ABS Module - leaking?
 

Hey everyone - first post, and I've got an ABS module question. Here's the TLDR -

My E53 exhibits the trifecta but also has a soft pedal. I can find any evidence of leaking in brake lines, calipers, etc and no puddles on the ground. I was just about to pull the module to be rebuilt and I noticed the driver's side of the module looks like it has been weeping fluid...or maybe spraying a bit since the paint on the bracket above the that black cap thing appears to be peeling.

Anyone ever seen one of these things leak like this? I'm a little familiar with the reconditioning of the electronics/solenoid side of the module, but this is a part of the manifold.

https://i.ibb.co/XCt5k6j/IMG-1899.jpg

Longer version — I picked this E53 up for free from my dad a few weeks ago. It's got 250,000 miles, and he has owned it for 160,000+ of those miles. I replaced the intake manifold for him last year after a leaky injector caused it to explode. That was the first $3000 repair he was quoted, but I was able to get him running with some junkyard parts for about $300.
These recent brake issues resulted in another $3000 quote for repair, and this time he just went and bought a nice used Expedition without consulting me. Ford and Carmax offered him a whopping $350 and $450 for the X5, so he asked if I just wanted to get it out of his driveway.

Anyway, I assumed it was just a typical trifecta module issue, but he said at one point he was having to top off the brake reservoir. I'm assuming there's a leak and there's likely air in the ABS module (pedal nearly touches floor before any decent stopping power). I planned on sending the module off for repair and bleeding the system myself, but this bit of residual fluid on the outside of the module has me wondering if I need to be looking for a whole replacement unit instead.

It’s probably not much more expensive to get a whole unit with the hydraulics.

That being said low fluid is enough reason to set trifecta. do you have an electrical problem you’re aware of?

Yeah, I'm finding the cost part to be true, but I've been reading some conflicting info on needing to program the unit if I grab a junkyard module? I've also read that if the part numbers match and it's from the same model year, there's no need to program? Still trying to sort that out before I buy one...

No electrical problems that I'm aware of, but I've only had the car for about a week, so who knows. I ordered a Foxwell NT530 so I can do a proper bleed on the brakes, so I'll see what codes we're dealing with too.

You might just have a simple seal leak and can just rebuild. I would first top off and properly bleed and go from there

The Foxwell NT-530 doesn't cover as many of the e53 modules but the NT-510 or NT-520 cover everything on e53's plus seem to cover all the rest of the BMW's although not sure about brand new models...

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The 510 has done everything needed on '12 and '11 so far. I'm about to change the TC oil on my new to me BMWЯ₂. I confirmed the menu choice before I paid for the car.

There were only two errors. 1) TC oil wear and 2) something about lighting (PO swapped in led interior lighting and 1-2 of the lamps are not happy with the PWM? (Guessing). Making them blink. Other than the color temp is higher than I'd have used the lighting is amazing! Especially the trunk. My e53 had nearly useless lighting.

Thought I'd update - sure enough, the module was leaking. I drove it around the neighborhood, parked it, and the next day there was an accumulation of brake fluid right under the abs module.
The car had the trifecta light error for some time prior to the leak, according to my dad.

There was an abs module from the same year/engine combo X5 on ebay for $180ish, so I took a chance on it. I installed it yesterday, bled the brakes traditionally, used my Foxwell to ventilate the ABS module, then bled the brakes again, and now she's back on the road.

A pleasant surprise was the elimination of the trifecta lights. The lights remained on initially, but they seemed to resolve themselves after doing a test panic stop during my first drive.

I repeated some panic stops on dry pavement, and the brakes are performing well. My only gripe is a slightly longer pedal travel to friction. Once the pressure point is reached, brake performance is good, it just takes a bit to get there. Might need to repeat the ABS module activation-bleeding procedure multiple times since the module is "new" and was completely dry, but I'm not particularly looking forward to it, so I might just live with it for a bit.

You prob have a little air still in the line. It usually takes some persistence before you can get rid of that


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