Am I mad???

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garyrigden

garyrigden

Active Member
Posts
367
Location
Herne bay
I'm getting the urge to buy a diesel p38, lift it, stick some chucky tyres on and use it as my every day vehicle and occasional pay and play/greenlane machine!! Do I need sectioning under the mental health act???????
Or------ do peope actually do this?
 
Very tempted. Had nothing but disco 1's for the last 10 years so want something else. Someone put this on fb this morning and it got me wanting . Looks awesome.
yvegusaq.jpg
 
There was a chap in LRO or summit a few years ago i seem to remember that did the same thing.

He had an onboard air supply and he trailered a set of dumper tyres with him and swapped them over when he got to a P&P site. Think he did other things like get some underbody protection made and he got shot of the air bags also.

I think you'd be nuts considering the issues P38's seem to have but you certainly wouldn't be the same as us all with our defenders and discos.
 
From what I gather the main probs with p38's are electrical?. The other option I was considering was a disco 2. Are these any worse or better electrical reliability wise than a p38????
 
Speaking from my own experience of using my P38 2.5td for the last 3 years off road here in Portugal - go for it. The nature of my business sees me having to drive up mountain tracks to get to clients vehicles (always broken 4 x 4's) never has it failed to get to them. It does get used for normal laning trips acting as a guide or just myself out and about. Only thing fitted to it are some Fedima Sirocco tyres (special tracks), still on std air bags which I have not had a problem with clearance on off road height - normally set at normal height and just lifted for boulder strewn tracks. Not had a problem with electrics getting wet - just careful when crossing rivers to make sure depth is ok.
 
to keep electrical gremlins to a minimum - stick to a 2.5dt with manual gearbox. Best bit of equipment to keep in car is the EAS lead and a notebook to run it off (never had call to use it whilst off road - but you never know). One other tip is to open sunroof before going through any deep water - means of exit if it does all go wrong.
 
I don't think they're any less reliable than any other land rover.that p38 in the picture looks very good indeed just go for it and if it turns out it's not for you get something else.
 
garyrigden said:
I'm getting the urge to buy a diesel p38, lift it, stick some chucky tyres on and use it as my every day vehicle and occasional pay and play/greenlane machine!! Do I need sectioning under the mental health act???????
Or------ do peope actually do this?
Click to expand...

You and me both
I've been looking into it for the last couple of months
And last week I bought a 1998 V8 it needs a bit of work (engine)
Off road parts are harder to get hold of but if you look around you can still get them but less choice
 
Would love a v8 but fuel costs would kill me. Have to be a diesel. Whats the bmw diesel like for reliability and service parts costs?
 
The bloke I bought it off is a mate of mine and his had P38s for over 10 years so he knows all the problems they suffer from
And he likes the diesels the BMW engine if serviced properly will go on for ever and if you get one with the manual gearbox the MPG is really good for a big car
 
Been there done that regret selling it DO IT
yes they have their faults so go in eyes open
sort the issues before they fail on you

and enjoy

point to note though off road bits are hard to come by
compared to discos and fenders
and cost a fortune so either start saving
of break out the welder.
 
Seriously considering it now. Just got to have a look at what off road accessories are available and nud tyre sizes that will fit before I make a final decision.
 
A brutal P38 that you can work hard off road but still keep its good looks,Meaning not chopping chunks out off it so it looks like a cheep mud plugger , Is an idea floating around in my head :rolleyes:
 
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