Thread: P38A Vs Disco 11

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Ten

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

.

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

Range Rover P38/4.0/4.6 Common Problems and Fixes
Range Rover P38/4.0/4.6 Common Problems and Fixes
Range Rover P38/4.0/4.6 Common Problems and Fixes

and then re-read Range Rover P38/4.0/4.6 Common Problems and Fixes

You may get different answers in the Disco2 forum.

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

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?!

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.