P38A I'm going to look at this tomorrow, what are your thoughts?

ukadamwest said:

The climate control book icon is common, you'll be hard pushed to find one without. it can be as simple as the A?C needs refilling. or it could be the compressor clutch or blend motors, of 3 way switch.

what gave warning flags to me is the modification from auto to manual.

keep looking

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I saw another one and this was quite odd...no book icon on the climate control. I asked the guy whether the Aircon works and he said it doesn't as he fitted a belt from a Discovery which didn't fit around the climate control compressor. He said something about 'it' squeaking which was driving him mad....so I got the impression it was either the belt or some bearings. He seemed like an honest bloke. He lives in a part of Slovakia which doesn't get particularly warm in the summer.

This is the second one https://auto.bazos.sk/inzerat/80775751/Range-rover-p38.php
Looked and drove very well and the guy was around my age (30ish) and was an enthusiast. He seemed to know about many common issues with P38s which was a good sign. Car drove nice though I was only in the passenger seat and I respect people are reluctant to let a stranger drive their cars. We went through all the gears, even transfer box, seemed good. Engine was much quieter than the one I went to see earlier in the day. However, the front injector had some diesel around it so it might be a bad seal? There were two hoses connecting to each injector (plus one metal one which I guess is the fuel line)...what are the hoses for? The front ones were clearly replaced and he said the pool of diesel is residue after the repair. Is it possible to replace all the hoses quite easily? He also mentioned that the car had immobiliser issues so he had the immobiliser bypassed and as a security measure he has installed a secret start stop button. Passenger heated seat works intermittently as well and electronic fuel cap doesn't work. What I did like however was the good nick interior, smooth gearbox and nice sounding engine. It doesnt have a sunroof which is a plus point for me. The only thing which is a shame is the air suspension has been removed...but having said that I once had a D2 and I ripped off the airlines from the compressor whilst offroading (branch or rock) so springs aren't necessarily bad.

He was willing to drop down to 3000eur and was in no way pushy. I said I'll need to think it over which he didn't have a problem with. Car is on 267000 km

What do you think? It would probably be unrealistic to find a mint example. I've had a look in Germany on mobile.de and prices are similar plus I'd be looking at another 800eur getting it over here, registering it etc. I'm tempted to get it. I took my other half with me to see both cars and she has no idea about cars. But she told me that even she could tell the first one was bad. She quite liked the second one and was quite impressed. She's also quite good with first impressions of people and she thought the second bloke was genuine.

A P38 on springs is bad. Castrated! I know this will probably set off an Air / springs debate that has raged on and off intermittantly for god knows how long. but here it is.

the EAS system is inherently simple. it gets ripped out and replaced by people that havent got a clue. The upshot is, an air bag leaks, the compressor works overtime, the air bag is replaced. the next air bag leaks, compressor working overtime feeding a leak again. It's replaced, by the time all 4 have gone through the compressor is knackered then it gets the press of being unreliable. all 4 springs were fitted at the same, rubber deteriorates at the same rate no matter which corner so if one is leaking. replace them all, the next and the next and the next wont be far behind. if the valve block is overheauled the compressor overhauled (as per my previous post) there shouldnt be a problem. its a lack of unerstanding of the vehicle itself that leads to air being replaced.

now the practical side. The P38 EAS is self levelling. no matter what weight you put on the back the EAS sytem will level the car. hence the headlights do not have dash adjustment. The EAS system lowers the car when above 50MPH for more than 30 seconds, this is for safety at higher speeds by having a lower CofG. when offroading, the EAS will push a wheel down when loss of contact occurs. also the ride of the P38 is built around the P38.

personally i wouldnt touch a castrated P38 with a bargepole. It is also worth bearing in mind that mooted EU regualtions for modified vehicle could render a catsrated P38 non-compliant, also with the loss of headlight leving capability... I'm not sure if that is requirementioned for compliance.

So now I've lighted the touch paper on this debate I'll retreat to safe distance

You can convert back to air if you really want air, a few guys on here have done it, the diesel leak sounds like the spill of pipes which is a very cheep and easy fix.

mikerajjers said:

I saw another one and this was quite odd...no book icon on the climate control. I asked the guy whether the Aircon works and he said it doesn't as he fitted a belt from a Discovery which didn't fit around the climate control compressor. He said something about 'it' squeaking which was driving him mad....so I got the impression it was either the belt or some bearings. He seemed like an honest bloke. He lives in a part of Slovakia which doesn't get particularly warm in the summer.

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The a.c. compressor has a seperate drive belt so I'm not surprised the belt wouldn't fit.

If you do purchase, then it definitely should go back on air. Usually a fairly easy project.

Why are there gingerbread men stuck to the air-vents ?

I did like this part of the google translation: "auto is on iron man chassis so no pillows"

I've been thinking about it and I will probably pass on this one. I know it will always bother me that it isn't on air and I don't want to spend a lot of money reinstalling it on this high mileage one. I will keep looking for an original unmolested example, I'm sure they exist even in LHD form. Does anybody know what the equivalent of autotrader is in Spain/Portugal/France? If anybody knows of a good example please drop me a message.

I've found a really nice one in Spain. If it is as described then wow! Seems the air is still there too! Shame I don't speak any Spanish or know how buying a car over there works. I'll see if my brother's housemate can help out, he's from Spain.
https://www.coches.net/land-rover-range-rover-25-dt-5p-diesel-1998-en-vizcaya-33730542-covo.aspx

..... enter Fredi!!!!!

That looks good in the pictures. Looks a lot like a late rrc inside. Phone it and see if there is a common language.

The one in Spain looks very tidy and low miles which looks right for condition apart from the drivers seat belt clip
its the base diesel model so missing a few luxuries but looks like its got air con.

I don't speak Spanish but it looks like it reads
vehicle in perfect condition, suspension pneumatic (air) functioning perfectly
the vehicle interior and exterior very good.
Sod it, just translated on google
Vehicle in perfect condition, air suspension working perfectly. The vehicle both inside and outside is in good condition (sheet metal has some scratch but of little importance). He has not done monte

I've sent the seller a quick email to see if it is still available. I think it's really nice in silver!

I wouldn't bother with Portugal, second hand cars are diabolically expensive there and you need to be a resident to buy one legally.
If you do want to look, the best second hand place is olx.pt

and easy fix.[/QUOTE]

Wazzajnr said:

I wouldn't bother with Portugal, second hand cars are diabolically expensive there and you need to be a resident to buy one legally.
If you do want to look, the best second hand place is olx.pt

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S/hand prices here are crazy...you dont have to be resident but you do need a fiscal number to transfer docs into your name...dont know about Slovakia but here you have to have owned the car your importing for a set period before you can import with paperwork showing you lived there.

Shippers said:

and easy fix.

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S/hand prices here are crazy...you dont have to be resident but you do need a fiscal number to transfer docs into your name...dont know about Slovakia but here you have to have owned the car your importing for a set period before you can import with paperwork showing you lived there.[/QUOTE]
It may have changes since I lived there but I had to get temporary residency to buy a car.
Either way they're daft prices and importing them is even dafter unless you bring one with you when you take residency.

We have 4 here and a business.Bought 1 new and only had to get temp Residency to buy our 2 stalls in loule indoor market.At the mo matriculating f/control thats been here 15yrs on uk plates and not in my name...good agent sorted paperwork...1300€ including her fee...just got inspection to do now

For France try https://www.leboncoin.fr/annonces/offres/poitou_charentes/
I must say I don't have a clue about furriners buying cars here, pretty sure its possible. Have a look here for paperwork to expect from seller.
https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/france/poitou-charentes/transport/vehicle-ownership expect big prices though.

here's ebay Germany with a P38 2.5 DSE (dealer advert )

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Land-Rover-R...199379?hash=item5200c48cd3:g:OLAAAOSwr8xZ-7~M

Shippers said:

and easy fix.

Click to expand...

S/hand prices here are crazy...you dont have to be resident but you do need a fiscal number to transfer docs into your name...dont know about Slovakia but here you have to have owned the car your importing for a set period before you can import with paperwork showing you lived there.[/QUOTE]
Same in Spain, crazy prices and an NIE number required.

I've found a beauty! He says everything is original and everything works...apart from the suspension. However, the bags are there, the compressor is there but there is some kind of fault with the system. Nothing that can't be fixed, he says I could either take it as it is with a price reduction or he can fix it for me. Being Italian (hopefully from an area where they don't salt roads) he said it has no rust whatsoever.

Diesel, manual, original, air bags...ticks all my boxes
https://auto.bazos.sk/inzerat/81004922/Range-Rover-25-DSE.php