Gallardo pre-lp new owner, modding and other queries

[madmedman]

Dear all,

Starting another thread to speak about my experience and to ask for help modding (tastefully if possible) my 2008 coupe.

I will try to make it short.

First my gripes with the car. (and please excuse me as its my first supercar).

First off, the steering, man I didn't know I needed herculean strength to turn it. Is it supposed to be powered? I am not sure whether I need to investigate it or its the character of the car? Lambo Tunbridge wells is closest to me. Anyone has any experience with them? But should I bleed and change the power steering fluid first? Do you think shedding some weight and converting to RWD help? This conversion, cats and exhaust replacement plus antigravity battery should help shed close to 100kg.

Second, the breaking. The therapeutic index is very narrow. Its a term we use for medication where the dosage range is narrow between the effective dose and the toxic dose. I mean I have very little margin of error from lightly pressing to doing an emergency stop. I hope I am making sense.

Third, pressing the accelerator (and brake pedal), you need to really step on it to start seeing results. There is a big throttle delay. It has to be revved to start moving and I have a brand new oem clutch. But I have already ordered the sprint booster and hope that would fix it.

I am an old grandpa and although i have been driving since I was 13, I still cant reverse properly for the life of me. I need a clear view or I may backup onto a kerb or a person. The car has the RNS-E navigation system but no TV. I am guessing I need a separate AV in module to be able to attach a reversing camera? Is this what I am looking for?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265146476323?

I know carnaviplayer is a good option but that's close to £600 and I have already spent a lot on cats and exhaust.

I have already bought the Larini club sport catalysts and cannot wait to install them myself. I have also brought this exhaust:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234739170643

The design is almost similar to the LOC, LNB. I wanted to go for Kline but man at 3500 its just too far out of my reach.

And I have to get into my garage a couple of times a day just to lay my eyes on her.

[markiii]

first jobs I'd do

Power Steering fluid. Often doesn't get done
Brake Fluid
Check you don't have a vacuum leak on the brake booster (looks like 3 blue tennis balls glued together somewhere in the engine bay)

if the brakes still aren't up to scratch i reccomend Girodisc Discs and there magic (low dust) pads

[m4tti]

madmedman said:

Dear all,

Starting another thread to speak about my experience and to ask for help modding (tastefully if possible) my 2008 coupe.

I will try to make it short.

First my gripes with the car. (and please excuse me as its my first supercar).

First off, the steering, man I didn't know I needed herculean strength to turn it. Is it supposed to be powered? I am not sure whether I need to investigate it or its the character of the car? Lambo Tunbridge wells is closest to me. Anyone has any experience with them? But should I bleed and change the power steering fluid first? Do you think shedding some weight and converting to RWD help? This conversion, cats and exhaust replacement plus antigravity battery should help shed close to 100kg.

Second, the breaking. The therapeutic index is very narrow. Its a term we use for medication where the dosage range is narrow between the effective dose and the toxic dose. I mean I have very little margin of error from lightly pressing to doing an emergency stop. I hope I am making sense.

Third, pressing the accelerator (and brake pedal), you need to really step on it to start seeing results. There is a big throttle delay. It has to be revved to start moving and I have a brand new oem clutch. But I have already ordered the sprint booster and hope that would fix it.

I am an old grandpa and although i have been driving since I was 13, I still cant reverse properly for the life of me. I need a clear view or I may backup onto a kerb or a person. The car has the RNS-E navigation system but no TV. I am guessing I need a separate AV in module to be able to attach a reversing camera? Is this what I am looking for?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265146476323?

I know carnaviplayer is a good option but that's close to £600 and I have already spent a lot on cats and exhaust.

I have already bought the Larini club sport catalysts and cannot wait to install them myself. I have also brought this exhaust:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234739170643

The design is almost similar to the LOC, LNB. I wanted to go for Kline but man at 3500 its just too far out of my reach.

And I have to get into my garage a couple of times a day just to lay my eyes on her.

I wouldn’t mess about with shedding weight, rwd conversions etc. I’d focus on getting the standard car in top notch mechanical condition, in the first instance, and go from there.

Check your tyre pressure first, and make sure they’re not under inflated. If it is genuinely heavier than normal then you may have a leak somewhere. Check the fluid level and if it looks on the low side, start inspecting the rack, peel the rack boots back and look at the unions between the rack and the pump.. and check the pump is actually doing anything.

From memory when ever I have driven one of these it felt like normal car steering

Edited by m4tti on Sunday 17th September 17:51

[markiii]

stock Gallardo pressures are higher at the front than at the back (from memory 35PSI and 32PSI)

first car I've ever found to do that. Be worth checking if yours are the right way around

[madmedman]

markiii said:

first jobs I'd do

Power Steering fluid. Often doesn't get done
Brake Fluid
Check you don't have a vacuum leak on the brake booster (looks like 3 blue tennis balls glued together somewhere in the engine bay)

if the brakes still aren't up to scratch i reccomend Girodisc Discs and there magic (low dust) pads

Just checked the power steering fluid level and the dipstick shows just above the max. I guess that's ok? I will change it. I havent found the brake booster yet but I guess i have to climb onto the engine bay
From inspection, the disc seem great. But I will bleed the system next and report back.
Thinking about it now, whenever I brake, I feel as if I have a big dog on a leash who is pulling away and i am trying to restrain him. I guess i didn't do a good enough test drive

m4tti said:

I wouldn’t mess about with shedding weight, rwd conversions etc. I’d focus on getting the standard car in top notch mechanical condition, in the first instance, and go from there.

Check your tyre pressure first, and make sure they’re not under inflated. If it is genuinely heavier than normal then you may have a leak somewhere. Check the fluid level and if it looks on the low side, start inspecting the rack, peel the rack boots back and look at the unions between the rack and the pump.. and check the pump is actually doing anything.

From memory when ever I have driven one of these it felt like normal car steering

Edited by m4tti on Sunday 17th September 17:51

For me, the steering is noticeably heavy, like driving the older cars with no power steering heavy. The tyre pressure apart from one of the rear tyes was all front 2.5 and rear 2. One of the rears was 2.5 which i have just corrected. The power steering level was just above the max mark. The colour of the fluid looks okay but my next job is to bleed and replace. How do I check that the pump is working. I am guessing I need to start the car and get underneath it?

markiii said:

stock Gallardo pressures are higher at the front than at the back (from memory 35PSI and 32PSI)

first car I've ever found to do that. Be worth checking if yours are the right way around

I checked these with my own compressor and fixed them but will check at a proper machine as well.

Thanks both for the helpful advice.

Edited by madmedman on Sunday 17th September 19:40

[m4tti]

This will give you some insight into the pump

https://youtu.be/9FtMiAs75sc?si=BxcEvaSDR6OSVFYl

[madmedman]

m4tti said:

This will give you some insight into the pump

https://youtu.be/9FtMiAs75sc?si=BxcEvaSDR6OSVFYl

Thats brilliant. Saw the video. Will get underneath the car tomorrow and hopefully diagnose the issue. If its the pump spline, that would be great as it will save me some quid. I am guessing, since the fluid level is fine, there is no leak in the system?

[70proof]

madmedman said:

Dear all,

Starting another thread to speak about my experience and to ask for help modding (tastefully if possible) my 2008 coupe.

I will try to make it short.

First my gripes with the car. (and please excuse me as its my first supercar).

First off, the steering, man I didn't know I needed herculean strength to turn it. Is it supposed to be powered? I am not sure whether I need to investigate it or its the character of the car? Lambo Tunbridge wells is closest to me. Anyone has any experience with them? But should I bleed and change the power steering fluid first? Do you think shedding some weight and converting to RWD help? This conversion, cats and exhaust replacement plus antigravity battery should help shed close to 100kg.

Second, the breaking. The therapeutic index is very narrow. Its a term we use for medication where the dosage range is narrow between the effective dose and the toxic dose. I mean I have very little margin of error from lightly pressing to doing an emergency stop. I hope I am making sense.

Third, pressing the accelerator (and brake pedal), you need to really step on it to start seeing results. There is a big throttle delay. It has to be revved to start moving and I have a brand new oem clutch. But I have already ordered the sprint booster and hope that would fix it.
he design is almost similar to the LOC, LNB. I wanted to go for Kline but man at 3500 its just too far out of my reach.

And I have to get into my garage a couple of times a day just to lay my eyes on her.

last sentence, thats what it is all about... magic

when was the car last serviced. did you get a PPI?

the steering shoudnt be that heavy, the braking window so narrow or the throttle respose that slow... slow movement should occur from low revs... maybe the clutch hasnt been fitted right?

get your local dealer to do a road test drive for peace of mind.

[markiii]

i think the throttle depends on what your used to, I found mine a little lethargic, pepped up a huge amount by the addition of a sprint booster. But unless the OP has driven other Gallardos for comparison it's somewhat subjective.

The trying to run away with you under braking I totally get. It crept up on me until one day I thought hang on this isn't right. I mentioned it to Ricky at RE when is was in for a service and he diagnosed it as a vacuum leak. Once fixed its been totally normal

[madmedman]

70proof said:

last sentence, thats what it is all about... magic

when was the car last serviced. did you get a PPI?

the steering shoudnt be that heavy, the braking window so narrow or the throttle respose that slow... slow movement should occur from low revs... maybe the clutch hasnt been fitted right?

get your local dealer to do a road test drive for peace of mind.

Thanks mate.
The car was serviced just before I took delivery, along with a new oem clutch. I took the car out again today, still steering heavy, but I also notice that at times its light. But I know that if I do some spirited driving, i will find it difficult to play with the car as the steering is not uniformly heavy or light. And i do have to push down on the accelerator quite a bit before the car will start to move. I have not checked exactly at what rpm it starts moving. But from memory, its revved more than i am used to. Maybe thats the car, but i cant tell if its the clutch. Is there another test I could do to verify the clutch has been fitted properly?

I have a Lamborghini dealer nearby. But I have almost dried my finances getting this car, so would like to avoid or plan better for any dealer type work. I am guessing they would also do diagnosis for a fee? Unfortunately, I did not do PPI. It was love at first sight. There are no spots on the paint at all, nothing. The engine bay and rest of the car are immaculate. I guessed its very well looked after. The place that did the clutch install also did a pre delivery inspection, not sure how independent that was. I will accept her for her flaws for the joy she brings to me

markiii said:

i think the throttle depends on what your used to, I found mine a little lethargic, pepped up a huge amount by the addition of a sprint booster. But unless the OP has driven other Gallardos for comparison it's somewhat subjective.

The trying to run away with you under braking I totally get. It crept up on me until one day I thought hang on this isn't right. I mentioned it to Ricky at RE when is was in for a service and he diagnosed it as a vacuum leak. Once fixed its been totally normal

I am a super car virgin Never had a gallardo or any other high maintenance mistress. Whilst I took her out again today, I also noticed that the window where you shift down and the gear is not selected yet, its at that time that the car is free and needs a bit more braking to be restrained. Its a bit hard to explain. When I "plan" the downshifts and brake whilst in gear, its a bit better. Hence i feel different braking strategies are required and i am still getting used to it. Only my third time driving the car. I am going to attempt to check the vacuum leak but i am sure I will need to take it in. I hope that should fix it.

I have also noticed, significant wheel juddering when at full lock and trying to move forward after reversing out of the garage. I am guessing normal for AWD or need suspension looked at?

My fluids order to be delivered tomorrow and will hopefully get at least the power steering done tomorrow. Cheers again for your time and help.

Edited by madmedman on Monday 18th September 20:38

[70proof]

Judder at full lock is totally normal...

Is there a local owner that can test this chaps car for him...

Engine has loads of torque, with the manual they say simply lift the clutch with no revs to move, my pre lp didn't need many revs to park

Was recent service by lambo Manchester, if so give em a call

[madmedman]

70proof said:

Judder at full lock is totally normal...

Is there a local owner that can test this chaps car for him...

Engine has loads of torque, with the manual they say simply lift the clutch with no revs to move, my pre lp didn't need many revs to park

Was recent service by lambo Manchester, if so give em a call

Cheers mate.

If anyone around Maidstone Kent area could test, that would be great. I can travel a bit as well.

The service was done by supercar clinic bolton, who did the clutch as well. They seemed quite good and knowledgeable, im sure and have good reviews. And I thought a clutch job would be simple for anyone.

Slow manoeuvring does need revvs and is quite loud Sometimes the car stops when I am reversing as I try to maintain a balance between moving and not being too loud in my neighbourhood.

I guess a phone call to lambo tunbridge wells is in order or a good indy e.g autofficina. RE is too far away in swindon.

[markiii]

AV Engineering is prett near you. Aldous know his stuff and I believe Ed Blasi is still working with him. Ed knows his stuff and has serviced mine. I'd get them to give it the once over for you

[madmedman]

markiii said:

AV Engineering is prett near you. Aldous know his stuff and I believe Ed Blasi is still working with him. Ed knows his stuff and has serviced mine. I'd get them to give it the once over for you

That's brilliant. Thanks. They are quite near me and I will give them a call. Cheers mate.

[70proof]

Fitting the clutch should be easy but setting the actuator for the egear is maybe tricky... When sat in 1st in traffic the clutch is slipping, that's why you should select neutral, else wear is high, an dwhy people say to move go with intent as then the clutch fully engages

[m4tti]

The lag on pulling away could well be linked to the Clutch set up.

The Ferrari f1 and Lamborghini e-gear follow the same set up principles. Here’s a link https://craig-waterman.com/why-do-i-need-a-scan-to...

If this isn’t set properly the clutch will slip when pulling away.

If you had a Ferrari I’d say pop over and we can get the car out on the road and see what it’s doing, however the software for the pre LP Lamborghini is expensive (one of the reasons why I went Ferrari) from memory you’ll need LaRa or Texa… both were into four figures purchase price (unless that situation has changed)

[markiii]

pretty sure your right on TEXA and LARA

it does also sound like clutch slip to me, but I have a manual, never driven an egear so my experience is limited on this one

[madmedman]

70proof said:

Fitting the clutch should be easy but setting the actuator for the egear is maybe tricky... When sat in 1st in traffic the clutch is slipping, that's why you should select neutral, else wear is high, an dwhy people say to move go with intent as then the clutch fully engages

There was some trouble with the potentiometer which needed to be replaced. But there were no problems with the actuator from what i have been told. Thinking about it now, I do select neutral but also, if i am completely stopped, N is engaged automatically after a few seconds.

m4tti said:

The lag on pulling away could well be linked to the Clutch set up.

The Ferrari f1 and Lamborghini e-gear follow the same set up principles. Here’s a link https://craig-waterman.com/why-do-i-need-a-scan-to...

If this isn’t set properly the clutch will slip when pulling away.

If you had a Ferrari I’d say pop over and we can get the car out on the road and see what it’s doing, however the software for the pre LP Lamborghini is expensive (one of the reasons why I went Ferrari) from memory you’ll need LaRa or Texa… both were into four figures purchase price (unless that situation has changed)

Thanks for the offer mate. Yea, i fully knew that with the pre-lp this proprietary lambo software is extremely expensive and so are the other options. Some people on the Lambo talk forums have been able to get their own lara software installed and cable bought for a few hundred but its increasingly difficult now.

I am hoping to get a good shop to check the clutch setting for me. But I also think that, although i need to use the accelerator more than I like, the car still takes off rapidly, if i floor it. But could still be clutch slipping and will have it checked out. I am guessing, PIS setting appropriately will help? But I assumed the previously shop would have done this as a part of clutch install. I need to go through the receipts whether it mentions that.

markiii said:

pretty sure your right on TEXA and LARA

it does also sound like clutch slip to me, but I have a manual, never driven an egear so my experience is limited on this one

I still love the explosions on downshifts. I am 100% i can never rev match on a manual.

Thanks again guys. Where will I be without your help. I have got an appointment with Lambo Tunbridge wells but its two weeks later. They ask for £210 plus Vat per hour for the fault diagnosis. I am trying to get a hold of someone at AV engineering. They work mostly on ferraris so I am not sure if they will have all the equipment for Lambo, but possibly as a part of Texa.

[markiii]

not that watching Jayemss disaster of a Gallardo videos will make you feel better but he took his to AV and they did a lot on it

[markiii]

at Lambo Tunbridge rates it would be cheaper to use the fuel to drive to RE at Swindon. And teh results would be better

Most main dealer techs are too young these days to have seen Pre - LP Gallardos unless you drop lucky and find some one like David at Pangbourne