GM5 Repair Options (other than Scott)

[Thrifty S50]

Lmfao Im glad to hear I wasnt the only one with a similar experience with Scott. He kept adding imaginary symptoms to my car every reply, Id have to correct whatever detail he brought up and it made every email a struggle. After a few exchanges he eventually convinced himself it wasnt the GM5 and he stopped replying lol. I wasnt gonna say anything since hes been around and all but when i saw this i couldnt help but laugh

[AWE46M3]

Scott: a few years ago I was having problems that I thought were GM5 problems. From a brief interaction over email scott says that what I had wasn't a GM5 problem and refused my repair request. Further investigation proved otherwise. Due to my earlier not great interaction with Scott I decided to reach out to him from a burner account and lie about what my problem was so he would agree to work on my GM5. He did, and when I got it back it indeed fixed all of my problems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1xe...nel=TableInnit

😂😂😂 - I considered doing the exact same thing. Glad you got it all sorted out.

At this point, I realize there’s nothing magical to what he’s doing. I bought the relays and will pay someone competent to replace the relays. I’d prefer not to pay him because I don’t reward bad behavior.

[Ramps]

How did you unsolder the bad multi pin relays?

The best way and fastest way for DIY is to use wire cutter and cut the plastic relay in pieces to expose the individual soldered pins, then unsolder each pin. If you try to unsolder the whole relay then there's high chance the process will damage the pcb traces.
Soldering the new relay is not an issue.

I just cut open the housing and cleaned the contacts, and it's been working fine over 4 yrs now.

I used a desoldering gun like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Desoldering-E.../dp/B07B47H44W

I did try one of the cheap solder suckers that are spring loaded but it didn't work well, the powered vacuum works great.

There is a video or two on YouTube showing how to do it. You just have to be careful the pads on the board don’t get damaged.

[Riley]

Parts required (buy on eBay):

FYI you need to be careful buying these relays on ebay as there a lot of sellers selling knock offs.

[AWE46M3]

FYI you need to be careful buying these relays on ebay as there a lot of sellers selling knock offs.

Got any tips for legit checking?

[sapote]

Got any tips for legit checking?

You can buy them from Digikey, Mousers, Newwarks

[sapote]

Cleaning the relay pitted contacts is the same as cleaning the ignition breaker points in older cars. I rarely needed to trash the breaker point unless its brown Delrin heel worn out from riding on the distributor shaft lobes.
It costs nothing and a quick process compared to replacing the relays.

[D-O]

Cleaning the relay pitted contacts is the same as cleaning the ignition breaker points in older cars. I rarely needed to trash the breaker point unless its brown Delrin heel worn out from riding on the distributor shaft lobes.
It costs nothing and a quick process compared to replacing the relays.

Breaker points....I don't miss them.

[sapote]

Breaker points....I don't miss them.

Yeah, they should have use semiconductor relays instead of mechanical relays in the GM5. They used semiconductor relays in the Light Control module, but some reasons not in GM5.

[AWE46M3]

Siemens relay modules arrived today (put this order through before Sapote’s post about alternatives)

The face and model number are stamped. I believe the fake relays have a sticker or overlay of some sorts that is an easy call out.

I’ll post the Tyco ones when I receive them as well so others have a reference to ensure what they received is authentic.

[Shonky]

You can buy them from Digikey, Mousers, Newwarks

You can't buy the exact part number for the relays from well trusted sources like you mention that I found. Only various ebay sellers and the like.

Mouser did have the smaller Tyco ones though from memory. Edit: searching again now Mouser have a listing but obselete and not in stock.

Or do you have a cross reference to suitable matches?

[Riley]

Siemens relay modules arrived today (put this order through before Sapote’s post about alternatives)

The face and model number are stamped. I believe the fake relays have a sticker or overlay of some sorts that is an easy call out.

I’ll post the Tyco ones when I receive them as well so others have a reference to ensure what they received is authentic.

Post pictures of the bottom of the relays. I have been trying to find the post I saw a long time ago that was all on helping identifying fake from real but I haven’t found it yet. I will sit at my computer later today and see if I can dig it up.

Most of the fake relays will look like they were potted on the bottom.

[Riley]

https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/counterfeit-general-module-relays.1161233/

This thread goes into detail of checking date codes for these relays. I have had success buying genuine relays through sellers located in Poland on ebay, you should be doing your due diligence and asking for photos of the actual product you will receive because many sellers will use fake images as well in the main ad.

In the past I have purchased genuine V23084-C2001-A303 relays from ebay seller "sm-poland7"

As far as the V23078-C1002-A303 relays I do not have a verified seller to recommend.

One seller on ebay to stay away from is "joma0818" as their pictures are misleading and you will 100% receive counterfeit relays.

[AWE46M3]

https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/counterfeit-general-module-relays.1161233/

This thread goes into detail of checking date codes for these relays. I have had success buying genuine relays through sellers located in Poland on ebay, you should be doing your due diligence and asking for photos of the actual product you will receive because many sellers will use fake images as well in the main ad.

In the past I have purchased genuine V23084-C2001-A303 relays from ebay seller "sm-poland7"

As far as the V23078-C1002-A303 relays I do not have a verified seller to recommend.

One seller on ebay to stay away from is "joma0818" as their pictures are misleading and you will 100% receive counterfeit relays.

Appreciate the details and pics! I’ll post both relays front and back when the Tyco ones arrive this week. None of the pics in that thread are loading for me (may be dead links). Fortunately, my Siemans check out.

Great info to have consolidated in this thread 🤝

[AWE46M3]

My Tyco relays arrived today. As previously promised, here are front and back pictures of all 6 relays. Let me know what you think Riley

2x Siemens V23078-C1002-A303 – The larger relays that control the front windows:




eBay Merchant:





4x Tyco V23084-C2001-A303 – The smaller relays that control the rear windows and central locking. If you see relays listed like this, they are fake.




eBay Merchant: DO NOT buy from this seller. The relays pictured above are fake.



Correct relays. I ordered from German Audio Techs website directly. They also have an eBay listing (recommend eBay for purchase protection). Please note that their website some state that they stock both 303 and 403. 403 is NOT compatible for our cars. You want to make sure you order the relays with the blue writing, cross hatch pattern on the back side, C2001 - and A303 in the serial #. See Post 40 for more details.

Here are the legit ones: