Thread: All p38 owners up to mid 1999 please read.

Hi Russell, thanks for the heads up on this problem. I can't say I've heard of a total brake failure before but we don't see a great deal of older cars through the dealership.

I hadn't either until 5 in three months, but with what I currently know alot of systoms go unchecked for while.

This is a serious materials/design fault. Is this likely to come under a recall fix?

This is a serious materials/design fault. Is this likely to come under a recall fix?

Both companies believe it's ware and tare

Originally Posted by HSE30

Hello gents,

Recently I had a vehicle bought to me with no brakes!!I removed the brake modulator and started to strip the unit down. What I found was quite scary. An internal component made of plastic had failed, this rendered the car with zero brakes. I have been told by LR and Wabco that no parts are available and the units are unserviceable. This is rubbish!!!!!I have a Range Rover Dianostic business equiped with faultmate MV system(thanks Hardy)and have engineered stainless steel components to replace the plastic parts. A new modulator is around $6000.00aus plus fitting and more than likely an ABS pump at $2500.00aus. I was quoted $9500.00aus by LR to complete the above.
As we all know many older P38's can now be purchased for 12 to $15000.00. Spending $10000.00aus to fix your brake problem would for most be out of the question.
I have now fixed 5 of these problems in the past 3 months, all had th exact same internal failure. If your pedal feels at all strange or you have had intermittent warning lights please do something about it. The 5 that I have fixed all by luck avoided an accident. I believe that age is the contributing factor not klm's. All the cars have been 95/96 HSE's with varied klm's.A second hand unit is only a short term fix as they also have the same plastic component up to mid 99 when all the BMW bosch changes happened.
If you would like to discuss this with me please e-mail me at rx007.car@bigpond.com

Regards
Russell Botha

Quick update
I now have a BMR Kit to post out to all who are concerned or have experienced any symptoms which are out of the ordinary. I'm offering these kits cost effectively to the P38 comunity to help out with this problem. This is not a profit minded product. It's the result of finding way to many of these faulty modulators world wide with the same failure. The expense of a new replacement being crazy given the price of early P38's.

The kit includes a 25 page 50 photo instruction manual, replacement S/S locating washers and 7 o'ring seals.

We are all wondering how a high price vehicle can drop from $135,000 to $10,000 and less in twelve years. These sorts of failures are the reason. This has been my major reason for finding a cheap fix that all can do with some reasonable ablity. I do offer tech help for those who need it.

Regards Russell.

Ran Into the wabco service tech while picking up some parts ,even he cannot get parts . Land rover has it sown up with wabco over seas he gets at least three calls a week for d 2 modulator parts . this in its self tells me at this point in time that they were building faulty parts and shipping them out Knowing full well they wouldn't go the distance.

Originally Posted by sadbenn

Ran Into the wabco service tech while picking up some parts ,even he cannot get parts . Land rover has it sown up with wabco over seas he gets at least three calls a week for d 2 modulator parts . this in its self tells me at this point in time that they were building faulty parts and shipping them out Knowing full well they wouldn't go the distance.

I found the same response when I asked, thats why I have developed a repair kit. My kit updates the older modulators to the newer spec which has replaced the plastic components with stainless steel.

Regards Russell.

Gday Russell,
We are currently looking at buying a 98 HSE, If we do come across this problem, how much is the kit and what is the availablilty? My father in law is also buying a 98 HSE. Would it be advisable to do the upgrade anyway in your opinion?
Shano