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I didnt bother with mine as the ABS didnt work on the donor anymore anyway.
Other than the piping and wiring being more complex I dont see any reason not to fit it. Personally I quite like ABS and it still lets you steer while breaking even if your not the worlds best driver - especially in the wet.
What I've done with the original loom is isolate the different systems and later I will try to retro fit some of them to the Marlin, on top top of the loom that they supply. Things like the wash/wipe/delay system etc. Although there aren't much of the original systems that are going to be needed. Don't think I'm going to need central locking for instance, but the trip computer would be nice as a gadget.
What I've done with the original loom is isolate the different systems and later I will try to retro fit some of them to the Marlin, on top top of the loom that they supply. Things like the wash/wipe/delay system etc. Although there aren't much of the original systems that are going to be needed. Don't think I'm going to need central locking for instance, but the trip computer would be nice as a gadget.
I know what you mean, my donor didnt come with an OBC but I would quite like to fit one
My view is don't fit it! The wiring and plumbing is pretty complex, plus you will have to get it through the SVA - which is difficult enough as it is.
Also you have to bear in mind the age of the ABS - the older BMW ones frequently don't work and the car owner just removes the failure bulb from the dash so it doesn't fail the MOT!
As I'm using an E36 as the base and the fact that the ABS worked on the vehicle, I think that I will have a go and fit it.
I've isolated all the wiring and can retro-fit that fairly simply.
The only problem I have is that there is a potentiometer fitted the original servo to measure the pedal travel. This will have to be fitted to the pedal linkage somehow.
Worst case is that I can't get it to work and that the car will have to be re-plumbed if it doesn't work.
im fitting it to my phantom using the donor cars components, dont know if it will work yet, but another chap doing very similar has managed to get his working and through the SVA with no problems.
The problem you will have is if you go to SVA with it not working then they will fail you, and youll have to replumb the brake lines
the plumbing really isnt very complicated, you have a seperate line for each wheel back to the abs pump then 2 lines from the pump to the master cylinder, no more joints than youd have on a normal system really, as you dont have any T pieces in this system.
Wiring for it isnt that complicated either, power, ignition feed, alternator feed and brake light signal, then it just has a feed to a warning light on the dash.
Probably the hardest part is the machining for the mounts for the wheel speed sensors, there is a very tight tolerance between the sensor and the toothed wheel on the hub.