P38 2.5DSE

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headlight

Active Member
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104
Location
Bridgend South Wales
What sort of horse power can the above be tuned/ chipped to produce.
I believe standard the hp is 138 ?
I would be looking for slightly less sluggish performance especially towing.
 
It's not really HP you're looking for towing, TBH

It's torque, and no matter what anyone says the M51 has none..

270nm from a 2.5 6 pot is pathetic..

You can get a little over 300nm and 160hp IIRC with a Chip but eh..

Compared to 407nm it's nothing ;)
 
What sort of horse power can the above be tuned/ chipped to produce.
I believe standard the hp is 138 ?
I would be looking for slightly less sluggish performance especially towing.

You can chip the diesel but if you have the auto it may shred the gearbox unless you swap it for the HP24. Depending on the year that is a smaller or bigger job.

I find no issues towing with mine although it is the manual box. I'd be checking the MAP pipe is connected and a decent service before chucking money at it.
 
I have previously owned a 200 & 300 TDI Disco what is the 2.5 DSE performance like compared to them ?
They were both pretty sluggish.
I can't remember the hp or torque they had.
 
They can feel sluggish in that they are not the most responsive. They will put plenty of torque out towing if they run right. DSE 138hp is EGR plastic manifold version. With a manual box you can push this with a chip/powerbox, slight turbo tweak if you have a spare head. @Mark Piercy has an interesting stage2 setup with a gigantic intercooler has the rads mixed about

Trick is get it running right before pushing it, don’t chip it to make up for already existing problems.

I’ve gained fair amount of power/driveability just from setting things up correctly and maintaining things to as new-to-me as possible.
 
the DSE Auto is slightly faster than a 300tdi Discovery..

Not by a far margin.

Manual is "better" less of a parasite but if you want a spec'd P38 that rules out the manual as most were Lower or base model spec cars..

Also worth noting a 4.6 1999+MY has the 4pin front diff and the 065 HP24 box

which can handle well over 500nm without flinching ;)

they're also better spec and if it is a 1999MY+ 4.6 it WILL BE A VOGUE so very well spec'd ;)
 
4pin rear diff is straight swap from 4.6 - doozle.
Front diff youd have to take the actual pin out and swap as it’s reverse gear.

There’s a stupidly expensive military grade one out there too that is a solid piece iirc, might have been the 90...not sure?:confused:
 
I was just wondering if I could live with the performance (lack of) of a diesel as the 3 petrol 4.6"s I have seen all needed quite a bit of work & I have seen a few diesels advertised that sounded better, according to the ads, although that may not be the case as one of the petrol"s I have seen was described as "mint" :eek:
Also having LPG fitted would cost me about £1,750 which would buy over 300 gallons of diesel.
If the performance of the DSE is not much better than a 300 TDI Disco then I think I will carry on trying to find a good"ish 4.6 petrol.
 
I replaced my 300TDI 90 ,
with a 2.5DT P38A.
Fuel economy is betterer (particularly now it’s set up) and it’s faster than the 90 without gobbling fuel at speeds above 55.

If you get V8, one with LPG needling service is better than without as is cheaper to fix than start from scratch.

- if someone says mint - tell them to plug it in to diagnostics read the codes and prove it if they are that sure? ;)
 
There"s a 2000 Vogue 4.6 with 123,00 miles on fleabay at the moment for £5000 being described as
"show winner potential." :D

Rowan Cherry red carpets + contrasting piping..

The Mats should also be Rowan cherry red overmats not rubber.

It most certainly isn't "show winner" seats are filthy too ;)


I wouldn't mind this one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Ran...892554?hash=item365573e4ca:g:d3UAAOSwi~Fdmi9o

Or this one ;)

I'd clean the seats first though!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Lan...704795?hash=item2ad451009b:g:LkcAAOSwul5deVUp
 
P38's are a great car but they are an older vehicle and finding one that will do the work needed may be the end of it,
there are a few bus drivers on here who tow with both the V8's and the doozles. I dont tow with mine but it is 20 yrs old this October.(day before my birthday.... sad I know) mine drags unrunning cars around to and from my garage.
maybe a more modern landy could be better suited to your needs @headlight with oodles more power... and leaks and snapping cranks.. and ignition keys that dont....:p
 
I had chipped my P38 after replacing the turbo and getting rid of the stupid cat (I don't mean my Ronnie) replaced by a biger diameter. Fitted KN filter and a Kenlowe fan.
After I was already feeling a difference I fitted a chip solution that you can jumper to different characteristics.
It worked extremly well for torque and as I had bigger tyres it really saved me on fuel.
Had the chipped version from 220,000 to 320,000 so I have to say it worked well for me.
 
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