Calling 324td/524td owners ( M21 Help DDE)

[YAN-3]

ok so here is my deal. as some of you know i have a 324td Touring out here in Germany. My problem is so: in order for me to start the M21 up, i have to cycle the glow plugs twice, befor it starts up. if i dont then i have to keep cranking on it for a good time befor she fires up. having experiance with GM 6.5l TD, thats how you get mushroomed glow plugs and replacing them is a pain in the butt, because the whole head has to come off and then one must get creative. so has anyone ever replaced the glow plug relay/controller on these motors? and if so were did you guys get the relay/controller? BMW dealer here in DE is asking 450+ euro (roughly $500) that is my LAST resort, however i want to fix the problem befor it gets real bad.

And secondly, as M21 owners might know, the throttle on the cars are Drive by wire, and there are sensors that sence the amount of diesel to inject, its called DDE or something. were is that darn sensor/sensors located.

Lastly if ANY ONE, any one at all has some good links to a website that deals with the M21 and troubleshooting it, I would be very very greatful. I need to fix the littlle things befor they get out of hand. thanks everyone.

PS: sorry for any miss-spelling that might be in the text. :up:

[Julien]

I can't help you much... but from what i remmeber, you had to DDEs (diesel elctronic controle modules) they are like a regular ECU on top of the m glovebox. One takes the information from the sensor below the pedal and relates it to the diesel pump. The other takes care of injector cycling (IIRC).. I never replaced the glow plugs on my car but looking at they seem easy to replace. When i was parting my 324td touring alot of people asked me to buy the ECU, so i guess its a common weak point in the car.


Good luck,
Julien

[YAN-3]

ok so but something has to read the amount of throttle im pressing a sensor of some sort, were the heck is it. and the ECUs are above the regular one you said?

[mikeedler]

I helped replace a friends injection pump on his, it was full of rust, and quite working. The earlier model 324td had a reg. throttle cable, and that is what we had to turn his car into, cause all of the later ones were over 600 eur. for a rebuilt pump, and none were to be found in a junk yard.
I would think the comp. is ok, if you have to cycle the glow plugs twice, i would think it is more of a you need a new glow plug/glow plugs.

[YAN-3]

i had swapped the glowplugs about 6 months ago, durining a tune up. i think its the relay