P38a Model Year Change over

Hi Chaps,

I have a 99 P38 4.6 on a T plate, it is a Thor engined car and has the later interior mods (black hazard switch, chrome handles, airbag seats etc) but of the front lights I've got the old style none black insert headlamps, and one old style and one new style Fog light.

My question is:

as my car is an early thor, has it been fitted with the old style lights from factory and someone has replaced a fog light with a later style one after it was broken individually.

Or:

Has it had the lights stolen/broken/smashed at some point and someone has fitted earlier lights apart from the "one" that wasn't broken.

I have asked a couple of "specialists", one of which said there was alot of cross over when the Thor engines were introduced, the other said the exact opposite and that if its a new style engine it should have new style lights etc

lights changed on 2000 models.

Chassis and Suspension:
No change from 1999

Exterior:



Body-color front spoiler and mirrors on the HSEs (exterior mirrors were now auto dimming). Front and rear turn signals and side marker lamps were changed to smoke-gray plastic on all the HSE models. New headlamps and fog lamps were introduced. The new lights had darker shading to accentuate the "round" headlight effect created by the internal reflectors.

Color combinations were expanded in 2000, while in 1999, only certain interior exterior combinations were produced, customers could now mix and match at will. Colors: Alveston Red (new for 2000) Blenheim Silver Chawton White, Epsom Green, Java Black, Kent Green (new for 2000), Niagara Oxford Blue, Rioja Red White Gold, Woodcote Green.

i would say its probably been damaged at some point and wrong parts put on...

wil2813 said:

lights changed on 2000 models

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+1

Mines a 99 and its got the later fog lights and black inserts on the headlights

OK so we've got a vote for damage and replace.

I found that XA410482 is the first Vin number for Thor engined cars... I think. Mine is 422624 so 12k cars later than that.

Are we thinking that the 99 model year had later engines and interior but not the exterior mods?

Markbarneyallen, do you know your vin? Is it later than mine or earlier?

Markbarneyallen said:

Mines a 99 and its got the later fog lights and black inserts on the headlights

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Front end RTC?

quavey said:

Mine is 422624 so 12k cars later than that.

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Yours was built towards the beginning of April 1999. (The first April 1999 car's VIN was 422492)

So it's almost certainly a MY1999. I had a list somewhere of when the MY changes happened but I can't find it anywhere I'm afraid.

It's in the PDF files you get with Microcat somewhere....

LR have a habit of using up what's left in the parts bin regardless of MY.

My MY1999 had the old style lights up front but clear indicators and had the updated interior.
My current 2000/2001 has the all the new bits so its possible they just used up old parts on yours

What was your old reg Bumfluffff? It looks like it to be honest and its had a replacement fog light at some point. However, after a particularly bad day of going to the dentist, i thought I would treat my self to some later style lights so it will be all matching soon anyway

looks like someone has put the wrong lights one

quavey said:

What was your old reg Bumfluffff? It looks like it to be honest and its had a replacement fog light at some point. However, after a particularly bad day of going to the dentist, i thought I would treat my self to some later style lights so it will be all matching soon anyway

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My old one was a V reg

and my new one is an X reg

Bumfluffff said:

My old one was a V reg
View attachment 60126
and my new one is an X reg
View attachment 60125

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Amazing, so your V plate would have been a late 99 car and its still on the old lights, unless its suffering the same as mine and all have been replaced.

I've just collected my new 00 spec lights today, they look very smart I must admit lets see how long it takes me to get them fitted.... Months probably!

Yep it was a late 99, think it was first reg Nov 99 from memory. There was no other sign of damage so I think it came with those lights.
It was very loved and had the most expensive bespoke LPG kit fitted costing £4k!!!
It was all hidden under the inlet manifold so from under the bonnet it looked standard. I very much double the previous owner would pay that for an LPG kit then skimp on putting old spec lights in if they where damaged and replaced.

Datatek said:

LR have a habit of using up what's left in the parts bin regardless of MY.

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Yep - ain't that the truth!