New HSE owner about to experience the joy and frustration...

[MadDad]

Call me Mad...as my name but after 5 years driving an Alfa Romeo back and forwards from the service department to have it repaired YET again, I have now joined the ranks of the P38 HSE owners and some friends are suggesting I am about to do the same?. I have purchased a 97 Rangie with some modifications such as O/size wheels, 2" lift springs and Bilstein shocks, sports exhaust (sweeeeet note!)etc. So I have been reading some very pertinent threads here, thanks in advance to you all for the info.
I am now in the market for a Bull Bar and Sparewheel carrier but can find anything here in WA. Do I have to get them engineered or can you direct me to somewhere that makes them for this vehicle. ARB does a Bull bar for up to a 95, will that fit?
I dont care what THEY say, I LOVE this beast!!

[poleonpom]

Welcome to the stable. Madness in P38 owning is not an affliction, but a necessity. Fortunately you've cut your teeth on an Alfa, the difference is the P38 is largely well engineered but let down with some idiotic after - thoughts. The great thing is that everything is well covered by the people on this forum who are nothing short of being P38 geniuses. Welcome!

[daf11e]

Welcome, you've just made a madness switch from Italians to poms, your journey will be most enjoyable I am sure....all on this site will help along the way...as far as your questions thre are many on this site with accessories who will chime in I'm sure...the parts for your model will be for p38s 1995 - 2002 except for engine and some other which will be for the Gems engine 1995 - 1998. I think this is right but as I said more knowledgeable on your model will chime in I am sure........welcome again and good luck!

[Hoges]

yep...welcome! and as above, at least the instructions are in English...;)

Check out RANGEROVERS.NET HOME (http://www.rangerovers.net) see especially the section on RR P38 Issues and Remedies newrremedies (http://www.rangerovers.net/newrremedies.html)

Obtain a copy of RAVE (Rover Active Viewing Environment... or some such)...1300+ pages of searchable workshop manual in pdf format...this is a "must have". see the front page of this forum "Dave's Interesting Things" and get it on CD...

If you have an Android phone, download TorquePro (about $5) and buy a Bluetooth dongle from ebay (about $25). The dongle plugs into the OBDII diagnostic port under the glove box near the transmission tunnel. The TorquePro app gets its feed from the dongle...it allows you to see all sorts of interesting info in real time to diagnose all sorts of conditions... you will become so fascinated you will forget to eat and change from MAD Dad to P38-addicted-Dad:angel:

Plus there are plenty of willing contributors on this forum to assist as well.

Good luck!

[TheTree]

Welcome to the asylum :p

There is a page of suppliers here

P38 Suppliers (http://p38.hts.com.au/suppliers.html)

Bullbars are available, but rear carriers need to be fabricated

RAVE is also available from this page

Range Rover Websites (http://p38.hts.com.au/rangie_websites.html)

Steve

[mtb_gary]

Welcome to the p38 club. It's not all bad....really:angel:. There are a few of us from WA on site here. If you get stuck I'm sure one of us will be able to assist. Given you are looking for bull bar I'm guessing you're also going to be heading off road? Enjoy you drive, they become obsessive addictions of your time and mind. But I keep reminding myself that there are worse addictions. You may also be taunted and ridiculed by your mates who drive their Nissotas, that is until you snatch them out of what you have driven through without a problem :D.

Gary

[MadDad]

Hahaha thanks guys, its reassuring to know there are others out there! to those who posted info on where to start, awesome! I am searching and ordering already. And Gary, yep I am a keen 4wder and have had a few "other" ones but Im betting on the Rangie to outdo them already!
Will upload a few pics soon and some updates.
Cheers all
MadDad Dave

[davidsonsm]

Welcome mate. At least one source of potential frustration won't be present with the EAS. It divides opinion. When working, tis a beautiful thang. When not - arrrh:eek:

[mtb_gary]

MadDad

Whilst unfortunately you're a bit late to sign up for this years W4 Challenge (this weekend) held up in Toodyay, you may like to have a look at joining Team W4, a Land Rover only club in WA that hold regular 4WD outings and social events. Check out the web page if it sounds like something you might enjoy.

- TeamW4 (http://teamw4.com/)

Gary

[davidsonsm]

MadDad - most people end up getting a D2 bar, modified (brackets only) to fit. There's a few threads on here on the subject. I believe most people (me included) have gone with the MCC Falcon Bar. See the "New Bullbar for P38" posting.

There are bars purpose built for the P38 - out of the UK I believe. They tend to be a bit plain vanilla in my opinion.

There are also a few different postings on AULRO on a rear bar. Kaymar made one back in the day - but they're like rocking horse poo these days (2nd hand only). A few people have had them commissioned. I have a swing away arm, but attached to my chasis through the original bumper (details on the posst: DIY Rear bar and swing away carrier/P38 and disco 2 rear bar/The P38 Rear Bar Tyre Carrier SNAFU/plus others I'm sure).

[blindin]

Hi, I have been in your position just a few weeks ago.
I was a little nervous of getting one as you tend to hear about the problems, and the magical lucas electricial stuff.
I came from a discovery 2, and thinking it will be quite similar. I was wrong.
I had a whole list of faults, and had started ordering my parts even before I had collected the car.
I have been very lucky, and I hope most, if not all my problems have been an easy fix.
Don't let the faults scare you, there is plenty of help about, and if you spend the time to investigate, you'll find its no different to working on any thing else, maybe just a little more frustrating. lol.
As Gary has mentioned, team w4, is a good place, and there is the challenge this weekend. I'm sure Gary and myself are ready to try and earn ourselfs a throphy this year, although I think Gary will want a different one to last year.
If you find any rear wheel carriers, or some one who will give you a price, keep us in mind, that is some thing I will be looking for, as I'm sure you've found out, the larger wheel no longer tucks into the space.
I have to say, I love driving mine, it keeps a smile on my face. My exhaust is done too, although not a nice job, it does sound ok from out side, it is quite inside though, and the stereo sounds great too.
Enjoy, I'm sure that you will.
Simon

[FANTOM P38]

Welcome aboard, I'm sure youll both love & hate your time with the P38 as most of probably have from time to time. However the golden rule is, if you know somethings not right get right onto it, there's plenty of advice & help here if you need it. Plenty of cheap parts also on Ebay and sure to be someone local to you that would help with diagnostic equipment if needed.

[DT-P38]

Well done and welcome.

Put some photos up of your new ride!

Everyone likes pics on here.

Think long and hard before worrying about bar stuff... Do you have other priorities with the vehicle? If you don't know the history of the vehicle you might want to look at some preventative maintenance and upgrade stuff...

Radiator, water pump, overflow bottle pressure cap, hoses, thermostat, change all fluids and filters (including plenum and pollen filters) add a low coolant/overtop alarm..,. Search preventative maintenance and see what else pops up!

Not saying don't ever do bar work, but seriously I would prioritise differently if your aren't 100% confident all that stuff is good already.

[Hoges]

x2 what DT-P38 said.
Not long after I bought mine I visited a local independent LR fixer to buy some 'refurb' bits. He had several D2s and a P38 in his workshop. I asked him about a bar ... he shrugged his shoulders and said something to the effect that they are disproportionately expensive for what they are, and that for the same price you can buy a heap of critical spares... fuel pump, sensors, serpentine belt, coil block etc etc ...and besides which they are a PITA when you need access to the engine compartment... so I delayed the purchase. I have not bothered since and having had to do quite a bit of work under the bonnet over the past few years I can see the wisdom in his advice!

If I could find a genuine RR "soft" bar at reasonable price I'd now seriously consider it.. I'm not a "Scruby-like" fanatic :angel::wasntme: but a recent accident nearby has really left me wondering about the need for traditional bull bars for vehicles predominantly used in the suburbs.

On a separate note, I see the FL2 is now "finito" and its replacement, the LR Discovery "Sport" comes with a pedestrian friendly airbag built into the bonnet as standard!