[rayc]

I've bought a 1998 2.5 DSE with 206k miles on the clock from that auction site!

Collected it today. Last owner 5 yrs and used! Nice spec though. Harmon Kardon, Cruise control, electric seats etc.

When I got it home the oil wasn't registering on the dipstick (Engine) was told it was checked when I collected it.

The power steering fluid was low.

The drive was, to say the least, sluggish.

Some questions if you dont mind.

1st Pickup was very slow in that gearchange didn't happen to 3000 rpm. Gearbox was serviced but I'm thinking dirty filter.

2nd. Really poor starting from cold or hot. Owner thinks its fuel drain back as he changed glow plugs 2 yrs ago (Bosch). I'm thinking glow plugs are shot.

3rd. When driving the engine (throttle) suddenly died. I pulled into a layby and the engine was still running. Blipped throttle and it was fine. Drove home 80 miles no issues. When starting (Eventually) if the throttle is blippped the first time there is a flat spot. After that it seems ok. (EGR? If so can it be cleaned?)

4th. After topping up with approx 4 litres of oil and letting it tick over I noticed a sort of scraping / ticking from the front of the engine. I'm thinking poss timing chain / tensioner. Are these easy to adjust / change? (BMW 2.5 TD Lump)
Also I think the injectors are either dirty or worn. I'll try injector cleaner first. Then look into why she's using oil (I thinking breather system?)

Aircon not working. Need to check the compressor as he says it was charged but magnet not pulling in.

Apart from that it drives really well. Needs a good clean inside and out , Bulbs doing in the dash pod and towing scrapes on the rear bumper and 2 dents and scratches on the bonnet.

It's Rioja red to match my 4.6!

Finally. If I want to add front fogs. Is the wiring already in place?

Cheers everyone

Ray :thumb:

 

[munichp38a]

Although I know nearly nothing about the diesel, I can tell you it won't be that easy to add fogs to an automatic diesel...

The location where the gearbox cooler sits on the petrol models is occupied by the intercooler on the diesel models, so the auto box cooler was relocated to the front left fog light's place (there should be some sort of grille instead of the fog light).

There are some conversions with aftermarket oil coolers elsewhere, but I don't know if it's worth the hassle.
But then, you're in Great Britain :lol: .

Sigi

 

[wills]

The drive was, to say the least, sluggish.

Some questions if you dont mind.

1st Pickup was very slow in that gearchange didn't happen to 3000 rpm. Gearbox was serviced but I'm thinking dirty filter.

2nd. Really poor starting from cold or hot. Owner thinks its fuel drain back as he changed glow plugs 2 yrs ago (Bosch). I'm thinking glow plugs are shot.

3rd. When driving the engine (throttle) suddenly died. I pulled into a layby and the engine was still running. Blipped throttle and it was fine. Drove home 80 miles no issues. When starting (Eventually) if the throttle is blippped the first time there is a flat spot. After that it seems ok. (EGR? If so can it be cleaned?)

4th. After topping up with approx 4 litres of oil and letting it tick over I noticed a sort of scraping / ticking from the front of the engine. I'm thinking poss timing chain / tensioner. Are these easy to adjust / change? (BMW 2.5 TD Lump)
Also I think the injectors are either dirty or worn. I'll try injector cleaner first. Then look into why she's using oil (I thinking breather system?)

Aircon not working. Need to check the compressor as he says it was charged but magnet not pulling in.

good choice on the diesel :thumb: First thing I will tell you is that that compared to your 4.6 the drive will definitely appear more sluggish!

With regards to the issues you have...

1) How were you driving it, foot flat to the floor or what?? The diesel can move along quite quickly but you need to get used to having a bit of a heavy foot to get it moving. Changing up at 3,000rpm doesn't sound all that wrong to me if the engine was cold and/or you were giving it some welly. If it was like that all the way back then a fluid change may be a good idea.

2) Change the leak off pipes between each injector and the one back to the fuel injection pump. Don't go buying any hot start sort of fix until you have tried this. Get some new glow plugs in as well(not cheapo ones from eBay!). Cured my poor starting instantly.

3) The 1998 P38's didn't have EGR, it was introduced from 99 onwards I believe. My 98 DSE certainly doesn't have it. You can tell by looking at the engine. If the inlet manifold is grey/silvery then you don't have it. If it's black then you do. When the throttle died did you happen to notice whether the injector light came on at all?? Might be a good idea to get it plugged in and any error codes read.

4) The chain tensioner is automatic so shouldn't need adjusting. Can you pinpoint more precisely where the sound is coming from??

The breather system on the diesel allows oil out from the top of the camshaft cover and into the air intake s it will be normal to find the air intake hoses and turbo hoses coated in oil before you spot that and panic.

Personally I would get a full service done on it ASAP.

Let us know how you get on!

-Will

 

[rayc]

Hui Will,
Thanks for the info.

It is the Silver topped engine so that sounds good re EGR.

The injector sign came up and then went out again when it "died". I'll get the codes read at a local specialist.

I dont "boot" any of my cars I just thought it strange that it took so long to change.

Glow plugs on order from LandRover so I'll do them ASAP.

I'll run it for a few days and then give it a full going over I reckon.

A thorough clean is also on the agenda!

Thanks for the info. I'll keep you updated! :thumb:

 

[rayc]

I have just been informed this engine is the one with the EGR valve.

The inlet manifold is black (I was looking at rocker cover doh! )

The next stage will be to get the car checked to ensure the EGR is working.

I'm pretty sure the ticking / scraping noise is coming from the vac pump on the front of the engine.

Put a screwdriver on it and it's noisy. Put on the engine behind it and no noises.

Been told it's about £200 so I'll check a breakers.

Anyone changed glow plugs on one of these engines? It doesn't look easy. I'm assuming the inlet manifold needs to be removed to do the job. :shock:

 

[waveydavey]

The inlet manifold is quite easy to get off, just a bit fiddly, I did it as I had to change No. 4 injector (that one has a position transmitter on it).

I clipped the pipe form the vacuum control unit to the EGR (with a freezer bag tie) the control still thinks its working but I don't put junk into the engine.

As for the fog lights I had them when I brought it; they physically fit OK but I took them out rather than go through the enormous aggro of wiring them up. Mind you I shipped mine to SA where fog is rare but the cooling through the grille i valuable.

 

[john-sussex]

If its a Auto you can not fit Fog lights as they block the air flow to the gearbox cooler. Or move the gearbox oil cooler

 

[offroadbaz]

After topping up with approx 4 litres of oil

Thats hardly a top-up!! Whatever sort of fool owned it beforehand !

Anyone changed glow plugs on one of these engines? It doesn't look easy. I'm assuming the inlet manifold needs to be removed to do the job.

Ive done it without removing the inlet, you will need an array of various 3/8 or 1/4 drive extensions and some blue-tac to hold the nut in the socket so that it doesnt fall into the midsts of the engine bay....

 

[waveydavey]

If its a Auto you can not fit Fog lights as they block the air flow to the gearbox cooler. Or move the gearbox oil cooler

You can actually: as I said when I brought mine it had the fog lights in place, they fit OK and I never had a temperature problem with the gearbox in the UK climate.
I only took then out as the wiring was too much to be worth it considering you don't really get fog in Cape Town.

 

[rayc]

I was told there is a set of foglights available for diesels. The n/s having a cut out for airflow?

I'm going to sort mechanical issues first.

I tried to pull away a bit quick the other day (Gap in traffic) and the car would hardly move. There's slow and there's snail!

I found it minus an air filter so maf was filthy. Cleaned that but no difference.

Lots of unburnt diesel smell coming from tailpipes. I've put injector cleaner in the tank to see if that helps. If not I'll get them serviced.

I reckon a snail would have out paced me Once it's rolling it's fine.

I feel a trip to a code reader coming on! :crybaby2:

 

[Chas]

I was told there is a set of foglights available for diesels. The n/s having a cut out for airflow?

Yes, JE Engineering in Coventry.
Quality company with prices to match.
http://www.jeengineering.co.uk/

As a matter of interest, when it's slow off the mark, does the engine speed up but the car not move much, or is it that the engine just doesn't seem to respond? Can you tell if the gearbox is changing down at all?
What happens if you have the vehicle rolling at 5 mph, then floor the throttle, is the response noticeable different to a full throttle start from stationary?

Good Luck.

 

[rayc]

Hi Chas,

When I tried to move quickly the engine didn't seem to pick up at all. Once it was moving (approx 10 mph) it got better.

Sometimes it doesn't want to change out of 1st gear. Lift your foot on the accelerator then it picks up.

Wont change up when cold either (possibly same issue with accelerator?)

Also, if you put your foot down from standstill it seems to "die" briefly. Lift up and re apply and it clears itself.

I appreciate it's totally different from the 4.6 I have but I'm sure it should be much better than it is