ABS ??

Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:57 pm

I have brought a 325se for spares its to far gone to save but has full ABS system is this a worthwhile upgrade to retro fit to my 320i i am fitting the rest of the braking system and running gear, i know the benefits of ABS but hassle vs improvement is it worth it

Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:25 pm

I believe the wiring loom is the most difficult part, as some of it is tied into the main loom.

If you were doing a full strip down of the car (loom out) then yes, it would be worthwhile, but I wouldn't bother personally.

Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:52 pm

If thats the case that idea belongs on the shelf along with all the parts, would you know if the fitting of the rest of the brakes is gonna cause problems ie sensor holes etc and will my 320 master cylinder cope

Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:19 am

The ABS loom should be seperate and cause no serious problems. Depending on the age of the ABS system, you may have to arrange a power feed for it.
On some cars (including the one I've been working on today) the looms/tubes down the LH inner wing have all been bound together neatly with tape, probably by the original supplying dealer, but this can just be stripped off to leave the original looms.

Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:42 am

Ok i'll take a good look at the looms under the bonnet, inside the car they look like an extra loom but there is a big mess of wires at the bulkhead that are gonna take some untangling. but will it be a worthwhile project or alot of effort for little return. The ABS comes from a 1988 325ise

Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:02 pm

Don't forget that you'll need the front suspension legs and the rear trailing arms/driveshafts from the ABS eqipped car.

Non-ABS front legs and trailing arms are not drilled for the sensors.

Cheers,

Iain T

Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:10 pm

If he has a 320 saloon, then I was assuming that all the suspension/brakes were going to be swapped over anyway!

Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:16 pm

Your assumption bang on all suspension and brakes being swapped over no matter what just wanted to know if The ABS was a good swap

Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:19 pm

shaprid wrote:Your assumption bang on all suspension and brakes being swapped over no matter what just wanted to know if The ABS was a good swap

I'd certainly swap it in. Of the two E30s I drive on a daily basis, one has ABS and the other doesn't, and I know which stops quickest in the real world.