gfromleeds

gfromleeds

Well-Known Member
Hi guys I'm looking at getting my first diesel p38 and I've found a good one only problem is its had its air suspention converted to springs
Now its got 8 months mot on it but I remember somone saying the law on mots is changing and it won't pass next year
Anyone know anymore on this?
I'm thinking I might convert back to air if there's enough of the old system left so would be on the look out for parts/swop springs ect near leeds
Also its a dse so what should I look for on the test drive I've had v8 p38s before so not a total newbe
 
Get there early, you want to start it from cold to test the in-tank pump and glow plugs.
Make sure that it gets up to temperature. Unlike a V8 you can remove the stat to camouflage overheating issues.
If it's an auto, and once it's nice and warm, find a straight bit of road, stop then floor it. It won't quite match a V8 treated the same way but it should still push you back into the seat.
Try starting it with the engine hot. Does the glow plug light come on? It's got a hot start 'bodge' fitted. Not necessarily a bad thing but it might help negotiations. It cranks for a while before starting? It needs the pump re-timing (or a 'bodge' kit).
 
Springs will not be an MOT problem just yet but converting it back to air would be a good idea even if the bits are missing. You can pick up ECU's and the rest of the EAS kit for not a lot of cash on Ebay.
You can use the coming new MOT regs as a bargaining point.
 
And again, get in early, what you save by bargaining on the car citing MOT will go back in as the price of EAS gubbins goes back up citing the same!
 
What sort of mpg can i expect these engines to do?
Also its a high miler 180k how long do they last realisticaly?
 
It depends how retrospective the new rules being talked about will be. But there indeed could be a scenario if the ban on unauthorised mods as it is interpreted in some other European countries comes in, in full. Were a P38 on springs, in particular an early model of relatively low value would be practically unsaleable. The second hand market in EAS parts could go through the roof.
 
gfromleeds said:
What sort of mpg can i expect these engines to do?
Also its a high miler 180k how long do they last realisticaly?
Click to expand...

I get 24mpg from mine as a long term average, I'm a saddo, I record the mileage and the fuel used, Up to 30mpg on a run. around Leeds with all the traffic it will be less.
Engine could be good for 300K if well maintained, trouble is you will not know how it's been treated.
 
gfromleeds said:
What sort of mpg can i expect these engines to do?
Also its a high miler 180k how long do they last realisticaly?
Click to expand...
Mine is on 183k and other than a few hiccups. It is still a strong motor, a few bits of surface rust where paint has flaked away (treating it now so it doesn't spread) and a few rubber bits are getting read to be replaced.

I am mildly cautious about the gearbox and after the aux belt tensioner failed I am slightly cautious of HGF.

Don't expect lots of miles to the gallon if you live anywhere with hills though. It sucks down fuel like it is running out when you hit any sort of incline.
 
Datatek said:
I get 24mpg from mine as a long term average, I'm a saddo, I record the mileage and the fuel used, Up to 30mpg on a run. around Leeds with all the traffic it will be less.
Engine could be good for 300K if well maintained, trouble is you will not know how it's been treated.
Click to expand...

Since puting this post up the guy has told me it had a engine rebuild at 130k so its only done 50k
So only the gear box to worry about
 
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