XSeries-forum

If you need to change the glow plug controller you will find that every one says you need to take the inlet manifold off.

Today I found that is not the case, here's how I did it.

I started by taking off part numbers 5 & 8 here ( top and Bottom ) on the passenger side.

These sit at the bottom of the wheel arch and go above and below the drive shaft and steering rod.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=51_5194

With these out of the way if you look up just to the left of the drive shaft you will see the controller held on with two 10mm nuts. these can be reached with a long extension bar.

The hardest part of the job is getting the main plug out of the controller.

Even so it only took 45 mins to change the unit over.

This may be the same for the 3.0 ltr as well.

Hope this helps.

Cheers for post

I used my C110 scanner and found all 6 glow plugs failed to activate even though the car started perfectly.
Assumed that it must be the controller due to all 6 failing.

I have started doing mine today from above.

Managed to remove bolts that hold the glow plug controller on
Undid the smaller plug but the main plug broke when I pressed on the connectors to release

Fitted the new controller and have reconnected both plugs just to make sure the car started, which it did
And checked with my c110 and no errors

Packed up as it started to go dark, so will finish tomorrow


I am not sure if it would have helped taking the inlet manifold off but how tight my main plug was not sure it wouldn't have broken doing it that way.

Going to call BMW in the morning to try and order the main plug shrouding.

Not a job I would like to do again.