P38 or D2....Can't decide! please help!

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hayden2222

Member
Posts
20
Location
Hampshire
Hi

My wife and I are going to get a 4x4. It will be my wife's daily (but she doesn't drive too much as we have a 9 month old - say 5k miles a year)

We will be towing a caravan and doinf a small bit of off roading.

I can't decide between a D2 or P38, much prefer the look of a P38 but scared about the issues.

I've found 2: -

D2 is 1997, 3.9, with 80k miles for £1,800, has lpg (single point) but no certificate - seller has been honest and said ''It has some light surface rust around the rear lights. Wing mirrors and just starting to come through the boot .''

P38 is 2000, 4.6 (bosch) with 130k miles for £2500, has lpg (multi point) with certificate. the guy has said the following has been done over the last couple of years:

Replaced both rear tailgate straps. Replaced interior central window control panel. Replaced air-conditioning rubber seals by foot well. Replaced front window Replaced engine fan, water pump & idler pulley Replaced electronic dist coils, HT leads and spark plugs. Replaced f/s front door lock Replace n/s front door window mechanism. Replaced battery. new rear exhaust. Front n/s wheel ball joints. replacement EAS air dryer. new Headliner


Really torn, not sure if it's worth the risk on the P38...but does seem good that a lot has been done (especially the ac O rings)

What do you guys think!? Thanks
 
One piece of advice...

For either vehicle. Take someone who has knowledge of the vehicles.

D2 are very prone to rust in the chassis, SLS - air suspension can cause issues, plus you can get a myriad of other problems with 3 amigos / ACE. They tend to look shiny , but can be very rough underneath. They can get costly or unreliable very easily if you get the wrong one.

Cheers
 
Thanks, yea a friend has had pretty much every RR out there...and I'm quite 'mechanical' and handy with a spanner...so know what to look for.

Just hear so many bad stories of P38's...but much prefer the look and feel of them, if it were in my budget I'd go for an L322 I think, only as I have a 7 series at the moment and they're the same engine....

Just worried about the engine to be honest, everything else if fine and easy to do....Rover engines haven't the best rep. but then again there are some examples where they are! i.e. my dad had a 3.5 in a boat for 20 years used a hell of a lot and that had no issues at all, but perhaps that was due to it being 3.5 and not honed to 4.6!

I assume the slipped liner issue could occur at any point really....unlike the BMW nikasil issue which they say if the car is still working there won;t be an issue....
 
First step, is to spend an evening reading these forums for the typical issues, etc. Make a list of things to check before you go.

Take either or both for a decent length drive, ideally at least 10 miles. Switch between petrol & LPG to make sure both are working. Check everything electrical actually works. After the car has been running for 10mins or so, drop the EAS to access height, and select max height to make sure it can easily come up again. If it struggles, then the compressor may need refurb.

Also look at the MOT history online. Any fail-pass cycles can be a useful indicator of previous work done, although not foolproof.

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and then probably buy the P38 :)
 
haha thanks, yea I've spent a few days reading, just can't decide if it's worth the risk.....I suppose if it did breakdown my wife and baby would be safe!

Is 2.5k for a P38 with 130k reasonable? Especially as a fair bit has been done....MOT history is fine to be honest, only bushed/ball joints, leaking exhaust but it's had a new exhaust...and in 2015 'oil leak' but that wasn't on the last one - and to be honest I expect a 17 year old car to leak oil a bit!
 
Yea, not a fan of diesel....but I suppose it is a bmw lump, just concerned about it being over worked....thought the diesels were problematic?
 
Personally I cannot see a contest. the P38 is not particularly complicated from the mechanical point of view. electronics are its weakest point.I have had 5 petrols and the current one is a diesel, and I love it. It pulls the caravan at legal limits effortlessly and will cruise all day at 70.Just my oppinion
 
Yea, so many conflicting views.

I know maintenance is key, but have heard that even than there is no guarantee that it will eat itself tomorrow!

Is 130k on a Rv8 a lot? I know it's not for a m62b35/44 but they're German engineering!
 
Mine is on 3rd engine. Liners dropped on original at 60k. Then on replacement LR engine at 140k. New top hat engine in now at 185k but blows headgaskets continually. Mine was very well maintained by PO & by myself but luck of the draw with RV8's.
PS, never had electrical issues with mine.
 
thanks, p38's seem a bit of a gamble....but one I may well take! Just don't like the idea of a dual mass flywheel on a tiny diesel in a huge car especially if it's been towing and especially as i will be towing - even if my caravan is only 1.2tonne
 
Iv just hit 130k on mine look at my threads iv done every bloody thing to mine almost, but I love it I'm about to fit LPG shortly as iv a kit sitting here. My mate has a D2 and wants a p38 that says a lot.
 
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