P38?!

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Portugal

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Hi everyone. I'm new to the site but not to Landrovers. I've had two Range Rover classics and two Discovery 2 TD5s. I'm now retiring and seriously considering a P38 as a second car. Are they really that problematic? I'm not a skilled mechanic but I do have tools and quite enjoy reasonably straightforward jobs. I have a couple of independent specialists nearby for anything more difficult.
Should I get a P38????
Is anyone out there in Norfolk or Suffolk with some knowledge/experience?
Regards Portugal
 
Hello and welcome from me :vb-wavey:.
I had only owned old skool landies, 78 s3 and an 85 110 so knew nowt about modern cars, never even owned a car with electric windows or an ecu. Got a p38 diesel , off the road 5 yrs, knew nothing about them but still brought it. Luckily most of the bits worked just lots of stuff was worn out. With help off here and other sites I've fixed them all myself with standard tools, had to buy a press tool to change the front swivel ball joints £70, injector socket to remove an injector to replace a leaky washer £10. And a nanocom c£600.
I've had to fix the cd player, air con, hvac panel, switch pack, matric O rings, leaky sun roof, recover the head liner, and the usual consumables like discs, calipers, pads, exhaust, tyres, ball joints and all fluids. I was scared to death of owning one not having much electrical experience but happy on the spanners and she has only let me down twice but they were silly things, auto gear knob level broke off so I couldn't get out of park but that's easy to sort if you have a stubby pozi screwdriver to hand and a split leak off pipe giving a no start issue.
They can get very expensive quickly if you have to pay someone to fix stuff though.
 
They take a little to get them in shape but are good and sturdy. Most things can be diy’d with a hammer and a read through RAVE, if you’ve had classics and discos you should be fine - the electrics/eas will be mind boggling at first but easy enough when you are used to it. Parts are relatively inexpensive. Of course there are always lemons out there that need too much to be rationalised.
Few different flavours a 2.5 L6 turbo diesel, 4.0 or 4.6 V8 petrol (two types of each gems/Thor), some have lpg retro fitted. If you are lucky you may even find a 2.5 or 4.0 with a manual box. The 4.6 is auto only.

Make sure if you get one you have the EKA code with it.
 
If i got one again it would be a late 4.6 thor that's been top hatted by someone who knows what they are doing with the rover v8.
Look for the best kept model you can find, get a nanocom and keep a reserve cash stash
2 working keys with blades that fit the car.. EKA code that actually works
 
Thank you everyone for taking time to give me this valuable advice. I am going to get one!
Kind regards Portugal
 
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