P38s are they that bad?

[skidmark77]

been looking at pics of mid 90s p38's. i reckon the are one of the best looking cars ever built. but ive read some bad things about them. not being a LR/RR expert, just wondering if they are really that big a bitch of a car? are they overly electrical if you understand my meaning?
how do they compare to the disco of the same era, since they came from the same factory

andrew

[p38arover]

They've been rubbished by the Australina press over build quality but I don't what they are talking about. They are built quite well.

I don't know why people complain about electrical problems. They aren't that bad.

They are complex, there is no doubt about that. There are a number of computers, e.g., engine, gearbox, transfer case, suspension, body, etc. However, in the main they are quite reliable.

What do give problems are items that are consumables, i.e., they wear out. These include air springs (not expensive if aftermarket and easy to replace), blend motors in the climate control. They were exxy but have now dropped in price. Besides, one can buy the same motor from Peugeot for a fraction of LR's price. Replacing them is a bit of a bugger but I've written up instructions on how to do it and they are available on the rangerovers.net site.

Heater O-rings need doing after 10 years and they are also a bit of a cow to do but I've written that up as well.

The biggest worry is an overheated motor. If the engione has been overheated, I'd walk away unless you want to rebuild it with top-hat liners.

Some parts are very expensive, e.g., hubs. TYhe bearings are not easy to replace but they do last a very long time. Unfortunately, they are not greasable.

Hope not to have a brake booster failure, they cost around $8,000.

The brake pump wears out and that will cost a grand or so. The brake accumulator will fail first and that s a few hundred.

The EAS air compressor is rebuildable so you don't need to spend $800 for a new one.

If you can't maintain it yourself, then it will cost you a lot.

Ron

[skidmark77]

:o:o:o:o:o
so it sounds like a woman. looks good but you know its going to cost you.

[p38arover]

Yep.

I didn't know that when I bought mine 5+ years ago.

Ron

[tombraider]

And buy a 99 HSE..

At least it got Bosch!

[p38arover]

And buy a 99 HSE..

At least it got Bosch!

I don't know what the thing is about that that gets people so excited.

There's nowt wrong with the SAGEM system and the motor is damn sight easier to work on than the later Thor engines with the Bosch engine management system. The Thor engine in the P38A and the D2 isn't as accessible as the GEMS engine.

In theory, the post-99 models have some electrical issues sorted but I've yet to find out what those issues really are. I suspect it's a myth.

Mine is an early '95 model and the electrics have never been a problem.

Ron

[adm333]

I have been a huge fan of the P38 for many years. I finally got one about a month ago and I am very happy.

I know what I am in for, and budget for the unexpected.

I have driven a post 2000 HSE (quite a lot) and there is a difference in the sound and feel of the Bosch based unit. I actually prefer the older ones.

Dave