Possible new P38...

So, after regretting selling my old P38 now since selling it, I am in a position to buy another Range Rover.

I went to look at P38 today, but, unlike my old one, this one has the 4.0 rather than the 4.6 engine in it. Is there much difference between them reliability wise? I mean, sure, there is a small difference in both power and torque, but I doubt it will be overly noticeable. It is a 2000 plate too, which should make it a THOR as far as I believe.

It does have a couple issues mind you. I guess it was scanned somehow, and this is what came up...



The diagnosis came back with a MAF fault and a shaft angle sensor. Does this sound right? Or is there something bigger going on here?

The other option I may be considering is upping the budget and going for an early L322. But with that will no doubt be a host of other issues.

Well done for coming back to the p38 fold.
If it's a 2000 it will be a Thor.
If i get your post right you had a 4.6 before yes?,
Depends on which 4.6 you had but.... To put this simply:

a 4.0 gems is a little better than a 2.5 diesel
a 4.0 Thor is like a 4.6 gems
a 4.6 thor is what should be in a p38 & a vast difference in performance (more torque)
Personally i'd go for a 4.6 thor. Better transmission & far more pull with little in the way of MPG (especially on good runs). Just be aware of liner problems, the 4.0 & 4.6 seem to suffer worse on later model V8's with no distinction between the 2 variants. I have just put a top hat liner engine in mine due to a slipped liner.
Cant help with the diagnostics sorry, where was this carried out?

Yes, before I had a 4.6 THOR running Romano LPG (I think). I loved it, and miss it terribly, but apparently needed a new engine about a week after I sold it.

I would prefer a 4.6 THOR I'm sure, but this one is close, and I know the previous 2 owners, and it has recently had all the bags and compressor changed out among many other things, so know a fair chunk has been spent on it recently.

Moreover, it does come with winter wheels with good tyres, and for less than a couple grand, so can't be that bad a value I'm thinking.

If I do go P38, it'll only be for 9-12 months until I move onto an L322 though. But if I go P38 just now, then I can hold out for a TDV8 when I upgrade. If I go L322 now, like I said earlier, it'll be an early 4.4 V8.

Assuming you knew nothing about the impending engine failure when you sold it then?

Anyway, take the 4.0L for a drive if you haven't already? Only you can decide whether it's worth the saving.
It does sound like a good logic you have. An early L322 can be a real pandoras box!
If i had to drive a diesel again a TDV8 would be less painful.

Aye, my other car is a 2013 BMW 530d, so that takes care of the economical side of driving about.

This is for the "fun" motor, so a thumping huge motor with an equally large V8 is the prime candidate.

just get a l322 & enjoy they aint all bad

You say you would only keep the P38 for 9-12 months before buying an L322.
In that 9-12 months you could potentially spend or lose a lot of money on a V8, as Martyn said what if the liners slip?
Save yourself the risk, save up the difference and get your L322, that way you're only going to be spending money on one cars upkeep.

wil2813 said:

just get a l322 & enjoy they aint all bad

Click to expand...

benthomas said:

You say you would only keep the P38 for 9-12 months before buying an L322.
In that 9-12 months you could potentially spend or lose a lot of money on a V8, as Martyn said what if the liners slip?
Save yourself the risk, save up the difference and get your L322, that way you're only going to be spending money on one cars upkeep.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice.

The thing was, there is about a £10k price difference between this P38, and the L322 I would really want. Or around £2-3k difference to an L322 that I might actually be able to get shortly. But from there I would still want to get into the TDV8.

The thing is, I cannot be without a second car for too long due to the way my wife and I work. So I cannot wait the 6-9 months for a TDV8. I could get a 4.4 (petrol) V8 L322 just now, and that might well tide me over until I can afford a 4.4 TDV8. Or it could potentially bankrupt me I guess.

I think the "sensible" money gets me into the P38 just now, while I save up the necessary funds for a good 3.6 TDV8. Or possibly chop the 5 series in for a 4.4 TDV8.

Get a good P38, an L332 will give you a lot more grief.

I presume the issue with L322's is more electrics than the engines? More specificly with the TDv8? That's a car I wanted, too.

Datatek said:

Get a good P38, an L332 will give you a lot more grief.

Click to expand...

+1

Especially if you cant be down without a second car for too long. The L322 may be more pain than it's worth.

Any ideas if the codes that were read are overly bad?

Lambda sensor faults may be related to the faulty MAF.. if that's duff it'll play havoc with the mixture and give Lambda/02 sensor faults.

others ane nothing too great

Good stuff.

Just bought the 4.0. Will get pics up later...

xs2man said:

Click to expand...

I'd get rid of the RAD blockers before you cook it.

+1 V8's run hot as it is!

someone's been playing with the EAS height switch !

cool...

it goes down...

it goes up....

it goes down...

it goes..... oh... !

Ha ha. It's been running the "rad blockers" for at least a couple years now. But yeah, they will be gotten rid of. I do like the look they give it, but the insurance company wont touch them, so they have to go.

Nah, aint been playing with the EAS. That was taken a few mins after getting her home from buying her. Had a new compressor last week, and new bags a few months ago.

xs2man said:

Click to expand...

Shes smart like the a bar and spots