Changing from a P38 to a Disco?? Should I?

Hi all, I currently have a '98 P38 DSE Range Rover, 158k on the clock. When I got it, it had a few niggles which I have sorted most of them, but am considering changing to a Disco 2.

My questions are, searching through the topics, there are many TD5's that have had probs, is this a common thing or just a case of bad luck.

The V8's I have found less topics for, are they generally less troublesome?

I am looking for around a 2001-2002 car, ES spec probably an auto, although I have found a Y2000 V8i one owner from new, 91k on the clock that is nice.

Anyone have any pointers etc

Cheers, Jonathan

You will always hear about the problems, nobody ever posts how trouble free there TD5 is

If you think about the number of TD5s about then they are pretty reliable.

IIRC the P38 DSE had the 6cyl BMW engine in it. You will find the TD5 better suited to LRs then the BMW engine.

Cheers for that Andy, your right, I guess people rarely post how reliable things are. I have read somewhere about before a certain dat, plastic dowels were used as securing/alignment for the heads, and at some point LR changed them. Is it worth trying to find one of these examples?

How is the TD5 more suited to the vehicle than than the BMW 6cyl engine? Also whats the performance like in comparison? My RR has got a tuning box on it, so it isnt as slow as they normally are, I take it such items are available for the TD5 too?

Economy wise, kicking around the doors, and I am not the most light footed of drivers, I get around 20-21mpg's, and recently on a run to the NEC, I got 30!! Whats the equivilent in a Disco?

Kind regards
Jonathan

i had a p38 a year or to ago now but now have a td5 yes i have had probs but the disco is a great car nice and comfy and get around 30 mpg i work for a tuning company and had boxes on both cars the td5 realy comes alive with a box on even more than the range rover did i think if you lived with a land rover already then i think you will love the td5

Which year is considered the better ones if any? I dont want too new a one, but I would say around the 6-7k max

Also auto or manual? I have seen a few nice manuals for sale, but the RR is an auto and I do like the lazy driving of an auto.

Kind regards
Jonathan

jgreenwell said:

I have read somewhere about before a certain dat, plastic dowels were used as securing/alignment for the heads, and at some point LR changed them. Is it worth trying to find one of these examples?

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I'm not sure, but that sounds like you are talking about the K-Series engine that was used in the Freelander.

How is the TD5 more suited to the vehicle than than the BMW 6cyl engine? Also whats the performance like in comparison?

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The BMW engine was 'designed' for a car and altho the tuning has been changed it never really had the low end torque that it needed to move the P38 with any urgency. A tuning 'box' will of course change all that

If you wish to tune your TD5 then Bell Auto Services and TD5Alive both spring to mine.

HTH

jgreenwell said:

Which year is considered the better ones if any? I dont want too new a one, but I would say around the 6-7k max

Also auto or manual? I have seen a few nice manuals for sale, but the RR is an auto and I do like the lazy driving of an auto.

Click to expand...

The later the better. Early manuals had problems with the dual mass flywheel. The manuals will be cheaper, but if you are used to an auto then why not

andyb66 said:

I'm not sure, but that sounds like you are talking about the K-Series engine that was used in the Freelander.

The BMW engine was 'designed' for a car and altho the tuning has been changed it never really had the low end torque that it needed to move the P38 with any urgency. A tuning 'box' will of course change all that

If you wish to tune your TD5 then Bell Auto Services and TD5Alive both spring to mine.

HTH

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Bell Auto services are great. I had a 03 Passat TDI a year ago, and had it remapped by them (My mate has a tuning company and he does the work for him). After the remapping it was an absolute flying machine, I did 70k miles with no problems at all.

hi jonathan---probably going to get some stick here-what about a v8 disco2? Got mine 2 1/2 yrs.ago a 2003 modle for about 2/3rds the price of a diesel.no broblems so far 67000 klm.on the clock.live in Oslo which can get quite cold in winter,pluss the speed limits are lower.the auto-box does`nt like these low speeds much,but after fitting a Borla exhaust the engine seems to breath a lot better and holds top gear longer and changses up 4th at lower speed ,when i `m thinking pocketKenlowwarmer helps start-up

andyb66 said:

I'm not sure, but that sounds like you are talking about the K-Series engine that was used in the Freelander.


HTH

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have a look at this thread: http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/pleasure-pain-71892.html

and check out 'JE Engineering' for a performance tune.

I have considered the V8, again, as with the TD5, I guess built in their hundreds of thousands, and you only hear about the problematic ones. I agree that they are quite a bit cheeper than an equivilent diesel ones, I will have a look at a few. Also petrol is a little cheeper than diesel so it would not be too bad running cost wise.

battenberg said:

have a look at this thread: http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/pleasure-pain-71892.html

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Aaa....missed that thread and hadn't heard of that before. Always learning