Range Rover P38 Rust or No Rust

[Elite TVR's]

Although I know of some common problems associated with the P38 Range Rover , I was wondering if they were known to be as much of a rust bucket as the discovery, I am thinking of buying a Range Rover Diesel but did not really want the same problems as my disco has with the boot and sills rusting , has anyone ever experienced any problems with this on any and can anyone think of anything else I should be looking out for on the P38 R/R.

[Tyre Smoke]

Find out if the airsprings have been replaced, if not check each one carefully for splitting. Check the heater/aircon works properly - blend motors go for a past time and are a bollox of a job. Tell tale sign is a little book symbol in the heater display. The heated seats often don't work, particualrly the drivers one because of the elememts breaking, another crap job. They like regular servicing, by an indy or main dealer (£££ check you have the correct radio code too. Alarm cabin sensor can also be prone to failure.

Loads of good advice here www.rangerovers.net

Not aware of any rust problems, but the diesel is astmatically slow and quite thirsty. Get a on gas if fuel consumption is a problem.

[agent006]

Not hugely affected by rust unless they're really neglected. The bottoms of the lower tailgate will go over time, and you may get surface rust on the chassis on early ones by now. Nowhere near as much of a problem as on teh disco though.

[Elite TVR's]

spot on lads, thanks a lot, Cheers

[BLUETHUNDER]

Rust never really affected this car.Only place to really check is lower edge of the tailgate.
Mine still looking good after 9 years ownership and never had a respray

[Elite TVR's]

Whats everyones opinion on diesel or V8 LPG conversion, any info would be great especially mpg and performance etc.

[BLUETHUNDER]

Elite TVR's said:

Whats everyones opinion on diesel or V8 LPG conversion, any info would be great especially mpg and performance etc.

Diesel slow unless chipped.To be quite honest LPG is a bit hit and miss on these.There are more bad ones than good.But then again so are the installers.One of the better makes of gas kits are Tatarrini.

[agent006]

Having a 4.6 with LPG, i'd go with a Diesel if i had the choice again. If only to get the option of a manual box (i find the auto on the V8 very dimwitted and immensely frustrating). The learning ECU on the V8 can get a bit confused with LPG too. If you do go for LPG it must be a multipoint system and preferably a multi-sequential. Single point systems just can't flow enough gas to run a V8 properly.

[niva441]

Tyre Smoke said:

Find out if the airsprings have been replaced, if not check each one carefully for splitting. Check the heater/aircon works properly - blend motors go for a past time and are a bollox of a job. Tell tale sign is a little book symbol in the heater display.

Not aware of any rust problems, but the diesel is astmatically slow and quite thirsty. Get a on gas if fuel consumption is a problem.

The book symbol could also indicate the AC isn't working as was the case on mine. Consumption wise is got between 25-28 mpg out of a diesel auto on a run, but it would drop to 22 if used round town too much.

But yes performance was adequate at best.

[agent006]

niva441 said:

Consumption wise is got between 25-28 mpg out of a diesel auto

I'm yet to see a consistent average of more than 14.5 on my v8.

[Elite TVR's]

CHEERS TO YOU ALL, THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME. I WILL LET YOUS ALL KNOW WHAT DIRECTION I GO.

[ingrowtn]

I have a 4.6 V8 P38 with the latest multi-point LPG conversion.

I get 10 mpg in rush hour traffic and around 12 normal driving and 18 on the motorway at 70. My LPG tank is 95 Litres total capacity filling to 76 litres actual (the tank allows for gas expansion) and I can run all week on a single tank commuting 11 miles per day each way plus general weekend driving.

I've recently found a place near to my home that is supplying LPG at 36p per litre meaning it costs me less to run the RR in fuel for a week than the 2ltr 4 cylinder car I traded against it and the range on a full tank is only marginally lower than the 2 ltr (both in town and on a run). Incidentally with LPG there is still a small amount of petrol usage while the engine gets up to temperature before the LPG cuts in. So far I have done 2,000 miles using less than half a tank of petrol.

At £2k plus vat for the conversion, it's not cheap, but it will repay me and more over the next couple of years. My conversion was done as part of the purchase and factored into the price I paid where the seller stood part of the cost out of their profit.

I've owned the car now for two months and am chuffed to bits with it. If you are thinking about it, my experience would be to say go for it.

BTW: My air suspension, air conditioning and heated seats all work fine.!