Dse ?

wow.... I'm learning more by the minute, can you tell me why the alternator needs to be upgraded ? and whats the issues with the RF reciever ?
Are these 2 items easy to install ? and can you clarify to me what a RF reciever is on a RR please adam. We are just on our way out now to go and see the RR i showed you last night and I will let you know how I get on.
ahhhh just a quickie Ive been warned about getting 4.6 's with LPG. would you confirm to me if there is an issue with those. see you in a while

Thanks very much I would be lost without this forum

Teddy said:

wow.... I'm learning more by the minute, can you tell me why the alternator needs to be upgraded ? and whats the issues with the RF reciever ?
Are these 2 items easy to install ? and can you clarify to me what a RF reciever is on a RR please adam. We are just on our way out now to go and see the RR i showed you last night and I will let you know how I get on.
ahhhh just a quickie Ive been warned about getting 4.6 's with LPG. would you confirm to me if there is an issue with those. see you in a while

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P38 RR's have electrical issues as you know, and as the RR is full of electrical goodies i.e. heated seats, electric sun roof, windows, air con...well the list is endless as your buying a luxury limousine 4x4 than a fully equipped Ford Focus for example .

The problem with all these goodies is that the 80amp alternator, in my opinion, just copes with the running of the electrics and topping up of your RR’s battery.

You will see a ton of threads on battery issues and its really down to two issues, battery quality and the alternator providing enough juice for the whole car.

If you upgrade the alternator to 120amps its comfortably provides all the electrics with power and the battery. Using the standard 80amp puts a strain on the battery and electrics and could lead to having to replace the battery more frequently than you’d like or worse still land up with a flat battery.

As for the RF receiver, that’s part of the security system by which the handset (key fob) communicates with car’s security system. The old RF receiver suffers from spurious RF signals and in doing so wakes up the BECM security system which drains the battery leaving you stranded in areas where RF signals are strong or frequent. Good examples of this are airport/train station/shopping mall car parks where CCTV systems are used. Other signals such as electric garage door signals or even weather station signals can wake your RR up and drain it over and over again until flat. Once flat you have a 3 ton paper weight sitting on your drive or car park in need of being flat trucked to your local garage.

Both the alternator and RF receiver, I suggest you get professionally fitted by a local LR specialist or official LR garage. Be careful, the RF receivers do not have part numbers on them, therefore ensure you order it from Land Rover and not buy one on eBay or a local breakers. You must be confident that you actually have purchased the NEW part YWY500170.

I can’t honestly tell you if 4.6 with LPG conversions are any worse than a 4.0, but I will say that if you do want a petrol with LPG, make sure the LPG system is a good quality one. Cheap nasty installs can lead to expensive problems later on. Someone here maybe be able to point you in the right direction of what makes and companies you should be looking at in order to make your LPG conversion worth the money.

hiya adam, blimey thats a lot to take in, theres alot to think about, meanwhile we have just come back from seeing that DSE i showed you, well we tested everything, even the height suspension (replaced last year) went up and down, did all the tests worked perfectly, we tested the heating, aircon, all windows, wipers, everything, i looked under the car to see if there were any oil drips, all rubber seals were very good, There was a little moist wet patch of oil on the underside of the car but not enough to cause any wet on the ground, looked under bonnet there was a slight leak on the power steering hose (which the guy is willing to fix)
the body work wasnt perfect and there was one rust bubble on front passenger side under mirror and a few scratches but nothing serious.
The inside interior was a little used certainly not perfect and a little messy in parts, i wasnt sure weather to still take it for a test drive but as the electrics were all in perfect working order i thought what the hell lets go.
the guy drove first so i could take a close listen to the engine, it sounded very good, no rattles, shudders or vibrations, it was very good indeed, he took it for a good 80mph down an A road where not many cars were and i watched the height suspension adjust to motorway mode, tested the cruise control, it was fantastic. he drove back and we changed seats, it was my turn,
WOW the acceleration was good, the steering felt safe and sturdy,
I have no complaints at all, Only 2 complaints i have is the leaking hose and the exhaust outlet that is rusty and falling apart which he said he would repair, What do I do ? buy it or keep looking ?
I am stuck what would you do ? and whats your advice ?
Thanks Teddy

Teddy said:

Only 2 complaints i have is the leaking hose and the exhaust outlet that is rusty and falling apart which he said he would repair, What do I do ? buy it or keep looking ?

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If those are the only complaints, I think you have a winner.

If your getting a warranty make sure you know what it covers. Ensure all the niggles you have are dealt with before you buy and stick to your guns.

What was the price again, just under £4,800?

hiya adam the price was £4,795 he told me that the power steering hose costs about £40 but he said he would repair it, we are going to look at others though and will of course keep you posted
Do you think the rust bubble would be easy to sort ?

Ted

Teddy said:

hiya adam the price was £4,795 he told me that the power steering hose costs about £40 but he said he would repair it, we are going to look at others though and will of course keep you posted
Do you think the rust bubble would be easy to sort ?

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Ted,

Power steering / Cruise control are simple to fix as its just hoses and once renewed and then power steering fluid replaced bingo thats done.

How bad is the rust bubble? If you like the RR, and If its a real concern ask him to sort it as part of the sweetner. He's probably desparate to off load the RR due to green taxes and it being un-PC these days. Most people that havent done their homework dont realise how much a RR costs to buy or insure and think its out of their league.

But from what you say, it sounds like a good example.

Is this the one from Sandbeck Garage?

hiya Adam,
Yup its the one from sandbeck garage and the rust bubble is about the size of a 50 pence piece. There is a stone chip on the windscreen in the middle and a couple of chips on the drivers side headlight which im sure isnt a problem and i can replace. hes not in any rush to sell it, i asked him to hold it for me and he said he would out of a good gesture will and i asked him what the warranty would cover and he said major mechanical parts and labour. He is very confident about the reliability of the car as when i said to him today about the engine and electrics being good he said that he knew it was a good car. as you saw in the photographs that the car is very much basic/standard no body kit etc... if i wanted to put some sidestreps on it and light grills are these expensive ? I did go and visit another person today that had a 4.0. it was very basic and really not my cup of tea, the passenger side mirror was falling off, the body work was in very bad condition, I mean really bad, had a look over the car and underneath and oh boy !!!! the suspension kit was was in a very bad way, it wouldnt even level itself and even when it eventually did it did a poor job at it. I took it for a test drive and was not impressed at all.
The 2.5 at sandbeck was about the best one, although i am going to Doncaster tomorrow to have a look at an R reg 4.0SE 64,000 on the clock owned by a lady that took great care of it and its faultless BUT will it get the problems when it reaches the 100,000 mark, or could it be a lucky one. I think the deisel appeals to me as they go on forever, I am trying not to be too fussy but I am keeping my options open too, What I have noticed though is that there are not many RR's about and its not looking for a 2nd hand fiesta......lol

Ted

Teddy said:

thanks for your last post richard, unfortunatley I am not very mechanical friendly and yup of the dse i tested today i had a lot of trouble getting it to go, I had to put my foot right to the floor so yup a power box would be an ideal resolve. I will have a look at the link you just gave and see what i make of it. Ok I have just read that article and I am totaly impressed and I may get the DSE model afterall and purchase the powerbox, Only thing is I wouldnt have a clue how to install it but I may know a man who might.
How long have you had your DSE for richard ? and have you had any major problems with it ?

Teddy

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Hi Teddy,

I have had my 1999 2.5 DSE about 12 months now, bought with 92K on the clock. I looked at several before I bought this one, which was 2 owners. Bought it on Ebay as it was a local car and I was able to try it first. The only fault I had was a lumpy tickover (see posting under 'lumpy tickover' on this forum) and I searched high and low but didn't get the solution. There were lots of possible reasons on the forums which included diesel return lines, O-rings on the fuel filter housing, possible inlet manifold leaks and excess vacuum in the fuel tank. I did them all 'just in case' but still had an intermittent lumpy tick-over which cleared on giving the throttle a blip. I only solved it this last week - it turned out to be the submersible in-tank fuel pump. I don't think I could have had a worse fault so I am now very happy. The air suspension appears to all be original and it hasn't gone yet, but I plan to rebuild the air compressor (parts on Ebay) and replace the rubber air springs (Ebay again) as routine maintenance. I think the secret with the P38 is to deal with the known issues before they occur, because they all get them. I also had to regas the Air-con, but fortunately had the kit to do it. The power increase from the digital power upgrade was amazing, but don't go buying 'chips' advertised on Ebay because they don't fit - most of the 2.5 DSE have a Bosch ECU which does not have pluggable chips, hence my choice of the Rimmer Bros. unit which took 15 minutes to fit. I hope you find the right P38 but I would still wait for a one or two owner one and don't be alarmed if it has lots of repair bills with it because it will mean that a lot of the regular stuff will have been done for you. I can see you are getting loads of good advice on the forum. Best of luck. Richard

Personally I wouldnt care about the number of owners providing the full service history is there right down to purchasing of light bulbs and washers.

I have 150K miles on my P38 and its still going strong and have all the paperwork to show whats been completed, replaced and serviced.

Buying parts from eBay is fine, but I'm still reluctant to buy a whole car from there.

Buying from a garage at least gives you some peace of mind especially when you consider you have 6 month free warranty.

As I said earlier, if you like the RR at Sandbeck Garage then make a list of the things you want fixing and tell him you'll buy it once your list of faults and issues are completed.

From the photos (and they are just photos), it seems quite a straight P38. But only you know what its like up close after inspection.

If nothing else put it on the maybe pile and keep looking.

hiya adam
we have just been to see 4.0 SE and it was absolutley brilliant, 64,000 on the clock, still looked brand new inside and out not a mark on it, it drove erm well let me put it this way.... It had the WOW factor, all wood type surround, it really was the dogs mutts
R reg as well 1997. the height leveller was lovely, quick and smooth
best one ive seen yet, oh and one lady owner, full service history and 12 service stamps which tell me that it had a service every 5,000 miles
Ted

How did it drive compared to the DSE? Smoother and more responsive I bet!

The DSE is nice don't get me wrong, but once you've driven the petrol versions it pales by comparison.

Sounds like you've found your P38!

hiya adam,
It drove wonderfully and i could feel the power beneath my foot, I did find the steering very light as in very responsive indeed, I little nudge and it responded. it was a very nice drive, the only thing is on the funny side is that when i test drive them and the seller drives first the drivers chair is fairly back but when i get in i have to pull the chair all the way forward...lol
I'm only 5ft 7in with really short legs and cant reach the peddles unless I have the chair forward

So whats the verdict?

Petrol or Diesel?

Is this old lady's RR P38 4.0L SE what your after?

If so do you reckon you will put an offer in?

Hiya Adam,
well the verdict is the 4.0 SE but I can give him a deposit no problem but I dont recive the bulk of the cash in my account for another 6 weeks and the deposit ive got isnt enough to secure it, he wants £800 pound to hold it (
All we can do is gamble and pray that he hasnt sold it, But im covering my backside as so to speak and constantly checking all websites, garages and getting as many contacts as I can, There isnt many this side of Bradford.
Driving one takes a bit of getting used to and have found myself not being able to drive one tooo confidently which I am suprised about considering Ive got 20 years driving experience behind me. I find myself really looking at where I am going and kept getting the feeling that I am going to hit the curb...lol is this normal behaviour for a first timer in RR's ??

In comparrison in fuel wise between the 4.0 and the 4.6 HSE is there a huge difference ? and if i did 200 miles per week around town how much in money would I have to put in ? its just that we have just seen the most sexy looking RR but its an HSE model.


Teddy

Teddy, a bit of sane, boring advice here. You are falling in love with this vehicle man! Relax and be cool. If it's sold, then it really wasn't supposed to be yours was it? I have owned so many second hand motors I really have learned that there is always another one round the corner. And you can't beat that feeling - after being frustrated for a couple of months - of getting a good one! With vehicles like Rangeys I think the golden rule is few owners and good service history!

BTW - the diesels are very sensible, but I'm surprised how quick a 4.6 can shift... even if the gas gauge falls before my watering eyes...

Jock

Teddy said:

I find myself really looking at where I am going and kept getting the feeling that I am going to hit the curb...lol is this normal behaviour for a first timer in RR's ??

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Yes, I would say it is, I had exactly the same thing when I first drove mine, you get used to it very quickly though. HOWEVER, be wary if you feel the vehicle is 'jumping' about in the road though as you could have worn steering components, I had worn ball joints on the end of the track rod which would sometimes cause the vehicle to jump around the road a bit - once it was fixed the ride was perfect

As for the petrol versus diesel debate - a chipped diesel P38 will keep up with a 4.0 P38 no problem and you have plenty of power at your foot if you want it. I wouldnt give up on a DSE just yet if thats what you originally set out for - there are just as many good diesels out there as there are petrol models. The only thing being is that the diesel engine is likely to last ALOT longer than the petrol variants. Whatever anyone says both the 4.6 and the 4.0 suffer from problems such as slipped liners.

If you search you will search you will find diesel P38s out there that are just as good as your petrol ones you have found, look for DHSE's or look out for special edition DSE's like mine which is basically a HSE spec model, i have the electric seats, the Harmon Kardon sound system, the sound system steering controls, colour coded bumpers, mirrors, seat piping etc etc and lots of wood although personally im not a big fan of the wood EVERYWHERE.

A diesel may cost that little bit extra but I still think you shouldn't count it out, you must of originally decided over a diesel for some reason, dont let impulse rule your feelings because you might just make a mistake (being young I can personally vouch for this rule). You say you cant afford the petrol one right now - while you are waiting, just have a look around at some diesels and see what you think. They are just as nice vehicles and not only that I can easily do around 400ish (driving sensibly) miles between fill ups - around town its more like 325-350 miles between fill ups which is way more than a petrol one can do.

-Wills

EDIT: I also want to add to what Bigjock said - he is right, as i have put above, just stay cool and DONT get your heart sold on one vehicle. I was EXACTLY the same when I wanted my P38 but I managed to hold back until I found the one I wanted and was so glad that I did!! If your not meant to have THAT exact vehicle that you saw then you wont have it, just try and stay cool

One other thing geezer - doing 200 miles per week around town will pretty much set you back about £60-70 a week. Mine needs a service I'm sure, but a full tank sets me back £72 and I will get about 240mls from that if I don't drive like Jack Regan.

hiya wills, yup you are right, we originally chose the diesel because of the economy factor..... but when i got in the 4.0 se and felt its awesome power it changed it all for me. It is difficult for a 1st timer like me to decide which one to go for, the other aspect that we have thought about is most of the RR's we have seen have no CD, just standard cassete, ya know that square plastic thing that has this weird tape stuff inside from the roman times...lol
how easy is it to either install our current mp3 player into it still using the controls on the steering wheel OR installing a multi changer ? would we have to get a proffessional to fit one ?
Thanks for your replies guys Oh and yup I have fallen in love with the RR and need to get counselling......lmao

hiya jock, is it a 4.6 you have ?
and yup I'm not to bothered if the 4.0 se gets sold, we are just impressed that the millage of it was very low, one old lady owner, FSH, totally immaculate inside and out not a ruddy mark on her