Glow plug control module

[Chrispy]

Hi guys,

Has anyone replaced this on the 3.0d?  Mine has a fault code and it is a bit lumpy on (really) cold starts so I'd like to swap it out.  I gather it's under the intake manifold on these things based on videos of people doing it on 335D's I've found on YouTube....

Part wise, it looks like it's a Beru unit now? - like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BERU-GLOW-PLU ... 1647576144

Cheers,

Chris.

[Spandex]

I've done it on an M57 engine - looks to be in pretty much the same place on your N57 though. I did it without removing the manifold, but it is a fiddly job and as soon as you stick your hand down there, you block your own view so you have to do everything by touch. It only took me about 30 mins to do though, and that was about 2 minutes of actual work, and 28 minutes of fumbling/swearing

Electrical tape over the mouth of the socket to help grip the nut so it doesn't fall into the engine bay, and a flexi extension for your ratchet will help.

[X5Sport]

Yes it’s a BERU.  Check the part number via Realoem.

[Chrispy]

Thanks both. So there is hope of being able to do this without removing the intake manifold (and scuttle tray, and strut braces etc).... Even with the intake removed though there's still a coolant pipe in the way by the looks of things?
.

Part wise REALOEM says this part no: https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Genuine-BMW-Gl ... 1344926648

Nice that there's no coding, just straight swap.

[Horizon]

I did my glowplug controller and glow plugs on my X3, I removed the inlet manifold to replace the glowplugs at the same time. Even with the inlet manifold removed it's not easy to get to the glowplug relay. The hardest part is removing the large multiplug from the unit.
I ended up removing the coolant pipe that sits above the controller to make it easier.
Good luck, plenty of swearing and cursing is needed.
You can just see the controller below the coolant pipe manifold, and this is with the inlet manifold removed.
I looked at the YouTube video which shows it's replacement without removing the inlet manifold.
I'm impressed with anyone who can manage this.

[Chrispy]

Awesome, that's a good picture. Cheers for that. So would you say it's possible with the coolant pipe in place? Not that I don't want to have to remove it, it's just coolant spilling everywhere doesn't appeal if I can avoid it. Are the bolts holding it to the head accessible with the pipe in place? If it's the plug that's the issue does it just need alien fingers to undo? Getting close to needing this job doing as with the recent cold snap it's a lumpy old thing on cold starts - can tell the glow plugs are not doing much if anything....

[Marrow]

I am having cold start lumpy ness when very cold let me know if this fixes yours

[Chrispy]

Will do. Only found out about the module via other work that involved coding, thus they found the fault codes. Explained the lumpy starts when very cold.

[Spandex]

Bear in mind, it might not only be the controller. I had fault codes on all 6 glow plugs, which obviously pointed towards a faulty controller - after replacing that, I still had 2 or three glow plug faults, so the duff controller was actually masking a few failed plugs.

That’s actually why I did the controller without removing the manifold. I didn’t want to go to all that trouble only to have to remove it again to change plugs.

[Chrispy]

I've not been told about codes on the plugs, just the control module so far - as such I'll replace that and see how it fares.  I do wonder if then it'll show up faults on the plugs themselves but it's a start I guess.

[Spandex]

On the older M57 engine a glow plug controller failure just showed up as faults on all 6 glow plugs - there wasn't a specific code for the controller itself. They must have improved it for the N57 engine. The end result is the same though I guess - you might still find there are glow plug faults that the dead controller is masking. Cross that bridge it you come to it though.

Incidentally, I've read a few accounts of people changing the controller on the N57 without removing the manifold so it's definitely possible.

[Chrispy]

Awesome.  I'll be honest I've not lifted the bonnet/ pulled the cover off yet to take a look but will do so and put my hand under the intake to have a feel around.  If I think that the 2x nuts and plugs are accessible enough blind and without alien fingers I'll give it a go.  Struggled to find info re the N57 although the 335d got a bit of attention re this on YouTube, that person removed the intake to do it.