[AdrianSi]

I need to try and locate my Glow Plug Control unit on my 330d LCi 2008 with the N57. I have no 2 glow plug controller faults showing in the fault log, one for the Glow plug circuit and one for the Glow plug power supply.

[coopersim]

Taken from this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...lowplug&page=1


It sits on the n/s of the block (inlet manifold side) toward the back of the block, right in front of the starter motor
Behind two water pipes and a couple of fuel lines

Bolted to the block with two 10mm nuts

The black box is about 5" square with two electrical connections coming off the bottom


Tom
_______

[AdrianSi]

Thanks I'll take a look to see if its in the same on the later 6 pot engine. Useless stealers replaced this and a glow plug under warranty July last year but want to charge me for a diagnostic fee and then it probably won't be included in my Named Parts warranty (downgraded from fully comp this month!).

[coopersim]

If you're feeling brave, you could have a go at fixing the soldering on the unit. Apparently the solder snaps off inside the unit over time, a bit like the old xbox issue.

If you fix this, or even have a go, I'd be interested to see some photos as I'm having similar problems.

[AdrianSi]

Originally Posted by coopersim

If you're feeling brave, you could have a go at fixing the soldering on the unit. Apparently the solder snaps off inside the unit over time, a bit like the old xbox issue.

If you fix this, or even have a go, I'd be interested to see some photos as I'm having similar problems.

Well i would hope that it's not a broken soldered joint after just 6 months.... i would be very disappointed at that! I will take photos and create a thread of my findings.

[AdrianSi]

Well i've found the control unit/module:-





Next is to source one... can find one 2nd hand unit for sale on ebay. The part number for the N57 unit is different to that of the M57.

[coopersim]

Thanks for that

I think it's about £94 from the dealer for the part, and about the same elsewhere from what I've seen

[AdrianSi]

Originally Posted by coopersim

Thanks for that

I think it's about £94 from the dealer for the part, and about the same elsewhere from what I've seen

Sounds about right, been quoted £115 with the VAT from a dealer. Bmmininparts are few quid cheaper but have to wait for delivery.

What i cant decide is what to replace first. Do i get a control unit and replace that first and see if it sorts out the rough idle, or do i assume a plug has gone down and short circuited the control unit. I can get 6 Bosch plugs from Eurocarparts for £110 at the moment with the 20% off all parts that they are currently offering.

Or do i bite the bullet and replace the lot, even though there are no individual plug errors, just a glow plug system failure code.

[coopersim]

I checked with my dealer the make of the glow plugs they had in stock, they have beru ones, they worked out at about £74 with the discount code on ecp

If you choose to change the plugs, consider doing the thermostat at the same time if its running cool as it all involves removing the engine cover etc.

Usually from what I've read if you get an error stating all the plugs have failed it indicates that the controller has failed, so it might be worth starting with the plugs?

Ecp states they are a service item that should be replaced between 40 and 60 thousand miles.

[AdrianSi]

Well epc state Bosch after the part number for the N57 engine. Euro only list Bosch as a supplier, where as Beru, bosch and another brand are listed for the M57 on Euro. Theyre 40odd quid listed on epc and £23 at Euro so i doubt i'll get 6 from BMW for less than £110. How did you go about getting discount btw?

[coopersim]

ALL20 discount code on euro car parts website gets you 20% off

Plus if your car is over 4 yrs old 10% main dealer discount on parts

[AdrianSi]

Originally Posted by coopersim

ALL20 discount code on euro car parts website gets you 20% off

Plus if your car is over 4 yrs old 10% main dealer discount on parts

Yeah car is just over 4 yrs old, and used the ALL20 to get the £110 from Euro. Might try the dealer to price up the glow plugs tomorrow see if they price match. Maybe it is as simple as a short circuit glow plug taken the control unit out, however there hasnt been any error code of a failure of any single plug. No 5 was replaced last year along with the control unit so i wouldnt have thought that theyve all failed together.

[Dr Dave]

Useful info and pictures, thanks Adrian!

[coopersim]

Originally Posted by AdrianSi

Yeah car is just over 4 yrs old, and used the ALL20 to get the £110 from Euro. Might try the dealer to price up the glow plugs tomorrow see if they price match. Maybe it is as simple as a short circuit glow plug taken the control unit out, however there hasnt been any error code of a failure of any single plug. No 5 was replaced last year along with the control unit so i wouldnt have thought that theyve all failed together.

Euro car parts now have 25% off - using code PARTS25, don't forget your Quidco cashback too!

[coopersim]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-BM...-/320968863654

[AdrianSi]

Yeah got that one in my watch list cheers, literally the only one on ebay new or secondhand!

Ive spoken to another dealer today who would do their best to get a goodwill claim out of BMW should it be the control module at fault. Which is a far better response than i had out of the dealer who actually fitted the part in the first place! Tomorrow i will be doing some investigation work to determine if the control unit is getting power or not prior to booking it in with the new helpful dealer. As you would expect, they would be surprised to hear that the new part would have failed within 6 months of it being replaced.

[Danny.B.]

So did you have to remove the inlet manifold or just the engine cover?

[AdrianSi]

Just the engine cover to get to it. This isnt the same for all 330d's though. This is for the N57 engine only as fitted to the LCi E90 not the M57 fitted to pre-LCi models. It may be in a similar position on the M57 engine bbut wouldnt be able to say if its an inlet off job.

I have been doing a bit of investigation work this afternoon to determin if the there is power at the glow plugs and a trigger to the control unit. I had about 3volts at the glow plugs, which I wouldn't think is the required voltage even for a pre-heat.

What I can say however is that it is very difficult to get your hand in and around the glow plug areas to disconnect them and to release the glow plug connector(s). With the inlet off it would be an easier job but there are alot of bits and pieces to move out of the way to get the inlet off. I could certainly get the control unit out with out inlet off, but very fiddly.

[coopersim]

The plugs are rated at 5v, so does sound low.

[AdrianSi]

Interestingly after putting it all back together, it seemed to start up smooth, so checked voltage again which showed 5.something volts. We'll see what its like in the morning.

[coopersim]

Wonder if you do have a dry solder joint then?

[AdrianSi]

Originally Posted by coopersim

Wonder if you do have a dry solder joint then?

Well I've just started it up and it was as eager and smooth as you like. It was 7.5 degrees which is a damn sight warmer than we've had for a few weeks now. Normally there would have been a little bit of a murmer at idle. Grrr curse the weather getting warmer lol!