pwood999

Well-Known Member
Full Member
Guys,
My son has been offered an early 1997 2.5 for £1000 or thereabouts but it has just over 200,000 miles on the clock. It's on coils :)mad::mad::mad:), but we could sort that later. New battery fitted, but gearbox overheat message on dash. Rear bumper swelling has damaged the tailgate paintwork a bit, and headlining is sagging quite a lot. Apparently the current owner mentioned FOB not working near mobile phone towers, so it must have early receiver !!

As I'm a V8 guy need some input from you oil burner folks out there.

Current MOT (valid until Sept 2024) has a bunch of advisories:

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
  • Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
  • Coil spring corroded All 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))
  • Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both front and nearside rear, inner edges (5.2.3 (e))
  • Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))
  • Offside front inner sill corroded but not considered excessive
  • Steps fitted not allowing full inspection of both outer sills

If he goes ahead I will need to get the diesel licence for my Nanocom.
 
Guys,
My son has been offered an early 1997 2.5 for £1000 or thereabouts but it has just over 200,000 miles on the clock. It's on coils :)mad::mad::mad:), but we could sort that later. New battery fitted, but gearbox overheat message on dash. Rear bumper swelling has damaged the tailgate paintwork a bit, and headlining is sagging quite a lot. Apparently the current owner mentioned FOB not working near mobile phone towers, so it must have early receiver !!

As I'm a V8 guy need some input from you oil burner folks out there.

Current MOT (valid until Sept 2024) has a bunch of advisories:

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
  • Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
  • Coil spring corroded All 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))
  • Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both front and nearside rear, inner edges (5.2.3 (e))
  • Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))
  • Offside front inner sill corroded but not considered excessive
  • Steps fitted not allowing full inspection of both outer sills

If he goes ahead I will need to get the diesel licence for my Nanocom.
Diesel/gems/Thor all use different cables.. if i recall. You can check on the site
 
Slow.

But generally quite a good unit, from what i understand.

The rust i'd be inclined to have a good look at, rare to see a rusty P38, is it surface or one hard poke away from becoming a series of big holes ;)
 
I’ve had mine for 5 years or more. Engine seems good. it’s sluggish but solid. Oil over heating could be it needs an oil top up. Also, the cooler rad tends to get clogged up. Give it a good clean and check the fan works, if it has not got one, then i’d fit one.
 
I have had mine 16 years now and its been very good a few problems over the years but general car running maintenance for a motor of its age, i have diag if needed .
 
Nowt wrong with the diesel as long as the viscous fan is working. If it overheats, it risks a cracked head, that is why I have converted to electric cooling.
Gearbox overheat my well be the sensor or corroded wiring, also the box has probably never had an oil change. Do an oil change if you get it and follow @Henry_b 's advice an make sure all the valve block bolts are tight.
At 200K miles timing chains may need doing if it has not had regular oil changes.
The headlining sags on all of them it least that is the case on my three.
I don't know the market in the UK, but £1K for a P38 on springs with faults sounds a bit high to me.
 
Guys,
My son has been offered an early 1997 2.5 for £1000 or thereabouts but it has just over 200,000 miles on the clock. It's on coils :)mad::mad::mad:), but we could sort that later. New battery fitted, but gearbox overheat message on dash. Rear bumper swelling has damaged the tailgate paintwork a bit, and headlining is sagging quite a lot. Apparently the current owner mentioned FOB not working near mobile phone towers, so it must have early receiver !!

As I'm a V8 guy need some input from you oil burner folks out there.

Current MOT (valid until Sept 2024) has a bunch of advisories:

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
  • Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
  • Coil spring corroded All 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))
  • Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both front and nearside rear, inner edges (5.2.3 (e))
  • Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))
  • Offside front inner sill corroded but not considered excessive
  • Steps fitted not allowing full inspection of both outer sills

If he goes ahead I will need to get the diesel licence for my Nanocom.

Tyre could be the coil spings or possibly the VCU going at that age. FIP likely tired too, and the chains, although that isn't a major issue. Pre-EGR engine pretty bomb-proof. Sump-gasket can sometimes leak and the cam-cover one.

I found the auto diesel very sluggish compared to my manual one.
 
Nowt wrong with the diesel as long as the viscous fan is working. If it overheats, it risks a cracked head, that is why I have converted to electric cooling.
Gearbox overheat my well be the sensor or corroded wiring, also the box has probably never had an oil change. Do an oil change if you get it and follow @Henry_b 's advice an make sure all the valve block bolts are tight.
At 200K miles timing chains may need doing if it has not had regular oil changes.
The headlining sags on all of them it least that is the case on my three.
I don't know the market in the UK, but £1K for a P38 on springs with faults sounds a bit high to me.
Yep a necessity for all the ZF 4hp's.

8nm :)
 
I thought the coils might have something to do with the tyres - who knows what the alignment is like.

Did the headlining on one of mine a few months back. Not that difficult, but needs time & nice weather !! Gott do Son's FL1 headliner before we can sell it, so no P38 for him yet !!

Maybe we should offer £500 for it to allow for oils, fans, etc.
 
There are diesel P38's being virtually given away on fb and eBay if you keep looking.
A grand for one on coils with known issues is steep.
I paid less than 2k for my 08 tdv8 with less problem than that.
 
There are diesel P38's being virtually given away on fb and eBay if you keep looking.
A grand for one on coils with known issues is steep.
I paid less than 2k for my 08 tdv8 with less problem than that.

Yep. Cannot go into London.
 

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