hi all

iam looking at purchasing a range rover dse just bought myself a day car and would like a weekend car

my cash at this moment is limited as i ve just bought an audii a4 so i ve got about 5-6000 to buy a decent one

where should i start looking any help much appreciated

Mo

Dude, flog the Audi and spend more on the P38.
There's no such thing as a cheap AND decent P38.

i need the a4 for work and family mate want the range rover for myself on weekends and when i go out when i have time off work

how much would you reckon i should pay for an r reg its done 113k full service history in blue totaly standard ie lights are orange and its got the standard wheels on it no sidesteps hes asking 5495

i dont want the early ones as they dont come with the colour coded bumpers and fog lights but i might have been informed wrong as i ve seen a few p regs with all the extras that i want going for around 4500 - 5500

I ain't no expert, but the price seems to be at the upper ranges of what a P38 DSE of that year and description costs, so it had better have all the proper history.

I've seen the last of the Classic shapes (M and even N reg) for same price, but these would have been REALLY well looked after.

Personally, for that kind of money, I'd go for a top-spec Classic (100 or 108) in the full knowledge that if it goes wrong, it's cheaper to fix.

But I'm not dissuading you on the P38 - go for it if you can afford the increased maintainance and non-classic insurance premium.

I am agree with Zia a good well looked after classic can be a good choice. as P38 are prone to problems. the last of the classics (The soft dash) have harmon karden sound system, air suspension ABS traction control, and they are likely to stabilise in price and maybe even go up in value.
However its your choice follow your heart as to do anything else will always leave you wondering.

thanks lads but got my heart set on a p38 as you all call them range rover dse i just like them never driven yet but iam sure it will be great.

i ll keep looking for a good one would like it in blue or black might just wait for a bit and buy a dhse as was told at the range rover garage that ones got extra stuff in it and they go for around 8-9

not bothered about insurance insured on my brothers traders insurance

the only dse`s that have fog lights are manual ones as the autos have the gear cooler where the left fog light should be with a mesh cover, also they dont come with elec seats or harmon kardon sound system unless it was added as an extra, the dhse comes with these though.

Go for a low miler with max history - when they get to the 100,000 mile mark, they start to get tired and suffer from poor starting hot and cold. A good one will start on the button, if you have to crank it over from cold then there is a good chance that the whole fuel delivery system will need an overhaul, including in tank pump (tank out to do this) and all fuel lines. Hot starting problem is caused by worn injection pump. There is a work around to fix this detailed on this forum, but it is a work around and not a fix. Again air compressors start to get tired, but there are kits now available to overhaul. Check condition of air springs, cracking and wear on the lower sections means you will be looking at replacements soon.
Also remember if you plan to do your own repairs the BMW Diesel is not that easy to work on. Given the choice I would go for a 4.6 HSE with a LPG conversion. Much more power, better toys and a fantastic sound and a easy to work on engine.