anywhere...
Car is a 1990 325iS. ABS light is intermittent, will be off and on (mostly on) when I'm out driving.

There's just the one location for it correct?

Excuse the crappy pictures, cell phone was what was handy.

[whiltebeitel]

It's all dan's work, words, and pictures. Helped me fix mine last year, so it's nice to have it for others to use.

[tecks2k]

Awesome work, thanks for putting that back together!

[ThaiRacer]

Wow thanks for that.

[whiltebeitel]

My attempt:

By Dan Pereda and Peakracer.com

Repairing the ABS relay on a BMW E30.

Look at the dash on many e30s and you will most likely find the ABS light on. Most of the time is because of a blow relay. They relay tends to blow for simple things such as jumpstarting your car. The fusable link inside is there to keep you from burning out the ABS computer. The proper way is to replace the relay, but in a pinch you can just repair the fusable link. *** WARNING*** repairing this relay will leave your ABS computer unprotected and you may blow up the ABS computer in the future. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. The article is how to find and fix that relay.


Step 1: Disconnect the battery

Step 2: Locate the Relay under the dash on the Driver’s side (you will have to remove the black panel) In the picture below the yellow box highlights where the relay was located on our car.(relay not pictured)



Step 3: It is clipped on by a little metal tab. Just wiggle it back and forth and it should come free.



Step 4: your going to have to pry back the aluminum case. It is ver easy to bend with a pair of needle nose pliers.





Step 5: inside you should see the burnt wire.



Step 6: You will have to solder the wire back together or solder in a new wire. The gap was to big on mine to solder back together, so I soldered in a piece of MIG wire, but any think wire should work.



Repair a BMW E30 ABS Relay. - Watch a funny movie here

http://picasaweb.google.com/dpereda/SpecE30#5183718207391233890

Step 7: Put it back together and plug it back in, Reconnect the battery. Start it up and check for fault codes.



last Updated ( Monday, 31 March 2008 )

Is this OK, Dan?

[whiltebeitel]

Men we need a new write up lol. Im about to take off the dam bulb and call it a day.

Follow the text george save and posted up. it's not hard at all. Just about as easy as pulling the bulb!

[ThaiRacer]

Men we need a new write up lol. Im about to take off the dam bulb and call it a day.