Range Rover to 2002 information

[SLATTS]

Hi,
I've sold my defender and I'm looking to step into a Range Rover up to 2002 or there abouts. Wanting to know about reliability, mechanical and electrical issues. Was hoping for a diesel but would settle for a petrol engine. Is there a particular year/model to steer away from. Any help appreciated with thanks in advance. Cheers Slatts

[Keithy P38]

G'day mate

You'll be hard pressed to find a diesel P38 Range Rover for sale in Aus at the moment. There was one a few months ago, a DSE ('99MY from memory), however, they are a 2.5L 6cyl BMW motor and a big of a slug from all reports.

You'll find the S and SE P38's are 4.0L V8's and the HSE's are all 4.6L.

In 1999 a model update was implemented, so from mid '99 they all run Bosch (Thor) engine management, up to mid '99 are Lucas (GEMS) engine management.

Earlier ones have only rear axle traction control, later ones are both axles.

It's said that the Bosch P38's are more reliable (or should I say less quirky), although reports from other members here seem to prove that age and kms are more a factor than which engine management they run.

I've had a 2000 HSE (2yrs), and currently have an early '99 Thor HSE (5yrs) and mid '02 Thor HSE (6mnths), all of which have been super reliable and have had absolutely none of the known P38 issues (blend motors or EAS issues).

Those two things aside, P38's are actually more reliable and easier to own than a Disco 1 or 2 (despite what the Disco lads will tell you).

If you're prepared to learn all you can about how the suspension and HEVAC (air con) works, you'll find ownership of a P38 a very happy and extremely comfortable experience.

Is there anything in particular you're worried about or like to know more about? Are you handy on the tools?

Cheers
Keithy

[rar110]

Which do you rate as the best Keith?

[Keithy P38]

I'll be honest, my '99 HSE is the best of the 3 I have owned. It idles smoother than a Rolls Royce, uses the least fuel per 100km and goes like a cut snake, despite having the highest mileage of the three (245,000km compared to 180k and 215k).

Personal thoughts here, so don't take offence GEMS lads, but I'd only ever buy a Thor P38 if I was to do it again. I've spent months working on other people's GEMS P38's both at their houses, and in workshops (when even the landy guru can't solve them), but never a Thor - mine included. The worst I've had has been a Welch plug on mine.

Cheers
Keithy

[mtb_gary]

I've had my 1996 HSE for around 8 years now. During that time it has been predominantly a weekender used for towing boats and going off road. The boats have all been around the 2 tonne mark and it does it with ease. It has not been without faults or breakages along the way I've changed the brake modulator and accumulator, blew the Viscous Coupling in thw transfer box replaced a head blown gasket and managed to snap the front left drive shaft not once but twice which in turn destroyed the cv joint. Over the last 12 months it has been my daily drive and I love it. Average fuel consumption around town is 14.5 l/100k and on a country run expect around 13 l/100k. Unlike the THOR the GEMS runs on regular 91 octane giving some savings at the fuel pump.
Around town I feel it's biggest weakness is the possibility of being locked out of the car using the remote folowed by engine disabled. This is quickly overcome by using the key rather than the fob button to unlock the car then possibly having to use the EKA (Emergency Key Access) code to resynch the key. All up less than a minute.
The best advice would be to buy a well looked after and well serviced vehicle. Irrespective of GEMS or THOR they are both getting old and parts do wear out. Do all of the standard tests on the car including a cold start, EAS operation and a HEVAC check by selecting "low" on the temperature setting. No book symbols should appear. Finally check the pollen filters, and the big foam filter under the vent below the windscreen wipers. If they are in good condition chances are the car is well cared for.
Good luck with the search and hopefully welcome aboard the p38 ownership.

[TheTree]

Personal thoughts here, so don't take offence GEMS lads, but I'd only ever buy a Thor P38 if I was to do it again. I've spent months working on other people's GEMS P38's both at their houses, and in workshops (when even the landy guru can't solve them), but never a Thor - mine included. The worst I've had has been a Welch plug on mine.

Cheers
Keithy

Mate

Were all the issues were related to the GEMS ECU's ?

Everything else is pretty much the same as far as I can tell, there are minor upgrades of course

Steve

[Keithy P38]

They were related to either communication with ECU's, electrical gremlins, more electrical gremlins and also the sender units in the fuel tank. As such, not engine management related (apart from two O2 sensors being a P.I.A with ECU comms). One also had battery issues.

[TheTree]

They were related to either communication with ECU's, electrical gremlins, more electrical gremlins and also the sender units in the fuel tank. As such, not engine management related (apart from two O2 sensors being a P.I.A with ECU comms). One also had battery issues.

I wonder if it's mainly because they are older ?

Steve

[Keithy P38]

It's possible. 2 of them were 1yr older than my '99, both with at least 50k kms less on the clock. Age, perhaps rather than kms traveled!

[banarcus]

Do I have a strange P38? Mine had low comp thor 4.6 and it was made in 1998.

[Scouse]

Most Thors are low compression. A lot of 01MYs & all of 02MYs were high.


Yours would be a late 1998 build for it to be a Thor. Late 1998 = 99MY.