changing a p38 engine and other parts

Hello Range Rover fans.First of all this is my first post. I'm about to start taking my driver's license and would like to invest my money in a Range Rover as the first car (relatively cheaper) P38 that go from 2007 to 2009 to try to acquire it at a more affordable price and with decent features (although I have some future plans for research on exchanging parts like the engine to improve the efficiency and consumption), I already know some differences between models 2.5 DT 2.5 DSE 4.6 HSE and do not know other models range rovers p38, my only interest in this car is the design (obviously). But as I am somewhat knowledgeable because I've never been a great enthusiast of cars, I wanted you to give me your views on possibly other models and some things to consider, think the year of the car will be very significant in the purcahse? among those that have been pointed already I realized that the 4.6 HSE have more power but from what I noticed it makes the car faster and more potent but but it means it will spend more gasoline than a 2.5 DSE diesel because I also would use it more in the city than in races? I plan to exchange engines in the future for a powerful engine (170-300 km / hour, the higher the better) more efficient (economic). seen this which one would you advise me to buy? and what type of engines should and could i replace for it? since there have been more then two decades since they were created there will probably be more and better options for it now. I will probably look for the replacement engine car or buy a scrap engine and all the other necessary parts to make it fully funcitonal and worthfull. I'm asking this because i'm very uneducated about cars and you guys probably have lots of knowledge and experience that would help me and other interested people, so I think I'd use some help, any help is good help as long as you don't hate on me! peace and thanks!

If you have little experience of motor cars, I would suggest that a range rover p38 is not ideal for your first car. changing the engine for a different one of more power will have lots of problems for you.

Agree, you need to be a mechanical engineer and computer professor to change a p38 engine. Try a defender, discovery 1 or range rover classic

P38 ran from about 1994 until 2001. They're all old now, parts are perishing, it WILL go wrong and it will cost to fix it (in Portugal at least). So you will need lots of funds to run it. Lots. Say you buy one for £2000. You will need £1000 in the first year to keep it happy.

Disco 2 more reliable if you can find one that hasn't rusted through.

P38 had some minor but good changes around 1997 and then some more major ones around 1999. Best one to go for is 4.6 from 2000/2001, although parts for these can be more expensive for some reason. 4.6 is stronger all round. Run it on LPG and it is cheaper than the diesel or the same to run but with all the refinement of the petrol.

For a first car I'd be looking at something more reliable and cheaper like a Ford Focus or Vauxhall (Opel over there) Astra. Or a Volkswagen Golf if I had money.

Oddly enough, you don't hear of people putting different engines in much. That probably tells you all you need to know about how easy it is. There is a guy on RR.net who has dropped a 6.2 lump in but I think t took him a long time to get everything working again afterwards.

Changing a 2.5 dse engine for a bigger more powerfull one is a no no the electronics that run the engine will not talk to other engines and to swap the electronics is one big can of worms.

As all the above....

The P38 Range Rover is an electrical nightmare if you plan to change the engine to something else!

Also you will never get a P38 to 300km/h regardless of engine, hell you won't even get my 740i BMW to 300km/h and that thing is rocketship quick!

The P38 is a fine vehicle, but they don't like being messed with and will need constant maintenance.

I would strongly suggest you download and read cover to cover the RAVE workshop manuals for the P38 to truly get an understanding of the car and compare it to what you are potentially asking from it, as they will be wildly different.

The P38 came with 5 engine options as standard:
1994-1999: 2.5 I6 M51 Diesel, 4.0 V8 GEMS, 4.6 V8 GEMS
1999-2001: 2.5 I6 M51 Diesel, 4.0 V8 THOR, 4.6 V8 THOR

The 4.6 GEMS is similar in power to the 4.0 THOR, and the 4.6 THOR being the most potent of the group.

The vehicle electronics uses a central 'server' (the BeCM) this is linked to all the other ECUs in the car (of which there are many) and as part of the security system for the engine, it must 'handshake' with the engine ECU and find a matched sync code before it will allow the engine to start. If you swap engines and ECUs to different makes/models, the BeCM will lock the car down and refuse to do anything!

Even the great Overfinch had to find workarounds when they did engine upgrades to the 5.0 variants (rare and expensive)

That is not to say it can't be done, just be mindful the P38 is known for issues with the engine electrics and systems even before you start transplanting engines.

Research, research and research is your friend in this case......but as a first car and a project, I'd go for a simpler car to mod and maintain....if it has to be a Land Rover model....Disco, Defender are the easiest to do conversions on.

If you want a fast car, I'd go BMW (I am biased as I love Bimmers) but most Euro boxes from the likes of Vaxhaull and Citreon have a big modding scene, or the Jap models of Honda and Nissan also have a modders scene.



The Range Rover is not a modders car unless you have deep pockets, a sense of humour and a lot of patience.

Hi,

You could try a 4.6 HSE, 2000 year if you can find one.

It is possible to get a bit more power by changing the camshaft, which is quite easy to do.

But, if you add more power, you have to brake harder for the bends as these cars roll quite a lot if pushed hard cornering.

If you need help looking at one, let me know.