ovalandrover

Well-Known Member
Last year I was doing my annual trip this time it was to some points on the silk road and to do the Pamir highway over a pass at 4500 m. Unfortunately the range rover had other ideas.

In Russia near Samara the turbo decided to pack it in and I was down on power even Kamaz were overtaking me on hills and also my visa was running out so I tried limping it to Kazakstan about 2000 mile away and made it there to a place called Kisylorda where the turbo decided to blow big time and all the oil went through the exhaust. I tried for a second hand turbo but no luck and by this time my Kazak visa was running out so I disabled the turbo and blocked the oil feed to it and did another 2000 miles to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.

Got another turbo in Biskek and fitted it and then headed off for the Pamirs . Got over the first pass at 3800 m then headed down the valley and then a big end decided to let go. Found a tranporter to get it back to Bishkek and took off sump and checked the ends one journel was scored badly but I though I could polish it up and maybee get back to UK found some new big end shells but was not trusting it to do the pamirs so arranged for 4 x 4 tour and did the highway. After that we took public transport to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan one form of transport from Samakand to Bukarah was a fast train that reached 237 KPH and ran on time to the minuet.

When I got back to Bishkek 2 months later I had to spend time trying to get a Russian transit visa but no luck so had to make our way to Al -Maty to get one.

After about 20 miles the big end let go again but this time there was a garage on the other side of the road that had a BMW sign on it so I called in there and started talking to the manager and he said he could get hold of a secondhand engine and fit it for about $1500 us cash so I went for that.

He had some intresting cars in his workshop An old mustang a BMW which produced about 600BHP and a Subaru which produced about 1000 hp and they were taking them to a drag race in Al Maty.

Took about a week to fit and all was ok so we haeded to Al Maty to get the Visas .had to spend a week there for the Russians to issue them. While there we did the tourist thing and walk around town the temperature was about 30 c . we picked up the Visas and were going to head out the next day and when we woke up the next mourning there was 2 in snow and the temp had dropped dramatically .

We had to do about 3000 miles across Kazakstan and had about 5 days to do it in before we got to Russia and the snow followed us all the way. Had a day in Kizylorder again where I replaced a UJ on the front prop shaft and stayed with a friend there we camped one night and the temp dropped to -8 and when I tried to start the car the next mourning the battery was completely F@#$%& so I had to get a jump start from a passing motorist which took about 1 hour to get one to stop but it was the fist one along the road. Got it started and got to Actobe where I had to look for a new battery got one for about 200 euros and headed off again.
Got to Russian Border with no more drama and had a good run for about 5000 miles to the Latvian boarder but on the final day we ran into a serious snow storm that dropped about 6inch snow.

Had a bit of a problem getting out of Russia as I could not find the correct form for the car but 5 hrs later we were on the latvian boarder which is the most difficult of EU countries to enter or exit with a car as they need to see the V5 insurance certificate (which most companies do not issue a hard copy any more) and also the MOT certificate or vehicle inspection report.

Any way no more problems but still snow and dirt roads. After travelling on a wet dirt road when I got back on to a saelad road the car set up a nasty vibration at 50 mph. The mud had built up on the inside of the rear wheels putting them out of balance and had set like concrete had to find a car wash with pressure wast to clear that.

Got back to the UK and here the story starts as I decided to have the secondhand engine checked over as it hadf an oil leak and I decided to have it refreshed with new rings and bearing and maybe the valve seals done before I put the car on SORN and laid it up until april while I am in Australia.

This was14 November 2016 and I was booked to fly out on 1st December and was assured that it would be ready by then. Now its the 9 th of Febuary and finally got the car back after being told lies and also the car was road tested while on SORN and was picked up on camera so I received a penalty notice but the firm that did the engine sorted it out after I threatened to get the police to fine the driver for driving an unlicensed vehicle.

I dont know how good the mechanics are as I am still in Australia but had it delivered back to my lock up.but if its as good as their comunication with cutomers then I am in trouble.
 
jesus christ! What a palaver!!
I hope after all that you get back to a more reliable bus!!! A lot of people would have had it on eBay for spares by now and walked away. :eek:
 
Interesting story, we plan to drive to Baku (bottom of old USSR) from Kaliningrad in 2017-2018. We could go by train but why not in the Rangy p38
I would describe old Rangy P38 as a mistress, we know what they want and need but very good fun when your together ))
I live in Russia working and my wife wants to drive to Everest base camp..........as close as we can crossing Russia
Yes Latvian border is a pain and they ask for MOT and Insurance, same for Serbia / Romania crossing (80 euro for 2 weeks insurance......not now)
Keep my details as maybe we can help each other....we know the area and if we cant help we maybe know people who can.
Surprised to hear it did a bearing and we carry a spare turbo as we know the story there.
We keep a spare battery on Solar charger and a very strict starting routine
Just when you think your cruising you get a stupid green dash message which says 'buy 110 next time' in code saying 'gearbox fault'
I will keep mine as what else can you buy £500, repair and cross huge country's in.............yes i know quite a few but not as comfortable ))

I am building a roof rack and roof tent next so we can fill body with crap
We have a young daughter and I see traveling as a great extra education like the US do summer camps
Currently trying to get English / Russia / Polish INTO or our OUT from daughter ))

I recently priced up a full engine rebuild for 2.5 DSE with NEW pistons and it makes the Casino Roulette of low mileage second hand engine we all play quite a good option. Gaskets, Bolts, Piston, Shells, Rings, Injectors, Pumps...and it goes on with engine machining ((

Every few months I buy a bit like diff guard, or new xxx so she will be ready with no real expenditure when the next trip starts
Currently doing town runs and free taxi in Bydgoszcz so not very testing apart from cold starting and vandals writing with a key in her paint??))

I used to work in Goondiwindi growing cotton so enjoy the 30 plus heat, its -8 today here so not that cold.........yet
 
Last year I was doing my annual trip this time it was to some points on the silk road and to do the Pamir highway over a pass at 4500 m. Unfortunately the range rover had other ideas.

In Russia near Samara the turbo decided to pack it in and I was down on power even Kamaz were overtaking me on hills and also my visa was running out so I tried limping it to Kazakstan about 2000 mile away and made it there to a place called Kisylorda where the turbo decided to blow big time and all the oil went through the exhaust. I tried for a second hand turbo but no luck and by this time my Kazak visa was running out so I disabled the turbo and blocked the oil feed to it and did another 2000 miles to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.

Got another turbo in Biskek and fitted it and then headed off for the Pamirs . Got over the first pass at 3800 m then headed down the valley and then a big end decided to let go. Found a tranporter to get it back to Bishkek and took off sump and checked the ends one journel was scored badly but I though I could polish it up and maybee get back to UK found some new big end shells but was not trusting it to do the pamirs so arranged for 4 x 4 tour and did the highway. After that we took public transport to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan one form of transport from Samakand to Bukarah was a fast train that reached 237 KPH and ran on time to the minuet.

When I got back to Bishkek 2 months later I had to spend time trying to get a Russian transit visa but no luck so had to make our way to Al -Maty to get one.

After about 20 miles the big end let go again but this time there was a garage on the other side of the road that had a BMW sign on it so I called in there and started talking to the manager and he said he could get hold of a secondhand engine and fit it for about $1500 us cash so I went for that.

He had some intresting cars in his workshop An old mustang a BMW which produced about 600BHP and a Subaru which produced about 1000 hp and they were taking them to a drag race in Al Maty.

Took about a week to fit and all was ok so we haeded to Al Maty to get the Visas .had to spend a week there for the Russians to issue them. While there we did the tourist thing and walk around town the temperature was about 30 c . we picked up the Visas and were going to head out the next day and when we woke up the next mourning there was 2 in snow and the temp had dropped dramatically .

We had to do about 3000 miles across Kazakstan and had about 5 days to do it in before we got to Russia and the snow followed us all the way. Had a day in Kizylorder again where I replaced a UJ on the front prop shaft and stayed with a friend there we camped one night and the temp dropped to -8 and when I tried to start the car the next mourning the battery was completely F@#$%& so I had to get a jump start from a passing motorist which took about 1 hour to get one to stop but it was the fist one along the road. Got it started and got to Actobe where I had to look for a new battery got one for about 200 euros and headed off again.
Got to Russian Border with no more drama and had a good run for about 5000 miles to the Latvian boarder but on the final day we ran into a serious snow storm that dropped about 6inch snow.

Had a bit of a problem getting out of Russia as I could not find the correct form for the car but 5 hrs later we were on the latvian boarder which is the most difficult of EU countries to enter or exit with a car as they need to see the V5 insurance certificate (which most companies do not issue a hard copy any more) and also the MOT certificate or vehicle inspection report.

Any way no more problems but still snow and dirt roads. After travelling on a wet dirt road when I got back on to a saelad road the car set up a nasty vibration at 50 mph. The mud had built up on the inside of the rear wheels putting them out of balance and had set like concrete had to find a car wash with pressure wast to clear that.

Got back to the UK and here the story starts as I decided to have the secondhand engine checked over as it hadf an oil leak and I decided to have it refreshed with new rings and bearing and maybe the valve seals done before I put the car on SORN and laid it up until april while I am in Australia.

This was14 November 2016 and I was booked to fly out on 1st December and was assured that it would be ready by then. Now its the 9 th of Febuary and finally got the car back after being told lies and also the car was road tested while on SORN and was picked up on camera so I received a penalty notice but the firm that did the engine sorted it out after I threatened to get the police to fine the driver for driving an unlicensed vehicle.

I dont know how good the mechanics are as I am still in Australia but had it delivered back to my lock up.but if its as good as their comunication with cutomers then I am in trouble.
 
I still got back to the UK The car has now done 230 000 miles and i have done 130000 in it since i had it and most of that has been in places like Russia Mongolia Turkey and although I have had a few break downs i figure that rather than get another car and inherit other peoples problems I will keep this one as it is set up and also a heap of spares that i carry it will be cheaper to keep this one going .I dont know where I will go this year but looking at Canada and USA or even South America or back to Russia across to Vladivostok and then try to get the car to Canada who knows where we will end up. Africa is another option.
 
I used to work in Goondiwindi growing cotton so enjoy the 30 plus heat, its -8 today here so not that cold.........yet
Today is the start of a heatwave around the Goondiwindi area so instead of 30 plus it will be 40plus out there for about a week the forecasters recon. On the coast where I am its only 30+ with a sea breeze
 
Vladivostok is a good option and it saves lots of driving ))
There are some very interesting island chains out there which are still officially Russian but its a lot of fishing and Japanese language
Russia have left plenty of tanks just left resting in the hills for many years. I guess there are ferry's to Canada....interesting way to get there
I keep my P38 as its a cheap option with spares as you say and all that knowledge we keep in our head.
Its not that they go wrong but we learn how to live with various small issues.....if i want a laugh I plug mine in and read the 'story' error codes
Currently trying to get all my family so we can live in Russian Federation, Europe & UK with no VISA..........in progress ))
I have only done the top of Africa but I think Russia / Canada is more interesting in my experience........depends if you want history, culture or raw hot adrenaline with no mobile phone signal ))
 
I have just done two trips to South Africa including Namibia and Botswana - fairly remote with little tarmac - and lots of animals. Going back there in the Autumn - 30+ in Namibia and 40+ in Botswana.
 
Man alive, you boys have a life don't you :D wish I had the financial means to be able to disappear on journeys like that, but got bills to pay in the UK ! Please keep us posted, love reading about trips like these !

Fair play !
 

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