P38 Range Rover, errrr...daily.

P38 Range Rover, errrr...daily.

Author
Discussion

RicksAlfas

13,408 posts

245 months

Thursday 21st February 2019
quotequote all
wavey

mdk1

454 posts

210 months

Thursday 21st February 2019
quotequote all
Keep the posts coming.

Huntsman

8,069 posts

251 months

Thursday 21st February 2019
quotequote all
This is the only thread on PH at the moment that is tempting me to buy a car.

Watchman

6,391 posts

246 months

Thursday 21st February 2019
quotequote all
I love all these reader's big trucks - Range Rovers, Cayennes, big Mercs, etc. I'm here to the end.

MJ85

Original Poster:

1,849 posts

175 months

Thursday 21st February 2019
quotequote all
Oh good. Thanks.

I’ve recently purchased a Laguna track car (yes, really). So that has diverted attention. The options for a track car are limited when you are my dimensions. But the 2.0 turbo 205 GT should do a good job.

The Range has been missed though.

MJ85

Original Poster:

1,849 posts

175 months

Thursday 21st February 2019
quotequote all
Watchman said:
I love all these reader's big trucks - Range Rovers, Cayennes, big Mercs, etc. I'm here to the end.
I hope that's a long way off! laugh

MJK 24

5,648 posts

237 months

Thursday 21st February 2019
quotequote all
Huntsman said:
This is the only thread on PH at the moment that is tempting me to buy a car.
What type of car is it tempting you to buy?!

Superleg48

1,524 posts

134 months

Thursday 21st February 2019
quotequote all
Still keeping up. Love reading about these types of evolutionary threads...people showing proper care for their motors and not afraid to get their hands dirty doing so. Will likely be one of the more sorted P38’s by the time you finish too.

mudy

874 posts

173 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
quotequote all
Me too! Great thread - fantastic to see you doing the work yourself - keep it up!

MJ85

Original Poster:

1,849 posts

175 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
quotequote all
I do some myself, but the car is at a garage getting a chunk done.

When it returns, it should be mostly cosmetic/comfort work remaining.

- fix heated seats
- replace headlining
- dents and paint
- clock and dash
- HVAC display and lighting
- underbody weather protection
- headlight washers
- leaking washer jets


shalmaneser

5,936 posts

196 months

Friday 22nd February 2019
quotequote all
That coolant looks overdue for a change!

Always fun to see someone wrestling with these old barges!

MJ85

Original Poster:

1,849 posts

175 months

Saturday 23rd February 2019
quotequote all
Reader’s car of the week. smile

Swallownut

21 posts

63 months

Saturday 23rd February 2019
quotequote all


This is my daily driver. It is a 2000 4.6 vogue which I have had converted to LPG. The condition is what I would describe as very good with 80k miles. I have owned the car for 6 years and absolutely love her. I understand it is a special edition with bespoke interior and different wheels. The things that don't work (and never have since I have had the car) are the heated seats and the air con.

I have replaced the EAS valve block and rebuilt the compressor. One tip I can give is to replace the silicate granules in the dryer or they will turn to dust and clog up the valve block - and with some 60 'O' rings to replace it is something which is best avoided. One warning is not to overfill the container or it will pressurise too much and the top will blow off!! Don't ask!!

I fixed cruise control soon after getting he car and replaced the brake pipes and front discs and pads.

I have no issues with my P38 except that the wheels have a habit of going out of balance causing cabin vibration over 60 mph I have found that new tyres and properly balance wheels solve the vibration problem.


XJSJohn

15,966 posts

220 months

Saturday 23rd February 2019
quotequote all
had a Y reg P38 2.5DSE a long time ago, was my last car in the UK, loved it and never gave me any issues. I used to belt over to Den Haag in it twice a month from London and teh same to Manchester on the alternate weeks - took a while to get there but once it had a head of steam up it would hit 90MPH

Now i am looking to come back i am looking at an L322 as my first car on return ... (probably a TDV8)

MJ85

Original Poster:

1,849 posts

175 months

Saturday 23rd February 2019
quotequote all
XJSJohn said:
had a Y reg P38 2.5DSE a long time ago, was my last car in the UK, loved it and never gave me any issues. I used to belt over to Den Haag in it twice a month from London and teh same to Manchester on the alternate weeks - took a while to get there but once it had a head of steam up it would hit 90MPH

Now i am looking to come back i am looking at an L322 as my first car on return ... (probably a TDV8)
Just watch out for rust. It really can be a problem.

Guido_H

1 posts

63 months

Saturday 23rd February 2019
quotequote all
Lovely thread and great job. Does anyone have any views on the Japanese import market - I’ve seen quite a few direct in from Japan and wonder if they’re worth the £7-8k asking or if that’s just an expensive way to get a job list on wheels!! Thoughts appreciated.

TheBix

149 posts

186 months

Saturday 23rd February 2019
quotequote all
I've been using my P38 (99 V Reg 2.5DSE Auto currently on 240k miles) for about 8 years, and other than age related problems, she has been good. Just recently started suffering rust in places, there aren't many steel body panels and all of mine have tin worm. But she does a lot of miles, in all weathers, and honestly, if she was cosmetically better looking, she'd be perfect.

No intentions of ever getting rid, maybe get something to take over daily duties and use the old girl as the leisure cruiser that she is.

Also, in regards to coil springs and the "lean", the coil kits don't take into consideration the extra weight on the driver's side of the P38, so the springs settle lower on driver side. Usually by about 1 to 2 inches. You can either try spacers, regularly replace the springs, or spend the money to convert back to air. Since your kit is all there minus springs, night be worth getting a refurb kit for the contents of the EAS box, then 4 new air bags. All in maybe 300 in parts, and maybe a days labour fitting it all.

Either way, good luck.

anonymous-user

55 months

Saturday 23rd February 2019
quotequote all
Air suspension gets a hard time because so many hobbysits and back street "mechanics" really don't understand it or aren't familiar with how to fix it. The systems are all pretty similar, and not really very complicated. Parts cost more than conventional springs and dampers, but not outrageously so.

Despite old farts thinking otherwise air suspension does have benefits and is almost certainly going to be far better than some aftermarket kit that will have had one half of one percent as much development effort as the original setup.

quavey

177 posts

153 months

Saturday 23rd February 2019
quotequote all
Great to see one looked after! I still love a P38

I had two 4.6 Thor's both brilliant!

Croutons

9,894 posts

167 months

Saturday 23rd February 2019
quotequote all
Still reading!

Still want one!

Still scared so haven’t!

The £12k one linked to in November is still a live ad. Funny that hehe

Pics of the Laguna please?!?!