4.6 hse

Hi all, im going to look at a 97 4.6 hse tomorrow with 117000 on the clock what should I look out for ??? This would be my first range rover.

4 wheels on outside and one on inside, thats all i know about p38

Good start....

P38 Guide

Look in the coolant expansion chamber for specks of copper - could have been "K-sealed" after a slipped liner. Idle should be really smooth - any roughness then walk away or get a big discount. Yes, there's loads of things that can cause a lumpy idle with a Rover V8, if it's the cheap things then the car hasn't been looked after properly, if it's the expensive things then you're looking at a new block, a new cam or head gasket(s).

The big one are gearbox air suspenstion and headgasket
Gearbox. Drive it up and down the gears look for jumpy changes or changing at the wrong time. Drive it gentle should be hard to tell when it changes,drive it hard should pin you to the seat! If you can get it off road in low range (not talking mountin climbing but try find a wet/muddy hill to go up
Air suspenstion. Should NOT be on the bump stops when you arrive and should respond straight away when you select hight change let it stand fot a few mins with engine running and doors closed the compresser should not be constantly running (in engine bay under the black box marked eas)
Head gasket. By this point the engine should be nice and warm check the waterpipes if there rock hard walk away. As said above any sign of copper in rad cap its been k sealed not good news
Check front footwell carpets for wetness
Then just you usual car checks press every button every switch ect...
Good look
theres still some good ones out there but alot of s##t too

Thanks very much for all your advice I will check all of the above.

Of any Range Rover of any era the 4.6 P38 is probably the only one with a suitably rated automatic transmission. In the big scheme of things it's probably the least of your worries.

Checked out the RR and all looks good, however it has only got the brackets and electrics but no tow bar the chap says he lost it ages ago as he doesnt tow but I do. He says its the swan neck bar, are all these bars the same or are they different?

not sure but if you take it to a tow bar place they will know for sure
eather way wouldnt think it would cost too much

Srm said:

Checked out the RR and all looks good, however it has only got the brackets and electrics but no tow bar the chap says he lost it ages ago as he doesnt tow but I do. He says its the swan neck bar, are all these bars the same or are they different?

Click to expand...

You'll need a Swan Neck Tow Bar from/to fit the P38....

The Swan Neck was the Official LR accessory...check the Bay of E, no doubt available second hand...they are fairly common!

Thanks very much.