First P38 Advice

Good Morning

I am looking to buy my first P38 after owning a number of different landrovers i thought now would be a good time to try a Range Rover. I would prefer a DSE to a petrol unless there are any issuies with the DSE.
I am after any practical advice owners can give me of known issuies i should look out for when buying one and owning one? Also i have read in many threads that a fault code reader is advisable when owning one can anyone help me with these i have so far looked at the following three:

1. Hawkeye
2. Lynx
3. NANOCOM EVOLUTION

I also need to say it will be used to two a large caravan for our family holidays.

thanks.

Hi

Buy one with as comprehensive history as possible, many for sale out there have been neglected. You may think your getting a bargain and then spend the next few months and a shed load of cash putting things right (I speak from experience).

Common faults are widely listed on here, my personal advise would be make sure the EAS operates correctly, check for damp carpets, check condition of the HEVAC (blend motors / air con not working), electrics work .

There is a long list of things that can and will go wrong!

The Nanocom would be my choice, I have used a fellow members on occasion to diagnose and reset faults.

You get a lot of car for the money and the ride and style of the vehicle is still desirable. However I ended up selling mine as it proved to be too unreliable as an everyday vehicle that I needed to depend on.

Good luck on your quest

Hi,
Do a search on here as i'm sure this will have been covered many times.
Don't buy one with faults unless you know whats involved in fixing them.
I agree on the servicing, even if the PO has done their own spannering there should be records / receipts.
Avoid coil conversions at all costs - unsafe & usually a sign of neglect elseware.
I would go for a later model : 2000 - 2002. They tend to have far less electrical problems. From my own experience my '02 has never had the slightest electrical glitch.
Go for long test drives & try plenty (i tried 3 diesels & 3 petrols before deciding on mine). Check the RF receiver, original or earlier receivers cause all sorts of problems & new types are becoming hard to get & expensive.
I would also keep 1/3 of the budget aside for when things break.

Good luck.

Check it starts up when warm. They are fine on a cold start if you are test driving but check it starts again when hot. There are plenty of threads on this subject to. If you get a good one they are still a lovely car to own.

Budget to replace the airsprings if they haven't been done, don't buy one on coils.
Check the autobox shifts smoothly when you boot it and again budget for an oil and filter change for the box, transfer box and diffs as they are unlikely to have been done. Auto suits the diesel better than manual.
Nanocom Evo, or if the budget runs to it, a Faultmate for diagnostices plus the free EAS software for easy set up of the EAS.

Search for a.buyer's guide on here. I did and was really helpfully. I printed it and took it with me. Also take a torch when you view. on a diesel check for cooling issues they are prone especially when towing.

Its the same as buying any car
press every button
check everything works and nothing leaks
look underneath for offroad damage

gazzab79 said:

Search for a.buyer's guide on here. I did and was really helpfully. I printed it and took it with me. Also take a torch when you view. on a diesel check for cooling issues they are prone especially when towing.

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No more so than the petrol, viscous fans, stats and pumps fail on both and the radiators silt up due to the stupid design with both hoses going into the top of the RAD. Any sign of overheating walk away, cracked heads on the diesel and slipped liners on the V8 are the result of overheating.

fortunately ive had no problems there. I have just lost a brake pad though!

gazzab79 said:

fortunately ive had no problems there. I have just lost a brake pad though!

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Careless, check all the puddles around the car. Good weather for working outside in sunny manchester

no its been gone a while. thought the caliper was sticking, had a closer look yesterday and realised was no pad!

gazzab79 said:

no its been gone a while. thought the caliper was sticking, had a closer look yesterday and realised was no pad!

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How the hell does a pad fall out?

gazzab79 said:

no its been gone a while. thought the caliper was sticking, had a closer look yesterday and realised was no pad!

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I see you are a firm believer in regular maintenance then.

lol i actually have the discs and pads in my van. just with the air bag probs i left them there! I dont know if its fallen out or disintegrated lol. It will get done next week, wont be using it anyway. Im actually excited about being able to drive it! Only possible ball joint left to do now, and before next summer the blend motors.

gazzab79 said:

Search for a.buyer's guide on here. I did and was really helpfully. I printed it and took it with me. Also take a torch when you view. on a diesel check for cooling issues they are prone especially when towing.

Click to expand...

Is there an actual buyers guide for the P38 in this section?


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yes there is. I used it when i bought mine. enter p38 buyers guide in the search section

Buying a used P38 Range Rover- beginners check list

this one is ok

Thanks Gazza, will devour.......


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gazzab79 said:

yes there is. I used it when i bought mine. enter p38 buyers guide in the search section

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Didn't find a thread with that title nor anything like a real guide in the 18 threads after entering same


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Parisien said:

Didn't find a thread with that title nor anything like a real guide in the 18 threads after entering same


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Click to expand...

Practice your search skills and answers to nearly everything is already available