Help and advice needed

roger352 · Apr 3, 2014

Hi
I need some help and advice about a P38 I'm thinking of buying.

It's P reg 2.5 BMW engine, automatic with 123,000 on the clock, and the bodywork and interior is above average condition

I just gave it a test drive and seems very sluggish and slow, the old joke I got it up to 60 on downhill slope is absolutely true with this vehicle. The auto appears to be working, kicking down etc. Any ideas to what it maybe?.

Any idea on price?

Many thanks for your help from a discovery owner.

Druim · Apr 3, 2014

roger352 said:
Hi
I need some help and advice about a P38 I'm thinking of buying.

It's P reg 2.5 BMW engine, automatic with 123,000 on the clock, and the bodywork and interior is above average condition

I just gave it a test drive and seems very sluggish and slow, the old joke I got it up to 60 on downhill slope is absolutely true with this vehicle. The auto appears to be working, kicking down etc. Any ideas to what it maybe?.

Any idea on price?

Many thanks for your help from a discovery owner.

Wrong engine

roger352 · Apr 3, 2014

Wrong engine?
Do you it's a BMW engine or it should a different engine for the year?

Druim · Apr 3, 2014

roger352 said:
Wrong engine?
Do you it's a BMW engine or it should a different engine for the year?

V8 on petrol is the right one, whoever thought it was a good idea to stick a small derv in a large heavy luxury car should think again

Sure some diesel driver will reply shortly

TCubed · Apr 3, 2014

roger352 said:
Wrong engine?
Do you it's a BMW engine or it should a different engine for the year?

Nope he's just a petrol enthusiast

The BMW engine has a strange torque curve - there's not much drive until 2.5k rpm. Also the throttle pedal has a very long travel so it can feel more sluggish than it actually is. So it may be that you're thinking it's slower than it is (a chipped diesel will keep up with the 4.0).
If however it genuinely is slower than it should be, I refer you to the engine experts

martynv8 · Apr 3, 2014

roger352 said:
Hi
I need some help and advice about a P38 I'm thinking of buying.

It's P reg 2.5 BMW engine, automatic with 123,000 on the clock, and the bodywork and interior is above average condition

I just gave it a test drive and seems very sluggish and slow, the old joke I got it up to 60 on downhill slope is absolutely true with this vehicle. The auto appears to be working, kicking down etc. Any ideas to what it maybe?.

Any idea on price?

Many thanks for your help from a discovery owner.

If i were you i'd test drive a few diesels to compare, i did but couldn't get on with them so went down the V8 route.

JohnnyCrash · Apr 3, 2014

roger352 said:
Hi
I need some help and advice about a P38 I'm thinking of buying.

It's P reg 2.5 BMW engine, automatic with 123,000 on the clock, and the bodywork and interior is above average condition

I just gave it a test drive and seems very sluggish and slow, the old joke I got it up to 60 on downhill slope is absolutely true with this vehicle. The auto appears to be working, kicking down etc. Any ideas to what it maybe?.

Any idea on price?

Many thanks for your help from a discovery owner.

check the in tank pump, if it's fecked or on it's way the performance is compromised. should have no issues at all getting to 60?? so something is not right

roger352 · Apr 3, 2014

Thanks guys for the help. Ant idea how much?.

AP90 · Apr 3, 2014

Roger

I bought one with the sluggish engine, I spent a lot of time, money and effort sorting it all out, seems ok now.

Couldn't have sorted the car without the help and advice I got from the members on this forum.

My advice to you would be to walk away and save/wait for a newer model with a service history or maintained by an enthusiast with bills and schedule of what's been done.

There are good P38's out there

Datatek · Apr 3, 2014

roger352 said:
Hi
I need some help and advice about a P38 I'm thinking of buying.

It's P reg 2.5 BMW engine, automatic with 123,000 on the clock, and the bodywork and interior is above average condition

I just gave it a test drive and seems very sluggish and slow, the old joke I got it up to 60 on downhill slope is absolutely true with this vehicle. The auto appears to be working, kicking down etc. Any ideas to what it maybe?.

Any idea on price?

Many thanks for your help from a discovery owner.

The petrol heads are lying, it's the right engine, it doesn't drop liners and blow head gaskets all the time.
Lots of possibilities re performance. As T cubed said, long travel throttle, all the action is in the last 25% of pedal travel. a blocked MAP sensor or perished pipe, gunged up intercooler, delaminated turbo pipes are just a few of the possibilities for lack of performance.
Do a search for things to look for before you buy, it's long list. Make sure that you do a good test drive preferably including a good hill and make sure it doesn't overheat, then try restarting the engine while hot.

martynv8 · Apr 3, 2014

Datatek said:
The petrol heads are lying, it's the right engine, it doesn't drop liners and blow head gaskets all the time.
Lots of possibilities re performance. As T cubed said, long travel throttle, all the action is in the last 25% of pedal travel. a blocked MAP sensor or perished pipe, gunged up intercooler, delaminated turbo pipes are just a few of the possibilities for lack of performance.
Do a search for things to look for before you buy, it's long list. Make sure that you do a good test drive preferably including a good hill and make sure it doesn't overheat, then try restarting the engine while hot.

No, they crack the heads instead

Datatek · Apr 3, 2014

martynv8 said:
No, they crack the heads instead

Rarely, and then only if overheated.

Plus a new head is a fraction of the price of a short block for a V8

tomcat59alan · Apr 3, 2014

martynv8 said:
No, they crack the heads instead

But there is only one to replace,

martynv8 · Apr 3, 2014

Datatek said:
Rarely, and then only if overheated. Plus a new head is a fraction of the price of a short block for a V8

Same goes for V8 liners(often caused by overheating), & not as common as you lot like to make out either.

Datatek · Apr 3, 2014

martynv8 said:
Same goes for V8 liners(often caused by overheating), & not as common as you lot like to make out either.

But certainly expensive

martynv8 · Apr 3, 2014

Datatek said:
But certainly expensive

Very true but then RR ownership tends to be.

Datatek · Apr 3, 2014

martynv8 said:
Very true but then RR ownership tends to be.

I don't call about £1,000 in 5 years expensive including all servicing, diesel reliablility

martynv8 · Apr 3, 2014

I must have spent that in the last 12 months easily (not engine related i might add), mind you, i do 20k miles a year on average.

Help and advice needed

roger352

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Druim

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TCubed

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martynv8

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