To buy or not to buy P38 2.5 TD ?

[500bhp]

Hi guys I have found this 1996 P38 Range Rover, can you give me your opinion on if you think it sounds like a good buy.
 
Mettalic Epsom green ,Tan leather , All usual DSE Options + RR Towbar + RR heavy duty mats . Non smoking . First registered on July 1996 . Very good overall condition , only road use. Minor scratch on R/H rear wing above tyre well. 5 Pirelli Scorpion tyres with plenty of thread . Full Land Rover Service History in Main dealers . Recent 5 Shock absorbers and Air Compressor , water pump , Belts , new hydraulic tensioner , new track rod ends , front discs and pads . All Synthetic lubricants . Suspension works faultlessly in all heights with quick pump up and down . 1 Year MOT with 0 faults . Excellent Mechanics and interior . Blaupunkt CD , K/N Air filter ,167 BHP Powerbox Fitted by Land Rover Dealer . Polybush fitted to Panhard rods and rest of complete kit included in sale . Also included THULE roof bars . This is an original unmessed P38 wich has been very well cared for. 1 owner only . £ 4950

[500bhp]

Any thoughts, as I know nothing about P38's

[500bhp]

Does this mean no one owns a P38 ????????????

[Nick666]

Well you have given them less than 24 hours to reply ;)

I know nothing about Rangies (and little enough about all the others :D) but it'd be interesting to know what shocks etc he's put on it (and what the reason is) if he's only been on-road...

[TDi90]

yeh, sounds a bit suspicious././/

[andycwb]

Does this mean no one owns a P38 ????????????

Patience is a virtue (16 hrs from original posting!) - and posting in the Range Rover forum with P38A in the subject line would have got my attention a lot more quickly! :-)

It does sound like a good condition P38A, though I think the price is a little optimistic for a 1996 vehicle unless it's a dealer sale with a warranty.  It seems to have had most of the things that break replace - and if the engine has lasted this long it will probably continue to last.  The only alarm bell for me is no mention of the matrix o-rings and or blend motors being done.  They don't ALWAYS fail by this age, but they often do.  Neither is hugely expensive but can be time consuming to DIY.

www.p38a.co.uk has a fairly comprehensive checklist you might want to run over.

[500bhp]

Well it looks like I am going to buy it, the guy is delivering it on Wednesday. I asked about the shocks, he said the main dealer recommended it when they did the other work on the suspension, the price may seem expensive for the UK but here its a bargin. He said the belts have been replaced as per the service guide, but I would be very gratfull for any advice you can give on what to check when it arrives. I have attached some pics from the ad.............Thanks for any help and advice you can give...Phill

[500bhp]

Further pics including the scrape on the arch

[thermidorthelobster]

Have you driven a 2.5D P38?  They drive like an old river barge, but there is plenty you can do to that engine to get a bit of life out of it.

Be prepared for a hands-on maintenance experience, kind of like every other Land Rover really, but the parts are more expensive.

They're great cars though!

[500bhp]

It has had a K&N fitted and a  power box upgrade, also being manual should help :D

[murph]

I have a V8 P38  :lol:  :lol:  loads of power, the vehicle it self I love them, fantastic to drive a real pleasure.

I bought mine from a dealer nearly 4 years ago it had new compressor and a load of other parts fitted, there bill was 1500. Mind you I paid 18k for it on a 98.

The prices have dropped a lot and for that price you get a lot of car, if it goes wrong yep it will cost a lot at a garage, DIY what you can and find a decent independant for the bits you can't do.

Enjoy it  8)

[500bhp]

Thanks for the info andycwb but what are matrix o rings and blend motors  :shock:

[500bhp]

And does the timing chain/belt need to be replaced at certain intervals :D

[Grant]

Epsom/Tan very classy... not that i'm biased or anything!  :D

all you need is on www.rangerovers.net & the rangiewiki site

I'm on my second P38, love it to bits

[andycwb]

Thanks for the info andycwb but what are matrix o rings and blend motors  :shock:

The heater matrix O rings seal join where the coolant pipes from the engine enter the matrix.  They are a complete [!Expletive Deleted!] to get at - the workshop manual says to remove the entire dash, but there are work arounds.  Took me six hours to do mine, could probably do it in 4 next time.

The blend motors are driven by the HeVAC ECU to control the temperature of air entering the cabin.  Since it's climate control, it will try to maintain a constant temperature regardless of what's happening outside, so to maintain 18 deg C on a sunny day needs ~10 degree air coming into the car.   On a cold day, it needs much warmer air.  The ECU works out how much, and sets the blend motors (one for each side) appropriately to mix hot and cold air.

You'll have to ask someone else about timing belts; I don't know about that engine - I'm a V8 man myself.

[500bhp]

I have also been told that engine over heating can be a problem in hotter climates, especially if a power box upgrade is used without increasing the rad and intercooler, has any one else had this problem :shock: