Summary of all known ABS control module rebuilder options & new suppliers with prices

This thread is opened as a response to post #502 buried today in the canonical ABS control module thread:
- 2002 E39 ASC BRAKE ABS lights on => Diagnostic Procedure & Parts Location

As most already know, the general consensus has long been to recommend the following three ABS control module rebuilders, in this order (and these prices, some of which are Ebay prices):

• 1^st BBA Remanufacturing
  • http://www.bba-reman.com
  • Lifetime warranty
  • If they can't repair your ABS control module, they only charge you $35 bench fee
  • $115 paid on 1/9/2010, by 540iman
  • $320 + shipping paid on 1/25/2010, by rgol
  • $130 paid on 10/14/2010, by thestig
  • $168 paid on 11/8/2010, by 530i-bie
  • $130 paid on 11/8/2010, by agent15
  • $200 paid on 12/2/2010, by boomshakalaka
  • $165 paid on 4/21/2011, by guardodoc (+ $170 for a remanufactured Bosch 5.7 ABS CU)
  • $275 price survey on 7/3/2011, by mffalrrel but he later paid $185 on Ebay
  • $185 including shipping both ways on 7/4/2011, by jeffstri
• 2^nd Module Masters
  • http://www.modulemaster.com/en/abs/ate_bmw_asc.php
  • $300 price survey on 7/3/2011, by mffalrrel
• 3^rd Auto & Truck Electronics (aka Ebay ATE1234)
  • http://www.autoecu.com
  • Includes free return shipping, includes lifetime warranty
  • $105 + one-way shipping paid on 5/22/2009, by bluebee
  • $159 price survey on 7/3/2011, by mffalrrel

However, information continually comes in of 'other' competitively priced rebuilders ... so this thread is specifically opened to list them, their services, and their prices.

Some other ABS control module rebuilders are reputedly ...

• Cheap-ABS
  • http://www.cheap-abs.com/vrbmw.html
  • $99 on 5/2/2010, bluebee
• modulerepair (on Ebay)
  • $150 on 10/31/2011 (includes return shipping), POof540i

Any others?

As for new ABS control modules, in post #500 is a survey by Sammich:

1. EAC Tuning = $485
2. ECS Tuning = $630
3. OEM Bimmer Parts = $489
4. Pelican Parts = $597
5. Parts Geek = $470
6. Auto Parts Warehouse = $462 + Free Shipping
7. Euro Parts Direct = $431 + Free Shipping
8. Parts Train = $462
9. Car Parts = $462
10. BMW Parts Source = $984
11. Get BMW Parts (Tischer BMW) = $993

Any viable others?

EDIT: Added, as per joyism5 below:
12. RMeuropean = $570
13. Bimmerspecialist = $580

Originally Posted by bluebee

Any viable others?

First , I would like to say that # 5 (Parts Geek) and # 8 (Parts Train), I had bad experience with them . One of them, can't remember right (it was 3 years ago) did not shipped my order, neither refund my money. When I called customer service, person who answered it was in a subway maybe and when I told what I need hang up on me. Never ever answer the phone since then. At that time I have found a review , saying that this 2 stores, along with 2 or 3 others (E.G. parts bin) are actually the same store, with different names, sometimes they change the name to get new customers. I would say this 2 stores are not viable due to their very bad reviews. Their ripoff reviews can be find here : http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/parts-train.aspx . When you do a google search , apparently they have everything,and they will beat any price, in fact they have almost nothing...according with their reviews.
As for the new module I would like to add :
RMeuropean for $570 (I have ordered from them several times and I was very satisfied)
bimmerspecialist for $580 (Worked with them for a while know and very satisfied)

BBA Reman is very good and stand by their warranty. I've sent them a couple of ABS module for repair and they've all come back in very good shape. I would use them again if the time comes. But hopefully, not in the very near future.

Originally Posted by joyism5

As for the new module I would like to add

Thank you for keeping on topic and adding value to the list.

So that others don't have to wade through all the posts, I've added (as an edit) your valuable information.

Thanks for adding to the list with specifics!

Originally Posted by bimmerposer

BBA Reman is very good

Just as a word of caution. We probably don't need any more "BBA is good" posts (simply because there are many hundreds of them already).

We 'do' need a more comprehensive list of ABS control module rebuilders; so if anyone knows of missing ones, with prices, and web links, please add value to this thread so all benefit, now and in the future.

Originally Posted by bluebee

We probably don't need any more "BBA is good" posts (simply because there are many hundreds of them already).

Interestingly, we did have a strangely off-center 'bba is bad' post today over here:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > BBA Reman ABS Module Bosch 5.7 $115

But, most people defended BBA ... so, AFAIK, the top three rebuilders are still BBA, MM, and ATE in that order.

BTW, Bill's ABS autopsy thread has recently been updated with fantastic pictures showing the 7th silvered wire is the most commonly found anomaly when the ABS module is opened up for repair:
- Bill's ABS control module autopsy

Originally Posted by bluebee

This thread is opened as a response to post #502 buried today in the canonical ABS control module thread:
- 2002 E39 ASC BRAKE ABS lights on => Diagnostic Procedure & Parts Location

As most already know, the general consensus has long been to recommend the following three ABS control module rebuilders, in this order (and these prices, some of which are Ebay prices):

• 1^st BBA Remanufacturing
  • http://www.bba-reman.com
  • Lifetime warranty
  • If they can't repair your ABS control module, they only charge you $35 bench fee
  • $115 paid on 1/9/2010, by 540iman
  • $320 + shipping paid on 1/25/2010, by rgol
  • $130 paid on 10/14/2010, by thestig
  • $168 paid on 11/8/2010, by 530i-bie
  • $130 paid on 11/8/2010, by agent15
  • $200 paid on 12/2/2010, by boomshakalaka
  • $165 paid on 4/21/2011, by guardodoc (+ $170 for a remanufactured Bosch 5.7 ABS CU)
  • $275 price survey on 7/3/2011, by mffalrrel but he later paid $185 on Ebay
  • $185 including shipping both ways on 7/4/2011, by jeffstri
• 2^nd Module Masters
  • http://www.modulemaster.com/en/abs/ate_bmw_asc.php
  • $300 price survey on 7/3/2011, by mffalrrel
• 3^rd Auto & Truck Electronics (aka Ebay ATE1234)
  • http://www.autoecu.com
  • Includes free return shipping, includes lifetime warranty
  • $105 + one-way shipping paid on 5/22/2009, by bluebee
  • $159 price survey on 7/3/2011, by mffalrrel

However, information continually comes in of 'other' competitively priced rebuilders ... so this thread is specifically opened to list them, their services, and their prices.

Some other ABS control module rebuilders are reputedly ...

• Cheap-ABS
  • http://www.cheap-abs.com/vrbmw.html
  • $99 on 5/2/2010, bluebee
• modulerepair (on Ebay)
  • $150 on 10/31/2011 (includes return shipping), POof540i

Any others?

Actually Bee, I paid $115 to ATE and sent them my module like 3 times and they never got it right. My SES light was still on. The final straw was that I took the module the last time that Don (owner at ATE) said he personally did my repair and that my module was 100% without an issue and I sent it to BBA and they bench tested it as bad, charged me nothing, said it was butchered (fubar'd) so bad they would not attempt to work on it, but they confirmed it failed two out of three of their tests. Now remember, ATE had just returned it the THIRD time saying it was perfect. BBA even ate the freight to return to me and did not try and sell me anything. I bought a new module from EAC which should not have done anything according to ATE since nothing was wrong with my old module and the EAC new module worked as soon as coded. BBA got not a dime from me eacept the initial freight to them. ATE refunded my money and I continue to have to go to bat for fols to get their money back for them from ATE as I have a good relationship with the owner....even though I don't support their service and he knows it. Just in the last week I intervened to get a guy his money back on a module ATE said was fixed, but did not work for the guy. I wrote Don an email and got his money back the same day. This usually takes a month minimum.

Originally Posted by 540iman

I paid $115 to ATE and sent them my module like 3 times and they never got it right.

Ooops. Sorry about the mistake (I attributed your repair to BBA reman in that first post above). I can't correct it now, but anyone reading the record has my apologies.

Originally Posted by 540iman

Don (owner at ATE) said he personally did my repair ... and I sent it to BBA and they bench tested it as bad

Oh my! I guess that's why I remembered you had it sent to BBA Reman.

No wonder most people eschew ATE for BBA or MM!

I guess I was just lucky with ATE (the only thing bad for me was they did an obviously lousy cover glue job).

Originally Posted by 540iman

Just in the last week I intervened to get a guy his money back on a module ATE said was fixed, but did not work for the guy.

Thanks for being the key member of the ABS control module repair tiger team!

The tribal knowledge in you alone is fantastic!

Bee, in your OP you may want to add that BBA's American eBay presence is at "bba-remaninc" while their European presence is "bba-reman."

http://stores.ebay.com/bbaremanufacturinginc

Originally Posted by agent15

BBA's American eBay presence is at "bba-remaninc" while their European presence is "bba-reman."

Good to know.

Can't change the original post ...

But, anyone getting this far, will be edified!

Originally Posted by 540iman

Actually Bee, I paid $115 to ATE and sent them my module like 3 times and they never got it right. My SES light was still on. The final straw was that I took the module the last time that Don (owner at ATE) said he personally did my repair and that my module was 100% without an issue and I sent it to BBA and they bench tested it as bad, charged me nothing, said it was butchered (fubar'd) so bad they would not attempt to work on it, but they confirmed it failed two out of three of their tests. Now remember, ATE had just returned it the THIRD time saying it was perfect. BBA even ate the freight to return to me and did not try and sell me anything. I bought a new module from EAC which should not have done anything according to ATE since nothing was wrong with my old module and the EAC new module worked as soon as coded. BBA got not a dime from me eacept the initial freight to them. ATE refunded my money and I continue to have to go to bat for fols to get their money back for them from ATE as I have a good relationship with the owner....even though I don't support their service and he knows it. Just in the last week I intervened to get a guy his money back on a module ATE said was fixed, but did not work for the guy. I wrote Don an email and got his money back the same day. This usually takes a month minimum.

Bill,

Thanks again for your help! I was that guy that you intervened for. I sent my module back to ATI but still haven't heard back from them on the diagnosis.

Originally Posted by kimokk

I sent my module back to ATI but still haven't heard back from them on the diagnosis.

What was the upshot?

For the record, these prices were posted today over here:
> E39 (1997 - 2003) > "Brake & ABS" amber warning lights??

Originally Posted by 540iman

God, I am getting sick of these posts! New module is no where near $1200 ... unless you are dumb enough to get it from a dealer. A brand new, never rebuilt module is about $550.

Originally Posted by jeffstri

lol - actually, more like $431 (from europartsdirect), and rebuilt is about $100 from BBA reman on ebay.

This video explains a lot of what goes on in the rebuilding process ...

Originally Posted by bobdmac

Something tells me Bluebee will love that video ...

The video seems to help answer 'some' of our questions:

• What is the goop made of? (silicone)
• How do you remove the goop? (some kind of clear liquid bath ... heated water? ... alcohol? some other solvent?)
• What is the 7th silvered wired made of? (aluminum, apparently)
• How is the wire rebonded? (ultrasonic bonder - but do they remove and rebond ALL the wires?)
• How is the gel replaced? (it's just poured onto the board ... but is it heated first?)

These are their stated steps:

1. Removing the old cap with a CNC machine (vacuuming up debris)
2. Removing the old silicone gel (liquid bath)
3. Visual inspection of bare die connections and removing all hybrid connections (what's a hybrid connection?)
4. The aluminum and gold wire connections are made with an automatic ultrasonic bonder
5. Creating new connections for all hybrid connections and damaged bare die connections
6. The units are filled with a new high specification silicone gel
7. A new cap is assembled and a protective cover is placed (on the back solenoids) for transport
8. The unit is tested on our "Vision 3" which uses an automated script program to run the tests
9. PASS!

Key questions:
Q: What's a 'hybrid' connection?
Q: What's the clear liquid in the bath?
Q: Do they really remove all the gold & aluminum wires & add new ones back? (wow)

PS: Here's an E38/E39 video of the simple removal of the ABS control module for those who have never removed one:

This hint, kindly posted today by Jeffstri, is (apparently) yet another source for inexpensive ABS control modules:

Originally Posted by jeffstri

Not as cheap as Import Part Zone on ebay, $424.50 with free shipping. Best price I've ever seen.

Looks like BBA Reman is following the supply & demand curve and lowering prices to where they should have been all along:

Originally Posted by ultrevex

My 99 528i is showing her age, various electrical components are dying off. For about the last 5 weeks, I had gremlins indicative of a bad ignition switch. Luckily, $75 cured that one.

Once I could tell what was actually going on with the electrical system(that bad ignition switch makes everything randomly light up like a pinball machine), I found that the ABS and traction lights were on and the CEL led me to a speed sensor error code. Classic ABS module failure symptoms and my tech confirmed the module was dead. He threw me a few $$ options but I knew I'd be getting it rebuilt.

BBA-Reman offers the service for just under $100 on Ebay, which includes round trip ground shipping. I yanked the module( takes 3 minutes and a single tool), wrapped it carefully and shipped it off. About a week later I got it back, popped it in, cleared the code and drove the car for 100 miles. No codes, no warning lights!

Just returned from passing my emissions.... Score one for the broke guys!

Add me to the list of BBA's happy customers.

More BBA-reman $98 repairs are coming in ...

Originally Posted by uncmozo

I had the yellow DSC (traction control) light always on since mid summer. I had no traction control, no ABS. But the DSC was the only light to ever come on. Winter's here, so time to get that DSC back. I lost the DSC on a very hot day, with the AC on, so I always figured I fried the ABS controller.
I went for the Ebay $98 sale at BBA Remanufacturing, and sent the ABS module out last Monday. It arrived back on Thursday, re-installed it, and problem solved! $98 including shipping both ways, 3 day turn-around, successful repair, and lifetime warranty - I can't imagine a better deal. I highly recommend these guys. bba-reman.com
Jerry

I post this so that others will know the price they should aim for with 'any' of the detailers is this $100, including shipping baseline.

FYI, BBA only runs the $99 special on eBay. If you call directly, it would be $225.

Originally Posted by tmvE39/E53/Z32

FYI, BBA only runs the $99 special on eBay. If you call directly, it would be $225.

I understand - yet - I suspect if you call them up and specifically ask for the Ebay price, they'd give you the $100 price.
But maybe not; so we'll just have to leave that to the next person who needs the repair (won't be long coming) to let us know if/when that works.

BTW, I'm still going strong on my $105 + shipping one way ATE repair from, oh, about three or four years ago when BBA was three times that price - and - for me - not worth the 3x price at that time.
(Yes, I know ATE is last in customer satisfaction - but they worked fine by me - although they told me by phone they replaced discrete components which I just don't believe.)

Note: Whenever folks send their ABS control modules in for repair, I ask them to call while their unit is on the jig and ask WHAT is being done. So far very few have done so.

This user said BMA has a new E39 ABS control module for $404 today:

Originally Posted by CurtSmall

'00 528i ... I just recieved a new BOSCH module from BMA..$404 if anyone is shopping.

Googling, it looks like "BMA" is bma parts dot com who in a quick google, shows similar prices:

For the record, this is the most often recommended ABS control module rebuilder:
- http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Bosch-5-...0fb31f&vxp=mtr