Discussion
In October, driving back from taking 250Kg of apples to the juicing place my tip car (97 2.5 DSE)'s window wouldn't go up (in a huge rain storm). Next time I came to start it - nothing. Even after a fiddle. And at 197,000 miles and 11 years ownership and an ongoing big oil leak I thought - fair play.
So I went into the field where I had another 4.6 one, which has been sat for two years anchoring a portable toilet block from rolling down a grassy slope. Inside all mouldy. Fitted a new battery and it started immediately. Air suspension slowly pumped up and, after a long wait, the auto transmission self-primed and it moved. I then remembered, as my left shoe got warmly wet and pink that it was very leaky o rings that had consigned to the field. Dashboard out, O rings in and blend motors done (easier than you fear). A new centre silencer, AR bar bushes, track rod ends and windscreen wipers and it passes an MOT. !!!
I rob the headlamp wipers, pollen filters, window switch pack and HEVAC out of the old one and presto I have windows and working fans and heating and no "book" symbol (never had one without it). Work out which speakers are rotten - the two front bass ones, and again swap them out and the sound system is fixed. Bit floppy overnight (aren't we all) but a compressor seal rebuild kit helps recovery. Drive past a LPG station and, for pointless fun, put some in (that system never ever worked). BUT because the O rings were fixed, the cooling system doesn't now presumably have air locks and so the vaporiser actually gets hot and Bingo the LPG system amazingly fixes itself. Wow!
Still drooping on one corner on the air suspension overnight, tried pulling the timer relay - couldn't find it! but, by keeping daily driving it, then that mysteriously fixes itself too. What is this miraculous car!
I buy it new number plates in thanks, and some new plastic side things for the luggage compartment cover ( if you have one you'll know what I mean).
I buy a set of 4 horridly dirty OEM carpet mats on Ebay for £27 and wash them in the bath with carpet cleaner whilst the Mrs is out and dry them on the heated kitchen floor. All stains come out.
In summary my new tip car is a a lovely 2001 java black vogue with lightstone trim on 127k that I had thought was nothing more than a toilet anchor going one day for scrap.
It will go wrong but just at the moment it's going very right. I've had it to steady 70mph, that'll do. OK 16 mpg but zero depreciation - in fact actually appreciation. It might actually be good value! Right, off to the station to pick up the wife in my lovely stately sofa - and annoy some EVs by not pulling away smartly from the lights.
Shedtastic!
So I went into the field where I had another 4.6 one, which has been sat for two years anchoring a portable toilet block from rolling down a grassy slope. Inside all mouldy. Fitted a new battery and it started immediately. Air suspension slowly pumped up and, after a long wait, the auto transmission self-primed and it moved. I then remembered, as my left shoe got warmly wet and pink that it was very leaky o rings that had consigned to the field. Dashboard out, O rings in and blend motors done (easier than you fear). A new centre silencer, AR bar bushes, track rod ends and windscreen wipers and it passes an MOT. !!!
I rob the headlamp wipers, pollen filters, window switch pack and HEVAC out of the old one and presto I have windows and working fans and heating and no "book" symbol (never had one without it). Work out which speakers are rotten - the two front bass ones, and again swap them out and the sound system is fixed. Bit floppy overnight (aren't we all) but a compressor seal rebuild kit helps recovery. Drive past a LPG station and, for pointless fun, put some in (that system never ever worked). BUT because the O rings were fixed, the cooling system doesn't now presumably have air locks and so the vaporiser actually gets hot and Bingo the LPG system amazingly fixes itself. Wow!
Still drooping on one corner on the air suspension overnight, tried pulling the timer relay - couldn't find it! but, by keeping daily driving it, then that mysteriously fixes itself too. What is this miraculous car!
I buy it new number plates in thanks, and some new plastic side things for the luggage compartment cover ( if you have one you'll know what I mean).
I buy a set of 4 horridly dirty OEM carpet mats on Ebay for £27 and wash them in the bath with carpet cleaner whilst the Mrs is out and dry them on the heated kitchen floor. All stains come out.
In summary my new tip car is a a lovely 2001 java black vogue with lightstone trim on 127k that I had thought was nothing more than a toilet anchor going one day for scrap.
It will go wrong but just at the moment it's going very right. I've had it to steady 70mph, that'll do. OK 16 mpg but zero depreciation - in fact actually appreciation. It might actually be good value! Right, off to the station to pick up the wife in my lovely stately sofa - and annoy some EVs by not pulling away smartly from the lights.
Shedtastic!
Here is mine, bought at Brightwells for under 2K. I bought it as I wanted something cheap that wouldn`t lose any money and I felt these were in bargain basement. All my previous newer Range Rovers have depreciated like stones. It goes absolutely anywhere and at this time of year, it is the first set of keys that I reach for, out of the other toys.
Edited by Rapid rental on Saturday 7th December 11:05
Edited by Rapid rental on Saturday 7th December 11:06
Edited by Rapid rental on Saturday 7th December 11:08
Here’s mine - an 4.0 V8 HSE. Absolutely love it and importantly, the P38 is a proper Range Rover. Owned this one for 2 years and apart from oil leaks, is faultless. I too took the dash out to do O rings, blend motors and put in a new heater matrix. They are a big meccano set - everything unbolts or screws and you can buy all the mechanical parts new. Trim is unavailable new, but you can find everything used on eBay. Hours of fun can be had tinkering, from a time when cars could be run by the home mechanic.
Edited by KingGary on Saturday 7th December 11:16
Always glad to see P38s on here!
Now 9 years in with mine. 'The Duchess' can be a petulant old girl on times but is now an important part of the family. She does get to take life a bit easier now, alongside a Freelander 2, mainly because of the lack of ISOfix for the Grandkids.
My own health issues have slowed me down for last couple of years and I nearly gave in to the typical P38 gremlins. However, family members and our own 'PH Tyre Tread' persuaded me otherwise and helped out to make a start on the work. I now have a dry interior (glass and 'O'rings) Working BECM and a nicely running engine, so we're now back on the road! For the mechanical stuff I've been using 'P38s are us, in Pontypool' Nice blokes, good work and a sensible invoice! Next job - Repair some lacquer rash on the roof and bonnet. She'll get her imperious image back then.
Now 9 years in with mine. 'The Duchess' can be a petulant old girl on times but is now an important part of the family. She does get to take life a bit easier now, alongside a Freelander 2, mainly because of the lack of ISOfix for the Grandkids.
My own health issues have slowed me down for last couple of years and I nearly gave in to the typical P38 gremlins. However, family members and our own 'PH Tyre Tread' persuaded me otherwise and helped out to make a start on the work. I now have a dry interior (glass and 'O'rings) Working BECM and a nicely running engine, so we're now back on the road! For the mechanical stuff I've been using 'P38s are us, in Pontypool' Nice blokes, good work and a sensible invoice! Next job - Repair some lacquer rash on the roof and bonnet. She'll get her imperious image back then.
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