1998 DSE "Vibration" Issue

Hi, any suggestions very welcome....

I have recently purchased a 1998 DSE automatic, clock shows 167,000 but replacement engine from 1998 BMW 325 with 96,000 fitted last month. From 15mph upwards there is a "vibration/wobble" sensation (as if I have a flat tyre) coming through the floor. The faster the vehicle is driven the less the sensation is felt. The vehicle is fitted with 22" Stormer alloys.

The vehicle has been into a local garage where they balanced all the wheels and found the offside front wheel to have a small crack and slight distortion to the inner rim. They replaced the o/s/f wheel with the spare (standard Range Rover wheel/tyre) but this did not improve the situation.

The DSE is going back in tomorrow when they are going to remove the front prop then test drive, if no change they will do the same with the rear prop. A friend has offered me a set of standard Range Rover wheels/tyres to try which will be the next thing to try.

Any ideas what's wrong??

Thanks in advance,

Kenny

I suppose you have checked to see if the wheels have spigots fitted?

Hi, thanks for the reply.

No spigot rings fitted - would not having these give the sensation of having a flat tyre from 15mph up?

Thanks. Kenny

kgeddes said:

Hi, thanks for the reply.

No spigot rings fitted - would not having these give the sensation of having a flat tyre from 15mph up?

Thanks. Kenny

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Spigot rings MUST be fitted or wheel does not run central to hub. Will give an out of balance effect. Get some fitted ASAP.

Thanks wammers, will do.

Do I need any specific spigot rings or will any off eBay do the job?

Thanks again,
Kenny

kgeddes said:

Thanks wammers, will do.

Do I need any specific spigot rings or will any off eBay do the job?

Thanks again,
Kenny

Click to expand...

If they are L322 fitment wheels the rings from Ebay should be ok. You just need rings L322 hub size to P38 hub size.

Thanks again...I'll order a set now!

I'll let you know how it goes.

Kenny

Better idea would be to get a set of sensible wheels made for the P38. It should by rights fail next years "new rules" MOT with non standard wheels not made for the car.

Update....got spigot rings - made no difference. Fitted standard 16" wheels - made no difference. Garage have advised both front bearings very noisy and need replaced. Hopefully will solve problem.

kgeddes said:

Update....got spigot rings - made no difference. Fitted standard 16" wheels - made no difference. Garage have advised both front bearings very noisy and need replaced. Hopefully will solve problem.

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Get them changed as soon as you can then. If they are the cause of what you describe they must be ready for breaking up. There would be considerable play in them if that was the case.

Thanks wammers, parts already ordered. Going into garage early next week - I'll let you know how it goes.....

New front bearings fitted - problem solved.......BUT

now the ABS light is staying on......

Any ideas

sensor not fitted correctly

Thanks jamesmartin, the garage has done some basic re-checks but no joy. They have given me the vehicle back to use, it's braking perfectly. It's going back in next week for more checks. They said quite a lot of 'force' was needed to strip the front hubs for the new bearings. Where should they start? Unfortunately their diagnostic equipment won't "talk" to the P38! Is it best to have a diagnostic test carried out to pinpoint where the problem is? Any input very welcome................

if there just done front wheel bearings and abs light on since its a fair bet that sensors damaged ,unplugged ,or not fitted well (in far enough)

Thanks again jamesmartin. Could it be that the system needs to be re-calibrated to 'talk' to the ABS sensor/s

As James says sensor could be damaged or not fitted properly. Sensor must be pushed in until it touches reluctor rig, it will then be set as driveshaft turns. The required air gap is very small. Or they could have damaged it when they did hub. No calibration needed.

Thanks wammers/james.

When the sensors have been repositioned/replaced, does the ECU error code have to be cleared using Testbook before the ABS light will reset?

Thanks again.

kgeddes said:

Thanks wammers/james.

When the sensors have been repositioned/replaced, does the ECU error code have to be cleared using Testbook before the ABS light will reset?

Thanks again.

Click to expand...

No. ECU does a check on each startup if all is well ABS lamp should go out. Code will just be stored for later deletion.

Thank once again wammers.

On eBay there are replacement ABS sensors varying from £13 to £200+

Is it worth giving the "lower end" ones a try?