Rangie - thoughts please....

[Guest MJG]

Wise input required...

Got the chance of a P reg Rangey - it is a typical 2 owner vehicle which has been cherished and maintained regardless of the (considrable) cost.

Not sure of the spec. yet or the mileage. It's a diesel manual which will make some on here baulk but it drives beautifully and is suprisingly quiet. I'm guessing these have the same 300tdi engines as the Discoveries of the same age had.

It is a very nice dark green metallic with a beautiful cream leather interior. Owner selling as relies on garage for literally everything (serviceing and ALL repairs) so it's costing him the budget of a small country to run. I won't need to do this but will do for some of the issues obviously. It does sound as though just about everything expensive that can go wrong with these has happned under his ownership and has been replaced. Anyway I have two kidneys so one could go to pay for a Rangie slush fund...

If I can cover the cost of purchase with the sale of my 02 Clio I may be very tempted. I'll discuss my admission to the local psyciatric hospital if I do this on another forum....

What sort of figure (ball park) would people expect to pay??????

I know I can do the usual Autotrader search thing but found these next to usless when looking for a Discovery for my daughters boyfriend - more interested in views of folks on here.

Thanks in advance.

[BogMonster]

Don't think it will be a 300Tdi, isn't P reg 1997/98 in the UK? In which case it will be a P38a second generation model, and if it is a diesel that makes it the BMW straight six unit which is why it is a bit quieter than a 300Tdi

FWIW I looked at buying a second generation RR before I got my Discovery in 2002 and I decided that the reliability record of the electronics meant that by the time they were a price that I could afford, they would be of the age when one ought to be thinking about selling it rather than buying it... I do still like them though

[Steve Hiatt]

£2k for a dog, £4k if it is mint and @70k miles

My advice, if you have more money buy a newer one, if you have that money buy the best Classic you can find.

Also I don't think the owner having had lots of work done is a good sign and certainly not an indication that there will be less for you to do.

[BogMonster]

Also I don't think the owner having had lots of work done is a good sign and certainly not an indication that there will be less for you to do.

more of an indication of a Monday morning machine

[white90]

P reg is 96-97 model year, could be a classic shape with a 300TDI as a late 95 carried over for registration

as a P plate

3k tops IMHO

and look for body work corrosion

[Guest MJG]

Thanks for input so far.

It's defo. not the classic shape (I've had a ride home from a works night out in it last week) so I am guessing that makes it the BMW engined version.....

Hadn't realised Rangies of his age had anything different from the 300tdi but I admit always noticed Rangey's of this age are a lot quieter than 300tdi Discoveries...never 100% sure why this was, now I know why.

Now I am even more interested........

but I take on board what has been said about work done so far not meaning no problems remain... more thinking to do me thnks....

[white90]

possible money pit then if it is a P38

straight 6 BMW engine

lots of electrics

and now I'd say 2.5k tops

[geoffbeaumont]

Ask beng how reliable his P38a has been

It's a lovely drive though (his is diesel manual too, about the same age). Manual box is an earlier R380, prone to the usual baulk ring trouble.

[Bull Bar Cowboy]

The beamer straight six as used in the RR P38a has a bad reputation for top end troubles which usually become apparent at between 70 to 100K …… I guess its buyer beware…….

Ian

[Projectblue]

The beamer straight six as used in the RR P38a has a bad reputation for top end troubles which usually become apparent at between 70 to 100K …… I guess its buyer beware…….

Ian

Classics weren't made beyond '95. P38 as stated have the bmw sourced 6 cyl engine which have their problems. They are also fairly sluggish, but as you drove it you either know that, or can live with it.

Be aware that the P38's are notorious for electric faults caused by the BECME controller which is under the drivers seat. Look for things like passenger window not working and or rear wash wipe etc. All these mean big bills.

P38's can be nice if they are cheap enough. Check www.brightwells.co.uk and look at past sales, this will give you an idea of how much they go for at auction.

[honitonhobbit]

Dave is right - no Classics after N reg

2.5 lump is ok but if the rad is iffy or has been thrashed it can be prone to head issue

Dave is also right about the controller

Beware of the lift pump - in tank, can cause major starting issues.

Suspension is almost unkillable

Axles are superb

Ride is lovely

Fuel economy suffers over 75mph

Great Vehicles

[jules]

possible money pit then if it is a P38

straight 6 BMW engine

lots of electrics

and now I'd say 2.5k tops

A good freind of mine that I told not to buy her P38 four years ago has just part-ex her 96 4lt V8 for £1000 against a new Nivara.

thats the same RR which has cost at least £2500 every service and still not everything worked ever.

[Steve Hiatt]

A good freind of mine that I told not to buy her P38 four years ago has just part-ex her 96 4lt V8 for £1000 against a new Nivara.

thats the same RR which has cost at least £2500 every service and still not everything worked ever.

Ouch!

A friend of mine has bought a new Nivara (He won't fit in a Defender). He's not chuffed that the clutch is slipping at 17000 miles. Nissan expect him to pay for the clutch £500 - £850 and then claim the money back if they think it is their fault

[istruggle2gate11]

Ouch!

A friend of mine has bought a new Nivara (He won't fit in a Defender). He's not chuffed that the clutch is slipping at 17000 miles. Nissan expect him to pay for the clutch £500 - £850 and then claim the money back if they think it is their fault

The clutch went on my [old shape] Navara at 30k miles and they tried to say no way, I played havoc with the dealer, who eventually payed up.

After my last Navara, the engine blowing up and subsequent horror stories of this happening, including the new model, I wont be going back to them.

[JSG]

Def the straight six BMW engine. I had a V reg auto and had no problems at all with it, the manual gearbox should feel a bit more nippy. The engine is proven from years in Beemer saloons and was detuned for use in the P38, I had mine superchipped as it was an auto and it was excellent.

I'd look for signs of a full service history and bear in mind that many of the scare stories are just that - there is now a wealth of knowledge about as more have gone into 'enthusiast' ownership.

Remember though - All P38s MUST go off-road.

[q-rover]

Def the straight six BMW engine. I had a V reg auto and had no problems at all with it, the manual gearbox should feel a bit more nippy. The engine is proven from years in Beemer saloons and was detuned for use in the P38, I had mine superchipped as it was an auto and it was excellent.

I'd look for signs of a full service history and bear in mind that many of the scare stories are just that - there is now a wealth of knowledge about as more have gone into 'enthusiast' ownership.

Remember though - All P38s MUST go off-road.

It's the law

[Guest MJG]

Def the straight six BMW engine. I had a V reg auto and had no problems at all with it, the manual gearbox should feel a bit more nippy. The engine is proven from years in Beemer saloons and was detuned for use in the P38, I had mine superchipped as it was an auto and it was excellent.

I'd look for signs of a full service history and bear in mind that many of the scare stories are just that - there is now a wealth of knowledge about as more have gone into 'enthusiast' ownership.

Remember though - All P38s MUST go off-road.

Bugger!! - just as I thought I'd made my mind up not to go for it!! -

I've since establised he's after £4.5 K which given all said above seems well OTT. Need to hear what his bottom line is.... before I make a final decision.

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

Hadn't realised Rangies of his age had anything different from the 300tdi but I admit always noticed Rangey's of this age are a lot quieter than 300tdi Discoveries...never 100% sure why this was,

Often cos they are dead awaiting another electrical repair

For my money I'd buy a Late Classic soft dash 300 TDi best of both worlds, now getting highly souight after.

Jon White has bought one (ok needed work) but there are some about, but in good nick and all together they fetch strong money, air susp can always be coiled if a real prob

I wouldn't touch the "London P38 Taxi" version if you need any sort of long term relaibility

nige

[Guest MJG]

Thanks for everybodies input - weighing it all up I am going to pass.

It is clear the seller is not wanting to go to much below £4.5 K which makes it too expensive to me given what can go wrong. Might have been tempted at £2K to £2.5K but not at twice that.

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

£4500 now THATS a sense of humour

Nige

[Steve Hiatt]

£4500 now THATS a sense of humour

Nige

Agreed, although the wierdest thing is 10 years ago the Rangy would have cost 3x what a Defender would have cost, has probably cost 5x more to run, and yet a decent 300TDi defender of the same age could easily be worth £4500

[jules]

Agreed, although the wierdest thing is 10 years ago the Rangy would have cost 3x what a Defender would have cost, has probably cost 5x more to run, and yet a decent 300TDi defender of the same age could easily be worth £4500

I know what you mean its just baffles me (which is not that hard)

but I laughed at the classified there is a nice looking S3 1979 for sale would consider part ex for Disco which at first I was like WHAT but he is right the s3 is still worth 1300 and a old 200tdi is only worth £500-£1000 go figure.

They don't build um like they used to.....

[David Sparkes]

Re reading this thread, I'd say this vehicle is an investment opportunity.

However, a few caveats.

Obviously the lower the purchase price the better the investment.

I'm talking reasonably long term, say 5 years.

The vehicle can, indeed should, be used regularly on the road.

While it can survive if kept outside 24/7, it will take less comsmetic maintenance if kept in a dry, dehumidified, garage. A good car port is better than open air, but will still require more cosmetic cleaning to really keep it in good condition.

To protect, or even enhance it's investment value, then some regular garage maintenance is essential to keep the records up, but to minimise costs, also do some work yourself.

Be aware that an awful lot of LR tradesters do not have 38As as their prime interest, so diagnostic capabilities are going to be (relatively) low, and repair costs high. They will literally trade on the views (some expressed in this thread) that the vehicles are known to be expensive (and that you will be conditioned to expect expensive) and thus charge expensively.

You have to know more than they do, this involves effort to gain knowledge. DO NOT rely on getting precise and accurate information via forums just when you need it. Build up a store of knowledge in advance by daily reading of the right forums. (You will get very little return for your time spent here, for instance).

Don't just treat it as a daily driver, be prepared to invest some personal time into it, getting into the 38A world by joining the right forums, getting the Workshop Manuals AND READING THEM for interest, not just when you have to.

You (and your family) need to be able to live with cream upholstery (in this case).

If you make the personal investment, year in, year out, then you can have a superb car to use every day, AND get a good return on your financial investment.

IIRC MJG, your prime LR interest is a Series, and you are strapped for garage space, so on those grounds I don't think this is for you. If your prime LR interest is Series (or Defender, or anything not 38A) then this is also a reason not to proceed with ANY 38A.

Written by someone who has the Diesel 38A as their prime LR interest, and has owned / maintained a single example since July '99. Mine is a daily driver, I have never seen it as an investment opportunity, there are no service records, and it's kept outside all the time. I know it's worth 'nothing' to sell, so I'll continue to maintain it as required.

All this is 'because it needed saying' to balance the views.

I am not trying to change your decision not to purchase for yourself.

Cheers.

[Guest MJG]

Re reading this thread, I'd say this vehicle is an investment opportunity.

<SNIP>

Input very much appreciated.......