seanjordan20

Hope that it works but I doubt it. At this point all you are trying to due is prevent from spending money. This has to be the issue? Is there a hole for the heat to escape the compartment? If the new paste does not work you have to find a way to keep it cool. Maybe buy a fan and tap it in for power.

Stranger12

not at all but at cost of £310 for checking the ecu and reparing which could be simply changing the thermal paste , why not try it first . if that fails then either a new used ecu or send unit for repair.

is the white stuff thermal paste ? if so , can I use cpu thermal paste or does it have to be non conductive ?

seanjordan20

Thermal paste does not lay so consistent. It looks like it is a thicker paste

seanjordan20

Where it is located I do not see anything that it is trying to cool

Stranger12

but it is on this side and also other side of the board all over the chipsets and on the metal plate suggesting it is used for heat transfer.

what should I buy to replace it ?

it is located on one side of the board as you see in the pic and also on the other side in 2 places and the metal housing as seems as if they are glued . it seems like it is thermal paste but i am not sure what thermal paste to apply as some can be conductive and causing further issues

twh

What year and model do you have?

seanjordan20

would be good or something similar

Stranger12

2004 530d e60

twh

If it is thermal paste, it will most likely feel like hand lotion or slimy. There are thermal pads that have adhesive on them, so that's not for certain. There are thermal pastes that are conductive and some not. Whatever that is, it has to be non-conductive.

Stranger12

is silicon based non conductive ?
looking at most forums and websites it does seem so .