P38 are they anygood ????

[disco-v8]

after been without my disco 300 series 3.9 V8 for over a year now, im starting to miss driving her :'( i dont want to go out and buy another, as i dont think it will be the same as before....

so im intrested in upgrading to a P38 4.6  :twisted:


only problem is i dont no much about them and need to know if they are worth buying?????

i know there is alot more electronics on these so im guessing they may have problems in this area....

what are they like on rust????



as much info possible please

thanks

[v8kenny]

I have had my 4.6 for 3 years now with no huge issues
The air suspension played up for a while so I changed it to coils and now it handles better than it ever did on air - no real need to do this though if you prefer air, all parts are readily available and relatively cheap nowadays
Don't buy a diesel - too slow especially with auto box, 4.0 are thirstier than 4.6 and about 20% down on power
Rust shouldn't be an issue - land rover finally got this right with the P38
There are plenty to choose from so take your time - find a good one and you will be rewarded with a terrific vehicle at silly money these days
A long test drive is a must - if the temp. gauge even thinks of going over half way at any time then walk away
If you dont know V8's then a full service history is a must too
They are a lot of car for the money

[BK]

I bought our lass one a few months ago,a 4.6 on gas for £1300!!! wanted a few litle jobs doing but most of em are done now,lovely drive,dare I say it better on the road than my cherokee!!!....quiet, comfy but thirsty,it does 12mpg around town and about 20 on a run........be careful what  you buy though because they have a reputation for emptying your wallet!!

[Rossko]

You may well be looking at gas converted ones.  Don't touch one with a 'singlepoint' (mixer) type conversion - these were unsuitable when new and will only bring more grief as everything ages.  Proper conversion for these is a multipoint system of some kind.  As the man said, you should find ready-converted cars for no extra money.

Don't dismiss 4.0 versions.  I don't suppose there is a price difference anymore, but I find the 4.0 engines to be smoother and just as driveable as 4.6, book max bhp output doesn't relate to real driving.   Always prefer the later 'Motronic' engines of either size with the bananas on top (instead of the GEMS with box on top) - more efficient, more reliable.

cheers, Ross K

[Frankie-Boy]

Didn't the 4.6 engines have a tendency towards porous blocks?

[Rossko]

The theory is, all the bad ones have already failed.  All that's left are good ones ...

[v8kenny]

Didn't the 4.6 engines have a tendency towards porous blocks?

No more so than the other V8 models - the 4.6. 4.0 and the 3.9 all use the same size block, it's a common misconception that the 4.6 is bored out more and has thinner cylinder walls hence the "porous" nonsense - the extra cc is gained by a longer stroke crank
As already said most of the bad uns will have will have blown up by now
The GEMS engine was the worst culprit for this, the later engines kinda sorted it by changing the gearbox shift pattern - the problem arose when the earlier engines "hung on" to top gear too long going uphill/under load causing hot spots in the rear cylinders causing slipped liners/cylinder head gasket problems- dont dismiss a GEMS engine though if it has low mileage and a service history and seems to run well
 

[300TDi Disco]

Don't know alot about P38, but i would recommend that you check the air suspension cause i have off a few guys they like to drop the arse end while driving.

[bogie]

try paying for a full set of wheel bearing then,£1000 + OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[carracarra13]

I have to say I no a bloke in the trade and his words, and I quoat him  the p38 In his opponion was the wost range rover landrover everbuilt its over complicated for what it is and very over priced, please dont take offence at this as I am a rangi fan loved mine to bits and realy miss her but Ive a nice 3.9 disco  not lpg convrted yet but for sale

[BK]

its horses for courses really ,there are faults with every car you buy,it just depends on whether you get a good one to start with,I run a cherokee and I have heard people say "oh I wouldnt have one given" but mine has never missed a beat so far and its had some pain offroad and ive also heard people say "oh I wouldnt touch a rot box discovery".So like I say it horses for courses,it just pays to shop around for a good un,there are loads of P38,s to choose from....but yes they are very complicated on the electronics side. :)

[Range Rover Blues]

They were expensive, executive motors when new and need looking after as such.  What does for RR as with lots of expensive cars is that when they get older and cheaper people think they can run them on a shoestring.

Look for ones with a decent history, an independant specialist is a good thing to look for and don't be surprised by a raft of huge looking bills.

Like any old car they can rust but later P38s still hold their money and are a very nice car to own, the £190 a year road tax is a ticket to smuggsville too :D

[Tel]

ive just bought a p38 and have well and truly had my leg lifted on it driven it only a couple of times since ive owned it so be carful what you buy i paid over the odds for it too as to look at its a very nice car and pretty mint its the electrical problems they suffer with 

[Big Rich]

I had some problems with my P38 air suspention but now thats sorted love the car to bits. Alot of car for your money and fantastic drive.

Rich

[stuntman]

Yup, I've not long bought one and I'ce had to sort out some issues, and I love the car, 15mpg around town, 19mpg on a long run, and it's on gas :)