What am I getting myself into?

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newb

newb

Well-Known Member
Posts
168
Location
Oxfordshire
Hello,

I was lucky enough to go abroad this summer and had my first experience of going off-road on an upgraded Discover 2. Loved it.

Now that I am back I want to continue my experience with off-roading as well as having a second run-around vehicle. I started looking for a Discovery 2 to start with. Unfortunately, my location does not provide me much with challenging off-roading, but neighboring counties do have some green lanes. Who knows, I might get time to go further afield for more challenging places.

Whilst looking around a second option became available. One of my family members has a P38 that has been standing for over 8 years now. It does need TLC. It has rust in the usual places – rear wheel arches, tailgate; it has a whole in the rear bumper, scratches and laminating paint. I do love the look of P38 and do not mind helping to keep one on the road. Oh yeah, it has a broken axel that needs fixing as well.

I am looking to take it to a LR garage that specialises in restoring/servicing LR vehicles to understand the work required to get it back on the road and anything in the near future. With time, I do look to fix as many items as I can myself (there is a limit to that). I had a look myself on the internet for parts such as bumpers and tailgates and there is hardly anything available, forget colour matching…

My questions are, please:

1. What am I getting myself into? What is the availability of parts, is there less choice/support for P38 these days, than say 10 years ago?

2. Shall I consider a different vehicle instead, say Disco 2?

3. I have thought ahead and may look to replace ESP for springs, if ESP keeps throwing issues. Yes, the seasoned members here will say not to be daft and keep it as it works if you maintain it. What exactly are the tasks of maintaining it and how often/when are they to be performed? In my books, replacing parts is not maintaining :p

I have strolled through some of the threads here to try to understand what I am getting myself into and what will be needed. I am trying to gain a realistic understanding and balance want/need and the real world. Yes, I have seen the Prosecco and Champagne slogan :) I guess the question is what champagne and what year? Is it a case of how long is a piece of string? Appreciate any guidance/ heads up.

Many thanks in advance.
 
If it has stood outside for 8 years then its going to work be trouble, if stored undercover you might be in with a chance, bet you a coffee the garage will frighten you with whats needed!
 
@lynall that is my worry :) It was outside :/ I know for sure it will need all the breaks and pads done. It had work done before the standstill on the key components.
 
Welcome:).

I suppose it would really depend on the cost of said P38 or is it going to be a family freebie/handme down:D.

Once you look in the right places parts are readily available.
Keep suspension, once maintenance up to date, worth a little bit more for the comfort:).

Rust wise you will probably find less on the P38 than a D2.
Its horses for course but all fixable with help here. But the garage will expect you to open a very full wallet:eek:.
If you have the want/ability to do it yourself its all doable for most so dont be sacred to try.

J
 
@marjon Thank you. It will be a freebie with occasional joint use :)
I would like to have the ESP going for as long as I can for the said reason, just do not want to get stuck because of it in a middle of trail. Trial and error it will be, I guess:D
Will look to the garage for initial review and getting it MOTed, after that will see. Will most likely be here more often :)

Thank you.
 
Hello and welcome:)
if you can work a spanner its all fixable with help for on here, the EAS once sorted is not complicated and is easy to work on.
 
Welcome.
The P38 is an easier beast than the L322. They rarely have champagne tatstes, it's more prosecco or might even be a babycham type of girl. ;)
As Brian says, if you can do some/all/any of the work , with the help and wealth of knowledge on here, it's fixable :D
 
D2 or P38 is good choice imo.
p38s require you to keep the electrics happy whereas d2s tend to need the tub welding. mine has stood for few years more than once :oops: and is fine (1995), although not 8! Both models are easy to get parts for and relatively cheap if you know what to get where which we can help you with.
If you have one offered to you on your doorstep that you know where its been is always worth checking out. you have the option to say its gone too much for you and walk away? Depending wether it is 2.5/4.0/4.6 may affect your mental health/bank accordingly
A willingness to try yourself with the small issues and a trustworthy LR indy for the 'what ifs' will go a long way whichever you choose
Welcome to Landyzone
 
@RangeRoller dt Thank you. Haha, it is 4.6, so I am mentally preparing. It is LPG converted, so I hope that will help the bank balance.

I think you all have set me on the track on working on the P38. Let's see what the review will expose :)

Thank you all.
 
brianp38dse said:
Hello and welcome:)
if you can work a spanner its all fixable with help for on here, the EAS once sorted is not complicated and is easy to work on.
Click to expand...
I'd somewhat disagree about the EAS. While it is it not super complex, diagnosing an issue can be difficult unless you have a HUGE fund to throw parts at it. Obviously this depends on the issues. But I'd not want to fool anyone that it is easy (and therefore cheap) to keep it working.

I'm not knocking the p38 (I have one). But this can be true of other issues too. The spanner side of it is one thing, although access is dreadful on some bits. It is the non spanner bits that cause the agro, which there are many.
 
Last edited:
newb said:
Hello,

I was lucky enough to go abroad this summer and had my first experience of going off-road on an upgraded Discover 2. Loved it.

Now that I am back I want to continue my experience with off-roading as well as having a second run-around vehicle. I started looking for a Discovery 2 to start with. Unfortunately, my location does not provide me much with challenging off-roading, but neighboring counties do have some green lanes. Who knows, I might get time to go further afield for more challenging places.
Click to expand...

Technically 'green lanes' are part of the Queen's Highway. So they are "on" roading. Not off.

2nd to this, as they are roads. They should all be fairly drive-able in standard vehicles and should not be challenging. All terrain tyres and risk of scratches from bushes.

If you want to green lane. Consider going with others and maybe look at mapping tools for your phone and things like GLASS.

What other types of off roading do you plan on? As 'what' you want to do will really dictate how suitable a vehicle is for the task.

There are lots of types of off roading, such as UK laning, overlanding, pay & play sites or even trials competitions.

newb said:
Whilst looking around a second option became available. One of my family members has a P38 that has been standing for over 8 years now. It does need TLC. It has rust in the usual places – rear wheel arches, tailgate; it has a whole in the rear bumper, scratches and laminating paint. I do love the look of P38 and do not mind helping to keep one on the road. Oh yeah, it has a broken axel that needs fixing as well.
Click to expand...
Broken axle? That seems a bit extreme. You might want to check a bit more, as it isn't common on a p38.

newb said:
I am looking to take it to a LR garage that specialises in restoring/servicing LR vehicles to understand the work required to get it back on the road and anything in the near future. With time, I do look to fix as many items as I can myself (there is a limit to that). I had a look myself on the internet for parts such as bumpers and tailgates and there is hardly anything available, forget colour matching…
Click to expand...
A garage could be very expensive. Make sure you know what you are getting into. You could easily sink thousands into rebuilding something.

newb said:
My questions are, please:

1. What am I getting myself into? What is the availability of parts, is there less choice/support for P38 these days, than say 10 years ago?

2. Shall I consider a different vehicle instead, say Disco 2?

3. I have thought ahead and may look to replace ESP for springs, if ESP keeps throwing issues. Yes, the seasoned members here will say not to be daft and keep it as it works if you maintain it. What exactly are the tasks of maintaining it and how often/when are they to be performed? In my books, replacing parts is not maintaining :p

I have strolled through some of the threads here to try to understand what I am getting myself into and what will be needed. I am trying to gain a realistic understanding and balance want/need and the real world. Yes, I have seen the Prosecco and Champagne slogan :) I guess the question is what champagne and what year? Is it a case of how long is a piece of string? Appreciate any guidance/ heads up.

Many thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I don't know what you mean by ESP..... what is it?


As for the p38, I personally think they are nicer and superior vehicles to the Discovery 2. Unless you want a 7 seater, as that isn't an option on the p38. The D2 also can be had with ACE (active cornering enhancement) which is a brilliant bit of kit and sadly not available on the p38. But everything else about a p38 is better IMO. But they are more complex, so you'll probably want to invest in a diagnostic tool for it.

As for the suitability, it really depends. A p38 or a D2 are fairly wide and long with lots of body work. So will be more susceptible to body and paint damage. They both also have long overhangs and the p38 has a longer wheelbase. So things like breakover angle and approach/departure angles are not great. But they still capable and comfy.
 
300bhp/ton said:
I'd somewhat disagree about the EAS. While it is it not super complex, diagnosing an issue can be difficult unless you have a HUGE fund to throw parts at it. Obviously this depends on the issues. But I'd not want to fool anyone that it is easy (and therefore cheap) to keep it working.
Click to expand...

I personally have to disagree with this. :)
Yes it maybe slightly more expensive than your springs, but if the car still has it its worth maintaining then it becomes normal expense. For a range rover;):).
Its getting it there, if somebody has not maintained it, as with any car just a regular service is not all they need:).

J
 
marjon said:
I personally have to disagree with this. :)
Yes it maybe slightly more expensive than your springs, but if the car still has it its worth maintaining then it becomes normal expense. For a range rover;):).
Its getting it there, if somebody has not maintained it, as with any car just a regular service is not all they need:).

J
Click to expand...
Well I asked for help several times. And found no answers to several issues I was having. To big track further it seemed like it needed £500-700 in parts. And I don’t think those parts would have fixed any of it. Just allowed continued investigation.

I spent a lot of effort on it and I’m used to mechanical things having rebuilt several cars and done engine swaps in the past. I’m also a software engineer by trade.

I’ve put it as an open offer on the forum before. I still have all the bits if anyone wants to prove me wrong and come and have a look and investigate what was wrong with mine. But amazingly, nobody has yet offered :)

I would have happily kept the air suspension. But I didn’t want a disable car that I couldn’t use. And I didn’t have a grand or more to spank on it in the hope of it fixing it.
 
i think both points have merit.
Not having EAS has allowed me to concentrate my efforts on bigger issues, but if id had to pay for a new spring kit and fitment i dont think it would have been worth it as you could get someone to replace the EAS for that price. problem is knowing someone that knows EAS to do it.
It is EASy when you know how but most people dont so for them it could even be a deal breaker. Then again some of the coil setups ive seen are shocking
 
@300bhp/ton ,@marjon and @RangeRoller dt Thank you very much for your input, this is definitely helpful!

And thank you for naming places where to look for on and off roading :) I am not looking to do it competitive atm. 5 seater is plenty. And I do like comfy for the day-to-day. I will keep you posted here of the progress, it may be weeks/months.
 
@lynall ,@RangeRoller dt @300bhp/ton @marjon As you were kind to answer the post/call, I thought to update you on the progress...

The P38 will be pursued until it is not anymore... but in the meantime, given the unknown timeline and the needs and wants of two I do need range rover in my life.

Reading about, I did have L322 on my mind a lot and my understanding is that it is a lottery, but, like, real lottery chances... I still thought to see one and to try it, if it would live up to my already blown up hype and expectations. But I do want a V8 in my life at least once and the time is ticking away as our beloved state is keen to exterminate them. An LPG would be nice. So I went out looking and found one that was promising. Went to view it....

Hmmm.... mileage <100k, but there is a gap in history paperwork... not a good sign... and gearbox was never touched... again not a good sign given the forums and articles... Ok.. let us drive it... Well, you could not make it up....it dies during the test drive and we had to walk back to the car. We were lucky we could walk back and it was only 15 minutes... Later I received a message saying that it was the alternator, hence the suspension did not drop and then the accelerator died and then it would not start... So, not much love given to it... Full history of care did look very hard to come by. Patience atm is running around due to other life commitments.

But the trip did demonstrate how much care and patience one would need, what rust magnets they are and how one could spend more nights thinking about it than one should. So I started looking elsewhere... did even look at a land cruiser (the forum does not ban me for saying this?!?! ) But I keep returning to the Land Rover brand, looked at D2/3 and just generally more reading and viewing. And then, surprisingly, one came up that was reviewed overall to have more solid underpinning and "reliability" than a L322, less rusty than a D1/L322, more refined than a D2 and that was available...

The result.. I have come into possession of a 2005/6 L320 (RRS Mk1)... Overall the reviews where positive about them and they are smaller than an L322 (found it too barge like). It is a 4.2 Supercharged .. It is a Jag V8, so that is nice :) Did not go for the later models as price and they have injectors, which have their own complications. And complications are bad for reliability chances and good for being stranded on the road... It is LPG converted already, so I hope it will bring its own benefits.

It is old, so it is tired and needs attention, hopefully more cosmetic than anything critical. Regularly serviced. I will be taking it to be looked at by more experience people. It is a bit yobish... but we will contryphile it :)

Already started to look at how to fix little annoyances and trim parts. There are some gaps on the internet in terms of information sources and spare parts (which I am surprised), so I guess I will start a thread recording at high level what and how was done..

Fingers crossed I will not regret the decision and the mechanic will not tell me what a mistake it was ;)

p.s. the plus at the moment is that there is a car than could tow the P38.
 
newb said:
@lynall ,@RangeRoller dt @300bhp/ton @marjon As you were kind to answer the post/call, I thought to update you on the progress...

The P38 will be pursued until it is not anymore... but in the meantime, given the unknown timeline and the needs and wants of two I do need range rover in my life.

Reading about, I did have L322 on my mind a lot and my understanding is that it is a lottery, but, like, real lottery chances... I still thought to see one and to try it, if it would live up to my already blown up hype and expectations. But I do want a V8 in my life at least once and the time is ticking away as our beloved state is keen to exterminate them. An LPG would be nice. So I went out looking and found one that was promising. Went to view it....

Hmmm.... mileage <100k, but there is a gap in history paperwork... not a good sign... and gearbox was never touched... again not a good sign given the forums and articles... Ok.. let us drive it... Well, you could not make it up....it dies during the test drive and we had to walk back to the car. We were lucky we could walk back and it was only 15 minutes... Later I received a message saying that it was the alternator, hence the suspension did not drop and then the accelerator died and then it would not start... So, not much love given to it... Full history of care did look very hard to come by. Patience atm is running around due to other life commitments.

But the trip did demonstrate how much care and patience one would need, what rust magnets they are and how one could spend more nights thinking about it than one should. So I started looking elsewhere... did even look at a land cruiser (the forum does not ban me for saying this?!?! ) But I keep returning to the Land Rover brand, looked at D2/3 and just generally more reading and viewing. And then, surprisingly, one came up that was reviewed overall to have more solid underpinning and "reliability" than a L322, less rusty than a D1/L322, more refined than a D2 and that was available...

The result.. I have come into possession of a 2005/6 L320 (RRS Mk1)... Overall the reviews where positive about them and they are smaller than an L322 (found it too barge like). It is a 4.2 Supercharged .. It is a Jag V8, so that is nice :) Did not go for the later models as price and they have injectors, which have their own complications. And complications are bad for reliability chances and good for being stranded on the road... It is LPG converted already, so I hope it will bring its own benefits.

It is old, so it is tired and needs attention, hopefully more cosmetic than anything critical. Regularly serviced. I will be taking it to be looked at by more experience people. It is a bit yobish... but we will contryphile it :)

Already started to look at how to fix little annoyances and trim parts. There are some gaps on the internet in terms of information sources and spare parts (which I am surprised), so I guess I will start a thread recording at high level what and how was done..

Fingers crossed I will not regret the decision and the mechanic will not tell me what a mistake it was ;)

p.s. the plus at the moment is that there is a car than could tow the P38.
Click to expand...


Good luck
Have a google for camchains and guides, Iirc a jag v8 issue, but unsure which specific v8s?
 
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