RE: Shed of the Week: Range Rover (P38)
Discussion
Jamescrs said:
As tempting as giving an ex girlfriend a cheese grater, pulling out my man spheres and saying crack on.
I imagine the first repair bill which will come within 4 weeks of ownership (applying a liberal dose of optimism) would wildly eclipse the purchase price of the vehicle.
This had me crying with laughter, thank youI imagine the first repair bill which will come within 4 weeks of ownership (applying a liberal dose of optimism) would wildly eclipse the purchase price of the vehicle.
akashzimzimma said:
Poorly made , ugly rust buckets with archaic engines, even for the time.
Have you owned one? Not a hint of rust on mine and I’ve had it 16 years.I always get the impression of quality for the interior and exterior, everything feels well made, I honestly think these are just rough diamonds. 4.6 engine is very nice, old fashioned in a good way.
Had a red 4.6 HSE (early GEMS model). Most fun I have ever had - bought it as a project and did it up mechanically, as it was mainly used as a horse hack wagon and I didn’t care about looks.
Comedy fuel consumption, the ever present EAS error (diagnostic box permanently in dash, clever use of a bit wire to jump the relay and you’re good to go) and it was always a hoot to drove it like I stole it.
Best snow vehicle I ever drove, too - never felt it couldn’t get through bad conditions.
I’d buy another tomorrow as a toy
Comedy fuel consumption, the ever present EAS error (diagnostic box permanently in dash, clever use of a bit wire to jump the relay and you’re good to go) and it was always a hoot to drove it like I stole it.
Best snow vehicle I ever drove, too - never felt it couldn’t get through bad conditions.
I’d buy another tomorrow as a toy
A car for the most bloody minded masochist. Nothing says, ‘I’m both a motoring cad, whilst having taken total leave of my senses’ like P38. Designed in an era where the outside was only made to hold the rust together and a guaranteed Chernobyl.
The lady at work bought one. It allowed her to try loads of various rental cars during her ownership. It literally cost her thousands, even on gas it have issues. Anyway, following an MOT it celebrated by setting fire to itself in the local town. I think this one is best left to those that like s bit of a challenge and have lots of half full glasses around
The lady at work bought one. It allowed her to try loads of various rental cars during her ownership. It literally cost her thousands, even on gas it have issues. Anyway, following an MOT it celebrated by setting fire to itself in the local town. I think this one is best left to those that like s bit of a challenge and have lots of half full glasses around
Dog Star said:
Yep!
Also I find that model utterly vile looking; it just looks like one of those godawful Metrocabs but with jacked up suspension and big wheels.
The photos are of a pre facelift one, which has orange lights and poverty wheels and is possibly on the ‘extended’ suspension setting making it look higher.Also I find that model utterly vile looking; it just looks like one of those godawful Metrocabs but with jacked up suspension and big wheels.
The my2000 facelifts have chunkier 18” wheels, clear lights and are generally more reliable and drive better with their e39 bmw derived ecu (bosch) and improved inlet manifold (thor).
I had two pre-face lifts and still own a facelift and it’s paid for itself many times over in lugging stuff to the dump instead of paying for skips
all the faults are well known and documented how to fix. I wouldn’t recommend one if you are not prepared to fix minor stuff yourself
I've owned Classics, P38's and the L322 and by a country mile our 2nd P38 (a 4L 98 model) is probably the most reliable car we've ever owned. We've had it about 7 years now and is very cheap to run and we easily achieve 21-23mpg with it. The Michelin tyres are still the original ones we fitted about 6 years ago and still have masses of life in them and the brake discs and pads are the ones on it when we bought it. It is far more comfortable to drive than the L322 and superior build quality than the classic.
eliot said:
The photos are of a pre facelift one, which has orange lights and poverty wheels and is possibly on the ‘extended’ suspension setting making it look higher.
The my2000 facelifts have chunkier 18” wheels, clear lights and are generally more reliable and drive better with their e39 bmw derived ecu (bosch) and improved inlet manifold (thor).
I had two pre-face lifts and still own a facelift and it’s paid for itself many times over in lugging stuff to the dump instead of paying for skips
all the faults are well known and documented how to fix. I wouldn’t recommend one if you are not prepared to fix minor stuff yourself
This particular model is an MY99, you are describing an MY00 where the headlights were changed and clear lights fitted etc. MY99 had a few interior changes, airbag seats, 4 wheel TC and the hazard switch going back rather than red on earlier models. Point being this one should be a Thor with the Bosch electronics despite being a 99, my first P38 was an MY99 with the older headlights/fog lights but a Thor engine and airbag seats etc.The my2000 facelifts have chunkier 18” wheels, clear lights and are generally more reliable and drive better with their e39 bmw derived ecu (bosch) and improved inlet manifold (thor).
I had two pre-face lifts and still own a facelift and it’s paid for itself many times over in lugging stuff to the dump instead of paying for skips
all the faults are well known and documented how to fix. I wouldn’t recommend one if you are not prepared to fix minor stuff yourself
Damn you PH, damn you SOTW.
I just went out and bought a P38! Stories of total bork got me aroused and made me take the plunge, again!
It is a 1996 on an 'N' reg, 4.6 HSE, Oxford Blue with Grey Piped Leather. 197k miles and pretty much is a shed! For the princely sum of £800, who gives a f
k?! Came with one key, all user manuals, leather Land Rover folder and a few bills / receipts. One for £650 spent in 2016 on new front airbags, major service, etc.
Dents, scrapes and marks on most panels. Leather is very worn. All door cards are loose, the driver's one has fallen off.
There a ticking / tapping noise on tick over, and pretty much throughout the rev range. Seems to be an exhaust manifold leak, as it also smells of fumes more than it should. Don't think it's engine-related, and no knocking or misfiring.
Has the usual array of P38 warning sounds, mainly for the windows and sunroof 'Not Set'. When I went to fill up after buying it, the immobiliser seemed to kick in and the thing wouldn't crank. All lights on the dash, turned key, nothing! And then, the bloody alarm started going off, for almost a minute. No easier way to attract unwanted attention than being in a lump of a P38 with the horn beeping away. Finally, after clicking the remote fob a few times, the alarm turned off, it cut out the immobiliser and then the big V8 fired up.
At this point I knew it was bonafide P38 ownership! I mean, it wouldn't quite be a P38 without these foibles, right?!
Having said that, it seems mechanically sound. No oil or coolant leaks. No overheating, even when sitting in traffic when it was over 25 degrees today. Air suspension works spot on, and goes to all three settings as it should. Raises up and down fine. Engine pulls well and hard, and the gearbox is also very smooth in changing. Great, lazy V8 woofle.
Actually a really nice old bus to waft in, wallowy and boat-like, but quite soothing to drive in a weird way. And those seats are so damn comfortable, no back ache or discomfort at the end of the journey. They support you much better than how they look like they would!
Averaged 19.3 MPG on a fast run back from Bournemouth to Berkshire. According to the fuel gauge, it drank a third of a tank to do around 90 miles. So it would probably do around 250 miles on a full tank.
Will use it for a few weeks, mainly as a van as need to clear the garage out and parents need a few things taking to the tip as well.
SOTW needs to go back to cars I really don't like - that way I won't get silly ideas like this!
I just went out and bought a P38! Stories of total bork got me aroused and made me take the plunge, again!
It is a 1996 on an 'N' reg, 4.6 HSE, Oxford Blue with Grey Piped Leather. 197k miles and pretty much is a shed! For the princely sum of £800, who gives a f
k?! Came with one key, all user manuals, leather Land Rover folder and a few bills / receipts. One for £650 spent in 2016 on new front airbags, major service, etc.Dents, scrapes and marks on most panels. Leather is very worn. All door cards are loose, the driver's one has fallen off.
There a ticking / tapping noise on tick over, and pretty much throughout the rev range. Seems to be an exhaust manifold leak, as it also smells of fumes more than it should. Don't think it's engine-related, and no knocking or misfiring.
Has the usual array of P38 warning sounds, mainly for the windows and sunroof 'Not Set'. When I went to fill up after buying it, the immobiliser seemed to kick in and the thing wouldn't crank. All lights on the dash, turned key, nothing! And then, the bloody alarm started going off, for almost a minute. No easier way to attract unwanted attention than being in a lump of a P38 with the horn beeping away. Finally, after clicking the remote fob a few times, the alarm turned off, it cut out the immobiliser and then the big V8 fired up.
At this point I knew it was bonafide P38 ownership! I mean, it wouldn't quite be a P38 without these foibles, right?!
Having said that, it seems mechanically sound. No oil or coolant leaks. No overheating, even when sitting in traffic when it was over 25 degrees today. Air suspension works spot on, and goes to all three settings as it should. Raises up and down fine. Engine pulls well and hard, and the gearbox is also very smooth in changing. Great, lazy V8 woofle.
Actually a really nice old bus to waft in, wallowy and boat-like, but quite soothing to drive in a weird way. And those seats are so damn comfortable, no back ache or discomfort at the end of the journey. They support you much better than how they look like they would!
Averaged 19.3 MPG on a fast run back from Bournemouth to Berkshire. According to the fuel gauge, it drank a third of a tank to do around 90 miles. So it would probably do around 250 miles on a full tank.
Will use it for a few weeks, mainly as a van as need to clear the garage out and parents need a few things taking to the tip as well.
SOTW needs to go back to cars I really don't like - that way I won't get silly ideas like this!
Edited by pSyCoSiS on Sunday 26th May 00:45
I had one new in 1999 and it was even more unreliable than my old Stag.
Main issues were,
Transfer box replaced 3 times under warranty
Air suspension constantly breaking leaving the car sat on its bump stops.
Both diffs replaced under warranty
Two engines replaced under warranty (4.6) slipped liners.
A couple of front wheel bearings that Landrover seemed to be unable to source leaving me with a hire car for a total of 12 weeks. This was on top of the more mundane issues like blend motors, leaks and minor electrical issues that blighted it throughout its existence.
It ended up scrap at 5 years old when it was deemed too expensive to repair an issue that made the car think it was a left hand drive French Canadian 4.6 manual car and no one could tell it otherwise. This left the car unusable and apparently the only way to rectify it was a new loom ans to replace most of the various ECU's. Interestingly LR never made a left hand drive French Canadian 4.6 manual car.
I have had 5 Range Rovers and the P38 was by far the worst one, the Supercharged Sport the best havin never let me down in 10 years and 100k miles........it just didn't feel like a Range Rover.
Main issues were,
Transfer box replaced 3 times under warranty
Air suspension constantly breaking leaving the car sat on its bump stops.
Both diffs replaced under warranty
Two engines replaced under warranty (4.6) slipped liners.
A couple of front wheel bearings that Landrover seemed to be unable to source leaving me with a hire car for a total of 12 weeks. This was on top of the more mundane issues like blend motors, leaks and minor electrical issues that blighted it throughout its existence.
It ended up scrap at 5 years old when it was deemed too expensive to repair an issue that made the car think it was a left hand drive French Canadian 4.6 manual car and no one could tell it otherwise. This left the car unusable and apparently the only way to rectify it was a new loom ans to replace most of the various ECU's. Interestingly LR never made a left hand drive French Canadian 4.6 manual car.
I have had 5 Range Rovers and the P38 was by far the worst one, the Supercharged Sport the best havin never let me down in 10 years and 100k miles........it just didn't feel like a Range Rover.
Edited by gruffalo on Sunday 26th May 06:51
The most unreliable of all the Range Rover models and it looks like a metro cab, my brother had a 4.6 HSE and I drove it a fair bit years ago, constantly lived in fear of hearing that irritating triple beep of doom indicating the next problem.
L322 is miles nicer to drive and not quite as unreliable!.
L322 is miles nicer to drive and not quite as unreliable!.
Edited by Walter Sobchak on Sunday 26th May 10:31
pSyCoSiS said:
Damn you PH, damn you SOTW.
I just went out and bought a P38! Stories of total bork got me aroused and made me take the plunge, again!
It is a 1996 on an 'N' reg, 4.6 HSE, Oxford Blue with Grey Piped Leather. 197k miles and pretty much is a shed! For the princely sum of £800, who gives a fk?! Came with one key, all user manuals, leather Land Rover folder and a few bills / receipts. One for £650 spent in 2016 on new front airbags, major service, etc.
Dents, scrapes and marks on most panels. Leather is very worn. All door cards are loose, the driver's one has fallen off.
There a ticking / tapping noise on tick over, and pretty much throughout the rev range. Seems to be an exhaust manifold leak, as it also smells of fumes more than it should. Don't think it's engine-related, and no knocking or misfiring.
Has the usual array of P38 warning sounds, mainly for the windows and sunroof 'Not Set'. When I went to fill up after buying it, the immobiliser seemed to kick in and the thing wouldn't crank. All lights on the dash, turned key, nothing! And then, the bloody alarm started going off, for almost a minute. No easier way to attract unwanted attention than being in a lump of a P38 with the horn beeping away. Finally, after clicking the remote fob a few times, the alarm turned off, it cut out the immobiliser and then the big V8 fired up.
At this point I knew it was bonafide P38 ownership! I mean, it wouldn't quite be a P38 without these foibles, right?!
Having said that, it seems mechanically sound. No oil or coolant leaks. No overheating, even when sitting in traffic when it was over 25 degrees today. Air suspension works spot on, and goes to all three settings as it should. Raises up and down fine. Engine pulls well and hard, and the gearbox is also very smooth in changing. Great, lazy V8 woofle.
Actually a really nice old bus to waft in, wallowy and boat-like, but quite soothing to drive in a weird way. And those seats are so damn comfortable, no back ache or discomfort at the end of the journey. They support you much better than how they look like they would!
Averaged 19.3 MPG on a fast run back from Bournemouth to Berkshire. According to the fuel gauge, it drank a third of a tank to do around 90 miles. So it would probably do around 250 miles on a full tank.
Will use it for a few weeks, mainly as a van as need to clear the garage out and parents need a few things taking to the tip as well.
SOTW needs to go back to cars I really don't like - that way I won't get silly ideas like this!
I just went out and bought a P38! Stories of total bork got me aroused and made me take the plunge, again!
It is a 1996 on an 'N' reg, 4.6 HSE, Oxford Blue with Grey Piped Leather. 197k miles and pretty much is a shed! For the princely sum of £800, who gives a f
k?! Came with one key, all user manuals, leather Land Rover folder and a few bills / receipts. One for £650 spent in 2016 on new front airbags, major service, etc.Dents, scrapes and marks on most panels. Leather is very worn. All door cards are loose, the driver's one has fallen off.
There a ticking / tapping noise on tick over, and pretty much throughout the rev range. Seems to be an exhaust manifold leak, as it also smells of fumes more than it should. Don't think it's engine-related, and no knocking or misfiring.
Has the usual array of P38 warning sounds, mainly for the windows and sunroof 'Not Set'. When I went to fill up after buying it, the immobiliser seemed to kick in and the thing wouldn't crank. All lights on the dash, turned key, nothing! And then, the bloody alarm started going off, for almost a minute. No easier way to attract unwanted attention than being in a lump of a P38 with the horn beeping away. Finally, after clicking the remote fob a few times, the alarm turned off, it cut out the immobiliser and then the big V8 fired up.
At this point I knew it was bonafide P38 ownership! I mean, it wouldn't quite be a P38 without these foibles, right?!
Having said that, it seems mechanically sound. No oil or coolant leaks. No overheating, even when sitting in traffic when it was over 25 degrees today. Air suspension works spot on, and goes to all three settings as it should. Raises up and down fine. Engine pulls well and hard, and the gearbox is also very smooth in changing. Great, lazy V8 woofle.
Actually a really nice old bus to waft in, wallowy and boat-like, but quite soothing to drive in a weird way. And those seats are so damn comfortable, no back ache or discomfort at the end of the journey. They support you much better than how they look like they would!
Averaged 19.3 MPG on a fast run back from Bournemouth to Berkshire. According to the fuel gauge, it drank a third of a tank to do around 90 miles. So it would probably do around 250 miles on a full tank.
Will use it for a few weeks, mainly as a van as need to clear the garage out and parents need a few things taking to the tip as well.
SOTW needs to go back to cars I really don't like - that way I won't get silly ideas like this!
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 26th May 00:45
Cheaper than skip hire
As an aside, when Hertz did that Renault Laguna promotion a few years ago we took them up on the free weekend rental deal. It was delivered late Friday afternoon and immediately set to work. Straight to the builders merchants, bags of cement one way then hardcore the other. Survived the entire foundation build for the weekend, even on its bump stops carrying bricks
I always wondered how that car ended up, it’s first 200 miles in life would have been some of the cars toughest Well, she started first time today, and that ticking noise seems to have disappeared? Air suspension raised up into position, which indicates there may be a slight leak somewhere as it had dropped down ever so slightly over night.
Sounds beefy on a cold start. Checked all fluids again, and appears to be in order.
Rough around the edges, lacquer peeled in places, scrapes etc that you would expect. It's an old works-horse / tow vehicle though, not a garage queen.
Sounds beefy on a cold start. Checked all fluids again, and appears to be in order.
Rough around the edges, lacquer peeled in places, scrapes etc that you would expect. It's an old works-horse / tow vehicle though, not a garage queen.
sleepera6 said:
pSyCoSiS said:
Air suspension raised up into position, which indicates there may be a slight leak somewhere as it had dropped down ever so slightly over night.
This is normal.The ticking noise which has cleared - what could that have been? Or could it be a bow on manifold which get worse as the car warms up?
I waded into P38 ownership in January this year after getting bored of driving my utterly reliable and faultless Toyota Camry V6. I can say this car has bags of character and it always makes me smile when I see it parked up outside.
Mine is a 1997 4.6 HSE in Oxford Blue with the optional light guards at 55k miles. Since buying the car I have fixed the SRS warning light by changing out the SRS coupling on on the steering wheel, replaced the driver's door window regulator, had the O rings replaced at great expense as well as all 4 tyres (still had original tyres on) and fixed various leaks and worn out rubber seals to make the car water tight again.
Regarding rust, my car has no rust whatsoever on the body work nor in the regular spots in the boot and wheel well (even though when I bought the car, the wheel well had 2 inches of water in it!) I have a reader's ride thread documenting what's been fixed and what there is left to do to make it superb.
Fuel consumption is a woeful 11 mpg which is only 10 mpg less than the Camry V6.
I don't care that the running costs are high and that it needs regular weekend maintenance, it is the best car I have owned and I don't plan to sell it for a long while yet.
Mine is a 1997 4.6 HSE in Oxford Blue with the optional light guards at 55k miles. Since buying the car I have fixed the SRS warning light by changing out the SRS coupling on on the steering wheel, replaced the driver's door window regulator, had the O rings replaced at great expense as well as all 4 tyres (still had original tyres on) and fixed various leaks and worn out rubber seals to make the car water tight again.
Regarding rust, my car has no rust whatsoever on the body work nor in the regular spots in the boot and wheel well (even though when I bought the car, the wheel well had 2 inches of water in it!) I have a reader's ride thread documenting what's been fixed and what there is left to do to make it superb.
Fuel consumption is a woeful 11 mpg which is only 10 mpg less than the Camry V6.
I don't care that the running costs are high and that it needs regular weekend maintenance, it is the best car I have owned and I don't plan to sell it for a long while yet.
lse said:
I've owned Classics, P38's and the L322 and by a country mile our 2nd P38 (a 4L 98 model) is probably the most reliable car we've ever owned. We've had it about 7 years now and is very cheap to run and we easily achieve 21-23mpg with it. The Michelin tyres are still the original ones we fitted about 6 years ago and still have masses of life in them and the brake discs and pads are the ones on it when we bought it. It is far more comfortable to drive than the L322 and superior build quality than the classic.
Tyres and brakes will last a long time if you don't do many miles in it. You offer no perspective.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff