Disco or P38 Range Rover with LPG buying advice
Discussion
Thinking of getting rid of my Jeep and going back into Land Rover ownership. Probably not looking to spend more than 4k. For this money it seems to be a toss up between a very early 96 P38 or a 98/99 3.9 Disco. There are a few local to me with under body LPG conversions which is very tempting given the price of petrol. Is there anything special to look out for with LPG?
IIRC the early P38's had quite a few issues with electrics and the air suspension. I really dont know anything about Discovery's so any tips would be welcome. Oh and I definitely dont want a TDI Diesel. I have driven one and I couldn't live with something that slow. I am also looking at Toyota Land Cruisers but I shall ask about those somwhere else.
IIRC the early P38's had quite a few issues with electrics and the air suspension. I really dont know anything about Discovery's so any tips would be welcome. Oh and I definitely dont want a TDI Diesel. I have driven one and I couldn't live with something that slow. I am also looking at Toyota Land Cruisers but I shall ask about those somwhere else.
thewave said:
Don't know about LPG but i've had the P38 a few weeks and it's just the best ever.
It was intended as a tow vehicle only, but i've already started using more regularly!
Getting 14mpg around town though
still it's better than the 10mpg the MG does 
Thats why the LPG option is appealing. I reckon I will save £1300 a year on fuel based on 15000 miles a year and still have a big V8 engine.It was intended as a tow vehicle only, but i've already started using more regularly!
Getting 14mpg around town though
still it's better than the 10mpg the MG does plasticpig said:
thewave said:
Don't know about LPG but i've had the P38 a few weeks and it's just the best ever.
It was intended as a tow vehicle only, but i've already started using more regularly!
Getting 14mpg around town though still it's better than the 10mpg the MG does
Thats why the LPG option is appealing. I reckon I will save £1300 a year on fuel based on 15000 miles a year and still have a big V8 engine.It was intended as a tow vehicle only, but i've already started using more regularly!
Getting 14mpg around town though
still it's better than the 10mpg the MG does My boss had a Disco (he has a brand new one now) and it's just not anywhere near as nice as the Rangie. Electrics on mine are fine, you'll only hear the bad stories, as no-one reports the good stuff.
Of the options, i'd go for the Disco. The early P38 (up to late 97, look for the change to dual exhaust) were slightly more wonky than the later ones.
The one main point to watch on the LPG is that it NEEDS to be at least a multipoint injection system, preferably a multipoint sequential. Single point systems just don't cut it on a V8 this size as they can't flow enough gas efficiently enough. Plus they confuse the feck out of the ECU. Certified installation, and the fuel type changed on the v5 (to "Gas/Bi-fuel) will all help with insurance. It should be checked every year by an LPGa approved garage but most aren't.
Check for damage on the tanks if they're under body. Check that it runs OK on petrol as well as gas. The GEMS ECU sets adaptive values as you drive and gas tends to throw these way out of whack if it's not set up properly.
LPG only adds to the P38's cooling problems, so make sure you budget for at least a radiator rod/flush and new thermostat. Ideally a new rad just to make sure.
Fix any engine issues as soon as they happen, minor annoyances can soon turn out to be terminal if not addressed quickly.
Personally I'd but a manual 2.5 and chip it, but that's what 13 months of owning a gradually dying 4.6 does to you.
The one main point to watch on the LPG is that it NEEDS to be at least a multipoint injection system, preferably a multipoint sequential. Single point systems just don't cut it on a V8 this size as they can't flow enough gas efficiently enough. Plus they confuse the feck out of the ECU. Certified installation, and the fuel type changed on the v5 (to "Gas/Bi-fuel) will all help with insurance. It should be checked every year by an LPGa approved garage but most aren't.
Check for damage on the tanks if they're under body. Check that it runs OK on petrol as well as gas. The GEMS ECU sets adaptive values as you drive and gas tends to throw these way out of whack if it's not set up properly.
LPG only adds to the P38's cooling problems, so make sure you budget for at least a radiator rod/flush and new thermostat. Ideally a new rad just to make sure.
Fix any engine issues as soon as they happen, minor annoyances can soon turn out to be terminal if not addressed quickly.
Personally I'd but a manual 2.5 and chip it, but that's what 13 months of owning a gradually dying 4.6 does to you.
I must say i'm sorely tempted by an LPG 4.0 V8 Disco as something to pootle around in until more clement weather convinces me to buy an MX-5... 
I've seen a 2000 W, in Met. Blue with cream leather, 4.0 V8, LPG converted (certified & tested), 90k, satnav, all the toys etc for £5695 which seems like a bargain to me.
I love the idea of driving into London in a big old V8 4x4 and sticking my fingers up at the CC cameras....
I've seen a 2000 W, in Met. Blue with cream leather, 4.0 V8, LPG converted (certified & tested), 90k, satnav, all the toys etc for £5695 which seems like a bargain to me.
I love the idea of driving into London in a big old V8 4x4 and sticking my fingers up at the CC cameras....
Beefmeister said:
I must say i'm sorely tempted by an LPG 4.0 V8 Disco as something to pootle around in until more clement weather convinces me to buy an MX-5...
I've seen a 2000 W, in Met. Blue with cream leather, 4.0 V8, LPG converted (certified & tested), 90k, satnav, all the toys etc for £5695 which seems like a bargain to me.
I love the idea of driving into London in a big old V8 4x4 and sticking my fingers up at the CC cameras....
I'm assuming it's a ES and if so that's a very good price. I bought a non LPG ES back in April with 85k and that was £5k. It was the cheapest around at the time and I haven't seen a comparable 1 since. Considering a pucker LPG conversion is around £2.5k you should be beating a path to the sellers door.I've seen a 2000 W, in Met. Blue with cream leather, 4.0 V8, LPG converted (certified & tested), 90k, satnav, all the toys etc for £5695 which seems like a bargain to me.
I love the idea of driving into London in a big old V8 4x4 and sticking my fingers up at the CC cameras....
When deciding between a P38 and a Disco at this price point, just imagine a Disco is a P38 with most of the bits that fail on the P38 already removed!
I ran a 1997 Disco 4.0 with a single-point lpg system fitted by a company who had fitted over 1000 similar conversions. My single-point system ran perfectly and performed better on lpg than petrol and revved right round to 5500rpm with no fuel starvation. Two things to remember with an lpg system on a Rover V8:
1) LR plug leads are shite. Fit a set of magnecors or similar if you don't want backfires.
2) LPG is 114 octane so go to www.v8engines.com and buy an automatic ignition advance box from them. Takes 10 minutes to wire in and advances the timing heavily when on LPG to take advantage of all that octane and drops it back to normal when on petrol. The difference in performance and response is very noticeable once fitted.
I put 45,000 miles on mine and got 17mpg on petrol and 15mpg lpg, which worked out to 38mpg costwise. Mine never missed a beat in all that time and sounded lovely with a full s/s sports exhaust.
I ran a 1997 Disco 4.0 with a single-point lpg system fitted by a company who had fitted over 1000 similar conversions. My single-point system ran perfectly and performed better on lpg than petrol and revved right round to 5500rpm with no fuel starvation. Two things to remember with an lpg system on a Rover V8:
1) LR plug leads are shite. Fit a set of magnecors or similar if you don't want backfires.
2) LPG is 114 octane so go to www.v8engines.com and buy an automatic ignition advance box from them. Takes 10 minutes to wire in and advances the timing heavily when on LPG to take advantage of all that octane and drops it back to normal when on petrol. The difference in performance and response is very noticeable once fitted.
I put 45,000 miles on mine and got 17mpg on petrol and 15mpg lpg, which worked out to 38mpg costwise. Mine never missed a beat in all that time and sounded lovely with a full s/s sports exhaust.
I went to look at 3 cars over the weekend. A bit unfourtunate that I broke my Jeep on Friday but thats life. Two Discos which were in terrible nick. The worst one looked like it had been used to launch boats judging by the amount of corrosion at the rear. A P38 which wasnt actually too bad. Big bill for air suspension and engine work 15000 miles ago from a Landy specialist. The dealer couldnt find the LPGA certificate though so I walked away.
Beefmeister said:
Indeed it is an ES, 7 seater. Looks luvverly...
May have to go and see it asap...
Rather nice in Dark Blue and I see it's got the side rubbing strips...an extra believe it or not. Budget for genuine side steps as they not only give significant help to small people but also make it look mean and planted. Mine has the 18" Hurricane Alloys which I think look nicer than the ones on your prospect but that's a personal thing.May have to go and see it asap...
Good luck.
Edited by Denis O on Monday 3rd December 17:54
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