Urgent - Should I buy a ne turbocharger this evening?

[tim.100]

I've been checking my Land Rover Td5 thoroughly turbo ahead of drive to Berlin in 12 days time.

Radial play on the turbo is visible - I reckon 1-2mm. Generally turbo radial play is supposed to be 0.1mm at most.

It's so bad that by pushing and pulling the shaft one can see the blades moving across the housing.

I can't take the car to a garage until next weekend - so I have to choose whether to order a new turbo now, or risk the Berlin drive in this state.

Turbo: £400+fitting
RAC European breakdown: £130!
Do nothing: £0/a heck of a lot!

Advice welcome. I'd order a brand new turbo from Paddock Spares if I want it for Saturday.

Regards

Tim

 

[NW_Merc]

You could get an exchange turbo, unless you want to fork out full whack for a new unit.

 

[tim.100]

You could get an exchange turbo, unless you want to fork out full whack for a new unit.

I could, but if I buy a new turbo I will sell on the old one (with a caution)

But where to get a decent exchange turbo?

 

[NW_Merc]

There's these guys in blackpool:

Turbo parts, spares & rebuild parts

I'll be using them to give my turbo the once over before I put it in my car.....

If you courier your old unit up to them they will send out another unit like for like. I'd ring them up first though.

 

[NW_Merc]

If they don't have one, then it might be better sticking to your original plan, seeing as you dont have alot of time before you go.

 

[GlenQ]

I could, but if I buy a new turbo I will sell on the old one (with a caution)

But where to get a decent exchange turbo?

I heartily recommend Midland Turbo

Home | Midland Turbo

They did a reconditioned turbo for me for my previous 2005 Range Rover Vogue with a fast turnaround. Give them a call.

BTW

I have no affiliation with the above company, just a satisfied customer.

 

[Dieselman]

Try leaving the engine idling for 5-10 minutes then rev it up. If the turbo is suspect it will pass a lot of oil creating a large blue smoke cloud.

 

[tim.100]

Try leaving the engine idling for 5-10 minutes then rev it up. If the turbo is suspect it will pass a lot of oil creating a large blue smoke cloud.

Thanks Dieselman - The engine is running fine, and there is no blue smoke. But the radial play is really substantial - I can't test it dynamically but everything I have read says that is not necessary.

I bought the car with 70k miles and a less than perfect service history - it now has 95k miles.

 

[jaymanek]

Id get it sorted this week with a few days to test afterwards before you go, it would bug me!

 

[donubenz]

Hi,
Just my two cents,
Even if you take out insurance you still have a worn Turbo that will need changing. Bite the bullet and swap it before you go. Safe trip.
Don

 

[tim.100]

Hi,
Just my two cents,
Even if you take out insurance you still have a worn Turbo that will need changing. Bite the bullet and swap it before you go. Safe trip.
Don

I've bitten the bullet and spend £450 on a new one. No one-else could guarantee the correct one in stock. Booked in for transplant on Saturday. I'll blast the nuts with PlusGas in the interim.

Car that cost £35k new so I expect & budget for high running costs. Shame there's no V12 option on the Discovery - although, just like the CL600, the V8 Disco often upsets people who pay pennies for that model!!!! .

Thanks for all the input, even though was for a Land Rover. My W202 is a 5-clyinder 2500cc Turbodiesel too!