T

Taximan2011

New Member
Had fun with P38 now looking a spending some more money and upgrading to L322 vogue or RRS diesel. Have concerns with my 1995 P38 it's 4.6 V8 and although I've fixed all the issues s far I'm concerned its had most of problems so the next problem has to be engine or head so looking to move it on before that ever happens. So looking to go newer 2006-ish best go diesel I suppose.

Opinions please!!!! Justified ones preferably.

Thanks
 
how many miles do you do?

I had a good chat with my local stealer when I got mine inspected.
he said you need to watch for turbos and any signs of overheating. On the TDv8
The turbos tend to make a bit of a mess when they go and if has ever overheated, they are never the same.

I suppose he may have said all of this as I asked what I should look out for with my petrol. other than suspension compressor he reckoned the late BMW petrol cars are reliable (for a RR that must be)
 
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Can't speak for the RRS, but regarding L322: Go for 4.4 petrol if you cannot stretch to a diesel V8. You will get a good one for 10K.

I get 18-20mpg from mine, the TD6 tends to be around 25mpg by all accounts. With unleaded being cheaper than diesel in the UK, the cost per mile difference is small.... and the extra 100bhp of the V8 can be useful! It is also a pretty simple engine and by all accounts a fairly reliable one too.

Then you need to factor in reliability problems with the TD6 gearbox, unless you can find one that has just been rebuilt/replaced. They tend not to last beyond 100K miles, with some failing as early as 60K.

The L322 is a much more refined car than the P38, and overall is a superb design with a lot of great features, but be prepared to be shocked by the BMW cost cutting - the paintwork and quality of interior materials is generally inferior to that on my previous 2.5DT P38, and not at all what I would expect in a car originally costing 70K.

HTH

Cheers

Jerry
 
jerrytlr said:
Can't speak for the RRS, but regarding L322: Go for 4.4 petrol if you cannot stretch to a diesel V8. You will get a good one for 10K.

I get 18-20mpg from mine, the TD6 tends to be around 25mpg by all accounts. With unleaded being cheaper than diesel in the UK, the cost per mile difference is small.... and the extra 100bhp of the V8 can be useful! It is also a pretty simple engine and by all accounts a fairly reliable one too.

Then you need to factor in reliability problems with the TD6 gearbox, unless you can find one that has just been rebuilt/replaced. They tend not to last beyond 100K miles, with some failing as early as 60K.

The L322 is a much more refined car than the P38, and overall is a superb design with a lot of great features, but be prepared to be shocked by the BMW cost cutting - the paintwork and quality of interior materials is generally inferior to that on my previous 2.5DT P38, and not at all what I would expect in a car originally costing 70K.

HTH

Cheers

Jerry
Click to expand...

Watch out for VANOS problems on the BMW petrol, look at Bimmer forums for more info. The ride on the L322 is IMO worse than the P38 and the seats are German park bench hard as is the norm for BMW/Merc.
 
Hi Keith I knew you wouldn't be able to resist replying to that post ;-)

VANOS can be an issue but hardly any failures reported (so far) on the L322 forums, I am guessing because there aren't as many with the high mileages yet. But it is certainly something to keep an eye out for...

Ride on mine is far better than my P38 was, although in some respects I prefered the handling of the P38, I think it rolled a bit less. Could be that I am just going a bit faster in the L322. And yes, the EAS was in good condition on my P38 and the dampers too.... I suspect that having stupidly large wheels may ruin the ride on many L322s, mine is on 19s so no issues there. So we will have to agree to differ here...


... and the seats in my L322 are the most comfortable I have ever used, the older Vogues have the upper half of the seat that adjusts separately to the seat recline (like a Vel Satis, one of my favourite cars ;-) ) which is brilliant, as is the lumber support that can be raised and lowered as well as increased/decreased. So again, we will have to agree to differ on this - although in defence of the P38, mine had basic seats with manual adjustment, so a bit of an unfair comparison.

Cheers,

Jerry
 
My petrol P38's had full adjustable seats...and the L322 has 14 way adjustments and is far better for getting a comfortable position, but the foam used is a different density and is a tad firmer...the leather used on the earlier Rangies were Connolly leather, but they stopped producing Connolly Leather in 2002, and the leather used since although they have tried to replicate the connollising of the leather, it is not the same and is not as hard wearing....

That being said, my L322 is very comfortable to drive!
 
jerrytlr said:
Hi Keith I knew you wouldn't be able to resist replying to that post ;-)

VANOS can be an issue but hardly any failures reported (so far) on the L322 forums, I am guessing because there aren't as many with the high mileages yet. But it is certainly something to keep an eye out for...

Ride on mine is far better than my P38 was, although in some respects I prefered the handling of the P38, I think it rolled a bit less. Could be that I am just going a bit faster in the L322. And yes, the EAS was in good condition on my P38 and the dampers too.... I suspect that having stupidly large wheels may ruin the ride on many L322s, mine is on 19s so no issues there. So we will have to agree to differ here...


... and the seats in my L322 are the most comfortable I have ever used, the older Vogues have the upper half of the seat that adjusts separately to the seat recline (like a Vel Satis, one of my favourite cars ;-) ) which is brilliant, as is the lumber support that can be raised and lowered as well as increased/decreased. So again, we will have to agree to differ on this - although in defence of the P38, mine had basic seats with manual adjustment, so a bit of an unfair comparison.

Cheers,

Jerry
Click to expand...

I've only been in 2 L322's, on both the ride was harsh and knobbly and the seats were horrible. One was a UK car the other Dutch. I guess there are many different seat specs on the L322, the adjustments you mention were either not there or not obvious. I found I slid about on the the L322 seat with any enthusiastic cornering whereas I stay put in the P38. Having just spent 9 hours at the wheel of my P38 on twisty mountain roads, I have to say the seats are great:)
 
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I am not happy with the ride of my l322.
it is on 20" wheels. Data, it is the same feeling you describe.
will be putting 18" and AT tyres on for the winter.
My p38 has a lovely ride and makes you feel as though your wafting along.
 
Back to the topic.

maybe try and get a late BMW petrol. I paid good money for mien but it has done little miles.
but again inspection and history is everything. I was told by the dealer that the v8 are starting to attract attention as they are becoming 2/3rd cars for fun.
 
donp38 said:
I am not happy with the ride of my l322.
it is on 20" wheels. Data, it is the same feeling you describe.
will be putting 18" and AT tyres on for the winter.
My p38 has a lovely ride and makes you feel as though your wafting along.
Click to expand...

Adding AT's is not going to help at all !
 
Hi Hippo.

I am changing to 18" for better ride and will be putting on high profile tyres.

The AT will be for grip in winter. Anything wrong /bad idea about this?
 
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