P38A Am I mad? Toying with purchasing a V8 with coolant hose issues.

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monkfish24

monkfish24

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Cornwall
I am toying with buying a P38 V8 that is described as having issues with the coolant hoses over pressuring.
Why? you ask....
I am becoming an LR colector, I have a series 3 trattor, a 200bhp gaylander to get my offroad speed kicks and now want something with some luxury too.
It's oxford blue, cream interior with 18" hurricane alloys. it's MOT history is very clean and it looks well looked after.
I do all the work on my landy's myself and enjoy the maintenance side of things, have my own garage with tools and need no excuses to buy myself new tools.
I'd prefer an older RR as I can continue doing the work myself and I've got a big craving for another V8.

So what would I be getting myself into?
I understand the problem with dropped liners and head gaskets, (one of the other land rovers is a K series freelander, glutton for punishment.)
Coolant blockage?
It states the coolant cap is broken, is this a likely cause?

P.S the wife wants a range rover, we have just moved to our own farm and we find the 16 plate golf is getting trashed in the lanes so the wife wants something a little more accepable to abuse, 4wd and comfort.

He is asking £700.
 
Last edited:
Find out if the owner did anything to correct the over pressurizing problem. Could be something simple as a new reservoir cap and the coolant system needing a drain, flush, fill and bleed.
For 700 quid I’d go for it.
 
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It's described as: (shortened version)
Blown out 2 hoses in the last 200miles,
When the car is running, it runs fine and does not overheat,
No oil in water, no steam in the exhaust,
Radiator cap is knackered, needs a new set of hoses and quite likely a radiator cap too.

Has the harmon kardon stereo with after market head unit
Air bags still fitted and working, just a bit slow
SRS light is on.
 
monkfish24 said:
I am toying with buying a P38 V8 that is described as having issues with the coolant hoses over pressuring.
Why? you ask....
I am becoming an LR colector, I have a series 3 trattor, a 200bhp gaylander to get my offroad speed kicks and now want something with some luxury too.
It's oxford blue, cream interior with 18" hurricane alloys. it's MOT history is very clean and it looks well looked after.
I do all the work on my landy's myself and enjoy the maintenance side of things, have my own garage with tools and need no excuses to buy myself new tools.
I'd prefer an older RR as I can continue doing the work myself and I've got a big craving for another V8.

So what would I be getting myself into?
I understand the problem with dropped liners and head gaskets, (one of the other land rovers is a K series freelander, glutton for punishment.)
Coolant blockage?
It states the coolant cap is broken, is this a likely cause?

P.S the wife wants a range rover, we have just moved to our own farm and we find the 16 plate golf is getting trashed in the lanes so the wife wants something a little more accepable to abuse, 4wd and comfort.

He is asking £700.
Click to expand...
budget it might need a top hat linered block
 
If coolant cap is broken, it will overheat. The system needs to be under pressure or the coolant will boil.

For £700 it could be a good project, but definitely needs checking thoroughly.
 
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monkfish24 said:
It's described as: (shortened version)
Blown out 2 hoses in the last 200miles,
When the car is running, it runs fine and does not overheat,
No oil in water, no steam in the exhaust,
Radiator cap is knackered, needs a new set of hoses and quite likely a radiator cap too.

Has the harmon kardon stereo with after market head unit
Air bags still fitted and working, just a bit slow
SRS light is on.
Click to expand...
SRS could be something simple euch as one of the two dash bulbs blown or a corroded connector,under the drivers seat I believe.What year? The slow lifting probably means the compressor needs overhauling or replacing, @kurtjohnson10 on this forum will be able to help.
 
tomcat59alan said:
SRS could be something simple euch as one of the two dash bulbs blown or a corroded connector,under the drivers seat I believe.What year? The slow lifting probably means the compressor needs overhauling or replacing, @kurtjohnson10 on this forum will be able to help.
Click to expand...

Luckily for me, the electrical side of things is my forte and not something that worries me much.

Stripping and rebuilding the engine isn't too much of an issue either. I'm just looking at something as a keeper, just want to know what I am getting myself into.
It's either a P38, because they are generally a lot simpler, or a late L322 when the Golf goes in April. I prefer the P38 for it's relative simplicity.
I work with PLC systems for a living so electrical failures and gremlins don't phase me too much.
 
monkfish24 said:
Luckily for me, the electrical side of things is my forte and not something that worries me much.

Stripping and rebuilding the engine isn't too much of an issue either. I'm just looking at something as a keeper, just want to know what I am getting myself into.
It's either a P38, because they are generally a lot simpler, or a late L322 when the Golf goes in April. I prefer the P38 for it's relative simplicity.
I work with PLC systems for a living so electrical failures and gremlins don't phase me too much.
Click to expand...
My butler prefers my P38 , He said he always feels like a chav whilst driving the L322 warf warf :D
 
monkfish24 said:
Luckily for me, the electrical side of things is my forte and not something that worries me much.

Stripping and rebuilding the engine isn't too much of an issue either. I'm just looking at something as a keeper, just want to know what I am getting myself into.
It's either a P38, because they are generally a lot simpler, or a late L322 when the Golf goes in April. I prefer the P38 for it's relative simplicity.
I work with PLC systems for a living so electrical failures and gremlins don't phase me too much.
Click to expand...
The L322 is an electronic nightmare, it will give you more trouble and cost a lot more than a P38 to keep it running. Personally I prefer diesel, but each to their own.
 
Datatek said:
The L322 is an electronic nightmare, it will give you more trouble and cost a lot more than a P38 to keep it running. Personally I prefer diesel, but each to their own.
Click to expand...
I work abroad so don't get to drive that much, when I do, I want it to be something with a nice soundtrack :D
 
Saint.V8 said:
Never ever buy a Range Rover with a fault unless you are prepared for and understand the potential costs, frustration and heartache it can cause.
Click to expand...
The cost doesn't bother me, cars cost money like boats, houses, wives, kids, no pockets in your casket!
 
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