Range Rover issues

[DILLIGAF1]

Hi everyone i hope some people can help me im thinking of buying a 1999 range rover hse 4.6 v8 on lpg with 150.000km's has full servise history but i think ive been put off buy other people having problems with air suspension issues climate control issues and a few other things. Are they as bad as they say im quite handy with the tools so i can fix some things myself i dont realy want something that is going to cause me too much grief.

[DT-P38]

That is a pretty simple question. NOT!

If your handy on the tools and it checks out ok then have a crack. EAS is pretty much DIY and not too expensive if you can DIY. Engine is generally the critical $'s bit. If there is absolutely any evidence of overheating then dig further. Do not take a short test drive. Take an hour or two with it and get it running as hot as you can... e.g. up hills with lots of passengers. If it's from a yard get extended insurance and drive it like its stolen for a month!

They really do get their claws into you though so don't drive it unless your really thinking of getting one.

There is plenty of knowledge and sharing avail. here so do some searches and reading (suggest a few nights!) if you wanna understand it all better.

[DILLIGAF1]

Thanks DT-P38 the car is private seller it a bloke that i work with he's a pom he imported it over here when he moved here to live it a one owner he wants i think $8500 for it haven't driven it yet but so far it looks ok .Thanks for your input.

[Craig_Keira]

They're not that bad. Yes, you can have problems but from what I've seen, you can get out of almost anything for a few hundred bucks IF you can do your own fault clearing. BUY A NANOCOM. The EAS is complex. Like anything complex, it can fail. The likelihood of failure is inversely proportional the maintenance you do on it. Example: Air springs are service items. If you blew one or it leaked, would you replace one or the lot? You replace all four. They're all on the way out. But if you want hassles with leaks times three more - replace one. It's that simple. If you have issues with something, fix it and fix it properly.

Besides, nothing will remove the smug smile on your face from owning the best 4wd on the planet ;)

And, for emphasis: BUY A NANOCOM. Consider this to be as important to your toolbox as screwdrivers.

[Keithy P38]

Welcome to the forum!

Don't let the P38 reputation put you off - they are a brilliant 4wd! Some have more issues than others, and 99 times out of 100 they will be due to lack of maintenance. The first thing I did when I got mine is replace all fluids (including transmission and transfer, etc). Once you know what kind of life it's had you will know how easy a time you will have. Both of mine have been fantastic (first one drowned sadly).

As a town car they are expensive on fuel, as a tourer they excel and love to tow, as a 4wd they are legendary! Mine spends most of its time in low range and out bush (off to the lions den this weekend), I have no doubts that it will get me there and back without drama!

Cheers
Keithy

[Sydr]

Thanks DT-P38 the car is private seller it a bloke that i work with he's a pom he imported it over here when he moved here to live it a one owner he wants i think $8500 for it haven't driven it yet but so far it looks ok .Thanks for your input.

Pommie cars will have been driven in winter; is this bad? Not here, but in the UK they put salt on the roads in winter. You may want to have a good look underneath to determine whether it has copped a beating and is rusty from the salt.

[benji]

It'd pay to have a really good look underneath, and under the plastic kick pannel inside the car between the seat and the door. Just pop them up, and look under the wires; and in the wheel well.
The p38's are very well tarred and waxed up through!

Also bear in mind, if it come from the mother land, it won't run properly on 91, so it's premium only....

[redandy3575]

Not too much more to add except for the question, are they ok and not going to give me too much hassle? Well I put it to you this way, if your mechanically minded and not at the mercy of a mechanic, then I say it's worth the purchase, but if you do rely on mechanics to fix everything, then I'd say look elsewhere. Bear in mind too that like mentioned earlier, if it's imported the fuel may be an issue due to high compression motor that it has, also you may find the cooling system to be more suited to the cooler European climate and will need to pay extra attention to temperature when driving in our extreme climates wherever you are. All in all, accept the vehicle for what it is and you will love it, especially off road, and watch all the Toyota Landcruiser owners jaw drop when they see a Rangie out do their modified vehicles.

[Keithy P38]

and watch all the Toyota Landcruiser owners jaw drop when they see a Rangie out do their modified vehicles.

I'll second this! 2" and muddies on a 100 series can't keep up with my P38 off road!

[DILLIGAF1]

Thanks heaps everyone does anyone have one on lpg im trying to work out the tank mileage for running costs its v8.

[redandy3575]

Thanks heaps everyone does anyone have one on lpg im trying to work out the tank mileage for running costs its v8.

Not sure about the mileage, I think those that have the lpg setup get around 300 km out of a 80lt tank.

I would sit down and do some Maths work to see if its really worth the effort, especially now that LPG has gone uP to around 89cpl. I've been down this road before and cannot see the benefit let alone the value in it no matter from which angle you look at it. Just remember this, 89cpl is not your final price of what you pay to run your vehicle, as long as it takes for you to pay the LPG system off of around $5000 minus the $ 1250 rebate along and with the additional servicing you'll be paying around a realistic figure of about $1.35 a litre. Just a little food for thought before you shell out your hard earned on a vehicle that you originally paid $8500 for. But look, have a chat to those that have it and see what they say about it. I find my 4.6 uses less than the 4.5 litre 6 cyl petrol Landcruiser motor which is more advanced engine than the old Rover v8.

[DILLIGAF1]

Hi redandy3575 thanks for your help the Rangie that i'm looking at is already on lpg but i have just found out that it doesn't have 150.000km as it was imported from the UK it is in miles per hour so its got 142000 mile on the clock lpg was fitted in approx 08/09 and is supposed to have full service history and he wants $8000 for it body is straight and interior is excellent.

[redandy3575]

Hi redandy3575 thanks for your help the Rangie that i'm looking at is already on lpg but i have just found out that it doesn't have 150.000km as it was imported from the UK it is in miles per hour so its got 142000 mile on the clock lpg was fitted in approx 08/09 and is supposed to have full service history and he wants $8000 for it body is straight and interior is excellent.

Ok, sounds like a winner seeing that your not paying up front for the conversion. 142000 mile x 1.6 km = 227200 Km. Not bad for the price,being a 99 model the vehicle averaged around 20654 km per year which is a good figure and hasn't done too many short trips which is good in the sense the motor has had regular use. I'd say have a crack at it, and do all your usual checks and if suspicious on anything no matter how small or silly it may sound, feel free to jump on here and ask the question, we're only too happy to help out . Good luck and send us photos, would like to have a look.

[Keithy P38]

That's the exact same amount of kms that mine has travelled!