P38 Diesels-reliability?

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RRFan

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I've had a couple of Classics in the past which I've loved even with their niggles like sticking central locking, tailgates not shutting etc but they never seemed to cause any major problems or leave you stuck, I wanted to hear what the P38 diesel is really like for reliability as people do seem to tell scare stories, and did the electrics get better on the later ones?, my budget would probably allow for a 1998 ish one.I want something that's good off road and durable and I have to say I am thinking about a 4.2TD Landcruiser instead but I would really prefer to stick with a Range Rover, could someone run through what generally goes wrong with them?.
 
The only real bugbear with the diesel is a blown headgasket. In general it is more reliable, if more weedy, than the petrol models (good old German engineering, almost as good as the Japs ;)) There's loads of other electrikery to **** you off but not much else will leave you stranded if you keep a good battery (and maybe don't lock it :)). The EAS needs a bit of time to get to 'fully' understand it but you can almost always get round it with diagnostics (Free download or BBS gear, EAS Buddy) or fit a manual over-ride.

The P38 is far better built than the Classic it just niggles in a different way. Face it, its never going to be as dependable as the Amazon so unless driving pleasure scores highly in your requirements don't expect it to be anything but a Rangie.
 
SpudH said:
The only real bugbear with the diesel is a blown headgasket. In general it is more reliable, if more weedy, than the petrol models (good old German engineering, almost as good as the Japs ;)) There's loads of other electrikery to **** you off but not much else will leave you stranded if you keep a good battery (and maybe don't lock it :)). The EAS needs a bit of time to get to 'fully' understand it but you can almost always get round it with diagnostics (Free download or BBS gear, EAS Buddy) or fit a manual over-ride.

The P38 is far better built than the Classic it just niggles in a different way. Face it, its never going to be as dependable as the Amazon so unless driving pleasure scores highly in your requirements don't expect it to be anything but a Rangie.
Click to expand...

Thanks, the thing I was most worried about was the electrics, and air suspension, I also believe there's a common problem with the heating/air conditioning system which can be expensive, the Classics I've had have niggled but it was nearly always something I could live with and cheap to fix whereas my worry with a P38 is that it might be off the road and lightening my wallet much more, which is what made me consider the Landcruiser but somehow it just wouldn't feel the same as a Range Rover, you're right.
 
At various stages I've driven around with the EAS ecu unplugged, no Hevac control unit etc. It still starts and gets you where you need to go. The EAS is the one that will drive you mad when (not if!) it starts to act up but like I said get some diagnostics, be it the free EAS stuff for your laptop or one of the BBS items (which are on 20% sale at moment) for your glovebox and you'll drive in confidence. Most of teh rest of the electronic stuff that goes wrong you can live without. I've got one of the Hevac distribution motors hanging down in the footwell but it works just fine at the setting its at so no worries.

For someone like yourself with previous RR experience I wouldn't have any qualms about buying a P38.
 
touch wood i have had my 2000 p38 for the past 3 years only the xyz switch on the gear box has let me down other than servicing that it. ok it is under powerd but i dont care it great and its good in the sticky stuff aswell. better than any jap tinny cr*p any day
 
Just upgraded from a Soft Dash auto TDI to a 1999 P38, love the looks and the interior, but I think the old TDI had some balls about. I find although the BMW engine is revvy, its not got the same get up and go I had with the TDI engine.

Otherwise I'm happy.

Alan
 
Thanks for all your replies and opinions, I have to say though, I think I'm going to go with my head this time and buy an Amazon although the soft dash classic sounds interesting, is it on coils too?.
 
Some soft dash models were air. I've a 95 3.9 vogue se and its on air. But I seriously consider the air suspension a big advantage. I didn't check if that one on autotrader was coil or air.
The amazons are serious motors but they're big money. You'd buy your way out of a lot of problems (new air bags, compressor, EAS driver and Hevac system < £2000 if you fit yourself) on a late P38 before you'd ever get close to Amazon money and you would have a much nicer drive.
A colleague of mine here at work has a 40th Anniversary Edition Amazon, fully loaded. Incredidible build quality, it still feels like new after 160,000 miles. But it is so cumbersome that it makes the P38 feel nimble by comparison. And that 4.2 is a real lazy engine, a chipped 2.5 will leave it for dust (mind you the 2.5 will be dust before the 4.2 is fully run in ;)). I honestly would pick a P38 over it.
With the way things are in the 4x4 market, if you've got Amazon money you should also be in RR Sport price range.
 
Sorry I said Amazon incorrectly I would be looking at an 80 series VX, my budget is around £4k so would leave me looking at a 1998 ish P38 or a 1995 ish Landcruiser, I haven't been to look at one and have never driven one yet but they do have an excelent rep, I for one wish the 4x4 market would get slightly worse because then I would find a bit more money and buy an L322 :).There was also a 200TDI Disco I was considering mainly for the huge advantage it had of being LHD and I will be driving abroad alot but I've never really been a fan of the Disco as much as the RR.
 
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