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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12-January-2005 at 15:10

Originally posted by studyolic studyolic wrote:

When I've had a worn wheel bearing it's made a sort of moaning noise
when taking a bend at speed, but only in one direction, ie if it moaned
through a left hander it was one of the right -side bearings.

Thia is probably way off, but I wondered if the difference in vibration on
different surfaces could be due to resonance in a tyre if it was
significantly over/under inflated? Just a guess.

I'm gonna try the tyre/wheel test tomorrow with a different set of wheels/tyres.  New cat also going in tomorrow with throttle cable also (un related).

Got wheels balanced again today....no difference.

Got alignemnt done and it was way off when it was supposed to be done recently in another place.

Another thing that popped into my head was I hit a speed ramp at about 35mph around same time or just after pothole. Local council put one in the estate in a badly lit area with no markings and I hit it late at night comeing home from work when it wasn't there when I left.  Could have done in the front shocks.  Ok, so indy gonna replace cat tomorrow, check out my shocks and engine mounts .... if he can't see anyting, it's off to the dealer in the afternoon.

The vibration at low speeds seems to be coming thro the pedals and gets very bad on rough road surfaces.  It can be felt easily at 20mph so its not an imbalance and 45mph in 4th gear about 2,000rpm seems to be the worst.  Right leg about to fall off...its that bad now.

Tom
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-January-2005 at 14:08
 

Car was dropped back to me last night by the indy after the new cat & throttle cable were installed.

What a difference the new cable made…!!!

Took the car for a short drive last night and it appears the vibration has gone down quite a bit and the cat is much quieter.  However, this morning when I started it from cold, it sounded like a tractor and the exhaust was about to fall off.  Checked underneath and everything looked ok, and after about 2 mins and 100yds down the road the noise disappeared.  Whatever it was, it went away when it heated up a little.  Started it up again there earlier and same story again.  Something loose on cold….needs to go back for a quick inspection on the ramp on Monday and a good drive then to see if any improvement has been made in the vibration department.

Tom
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20-January-2005 at 11:20
Any more progress Tom?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21-January-2005 at 08:14

Originally posted by brybusa brybusa wrote:

Any more progress Tom?

I got a 2nd opinion this morning.  Also thinks I'm over reacting but it's there.  OK, what we found was...my cat is still not centered down the middle of the underneath of the car so it is slightly rubbing off the heat shield.  Until I get this rectified, there is no point looking around for another vibration.  However, we found that the back box when it was shaked, had rattles in it where the baffles are breaking down.  2nd opinion reckons the baffles hopping around in there at about 2,500 rpm could contribute to a vibration from revving.

Also, jacked up all 4 corners separately and rotated the tyres by hand.  Noticed 3 out of 4 of them had slight flat spots on them about 1-2mm.  It was suggested to me to replace all 4 of them before taking it any further as he checked out every suspension component and they all were sound.

I think my next step is to get the back box replaced, the cat straightened and centred at the same time and take it from there. 

As for tyres....any recommendations as to what people use?

I bought 2 tyres for the other car yesterday in Northern Ireland while I was up there (205/60/16) for £59 each (€87). Dunlop SP Sport 2000.  Closest price on eiretyres for similar tyre was €115 and then it will cost you an extra €10 to fit.

I'm thinking of next time I am up in Derry (April), I'll get the 4 tyres up there then and save a packet...

Cheapest from Eiretyres for Dunlop SP 9000 is €140 each and SP 2000 is €205 each.

I think I got a quote for SP 8000's at €130 each inc. fitting.



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21-January-2005 at 10:54

Tom you have these wheels don't you?

Well most of the other E39's I have noticed with these rims have Continental Eco Contact CP. I'm not sure of the exact size as I only have the 15" rims.  I prefer the 16" wheels fitted on the other SE

I have Continental Eco Contact CP on the front a pair of different poor quality, unknown manufacturer (to me) non matching tyres on the rear (Garage I bought it from screwed me on the tyres!) but I will put back on 4 no. 225/65 R15 V Continental Eco Contact CP when I can afford to do so.

I believe the OEM tyres for your car and mine are Continental Eco Contact CP .

Hope this helps.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21-January-2005 at 14:54
Andrew, ya I have those wheels.  I believe they are called Style 33.  I thought the OEM tyres were Dunlop SP Sport 2000, maybe thats for the cars with the M setup?  Thanks for the info on the Conti's.  I think I have them on the back, but I have Firestone directionals on the front and they are not in great shapes.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2005 at 08:09

OK, finally found someone who knew what they were talking about.

Front upper control arms & bushes and front left lower control arm are to be replaced.  Totally shot.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2005 at 08:30

Toxic,

I have had the front lower control arms and bushes replaced and it was better. I  have been asking on forums if they had upper ones and I guess you have answered that! How much are you being charged? I will have mine done too ..

Philip
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2005 at 08:39
Originally posted by Phillip Phillip wrote:

Toxic,

I have had the front lower control arms and bushes replaced and it was better. I  have been asking on forums if they had upper ones and I guess you have answered that! How much are you being charged? I will have mine done too ..

Philip,

Part #4 is the upper arm and #5 is the bush.  Cost for these I'm told for febi parts is about €150 for each side. Part #11 is the lower arm.  Comes complete with bush.  I had the front right replaced about 2 months back but it wasn't a new arm but a god one for €45 but I think again they are about €150 each.  Probably looking at about 2 hrs labor per corner.

Tom



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2005 at 08:55

Originally posted by Toxic Toxic wrote:

As for tyres....any recommendations as to what people use?

Tom

I replaced mine a few months ago and got Pirelli P7's.  Not overly impressed.  Seems like the consumption has dropped off by about 1.5 mpg and they don't feel quite as communicative.  Having said that, I can't be sure that tracking isn't contributing to the problem a bit.

I had the Conti's before these and they felt better.  Goodyear Eagles seem to be recommended here by many as well.

TJ pointed me to Rathcormac Tyres (025) 36301, near Fermoy and their prices were excellent.  Couldn't beat them with Dave McCann or Eiretyres (the other outfits recommended this side of the pond).

I missed out on some of this thread earlier.  My cat is has been on the way out and last week started to sound like a tin of marbles so I'll need to get that done.  Did you get the bits for that yourself or did your service guy?  What sort of cost did that come to.  I'm hoping its not going to be as eye watering as KBannon's!

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2005 at 09:06
Originally posted by Dergside Dergside wrote:

Originally posted by Toxic Toxic wrote:

As for tyres....any recommendations as to what people use?

Tom

I replaced mine a few months ago and got Pirelli P7's.  Not overly impressed.  Seems like the consumption has dropped off by about 1.5 mpg and they don't feel quite as communicative.  Having said that, I can't be sure that tracking isn't contributing to the problem a bit.

I had the Conti's before these and they felt better.  Goodyear Eagles seem to be recommended here by many as well.

TJ pointed me to Rathcormac Tyres (025) 36301, near Fermoy and their prices were excellent.  Couldn't beat them with Dave McCann or Eiretyres (the other outfits recommended this side of the pond).

I missed out on some of this thread earlier.  My cat is has been on the way out and last week started to sound like a tin of marbles so I'll need to get that done.  Did you get the bits for that yourself or did your service guy?  What sort of cost did that come to.  I'm hoping its not going to be as eye watering as KBannon's!

I got a price up North last time for about €130 each inc. fitting for Dunlop Sport 8000's.  I'm not sure if that can be beaten down here.  I know the place in Rathcormac, I pass by every time going to Cork.

I'm going to Cork in April and also the North so I'll compare the 2 prices.

I got the cat from GSF with the sleeve and gaskets at just under €400.  Got a local mechanic to fit it but it wasn't fitted 100% straight and needs a minor adjustment.  Just make sure it's the cat before you go shelling out the yoyo's.  My back box is a bit 'marbly' also...grab the tail pipe and give it a shake and see if the marbles can be heard in there.  It could be that and would save you €200.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2005 at 10:02

Thanks Tom.  Its almost certainly the cat.  I had John Roche check it out for me after it started to rattle when he did some track control arms for me a few months ago, hoping it might just be the regular exhaust.  But no such luck.  In the last week or so its suddenly gotten worse.  It gets a little better when the car warms up.  You mentioned in a post about something happening at 2k revs.  Since I got this one at exactly 2k revs on the clock I got a very slight roughness that disappeared at about 2100 rev.  Now, there is a great rattle at the exact same point, so I'm guessing the two are linked.  In the beginning I was paranoid that it might be nikasil related!

€130 a pop, fitted and balanced, was what I paid for the P7's.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2005 at 10:06

I am now booked in on Tuesday for upper control arm bushes. £151.26 inc VAT. Don't know whether this is expensive but hey, already wasted about 1k on changing things that don't need it so who cares.

Will let you know on tuesday.

Phillip

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2005 at 10:33
Originally posted by Phillip Phillip wrote:

I am now booked in on Tuesday for upper control arm bushes. £151.26 inc VAT. Don't know whether this is expensive but hey, already wasted about 1k on changing things that don't need it so who cares.

Will let you know on tuesday.

Phillip

Philip, is that price just for the bushes or bushes & labor?

I got a price from OTTO in Ranelagh this afternoon for the Upper arms & bushes only at €103.57+VAT.  I'm going to replace the arm as well as the bushes, since the arm has to come out anyway and the ball joint on the arm has to be popped out at the hub carrier.  This could cause the ball joint to weaken prematurely and you could be back down the same road in 6mths time.

Originally posted by Dergside Dergside wrote:

Thanks Tom.  Its almost certainly the cat.  I had John Roche check it out for me after it started to rattle when he did some track control arms for me a few months ago, hoping it might just be the regular exhaust.  But no such luck.  In the last week or so its suddenly gotten worse.  It gets a little better when the car warms up.  You mentioned in a post about something happening at 2k revs.  Since I got this one at exactly 2k revs on the clock I got a very slight roughness that disappeared at about 2100 rev.  Now, there is a great rattle at the exact same point, so I'm guessing the two are linked.  In the beginning I was paranoid that it might be nikasil related!

Paranoia is rife with me also.   Most places I've brought the car said it was all in my head......."I've driven worse than this..." and "it's only a very small vibration...you wouldn't even notice it".

I'm not really too bothered whether they've driven worse, fact is, my car has driven better and I want it back that way.  I'd say the roughness you talk about could be the cat, replacing mine made it better, but since the back box is also goosed, it's not completely gone.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2005 at 10:40
"Quote"  Paranoia is rife with me also.   Most places I've brought the car said it was all in my head......."I've driven worse than this..." and "it's only a very small vibration...you wouldn't even notice it".

I'm not really too bothered whether they've driven worse, fact is, my car has driven better and I want it back that way. "Quote"

Toxic the cost was for the whole job, inc. labour. And you rae completely right. I don't care if there are worse about..I want my car back the way it was too.

Phillip

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2005 at 10:43
Originally posted by Phillip Phillip wrote:

"Quote"  Paranoia is rife with me also.   Most places I've brought the car said it was all in my head......."I've driven worse than this..." and "it's only a very small vibration...you wouldn't even notice it".

I'm not really too bothered whether they've driven worse, fact is, my car has driven better and I want it back that way. "Quote"

Toxic the cost was for the whole job, inc. labour. And you rae completely right. I don't care if there are worse about..I want my car back the way it was too.

Phillip

Phillip, sorry didn't realise you were across the pond and the price was in £.

I take it you're going to a dealer?

 

OTTO also told me that the original parts are made by LEMFORDER.  I thought and so did joe318is think it was Febi.  Need to jack up and check was stamped on teh arms before I buy.



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2005 at 10:51

Its an independant. Two hours labour at £30 per hour and the rest the parts. Hope I am not being ripped off but he is a good guy and been doing german cars for 20 years.If I had a FBMWSH i would go to BM but I don't.And  I am about as handy with spanners myself as a fish.

 

 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-January-2005 at 14:59
Originally posted by Phillip Phillip wrote:

Its an independant. Two hours labour at £30 per hour and the rest the parts. Hope I am not being ripped off but he is a good guy and been doing german cars for 20 years.If I had a FBMWSH i would go to BM but I don't.And  I am about as handy with spanners myself as a fish.

 

 

The bushes should only cost about £40 for a pair unless he is getting them from the main dealer, but if you can find a febi agent motor factors, try and pick them up yourself.  The febi part number for the pair of bushes is 09005, assuming you have a 6 cylinder.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01-February-2005 at 03:47

Hi Toxic,

Just dropped my car off and asked for a proper breakdown of the quote...£19.50 each side for the bushes and £45 per side labour. I got confused as I thought he was chrging me £30 per side labour...but he is £30 an hour and he said the job takes 1.5hrs ish. He has only done one before on an e39 and thats how long it took but he will charge less if it is quicker. So not too bad I think...like i said if it fixes it I don't really care how much.I will let you know tonight.. 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02-February-2005 at 14:47

Well I have the car back and its a little better but its all still there

So I went to see a new one today and just called them back to say I am taking it!!! Provided no-one else buys it between now and 7.30 tomorrow night (the first time I can get there) I will be collecting a 1999 silver 528 SEA with leather and car kit, front lip spoiler, brand new 18 inch wheels and brand new tyres with a full history, just had an inspection 2 at Synters. Lets hope I get from work tomorrow in time. Its all subject to a test drive..didnt have time today. So how different will it be from a 520???



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