BMW ABS Reluctor ring E83 X3 2021

[@KH-us7rq]

One of the best honest and helpful videos out there. Not only informative but greatly entertaining as well. It was like learning channel mated with comedy channel. I felt your pain as anyone who has ever tackled anything of this sort can relate to what you are showing. Loved it. Thanks!

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Thanks for watching. This was a particularly troublesome job, but I feel it’s good to show the tough ones along with the easy ones. Cheers, Steve

[@dalejohnston9390]

Thanks for the delightful video. I could feel your pain about how smoothly everything went for you and I appreciated all the dry humour...I am going to leave this job to my mechanic.

[@nicholascarver8164]

I love this guy. It's like we're hanging out in the driveway teaching me things while he does all the work.

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Aww, thanks

[@timphillips699]

Just wanted to say thanks for putting this video together. I've ordered the replacement reluctor ring and will be doing this repair in part because your video gave me some confidence in what needs to be done.

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Thanks for watching, Tim. Great to hear it’s been of use. I hope your drive shaft is less stuck than mine was.

[@GoingShirtless]

Good stuff. Watching my 3rd video of the day on how to do the same job as I am contemplating doing this my self. The car is almost worth enough to be worth the effort, but if I decide against it at least I have had the pleasure of experiencing the sheer joy an enthusiastic man gets from polishing his shaft :)

[@SteveWardellDIY]

I hope you’re inspired and decide to take on a little shaft polishing of your own. 😂

[@Mrdubomb]

I usually prime and paint the shaft after cleaning all the rust off, by then most times the rust has made the ring too big to fit snug so I will mix up a batch of JB weld and set it on that way. Once dried it wont come off. If your ring is shiny, it has most likely rubbed and ruined the sensor as well. We always replace the staked axle nut as well, they only cost us $5.00.

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Thanks for the insight Mrdubomb. Painting would definitely help prevent it rusting again. There was no issue with rust oversize on this one, so maybe I was lucky. The rings are designed to shrink tight when cool, so shouldn’t need to be held. I’d already changed the sensor and found it had been rubbing, so refitted the new one at the end to check all was okay. The shaft nuts were new too, though I wasn’t clear in the video you can see it’s shiny. I agree it’s best to change these. Thanks for watching. Steve

[@UhuruStar]

Great Video as always, I think I'd rather use boiling water to expand the ring, then rub some washing up liquid on the shaft. Have not tried it yet, but just a thought. then I don't have to deal with any oily smell in the kitchen afterwards. Thank you for a very detailed video. 👌👍

[@aradilaszlo]

Great video mate.

[@GoingShirtless]

One thought I had on this was that in an effort of make it a once in a life time fix one might possibly coat the thing with zinc spray before the ring is fitted and then lightly coat it all with more zinc and possibly a rust preventing paint. The original ring did seem to be coated with a black paint of sorts, so why not replicate and improve?

[@judacabrera6264]

That's an excellent tutorial! I just have one question, my 4x4 light came up on my X3 and when checking the sensors on the front wheels, it doesn't have the abs rings on the front wheels, only the rear, so, these rings should be in the 4?

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Thanks for the positive feedback. I would expect them to be on all four wheels. The sensor is installed on the front of the front hubs on my X3, and the reluctor rings cannot be seen as they are hidden by the hub mounting. Hope this helps.

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Good idea. I assumed the me ring was of stainless steel but may be mistaken.

[@RonaldSmart-d3x]

well done

[@linnwergedahl]

What error-codes did you get on theese? I have an x3 e83 2005 and im struggeling with the 4x4 connect and disconnect periodicly (every 2-30seconds) at the same time the abs and breaklight comes on. Changed the abssensors itself, steeringwheelsensor and the gearpart to the transfercase. I dont get any errors up on the abs.

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Sorry Lin, I don’t recall the codes. You could check for reluctor rings bulging by checking the new sensors. See if any are damaged since you installed them. Sounds like you’ve done other logical things

[@nigelcallow4509]

Hi Steve,many thanks for your informative videos,I've recently purchased an 2005 2.0d x3...it appears I have the prop shaft centre bearing and guibo to replace,have u had to do this on yours,and do you have any tips for the job...many thanks nigel

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Hi Nigel, I replaced the guibo on mine because the slack take up was getting bigger when switching reverse to 1st. It was an easy job removing the covers and dropping the shaft. I recall the exhaust was in the way and best to use a torque wrench on the quibo bolts. It was cracked and perished so needed replacing. Should’ve done the bearing too. Give it a go. Good luck!

[@nigelcallow4509]

Ok thanks for that,do you recall the mileage yours had done when u changed the guibo,and was your prop shaft u joins ok

[@SteveWardellDIY]

@@nigelcallow4509 it was around 99k. I wasn’t focussed on the other joints but didn’t spot, and haven’t had, any other issues. At 110k now

[@Avits]

Fantastic tutorial. Any idea what a job like this should set you back at a mechanic?

[@SteveWardellDIY]

The reluctor ring is inexpensive, so it will be predominantly a labour cost. Assume a day of work, so could be £200 - £300

[@Avits]

@@SteveWardellDIY Thanks pal! Appreciated.

[@Compulike]

Thanks for the vid. What gas did you use to heat the splines. Mine aren’t budging out the hubs on both sides of the car

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Hi David, it was a propane blow torch. Normally used for plumbing jobs. Thanks for watching

[@melbushby5355]

Used a large Gear Puller (7-8 ton?) that I was able to attach to disk/hub. It was in very tight and "popped" when it finally released. Not sure why they are so tight???@@SteveWardellDIY

[@SteveWardellDIY]

@@melbushby5355 Nice!

[@jamieporter580]

I got same BMW as u me abs ring is bent and when I turn right the back left wheel j Lockes up won't come out of 4wd will that make it do that

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Mine was locking up on tight corners too Jamie, before I replaced it. The rear wheel was hopping when trying to reverse around a corner into my driveway. Thanks for watching.

[@jamieporter580]

@@SteveWardellDIY how much did it cost to get fixed mate and is it all fine now after u replaced the ring mate as I got 3 lights up on my dash one 4wd brake and something else was on dash

[@SteveWardellDIY]

@@jamieporter580 the sensor and ring were inexpensive, and yes it's been fine since.

[@jamieporter580]

@@SteveWardellDIY OK mate so if I get the sencer and ring mine will be OK yes ??

[@SteveWardellDIY]

​@@jamieporter580 It's impossible for me to diagnose faults with your car. With the symptoms you describe it may be prudent to replace the tranfer box actuator gear before doing the ABS reluctor and sensor, as this is a much simpler job and the defect can have similar symptoms.

[@bigdeal87]

why hot oil ? water should do the same right ?

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Water would boil at 100 degrees. Oil gets much hotter before changing state, causing greater expansion to the ring. Thanks for watching.

[@y.d.8117]

Hello would you share the part number

[@SteveWardellDIY]

Probably best you look it up on RealOEM for your car, just in case it’s different.

[@damojan]

@@SteveWardellDIY the reluctor ring does not show up on RealOEM. It only lists the entire axle assembly