hello everyone ive been really wanting a range rover 2.5 dhse for a while now i love the way they look, i love the interior. ive read lots of reviews and i dont know what to make of the horror stories. should i steer clear? surley they cant be as bad as they make out? really would like some experienced advise please
:welcome2:
No, they are not that bad....BUT choose wisely as some can be a horror waiting to happen.
Yes Range Rovers are unreliable, yes they will test your patience, yes they can potentially cost you a fortune...but they are also a great car to drive and look at!
If you can handle the potential issues then you will love it...if you want a dependable conveyance, then look for something else!!
THAT BEING SAID:
There is loads of help on here, there are loads of spares available at good prices and finally there is nothing else available that will come close to the feeling of driving one!!
No, they are not that bad....BUT choose wisely as some can be a horror waiting to happen.
Yes Range Rovers are unreliable, yes they will test your patience, yes they can potentially cost you a fortune...but they are also a great car to drive and look at!
If you can handle the potential issues then you will love it...if you want a dependable conveyance, then look for something else!!
THAT BEING SAID:
There is loads of help on here, there are loads of spares available at good prices and finally there is nothing else available that will come close to the feeling of driving one!!
Theroadlesstravelled
Member
Hi, there are some horror stories with the P38 mainly due to bad maintenance from previous owners but should you take the time to find the right one it will be a joy to own. Do your homework before buying and plenty of info on here 
Littelwill
Well-Known Member
If you want reliability buy a honda! If you want cheesy grin and a full time hobby (that almost counts as cheating) buy a Range Rover! The bad reviews are from the few that have bad experiences then give up! If you have the funds you'll be fine welcome
W
welcome W
ukadamwest
Well-Known Member
Welcome. pull up chair and enjoy.
No if you get one that has been looked after properly then you should be ok !
No if you get one that has been looked after properly then you should be ok !
Hi
My idea was to NOT spend 20k on a car but still have something that was nice to drive and had off road ability.
I like the boxy shape of the P38 and I could not find anything else I liked, I had just sold my brand new Defender 90 that I could get on with so the P38 was to be my cheap replacement or so I thought
My car cost 3k to buy it is a late model 2001 diesel.
I had no experience of P38's but am quite handy with a spanner with some LR experience so bought it knowing I had some work to do.
I have spent 4.5k renovating it and it is now the car I would have like to have originally purchased.
One of the main problems was, because of my lack of knowledge, I didn't realise that the engine on the car had been changed out and done very poorly in every aspect.
Whilst the engine itself appears solid I had a front pulley shear a small engine internal and as a consequence I had to strip off the front of the engine and refit everything correctly. I have replaced every engine ancillary, starter, alternator, water pump, viscous fan, radiator idlers the lot.
Essentially it was a good car that had had a badly executed engine swap but the engine now runs great and is bone dry so all good.
I then swapped out all the suspension and regularly changed the oil. HEVAC still need sorting so there are still a few niggles
Every single problem I have had has been solved by the help and guidance I have received from this forum, one very kind member went out of his way to meet me and put a diagnostic on the car to solve a major problem, which he fixed there and then and would only accept a pint in payment!!
These cars are fairly easy to work on and most problems can be fixed but they are not for the faint hearted and they are costly, Tyres fuel etc.
I use mine to frequently go between London and Cornwall and I have never had such a comfortable car and when the weather has been bad they feel very safe.
You must must buy one with a good service history or at least off someone like me who is stupid enough to spend money on an old car.
I suppose the only good thing is that the P38 has helped me revisit my youth........crawling around under cars, thought those days were long gone gone.........I wonder if the same applies to women!!?
Please think carefully and choose wisely, drive a few and take your time get a later model 2000+
Good luck
My idea was to NOT spend 20k on a car but still have something that was nice to drive and had off road ability.
I like the boxy shape of the P38 and I could not find anything else I liked, I had just sold my brand new Defender 90 that I could get on with so the P38 was to be my cheap replacement or so I thought
My car cost 3k to buy it is a late model 2001 diesel.
I had no experience of P38's but am quite handy with a spanner with some LR experience so bought it knowing I had some work to do.
I have spent 4.5k renovating it and it is now the car I would have like to have originally purchased.
One of the main problems was, because of my lack of knowledge, I didn't realise that the engine on the car had been changed out and done very poorly in every aspect.
Whilst the engine itself appears solid I had a front pulley shear a small engine internal and as a consequence I had to strip off the front of the engine and refit everything correctly. I have replaced every engine ancillary, starter, alternator, water pump, viscous fan, radiator idlers the lot.
Essentially it was a good car that had had a badly executed engine swap but the engine now runs great and is bone dry so all good.
I then swapped out all the suspension and regularly changed the oil. HEVAC still need sorting so there are still a few niggles
Every single problem I have had has been solved by the help and guidance I have received from this forum, one very kind member went out of his way to meet me and put a diagnostic on the car to solve a major problem, which he fixed there and then and would only accept a pint in payment!!
These cars are fairly easy to work on and most problems can be fixed but they are not for the faint hearted and they are costly, Tyres fuel etc.
I use mine to frequently go between London and Cornwall and I have never had such a comfortable car and when the weather has been bad they feel very safe.
You must must buy one with a good service history or at least off someone like me who is stupid enough to spend money on an old car.
I suppose the only good thing is that the P38 has helped me revisit my youth........crawling around under cars, thought those days were long gone gone.........I wonder if the same applies to women!!?
Please think carefully and choose wisely, drive a few and take your time get a later model 2000+
Good luck
brianp38dse
Well-Known Member
Buy one there great and enjoy going along sitting in your favourite leather arm chair, they have there problems the guys & girls on here know what they are an will give you all the help you need,
in other cars you drive to your destination in a range rover your taken there
in other cars you drive to your destination in a range rover your taken there
cooltide
sheep fancier
Aye, AA relay is a godsend
brianp38dse
Well-Known Member
Datatek
Well-Known Member
I bought my DHSE 5 years ago, it's a late 2000 model that had been well looked after by it's previous owner who worked for LR. It's had plenty of little problems but has never let me down. It's cost a good bit less than £2K to run, that includes a stainless cat back exhaust. Down here, it averages 24mpg, amazing for such a heavy car.
Don't buy one on springs, make sure every button works, that the EAS goes up and down and that the engine will restart easily when hot. Also worth checking the gearbox shifts nicely with no flaring.
Choose carefully keep some money back for the things that will need fixing, don't think that a LR dealer service record will make any difference and change the oil and filter in the auto box and the oil in the rest of the transmission ASAP.
Good luck
Don't buy one on springs, make sure every button works, that the EAS goes up and down and that the engine will restart easily when hot. Also worth checking the gearbox shifts nicely with no flaring.
Choose carefully keep some money back for the things that will need fixing, don't think that a LR dealer service record will make any difference and change the oil and filter in the auto box and the oil in the rest of the transmission ASAP.
Good luck
