Range Rover 2.5 DSE

[bigstraight6]

Are these things known to be rather gutless? I've just driven a nice tidy 2000 example being sold by a good friend that another good friend is possibly interested in, and the engine seemed to be working very hard (screaming) with not very impressive progress being made.

 

I appreciate that the Range Rover is a heavy old beast, but my previous experience of the BMW straight six diesel in 3 and 5 series cars has been excellent which makes me wonder if there's an issue with the Range Rover. Have any of you chaps had any experience with these vehicles?

[panhard65]

I have got a rough one and they go pretty well, pull better than the discoveries so it should go ok for such a heavy old bus. As I am sure you know they have plenty of other problems. Mine leaks fuel, overheats and is sagging in one corner. So being a bit gutless isn't the worst that could happen but best to steer clear.

[dollywobbler]

I drove a manual DSE and found it horrifically gutless. Perhaps I was expecting too much. 

 

EDIT - actually, not as horrific as a Pajero 2.5 auto. That was hilariously slow.

[Bren]

Greek bonds are safer than one of these.

[skattrd]

Range Rover + Diesel = Wrong

[brickwall]

The engine just isn't enough to pull a big pile like a RR hence a variety of other engines being plonked in with varying degrees of success.

 

I still would.

[dave21478]

I really fancy owning a P38 at some point but every one I see near me close to a reasonable price is a diesel, manual converted to coil springs - Thats everything a P38 shouldnt be.

[bigstraight6]

Sorry chaps, forgot to mention that this one is an auto, changing gears lovely but just VERY sedate progress against the engine note, almost like a slipping clutch....

[Pete-M]

I always found them gutless. Quite smooth but slow.

[Wackeldackel]

Yes, very sluggish. My uncle had a p38 2.5dse automatic in a fetching turquoise colour, autobiography I think it was called or is that the trim spec level?

 

Pulling out at roundabouts was fecking scary, literally pick a gap and floor it. was ok on long stretches though, wind it up to 85 and could sit there quite happily.

 

This particular example was on an S plate and in the 5 years my uncle had it it had new heater matrix, lots of gearbox troubles, air suspension that worked intermittently and kept spitting its dummy out and blowing lots of relays and fuses as well.

 

Stick with a petrol perhaps?

[EssDeeWon]

All RANGE ROVERZ should have V8 petrol enginz in m8.

[Tayne]

My DSE auto could hit an indicated 100mph flat out but you could tell it was working hard.

It may have been chipped as it eventually ate its own cylinder head.

 

They're very nice motors when they work but can have issues.

Buy the best you can afford, the most well kept with fewest owners and a wad of service history that could choke a donkey.

And then budget for an alternator and battery ( the source of most electrical problems), a monkey for suspension, various sundries and a fair bit of spanner time.

[DS20]

Diesel P38s are known to be rather on the slow side.  I had a go in a 325tds (probably just over half the weight of a P38) and TBH the engine seemed adequate - but no more - even in that much lighter car.  The automatic transmission won't help the lack of sprightliness.  They can be breathed on, I think, for both BHP and torque, but I wouldn't like to say how much useful life would be chopped off the engine by so doing - these engines work hard in a Range Rover, and stressing it further (e.g. different turbo, bigger injectors, turning fuel pump up) might disagree with it.  Even the BMW 3.0 used in the L322 makes for a sedate steer, and that has another 50BHP and a lot more torque than the 2.5 unit in the P38.  

 

I'd recommend a petrol model for all except the very sloooooowest drivers.  

[brickwall]

Only thing worse was the Discovery Mpi with the 2.0.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Rule of thumb with the P38 - only get one if you really, really want one!

 

As said, diesel is miserable in a Range rover... but the V8s are so flaky, it's the only choice.  Sadly, the BMW lump is totally overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the beast, not to mention the colossal power loss through the antediluvian drivetrain, it's lucky the thing can get up and go fullstop.

Throw into the mix, electrical hissy fits that are on par with Renault's finest* efforts and you know you're really going to have to renew your AA membership every year.

 

P38 survival kit- AA card, software & interface for the EAS, a Blackbox 'Syncmate' to reset the immobiliser when your park near a cordless doorbell (no, seriously) or have the audacity to use a petrol station, and you may just get a few month's dependable* motoring out of this £60k, blue-chip product.  Diesels boil over as much as petrols, kill their FIPs and go spastic and lock you out when the fuse box gets damp.

 

And I'm a fan of them !!!

[PiperCub]

A wireless door bell fucks the immobiliser up? Seriously? That low level of RF power? Wow, that qualifies as an epic fail! Have LR heard of RF screening?

[Rusty_Rocket]

Indeed it does.  The RF receiver has been 'modified' and replaced with various part nos. over the years but the latest effort is still over £100.

Luckily, LR owners have the luxury* of cheap*, poor quality parts courtesy of Britpart, which makes you an expert mechanic as you have to replace every part twice.  Or yearly.

God I'm in a cynical mood tonight.

[I_am_Diesel]

I've had a hankering for one in the past as a massive Land Rover fan but there was always a nagging doubt that stopped me taking the plunge, a bit like marrying a slightly dodgy girlfriend and then regretting it. I have been married 3 times and still never bought a P38. Nuff sed.

[Tayne]

I never heard about the RF issues.

I do remember lots of people trying to mod the ariels so they could lock them from farther away...

[Cavcraft]

Take the engine out and put a Transit 2.5Di lump in it's place instead.

[Pete-M]

The alarm gets spooked when they're parked in multi story car parks. Both the ones I had used to freak out after a day parked near work - where cars are opened and locked all bloody day with the remote. Rangies used to think someone was trying to steal them and they'd go into maximum security lock down. Which meant doing the key in door left right left right etc programing dance.

 

Most nights.

[panhard65]

I never found my 2 diesels underpowered and they pulled a trailer a lot better than the 300tdi disco's. Drink a lot more fuel though but can haul 3 ton of trailer and rolls royce far better than the disco and the izusu 3.1. The only one I have tried that was better for towing was a landcrusier 4.0 turbo diesel. The only petrols I have tried were classic 3.5's and they were nothing special even the one with a supercharger bolted on, but the fuel consumption was horrendous. I would still have another P38 but finding a good un is not easy

[Pete-M]

My old turbo 3.5 pulled a trailer very well indeed, and the 3.9 I pulled a full and very heavy trailer right across to Zante with did the job very well indeed.

 

The 2/300 TDi jobs pull well provided they're in the turbo happy zone.

 

The 2.5 P38 seems to have trouble moving itself but trailers don't make a whole lot of difference.

 

The 4.6 V8 pulls well but really needs a good quality multi point LPG conversion to make them financially viable. If you can find a 4.6 with the top hat liner mods, multi point LPG with under floor tanks and recent air bags they're a great tow bus.

[brickwall]

All so very true. Leccy probs are the main worry as it's usually the culprit when something, usually unrelated, also goes wonky. Some used to have problems at petrol stations with the RF, although not now. Summit to do with the equipment on sight.

 

I still love them.