Hi everyone,
I'm sure this has been brought up before but I couldn't find it, so here goes it:
A few months ago, a video on youtube suggested that the ABS module (more specifically the electronics of it) over time may get damaged by the heat emanating from the exhaust, makes perfect sense actually, sometimes I can't even touch it. Anyways so this was my simple (and relatively cheap) solution to it:
I bought a glass-fibre heat blanket off a notorious website for around 20 Euros (1m x 50cm left me plenty of room for error), I then measured the area I'd need to cover (more details below), cut it up and closed off the edges using aluminium tape (aka High-speed tape). The high speed tape prevents the fibreglass cloth behind the shield itself from unravelling and stiffens the edges a bit, keeps everything tidy. I then placed the blanket and secured it.
I know most E39s by now would've gone through an ABS module, but I guess it doesn't hurt putting out here for whoever wants to spare themselves the risk. Any thoughts? Feel free to copy my idea.
PS: These are the guidelines I laid out for myself to maximise its effectiveness: As you can see it's not completely closed off for a few good reasons. First of all, I don't know whether the brake hydraulics produce any heat of their own, so I've made the shield itself a bit longer on the rear end of it and then left a small gap open whilst tucking the lower edge behind the aircon hose. That way heat coming upwards from the exhaust goes around the heatshield but whilst moving forward (or fan goes on), air from around the ABS can escape backwards (and away from the cabin air duct). The forward edge of the shield goes only partially around it, the rest of it is open so air can flow freely in. I've placed it so that the upper edge actually presses against the bonnet lid (hood for our friends across the pond). This helps prevent heat coming around the top but I don't think it really is that important. most important reason it doesn't wrap around the front end of it, is because should it come loose, it might get caught in the aircon drive belt below it. Sorry the pics are upside down.
I'm sure this has been brought up before but I couldn't find it, so here goes it:
A few months ago, a video on youtube suggested that the ABS module (more specifically the electronics of it) over time may get damaged by the heat emanating from the exhaust, makes perfect sense actually, sometimes I can't even touch it. Anyways so this was my simple (and relatively cheap) solution to it:
I bought a glass-fibre heat blanket off a notorious website for around 20 Euros (1m x 50cm left me plenty of room for error), I then measured the area I'd need to cover (more details below), cut it up and closed off the edges using aluminium tape (aka High-speed tape). The high speed tape prevents the fibreglass cloth behind the shield itself from unravelling and stiffens the edges a bit, keeps everything tidy. I then placed the blanket and secured it.
I know most E39s by now would've gone through an ABS module, but I guess it doesn't hurt putting out here for whoever wants to spare themselves the risk. Any thoughts? Feel free to copy my idea.
PS: These are the guidelines I laid out for myself to maximise its effectiveness: As you can see it's not completely closed off for a few good reasons. First of all, I don't know whether the brake hydraulics produce any heat of their own, so I've made the shield itself a bit longer on the rear end of it and then left a small gap open whilst tucking the lower edge behind the aircon hose. That way heat coming upwards from the exhaust goes around the heatshield but whilst moving forward (or fan goes on), air from around the ABS can escape backwards (and away from the cabin air duct). The forward edge of the shield goes only partially around it, the rest of it is open so air can flow freely in. I've placed it so that the upper edge actually presses against the bonnet lid (hood for our friends across the pond). This helps prevent heat coming around the top but I don't think it really is that important. most important reason it doesn't wrap around the front end of it, is because should it come loose, it might get caught in the aircon drive belt below it. Sorry the pics are upside down.
