Thread: Range Rover to 2002 information

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

Which do you rate as the best Keith?

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

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.

Originally Posted by Keithy P38

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

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Steve

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!