P38_OTMS

Member
Just when I thought that the car was working fine I decided to out to Nurburgring this weekend in it (not to lap it, I have a car out there....)

So about half an hour off the ferry I notice a large amount of smoke coming from the exhaust, even more so when other motorists were flashing me. Pulled into Gent with the oil light on, no boost and a ton of smoke behind me. Diagnosis from myself and @brianp38dse (via phone) is that the turbo has gone. There is a whole load of oil in the intake and all over the engine bay where one of the manifold gaskets has blown out.

Obvious answer is turbo has failed. I found a quiet side street and left the car there and have carried on by taxi, train and rental car.

Now here’s the thing, I haven’t spoken to AA but I suspect that the European breakdown will value the car too low to get it home, but if need be I can get it home by other means, however will cost a small fortune.

I can pick up a turbo from a mate at the ring provided it is exactly the same as a 525tds, but as much of a long shot as this is I wondered if anyone here knew of a friendly workshop that I could make friends with around the Gent area. More than happy to pay for workshop rental and I’ve got all my tools with me.

Just considering options but the power of LandyZone is unrivalled so it’s always worth an ask!

Anyway, as I write this drowning my sorrows at a train station in Brussels, I’m still looking forward to a great weekend at the ‘ring!

A very frustrated but unsurprised P38 owner!
 
To replace the turbo is not that difficult.if you attack it from the exhaust pipe end. sorry cant help with the workshop.
 
To replace the turbo is not that difficult.if you attack it from the exhaust pipe end. sorry cant help with the workshop.

Yea I’m not put off doing it on the side of the road but a workshop wouldn’t make life a whole lot easier. To be honest I’d just undo either end and take 5e manifold with it as that’s gonna need a clean out too.
 
Cant help but if you change turbo take the intercooler to inlet manifold pipe off before you start it otherwise you could get a load of oil out intercooler going into engine and it run away.
 
Totally the wrong side of Brussels to Ghent but Trek 4X4 are based in Landen, Belgium, I used to buy parts and accessories there until I discovered a better priced small indy in Holland to go buying stuff and drinking coffee.

Perhaps you can give them a call and ask for a bit of advice? Bit of a long shot but I lived in Hasselt and didn't spend that much time that side of the country :oops:

Trek 4X4
Roosberg 20
B-3400 Landen
+32 11 784 795

PS don't worry about speaking Flemish, they all speak quite good English and even better English when there is money involved ;)
 
That won’t happen until next year now but I will do one lap in for a laugh at some point. It has been done before, I’ve seen a pic of one on the ring
 
Got to make sure it's not pis sing out oil everywhere before it goes any near the track, for some reason they don't like it:D
Any luck with the replacement turbo. .
 

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