P38 2.5dt or lpg V8
Discussion
Hi Folks,
I'm going to buy one or the other, and interested in the opinions of those in the know. Is the BMW diesel far too slow in something so large and is it a better option to buy one and lpg it, or buy one already converted.
I'm not after speed, but something to potter along so the diesel would probably do.
Any advice gratefully recieved.
Or, is a later model 'classic' a better option, I like them as well....
Oh and if anyone is selling a decent sorted one of either type drop me a pm
I'm going to buy one or the other, and interested in the opinions of those in the know. Is the BMW diesel far too slow in something so large and is it a better option to buy one and lpg it, or buy one already converted.
I'm not after speed, but something to potter along so the diesel would probably do.
Any advice gratefully recieved.
Or, is a later model 'classic' a better option, I like them as well....
Oh and if anyone is selling a decent sorted one of either type drop me a pm
Edited by silverback mike on Tuesday 31st July 10:21
I agree with above comment.
I tried a brand new diesel (even though I wasn't buying new) before buying my 4.6. I found it ok once up to speed on dual-carriageway/motorway etc but the one thing that REALLY put me off was the delay between stamping on the accelerator and the car actually moving off from a standstill. It made getting out of junctions and onto roundabouts nerve racking and put me off completely.
I don't know if chipping makes much difference in this respect.
So I bought a V8 and had a multi-point LPG fitted and I think its much better.
Regards,
Shentodj
I tried a brand new diesel (even though I wasn't buying new) before buying my 4.6. I found it ok once up to speed on dual-carriageway/motorway etc but the one thing that REALLY put me off was the delay between stamping on the accelerator and the car actually moving off from a standstill. It made getting out of junctions and onto roundabouts nerve racking and put me off completely.
I don't know if chipping makes much difference in this respect.
So I bought a V8 and had a multi-point LPG fitted and I think its much better.
Regards,
Shentodj
Having had a 4.6 with a top notch multipoint LPG system that lunched its engine and also a cracked gearbox flex plate, I'd be inclined towards a 2.5 manual if it must be a P38.
Caveat of not having driven one, but the numbers aren't THAT far off a TD5 discovery and you don't hear great gnashings of teeth about how slow those are.
Caveat of not having driven one, but the numbers aren't THAT far off a TD5 discovery and you don't hear great gnashings of teeth about how slow those are.
A manual diesel goes better than the auto. Both are quicker than Tdi powered classic RR's or a Disco1. So it all depends on how you rate speed.
You can tweak the 2.5 to make it run better. They are not brilliant on fuel, but you can just use them and not worry about it. I think they suffer hot start problems though. Also many diesel p38a's are much lower spec, so might be lacking the rear TCS along with other items found standard on a 4.6
LPG I have no problems with. Although a good multipoint kit will offer up better power, performance and economy over the single point ones. But you'll likely have to pay to get it. However the LPG tanks must go somewhere, so you are likely to lose space or potential off road ability with most LPG ones.
Sadly this last generation of Rover V8's also seem prone to far more issues than the older 3.5 and 3.9 variants. Something you might want to think about, although entire engines are not hugely expensive to buy used should you need too.
A 4.0 litre manual p38a will likely go as well as the 4.6 auto (if not better). Something to bear in mind if performance is key. The manual will also be more economical. But again most 4.0 litre ones are lower spec, so make sure you know what options you are wanting.
Personally if all you'd do is tootle around in the V8 and never put your foot down, I see almost no point in buying one, LPG or not. You might as well just get the diesel.
You can tweak the 2.5 to make it run better. They are not brilliant on fuel, but you can just use them and not worry about it. I think they suffer hot start problems though. Also many diesel p38a's are much lower spec, so might be lacking the rear TCS along with other items found standard on a 4.6
LPG I have no problems with. Although a good multipoint kit will offer up better power, performance and economy over the single point ones. But you'll likely have to pay to get it. However the LPG tanks must go somewhere, so you are likely to lose space or potential off road ability with most LPG ones.
Sadly this last generation of Rover V8's also seem prone to far more issues than the older 3.5 and 3.9 variants. Something you might want to think about, although entire engines are not hugely expensive to buy used should you need too.
A 4.0 litre manual p38a will likely go as well as the 4.6 auto (if not better). Something to bear in mind if performance is key. The manual will also be more economical. But again most 4.0 litre ones are lower spec, so make sure you know what options you are wanting.
Personally if all you'd do is tootle around in the V8 and never put your foot down, I see almost no point in buying one, LPG or not. You might as well just get the diesel.
silverback mike said:
Thank you for the help folks and insight. I won't discount a diesel then, and yes it will be something to Pootle about in rather than setting my hair on fire and in my book less complicated is better, I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again
No worries. Not sure what your experience is with the p38a's. But don't let the air suspension scare you. It's really quite a simple system that is usually mis diagnosed and working parts get replaced at huge cost and don't solve the problems being experienced. There's a lot of good info on the web and it's well worth reading up on it.Thanks again
The 2.5TD is a tough lump. BMW fans consider them to be tougher than the 330D variant that replaced it.
They kick out about 140bhp as standard but can be chipped to about 180bhp for not a lot of money.
They tend to be more expensive to buy that the V8 models. Obviously the most frugal will be a diesel manual, but if you are only doing a few k a year, then it may make sense to get one of the V8s. Cheaper to buy and not that expensive to insure either (for me at least)
They kick out about 140bhp as standard but can be chipped to about 180bhp for not a lot of money.
They tend to be more expensive to buy that the V8 models. Obviously the most frugal will be a diesel manual, but if you are only doing a few k a year, then it may make sense to get one of the V8s. Cheaper to buy and not that expensive to insure either (for me at least)
I have a p38 diesel auto, its great I love it! I've got the hot start fix fitted and a plug in chip, both ebay specials but seem to work fine. This week I've been driving carefully and got just over 28mpg which is about 400 miles to a tank of fuel, about 120 gbp. Mine is on air, and I wouldn't touch one on coil springs.
hi court said:
I have a p38 diesel auto, its great I love it! I've got the hot start fix fitted and a plug in chip, both ebay specials but seem to work fine. This week I've been driving carefully and got just over 28mpg which is about 400 miles to a tank of fuel, about 120 gbp. Mine is on air, and I wouldn't touch one on coil springs.
Does the chip make much of a difference to performance? What does the hot fix do, does it glow the plugs from hot start? Bought a p38 diesel recently...like it...performance not too bad for a heavy old car...once warmed up, pretty sluggish when cold though.
Mines on coil springs, bought it that way. I'm sure the ride is better on air, I just figured it was one less thing to worry about maintaining.
Interested to see the Diesel quoted as 400miles for a £120 fill up.
For comparison, my 4.6 V8 on LPG has a 100litre LPG tank, but the most I've ever managed to fill is 82 litres.
Yesterday I filled up having done 224miles and it cost £65.60(82 litres x £0.80) which by my calculation is 12.5mpg.
So, if my maths is correct the 400miles in mine would have cost £117.
Having driven a diesel, I prefer mine if the costs are similar.
Regards,
Shentodj
For comparison, my 4.6 V8 on LPG has a 100litre LPG tank, but the most I've ever managed to fill is 82 litres.
Yesterday I filled up having done 224miles and it cost £65.60(82 litres x £0.80) which by my calculation is 12.5mpg.
So, if my maths is correct the 400miles in mine would have cost £117.
Having driven a diesel, I prefer mine if the costs are similar.
Regards,
Shentodj
Edited by shentodj on Saturday 25th August 22:22
I've run a P38 Diesel for the last 8 years & in that time probably had every fault they're well known for!
If you're after a diesel, in my opinion you WILL need a power box or chip to make it useable & enjoyable to drive! Mine is a diesel manual & has a tuning box fitted. To give you some idea of the difference it makes, a couple of years ago after getting a new engine fitted, the garage that fitted it refused to reconnect the tuning box, & they said if I did it would void their warranty.
Lasted 2 days before reconnecting it loss of warranty or not, the difference was that noticeable!
The air suspension is what really makes the car, giving a really smooth ride & fantasic towing capabilities as it self levels. It also was great during the recent floods when I was able to raise the vehicle at the touch of a button & wade through what most cars couldn't! Looked after & maintained properly it gives very few problems as most air suspension problems stem from system neglect, eg: leaving a leaky airbag in place. Doing that means that the compressor has to run all the time to keep the air tank filled. The nett result is the compressor burning out, so a large repair bill for a new compressor, new airbag + fitting!
P38's are at the age where there are plenty being broken up now, so thankfully parts are plentiful & cheap, and if you're prepared to get your hands on a workshop manual & get dirty yourself, they're not that hard tIo fix, there's also plenty of repair info online!
Having said that, it helps if you can make friends with a good mechanic who has knowledge on the model & access to the Landrover computer software, you WILL need them at some point!
Hope that helps, if there's anything I can help you with, feel free to ask away...
If you're after a diesel, in my opinion you WILL need a power box or chip to make it useable & enjoyable to drive! Mine is a diesel manual & has a tuning box fitted. To give you some idea of the difference it makes, a couple of years ago after getting a new engine fitted, the garage that fitted it refused to reconnect the tuning box, & they said if I did it would void their warranty.
Lasted 2 days before reconnecting it loss of warranty or not, the difference was that noticeable!
The air suspension is what really makes the car, giving a really smooth ride & fantasic towing capabilities as it self levels. It also was great during the recent floods when I was able to raise the vehicle at the touch of a button & wade through what most cars couldn't! Looked after & maintained properly it gives very few problems as most air suspension problems stem from system neglect, eg: leaving a leaky airbag in place. Doing that means that the compressor has to run all the time to keep the air tank filled. The nett result is the compressor burning out, so a large repair bill for a new compressor, new airbag + fitting!
P38's are at the age where there are plenty being broken up now, so thankfully parts are plentiful & cheap, and if you're prepared to get your hands on a workshop manual & get dirty yourself, they're not that hard tIo fix, there's also plenty of repair info online!
Having said that, it helps if you can make friends with a good mechanic who has knowledge on the model & access to the Landrover computer software, you WILL need them at some point!
Hope that helps, if there's anything I can help you with, feel free to ask away...
Edited by Gazzerone on Thursday 30th August 03:57
Edited by Gazzerone on Thursday 30th August 03:58
Edited by Gazzerone on Thursday 30th August 03:59
For safety reasons an LPG tank can only be filled to 80% of the "water capacity". The mechanism is a simple ball cock arrangement so the cut off can be fairly arbitrary, especially on sloping forecourts etc.
I have driven a chipped TD6 diesel with a hot start fix. it was a manual. However it was not tempting enough to give up my 4.6 HSE LPG with RPI Engineering fuelling and ignition chips (tornado) to make the most of that glorious V8. When I am done with this one it will be a 3.6 TDV8 FFRR, or possibly a 4.4 TDV8 if I wait long enough.
I have driven a chipped TD6 diesel with a hot start fix. it was a manual. However it was not tempting enough to give up my 4.6 HSE LPG with RPI Engineering fuelling and ignition chips (tornado) to make the most of that glorious V8. When I am done with this one it will be a 3.6 TDV8 FFRR, or possibly a 4.4 TDV8 if I wait long enough.
Edited by Clousta on Saturday 29th December 12:43
Shentodj,
The chip set from RPi engineering was not cheap but it did what it claimed to do. Engine much more responsive, it also allows GEMS engine to adapted the advance more than the standard ECU would allow to make the most of the LPG octane rating. I am glad that I fitted it. 7 years on and no problems.
The chip set from RPi engineering was not cheap but it did what it claimed to do. Engine much more responsive, it also allows GEMS engine to adapted the advance more than the standard ECU would allow to make the most of the LPG octane rating. I am glad that I fitted it. 7 years on and no problems.
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