P38A Vs Disco 11

[Ten]

I am looking to buy a Disco 11 but have seen a well looked after P38A which has been converted to coils.

How different is the Rangie from the Disco with regards to complexity? Is the P38A worth consideration or would it send me bankrupt?

Thanks,
Ten.

[bee utey]

I am looking to buy a Disco 11 but have seen a well looked after P38A which has been converted to coils.

How different is the Rangie from the Disco with regards to complexity? Is the P38A worth consideration or would it send me bankrupt?

Thanks,
Ten.
Both have similar complexity. Both can send you bankrupt;). The P38 is nicer to look at when it ceases to work and nicer to be in when it does work:D.

[Grumbles]

I'd go for the "right" P38 everytime. But do a search here on P38s to get yourself up to speed on potential problems. Not all will befall you of course but budget for one or two. Not sure about the coil conversion - I really do believe in the Air Suspension and think coils are a retrograde step.

[BigJon]

have seen a well looked after P38A which has been converted to coils.

.

This will require an engineers certificate to be legal in Australia.

[Hoges]

Range Rover P38/4.0/4.6 Common Problems and Fixes (http://rangerovers.net/newrremedies.htm)
Range Rover P38/4.0/4.6 Common Problems and Fixes (http://rangerovers.net/newrremedies.htm)
Range Rover P38/4.0/4.6 Common Problems and Fixes (http://rangerovers.net/newrremedies.htm)

and then re-read Range Rover P38/4.0/4.6 Common Problems and Fixes (http://rangerovers.net/newrremedies.htm)
;)

[Slunnie]

You may get different answers in the Disco2 forum. :D

[anthmc]

I have a 96 p38 and I love it
Put a set of 265 75 r16 on and she gets through the softest sand.
I have had to relace a sensor $180 as I climed a mound on high height hyper extending the left rear, and both front window mechs need relacing at $400 each.
My mate has a disco 2 7 seat with stability control in the back end.
Unfortunatly he was a victim of a dodgy 4x4 mechanic in Bayswater Perth and a second hand Landrover dealer in wangara.
My uncle who has a p38 put him on to Discovery autos and what they found was not good.
The oil leak that was there when purchased was suposed to have been fixed by the bayswater mech was actully dueto the engine being over heated at some point, a problem with discos.
The number 8 cylinder sleave was tapping on the head.
Whole new motor.
$11000 later and a new 4.6 rangie engine
They are apparently the better motor
Also the front uni joint on the tail shaft has no grease nipple so if it lets go say good by to the gear box housing
We picked it up in his after he drove to Broome and back, but it was just detecable as a vibration.
Discoveries make up their own with a grease nipple so that is something to look for.
They also found the gear box service done by the other guy was only an oil change $700, and the radiator that was suposibly flushed when the water pump was done was still 70% blocked
Go talk to Discoveries as they are straight down the line and 2 generations of mechanics.
Also the Rangie is a bit longer than the disco and I love the air suspention.
My uncles 95 with about 300 000 on the clock just went from Perth to Adelaid, then in to Lake Air and then into Victoria before comming back
He did have a hard EAS fault but I set him up with the cable and programe and he was able to reset it.
Go Rangie

[daljames]

Im with Hoges. Check out his links he put up for RangeRovers.net. I've had 2 TD5 discos and 2 P38's (both GEMS(Pre 99)) and would buy another over a Disco 2 any time. The air suspension is not trouble at all, it just has to be maintained, and is not expensive to maintain either if you have half a brain and a little bit of daring. It also makes the car, especially offroad. Id be more worried about cooling systems than the air suspension, and that one applies to Disco's as much as P38s. Look for well maintained is the main thing, then replace coolant hoses, fluids, heater core O rings, get a faultmate for diagnostics and itll take you anywhere. Exceot through water. Need a snorkel... Which are coming, eh Paul/Andy?!

[RR P38]

You are looking for answers from biased members on the P38 channel here.
BUT,
I did have a very nice TD5 which i have sold in favour of retaining my P38 till i get a D3.
Complexity is the D2`s failing i think, just look at all the cooling hoses under the bonnet and you also need mighty small hands and a 1/4 inch socket set for nearly all work.
There is something about the P38 that the D2 does not have.
The D2 is a better car yes, but it is that something that the P38 has, ie
Instruments, controls, switches the split tail gate and yes the air suspension.

If you are a larger driver the D2 looses here.
Lets face it the P38 was a $150k ish car you do get a bit more kit for that than you got with a D2 at $70k ish.

[jsp]

had an 02 TD5 disco for a few months, traded it for the 95 (94 build) P38, and are thinking about retiring the P38 as its quite worn out and getting another looked after p38.

P38 has more room for a larger person, is in general much more comfy, and has far better space for others if the car is loaded up, also the P38's road manners are far superior than the disco's, although I found the disco much more peppy, might just be my bad memory. I have driven a P38 on coils and it was fine around town, but I would think its highway/high speed handling would be rather comprimised. EAS is definately a feature I would keep.

I guess the one thing I couldn't stand about the disco was the position of the b pillar, it was right in my spot for checking my blind spot, and just for someone of my height/build and seating position in the car a poor design. I haven't had the same probalem with my classic range rovers either.

Also from memory the disco was taller, so in my current house one wont fit in the garage (P38 put into highway height just fits with dealer supplied roof racks).

The finish on the disco was very nice, but felt a little more like a snap together burago kit compared to the P38. Then again one of my current P38 greifs is failing plastics, but the car has spent most of its life in the full sun in South Australia.

I would say the P38 is more failure prone electrically than the D2, and the ECM is certainly more tempremental than the D2's. personally I recomend the D2 if your paying someone to maintain your car, if you are doing allot yourself and happy to learn the P38 is a beautiful car to drive, like a nice comfy pair of slippers...

No offense to any disco drivers out there, plus if there wasn't disco's then second hand spare parts for the rangies wouldn't be so cheap ;)

[RFollia]

It's my 4th post here, and the 1st in the RR section.
I've been looking at P38s (bosch motronic ones post '99) since 2002.
In 2004 I bought my 2nd D2 (1st one was a TD5 which I sold in 2006), that time a v8 5 speed. The other candidate was a P38.

In 2007 I tested another P38 to buy it, it was a late 2000-2001 model, somewhat neglected (had a hose closae to blowing up and air springs did need renewing, could not select low range as lever was seized to lack of use and the owner asked silly money for it) so I turned my back and walked away, and still regret that.

I went for a D3 instead, a V8 as well, but I loved the way the P38 drove and handled, I loved the driving position over my D2 and my D3.
My D2 feels heavier and less agile than the P38, just for the shorter wheelbase and longer rear overhang. The P38 4.6 just seemed lighter and sportier than the D2, even my other RRClassic tdi feels more agile in bends than my D2 (even it's a V8 with ACE)

That P38 I tested 4 years ago is again for sale, and another very nice 30th anniversary P38 has come up for sale as well.

I've been studying the P38 workshop manual for years, have my faultmates both in my d2 and d3, would buy as well the MSV for the P38. know the o-ring issue, the HEVAC issue and how to rebuild compressors and valve blocks, have rebuilt my Santana brakes at the side of the road, rebuilt my Santana alternator, changed myself all bushes in my Santana and D2, but still do not know if the P38 is the car for me, I mean, if it could be a long-term sensible purchase.

And as the months and years go by, cars age and the chance to find a good looked after P38 vanishes as time goes by. Would like to do something before it's too late. But is it the right thing?
Notice that I've only driven Land Rovers my whole life, I have never, ever, owned a "normal " car, state, saloon, or off roaders., since 1992, that is when I got my driving licence

BEst regards

Robert

[Grumbles]

Hmmm.....half a page to tell us you have talked yourself in to buying a P38. Now all you have to do is go out and buy one. :D

But save yourself some potential stress and wallet grief. Buy the 'right' P38 ie a well maintained P38 which has been well serviced by Landy people. Patience is the key to buying well here as there are many on the market but few worth buying. And it is a buyers market - never forget this.

Oh yeah - welcome to the world of RR ownership.

[RFollia]

Hmmm.....half a page to tell us you have talked yourself in to buying a P38. Now all you have to do is go out and buy one. :D

But save yourself some potential stress and wallet grief. Buy the 'right' P38 ie a well maintained P38 which has been well serviced by Landy people. Patience is the key to buying well here as there are many on the market but few worth buying. And it is a buyers market - never forget this.

Oh yeah - welcome to the world of RR ownership.

You are completely right, but if it has to be a Bosch engine (easier to find spares and ECUS in the near future), non-SAI equipped, green or blue, with gray interior, or a 30th anniversary, they are becoming rare as hen's teeth.

That particular 30th had benefitted from a new engine 2 years ago (cracked block, you know).

At present I'm stuck with my D2 and RRC rolling restorations, don't know if I will keep my D2, D3, or both, but should I sell them, a P38 is the only choice. So far.

Best regards
Robert

[Gullible]

I have a 96 p38 and I love it
Put a set of 265 75 r16 on and she gets through the softest sand.


What make and type?

[Keithy P38]

As above, i'd like to know if you have issues with scrubbing! I decided to get 255/70's on mine because of apparent scrubbing issues with 265/75's!

[PeterAllen]

Hi all,
I PMed "anthmc" the same question earlier and here is his response below

They are Kumho Ecsta X3
I was going with the same profile and brand but in a more aggressive tread but they ran out and offered them at the same price.
My mate went with the top of the range Coppers on his Disco 2.
Once you let them down to 15 psi up at Lancelin on the dunes and beach she is fine.
Robs Disco is about the same but with the tires fully inflated his will dig better.
It all depends on how often you will use them.
I would Still get the Kumho’s for beach but possibly the KL78’s
If you want side wall strength go the Coopers
The higher profile also makes the P38 rock a bit more from side to side, so stay with the 255 65 r16’s if you want to avoid that.
Also when the Rangie is still lowed to highway mode the fronts will rub the guards as you turn into a driveway, manually raise it before hand.

[Fish78]

A couple of candidates for you, neither is real cheap, but there isn't much around at the moment that is any good.

RANGE ROVER RANGE ROVER HSE - Braybrook - VIC - $ 15,990.00 (http://www.tradingpost.com.au/Automotive/Used-Cars/Small-Medium-Family-Prestige-Cars/AdNumber=D25800753374?BackToResult=true&AdOnTop=)


RANGE ROVER RANGE ROVER - Broadbeach - QLD - $ 17,990.00 (http://www.tradingpost.com.au/Automotive/Used-Cars/Small-Medium-Family-Prestige-Cars/AdNumber=TP004195630?BackToResult=true&AdOnTop=)

[Keithy P38]

I viewed the Silver one in Braybrook when purchasing mine in December. It will need new airbags among other things suspension wise. It has also seen off-road time judging by the undercarriage.

The one in Broadbeach however, I have not viewed.

Cheers
Keith

[redandy3575]

I viewed the Silver one in Braybrook when purchasing mine in December. It will need new airbags among other things suspension wise. It has also seen off-road time judging by the undercarriage.


Keith

I knew there was something they weren't telling. Just seemed too cheap for this model especially from a dealer.

[Keithy P38]

It's still a good car with low k's and runs great! For me, the price was too high considering the use it's had. If they were to replace the bags with Gen III's and replace all of the bushes and driveline fluids, i'd buy it at that price.

Make sure (to all) if you are looking at a schmick rangie, to check the undercarriage (not just the bags) so you know if someone has simply detailed it very well! The car yards seem to think that you can detail a 4x4 without doing the undercarriage, becasue its a rangie it should have never seen off-road time :-p