LRO Magazine and P38

Has anyone else read the latest issue of the LRO magazine. They have an article slating the P38 and advising that no one buys one. By it's very nature, the magazine states it's for Land Rover Owners. Now I know there are problems with some P38's as there are with Discovery, Series 1,2,&3 etc but to state that we should avoid buying one is a bit extreme I feel.

LRO know what they're talking about, buy a Freelander instead.

Hi

I read this too and have been following this since they bought it. I thought that they just got unlucky on the deal, lots to fix and some things beyond their tools/skill?!??!

Yes, buying one is a risk but if you are prepared to put in the time and have the tools/learn the skills/have diagnostic software then they are maangeable.

Most disappointed in LRO but they are entilted to their own opinion. Just a shame they are foisting it on us the readers. I wonder if they will get any complaints?

Cheers

Adam

Hi Adam,
I agree with your points. I was amazed at the figures they were coming up with for repairs, and that they say that the BECM is on it's way out, when in fact the fault is just 2 worn door latches and quite a common problem. You have to wonder if they followed their own advice before purchasing the diesel P38 they have, from what I recall it has high mileage and little to no history.

jdennington said:

Hi Adam,
I agree with your points. I was amazed at the figures they were coming up with for repairs, and that they say that the BECM is on it's way out, when in fact the fault is just 2 worn door latches and quite a common problem. You have to wonder if they followed their own advice before purchasing the diesel P38 they have, from what I recall it has high mileage and little to no history.

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At the beginning bought it from someone who swore it was all working no idea what criteria they followed so how about a conspiracy theory, they bought a crap one so they could slag it off as a bad car?

Bit out there I know

They probably deliberately bought what they thought was a car with typical faults which they could show the readers how to fix, but maybe didn't expect to find so many. I saw their prices too & thought them steep, but wonder if they are quoting garage prices for people who can't do more than basic servicing.

adamrharding said:

Hi

I read this too and have been following this since they bought it. I thought that they just got unlucky on the deal, lots to fix and some things beyond their tools/skill?!??!

Yes, buying one is a risk but if you are prepared to put in the time and have the tools/learn the skills/have diagnostic software then they are maangeable.

Most disappointed in LRO but they are entilted to their own opinion. Just a shame they are foisting it on us the readers. I wonder if they will get any complaints?

Cheers

Adam

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I think their (lack of) tools and skills has something to do with it.

Did you see their article on replacing the rear wheel bearings? It appeared to me that they had neither oxy-acetylene or an air drive impact wrench in the 'workshop' they did the work in. They did have a big pipe to use with their socket wrench and a propane gas torch but that wouldn't touch the hub nuts. They would have been off in a couple of minutes with the correct tackle.

In the latest issue they go on about the air suspension but it is not clear what direct experience (rather than hearsay) that they really have, since the shed they bought has a coil spring conversion (uugh).

Any many, many more. I don't see the point of this stance that they are taking, since all it can do is deter potential purchasers of their mag. Why bite the hand that feeds?


Andrew

PS Incidentally, in the costs tally they use to compare the P38's costs with that of a Disco etc. I didn't think there was all that much difference with the Disco really, and that's even if you agree with their way of doing the work (eg. the wheel bearings by replacing whole assemblies) which I doubt many here would.

I am still wondering why I bother to buy this mag. I have been buying it for many years and every month I live in hope of some interesting articles on the Range Rover and every month I am dissapointed. For sure there have been a few articles on Classic 6 wheeler fire engines and perhaps one that used to belong to someone on the Z list, but still no interesting articles on practical subjects that may be of use to those readers that by neccessaty adopt a hands on approach.Its a great mag if you have a series LR but they seem to be very anti P38. The best I have seen was the long term test on a DSE, but all they did was fit a pair of fog lights and got someone else to fit a tuning box. The latest article is dire and does nothing for the marque. I can only assume they got a list of common faults and went to a main dealer for prices for repairs. How about some practical advice on changing those ball joints or perhaps diagnosing that failed blend motor ?

Rant over.

I think that these articals are very informative. Unfortunatly we all know that P38's have many problems that have been present since the vehicle was first made.

Pretending that they do not exist is plainly silly. I think that I would rather be told the truth than spend money out and then regret it.

I had two P38's and both of them cost me over £3000 to repair, I gave up on the marque after that.

I wish that article was around when I bought them.

1. Two rusty tailgates.
2. Air suspension pump.
3. New 4.6 heads.
4. BECM x1
5. Radiator.
6. Wheel hubs.
7. Transfer box (seconhand)

I just keep my classic, I can fix anything on it myself, and very cheaply.

Well im new on here and new to owning a p38, If i had read this article before i handed over the cash for my 95 4.0SE then to be honest i think i would have walked away from the deal, But im so glad i did'nt, after many years of driving a discovery the range rover is a breath of fresh air, its got to be one of the most comfy cars ive ever driven, I know the "real" land rover owners look down on them as the "pimp wagon" of the line up, but at £1500 with only 1 previous owner, FLRSH and 12 months mot im glad i did the deal!

Shame on LROI and there poor editorial values !

well i have read the issue in LRO and to be honest i thought "yeah right". the becm issue? i thought i had this issue with my car, turns out some of the parts on a 12 year old vehicles tend to break down over time (see my post on the door lock repair). all it took was a bit of fiddling and it works again like new , show me a landrover or a disco or even any car that requires no maintenance/repair work and i will show you a liar!

as for the costs, so far, original price £2800, p reg 4.0 lpg bit of history, req. tlc. now thats what i paid, if you think it's cheap or extorsionate, thats what its worth to me, i bought a car not an investment.

now repairs:
rear brake pads £18
drivers side drag link end £9.40 +vat
front pads £18
partial brake lines to rear £??? dunno uncle has kit for them, £20 ish i would guess.
volumetric sensor for alarm £15 ebay
rear exhaust section £70
MoT (passed with above work done) £40

it does require:
front pass.side drag link end, £9.40 +vat??
blend motor kit £125???
heated seat repair/replacement who knows, new interior circa £350
min. 2 new tyres £160 -£240 ish

now if i had bought the car new at around £40k less the repairs i have/ need to do, lets say £1500 and the pruchase price of £2800, i reckon i'm saving £35,700. divide by 12yrs is £3125 in lost equity if i'd have bought new per year!!! that would pay my mortgage!!!

i think its a bargain!!!!!

and also if you need to use a garage/dealership for repairs, expect to pay for thier time they need to fund thier (expensive and crappy) cars too!!!!

I'm not sure why I buy the mag either, just hopeful like the rest I guess that there may be something of interest. I have noticed over the years that there are less articles now and more adverts, I understand that they need to raise revenue but a balance would be nice. I also think that the mag should be renamed to the Series & Disco 3 owners magazine. There is enough backlash going on in the anti 4x4 market, what we don't need is a magazine, claiming to be for owners, dismissing one model of the brand. There have been issues with Land Rover for years but they are getting themselves sorted now, and they have been lucky enough to have a loyal following despite all the problems associated with ownership. Besides, they seem to forget that the P38 was a huge leap forward and was much needed in order to keep the brand at the forefront of the 4x4 market, as with all new ideas, things may not work as expected, and the P38 went through a lot of revisions during it's production.

I agree with the too many adverts comment, and they all definately need more articles on landrovers other than series/defenders. Dont get me wrong I'd love a Defender but the other landrovers seem completely overshadowed by them when it comes to the magazines.

Hi Chip, I know what you mean, and I would like a Defender too, I guess that the Defender has been the bread & butter of Land Rover for so many years and is still the best off roader around and thats why it gets the coverage that it does but I would still like to see a better mix of info on all the models, whether I own one or not

locket said:

I think that these articals are very informative. Unfortunatly we all know that P38's have many problems that have been present since the vehicle was first made.

Pretending that they do not exist is plainly silly. I think that I would rather be told the truth than spend money out and then regret it.

I had two P38's and both of them cost me over £3000 to repair, I gave up on the marque after that.

I wish that article was around when I bought them.

1. Two rusty tailgates.
2. Air suspension pump.
3. New 4.6 heads.
4. BECM x1
5. Radiator.
6. Wheel hubs.
7. Transfer box (seconhand)

I just keep my classic, I can fix anything on it myself, and very cheaply.

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I'm not saying they shouldn't cover the known faults but they should cover them as they do for the rest of the LR range. That is to say; take a positive attitude to overcoming the faults with good advice on repair methods and sources of parts. Compare and contrast with the information to be found online at RangeRovers.net, which certainly doesn't pretend that there aren't any problems.

Anyway, as to your list, what's P38 unique about anything there other than the BECM? You can find all the other parts (and the same problems with them) in some form or other on a late Classic. I know I also have one...

That's my main issue with LRO, what's so unique about problems with the P38? It's misleading and unduly negative, and if they continue with this approach, they won't have anything to write about when the L322, LR3, Freelander 2 etc. are ten years old and starting to fail.

AWM said:

I'm not saying they shouldn't cover the known faults but they should cover them as they do for the rest of the LR range. That is to say; take a positive attitude to overcoming the faults with good advice on repair methods and sources of parts. Compare and contrast with the information to be found online at RangeRovers.net, which certainly doesn't pretend that there aren't any problems.

Anyway, as to your list, what's P38 unique about anything there other than the BECM? You can find all the other parts (and the same problems with them) in some form or other on a late Classic. I know I also have one...

That's my main issue with LRO, what's so unique about problems with the P38? It's misleading and unduly negative, and if they continue with this approach, they won't have anything to write about when the L322, LR3, Freelander 2 etc. are ten years old and starting to fail.

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Using the Omega/BMW325 engine in a P38
I have had so many things go wrong on my P38 I thought I'd plan for the worst.

Will the Omega /BMW car engine adapt to replace the P38 BMW 2.5 and if so anyone on here done the conversion?

locket said:

Using the Omega/BMW325 engine in a P38
I have had so many things go wrong on my P38 I thought I'd plan for the worst.

Will the Omega /BMW car engine adapt to replace the P38 BMW 2.5 and if so anyone on here done the conversion?

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hi there,i have a range rover p38 4.6 hse which i bought a month ago and every thing has been fine until a couple of days ago when my suspension started acting up.At first the drivers side wouldn't rise of the bumpstops and now neither side will rise.The compressor is running and i can't hear any air leaking,does any one have any ideas what the problem is or had the same thing happen to them,cheers cliff

I stopped LRO a couple of years ago too many adverts and all the experts have left for the record I have a 4.6HSE which is a 1998 paid 5K four years ago spent approx 5K on new engine, radiator, suspension bags , wheel bearing and exhaust . so thats about 1250 quid per 10k miles and I now have a rangie that is sweet - I also have an M3 BM which has depreciated 15k in 12 months and the first service was 1800 quid so which is the best value?????

i feel sorry for anyone trying to sell a p38 now, its getting to the point where you wont be able to give them away or they will be worth more in scrap, they resale price of them is dropping by the day i was going to sell the missus 95 model but for the 1500 quid i would get i might as well run it to the ground, i just think its a real shame that a industry magazine can be so negative about a model that is in every street even more so now its affordable by every house hold.

v8power said:

i feel sorry for anyone trying to sell a p38 now, its getting to the point where you wont be able to give them away or they will be worth more in scrap, they resale price of them is dropping by the day i was going to sell the missus 95 model but for the 1500 quid i would get i might as well run it to the ground,.

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I know what you mean, i was overwhelmed by the choice that £1500 to 2k could buy, in the end i went for a 95 m plate, its got 115,000 miles under its jacket but it has been owned by a landy nut for the past 6 years and all seems well at the moment, and £1500 for a motor that cost 37k new is a bargain in my book.