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2001 E53 wobble

Discuss the problems with your X5 (E53).
AW8
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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by AW8 » Fri Jul 28, 2017 1:51 pm

Hopefully you won't find a problem that causes you to leave it stood until you get new part.
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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by henrym3 » Fri Jul 28, 2017 7:33 pm

I hope so to but it seems so easy  to waste money with these vehicles, having bought 2 wheel sensors (front and rear) recently which 4 different code readers suggested were the problem only to find the ABS module was at fault on both occasions. On another post my lad has just bought a MAF,  not cured the problem, when we do fix it we'll probably find we have a perfectly good spare MAF. Still we've probably spent less than a diagnostics check at a dealer.
E53 X5 4.6is, Carbon Black, LPG, Paddle Shift, Dynavin N6, Lowered, 22"Wheels, Side Bars. Perfusion Exhaust
E30 M3 Black, S50B32 Engine, 6 Speed Box, Ireland Engineering ARBs & Big Brake Conversion, Lowered, 18"LMs, CF CAI, CF Splitter & Barge Board, ZM3 Quad Exhaust.
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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by Horizon » Fri Jul 28, 2017 9:07 pm

Grrrr. I have noticed that I have a wobble under normal driving at 45/50 mph. I can smell hot brakes too, as well as the OSF wheelhub is getting hot.
It's due for MOT  as it runs out on the 29th of August.
I'm thinking of handing the job over to my indie, hopefully this will sort the problem.
As this is my first MOT with this car , hopefully not a shocker.
Saying that, I want it to be spot on.
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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by Smeeagain » Sat Jul 29, 2017 3:33 pm

The heat in the discs could be caused by a warped disc not just a stickinv calliper. I had this shotly after Eibach discs were fitted. I used a website called skimmydisc to find a local dealer whi can skim the discs while they are still on the car - interesting bit of kit. Cost about £30. But ...... the problem went away instantly then came back after a few weeks. Skimmed again, went away, came back. In actual fact the discs have now been skimmed for a third time and all has been fine for a good six months or so
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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by X5Sport » Sat Jul 29, 2017 4:13 pm

But why are the discs warping?  Are you a 'demon' late-braker (no offence intended) and keep your foot firmly on the brakes once stopped (rather than light pressure)?

A disc should not re-warp once skimmed so the cause must be either overheating due to pads being able to run the disc at a higher temperature, a faulty iron alloy mix that can't cope with normal braking thermal loads, or something such as driving styles - unless it is still a sticky calliper.  I can't think of much else that would do it.

I have only ever had warped discs once (on a Calbra - stop sniggering at the back!) and it was entirely my own fault as I almost missed a junction off a motorway, stood on the anchors and kept my foot hard on when stopped at the roundabout when  released and used next I had a serious vibration.  According to someone who knew about these things, I had 'squished' the ventilated disc!
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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by Horizon » Sat Jul 29, 2017 4:29 pm

Went out for a blast this afternoon, and to see if I could get an mot.
After a run on the motorway I had a MASSIVE wobble when braking and the between 45 /50 mph, also a distinct smell of hot brakes. When the brakes were hot the wobble was there constantly.
Run it into a local MOT place, where they do it while you wait.
He picked up on the sticking calliper whilst the front wheels were jacked up. When I said I was aware the calliper was sticking and had priced a new one and reserved it at ECP ( showed him on my phone ) he was happy.
No advisories. Happy bunny
Last edited by Horizon on Wed Aug 02, 2017 6:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2011 Kia Sorento KX3  2.2D 60 Plate Auto in black ( mine )
BMW E83 X3.  3.0d M Sport, 2008 in black ( now gone )
BMW E93 330i Convertible  Msport  2007.  ( Now sold )
VW Golf 2.0 TDI 140 GT 2010 ( now sold )
Now Sold 55 plate, X5, 3.0 D Sport. Silv

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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by Beenq » Sun Jul 30, 2017 8:27 am

No problem with hijacking the thread , were all talking about the same thing lol , fingers crossed a strip down and caliper rebuild (if it's not too far gone) will sort the issue , can't wait to get stuck into it. I don't love problems but damn I love fixing them  :P

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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by X5-D-Sport » Sun Jul 30, 2017 10:42 pm

Yeah... its amazing how nice the car feels when some thing is fixed by yourself... and feeling the drive improve  afterwards..... not to mention how full the wallet still feels for NOT taking her to the "Stealership" & getting bent over at the till...

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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by Beenq » Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:56 pm

Lol defo sailsbury , still amazes me how much garages in general want to charge and like you say the dealers are even more , I understand everyone needs to make a living but it's as if some like to use certain car manufacturers names to charge higher prices for repairs. The other reason I like to have a go is even if I struggle I know it's done right (sort of)

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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by Smeeagain » Tue Aug 01, 2017 2:06 am

[quote="X5Sport"]
But why are the discs warping?  Are you a 'demon' late-braker (no offence intended) and keep your foot firmly on the brakes once stopped (rather than light pressure)?

A disc should not re-warp once skimmed so the cause must be either overheating due to pads being able to run the disc at a higher temperature, a faulty iron alloy mix that can't cope with normal braking thermal loads, or something such as driving styles - unless it is still a sticky calliper.  I can't think of much else that would do it.

I have only ever had warped discs once (on a Calbra - stop sniggering at the back!) and it was entirely my own fault as I almost missed a junction off a motorway, stood on the anchors and kept my foot hard on when stopped at the roundabout when  released and used next I had a serious vibration.  According to someone who knew about these things, I had 'squished' the ventilated disc!
[/quote]

Nope, I'm a Rospa Gold Advanced Driver  :) and my smooth braking was commended during the Advanced Test. I've no idea why the discs ket warping and equally Ive no idea why they have stopped warping after 3rd skim. no-one can explain it and no-one can give a theory. Well the local tyre centre said that 'these heavy cars can't run with anything other than OEM discs" which I don't buy, and the skimming guy said it was the pads "they're not made of asbestos anymore so can't dissipate the heat properly so it stays in the disc"

Regardless, if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone else

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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by X5Sport » Tue Aug 01, 2017 6:18 pm

If it isn't you and the callipers are fine then all I can think of is the alloy recipe used for the discs.  I don't buy the 'OEM discs only' or 'no asbestos' bits either.  Asbestos was removed years ago and millions of cars have no problems.  Bad batch of discs?  Too 'soft' an alloy?  Could be either or none..... ???
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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by Smeeagain » Tue Aug 01, 2017 11:14 pm

Totally agree and what makes it even more confusing is the discs warped time after time and after the third skimming everything sorted itself out, and without tinkering with anything else, they stopped warping. Weird
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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by IanP » Wed Aug 02, 2017 1:07 pm

Possibly the discs still have residual stresses internally from manufacture, and these have been released after a few heat cycles. Hence you needed to skim them a couple of times. Some motorcycles were notorious for warping OE discs, as the rotors had been stamped from steel rolls and kept trying to revert to shape when heavily used. High quality bike brake rotors are taken from fkat stock and properly heat cycled. I know the car discs are cast but the same idea applies

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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by Beenq » Fri Aug 11, 2017 5:34 pm

Right , sorry for the delay but here's a quick update !! , Stripped both front calipers and everything was good (working as they should ) reassembled everything bled the system through and went for a drive , was exactly the same !!!!!!! , Thought sod it and bought some new disks , hey presto all wobble gone (at the moment) , will post back in a couple of weeks to let you know if this has actually sorted the problem. Had to repair the boot lock in-between all this (spring broke on internals , not a hard job but could have done without lol)

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Re: 2001 E53 wobble

Post by themoog » Fri Aug 11, 2017 5:44 pm

I win.  I said it was the discs weeks ago. I

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