range rover 2.5dse/4.0/4.6
Discussion
Chaps, thinking of getting a 1996(ish) range rover, the question is, which model?
Fuel economy is a slight issue, if it was the 4.6 I'd be tempted by an lpg as I'm sure its pretty thirsty.
If a diesel I'd get it chipped as gives another 25% power. Is it that slow? Is the 4.0 a dog? I'm a bit confused...?
I basically dont want something that's radically slower than my 4.0 cherokee, any thoughts/personal experience guys/
thanks.
Fuel economy is a slight issue, if it was the 4.6 I'd be tempted by an lpg as I'm sure its pretty thirsty.
If a diesel I'd get it chipped as gives another 25% power. Is it that slow? Is the 4.0 a dog? I'm a bit confused...?
I basically dont want something that's radically slower than my 4.0 cherokee, any thoughts/personal experience guys/
thanks.
I have just bought (3 weeks) a 1996 4.6 HSE and I am getting an average 15mpg out of it if that is any help.
Compared to the A8 I swapped it for, it seems a little slow ;-) but it certainly seems to hold it's own on sliproads/motorways etc. Though I do find myself flicking into 'sport' mode on country lanes.
I think you will find it quicker than your 4.0 Cherokee though - I have driven one of those recently when looking at these things. However I have not driven the 4.0 or 2.5DSE so I cannot give you a comparison.
Compared to the A8 I swapped it for, it seems a little slow ;-) but it certainly seems to hold it's own on sliproads/motorways etc. Though I do find myself flicking into 'sport' mode on country lanes.
I think you will find it quicker than your 4.0 Cherokee though - I have driven one of those recently when looking at these things. However I have not driven the 4.0 or 2.5DSE so I cannot give you a comparison.
.... you've been warned, just like the last bloke that bought a RR 4.2LSEI've just traded my TD5 Defender for a Range Rover DSE with the BMW 2.5 six cylinder engine.
The car does feel a bit underpowered on acceleration compared to even a TD5 Discovery, it's just down to the way the engine was reprogrammed for installation in the Range Rover. I had mine Superchipped as part of the deal after a couple of test drives and it really improves power and torque.
I used to have a 4.0 litre Cherokee and I reckon the DSE has the edge over it with the chip.
I've been hoofing it about this week and still get a reading of over 24 mpg.
>> Edited by JSG on Sunday 28th March 18:07
The car does feel a bit underpowered on acceleration compared to even a TD5 Discovery, it's just down to the way the engine was reprogrammed for installation in the Range Rover. I had mine Superchipped as part of the deal after a couple of test drives and it really improves power and torque.
I used to have a 4.0 litre Cherokee and I reckon the DSE has the edge over it with the chip.
I've been hoofing it about this week and still get a reading of over 24 mpg.
>> Edited by JSG on Sunday 28th March 18:07
WARRANTY !!! A neccessity...
I have one through Motoreasy.com - Warranty direct will not touch anything over 4.0l, but motoreasy will if you ask properly.
£80/month (£960/yr) covers 24,000/annum including 2 services, breakdown cover, £5000 warranty on ALL major components including aircon, free MOT and up to £500 to fix anything for the MOT. On a big old Range Rover, this is a bargain. The 2 services alone with the MOT and breakdown cover would set you back that much, so the warranty ends up as a freebie in my eyes...
I have one through Motoreasy.com - Warranty direct will not touch anything over 4.0l, but motoreasy will if you ask properly.
£80/month (£960/yr) covers 24,000/annum including 2 services, breakdown cover, £5000 warranty on ALL major components including aircon, free MOT and up to £500 to fix anything for the MOT. On a big old Range Rover, this is a bargain. The 2 services alone with the MOT and breakdown cover would set you back that much, so the warranty ends up as a freebie in my eyes...
2.5 = dog slow
4.0 = perfectly acceptable
4.6 = marginally rapid for a large beast.
If you are looking for a V8, check to make sure there aren't any exhaust bi-products in the coolant. If there are it is almost certainly a cracked block. This is apparently more common on the 4.6 as it has a very lean fuel map in the mid range. Having said that, mine was a 4.0 when I bought it (cheaply) with afore mentioned woes. Now has a 4.6 fitted and is much more torquey in the mid range. It is still running the 4.0 fuel map and don't believe people who tell you a 4.0 - 4.6 swap can't be done without a hugely expensive chip upgrade. My mpg is between 16 - 17 measured properly - the trip computer is very pessimistic.
Other problems you will almost certainly find are:
Various farty whirring sounds associated with the ABS and air suspension but generally nothing to worry about....touches wood.
Leaking heater 'O' rings @£1500 dealer price or two hours swearing and cursing if you do it yourself.
Steering wobbles. They are very sensitive to anything being 100% - including tyre pressures.
Heated seats won't work.
Air con won't work - most likely fixed in 10 mins by removing a spacer from the air con clutch.
Leaking tailgate round the seal - buy a new one or cheapskates glue them on with silcone sealer......
All in all you can't beat em !
Edited to say it's only let me down once in 2.5 years when the front propshaft broke up at 95 in the middle of France - eek !
>> Edited by thruster on Tuesday 30th March 13:23
Edited again to say - maintain it yourself - you only need to change oil, filters etc. as you do on other cars. A service costs me £35 including fully synth oil.
>> Edited by thruster on Tuesday 30th March 13:25
4.0 = perfectly acceptable
4.6 = marginally rapid for a large beast.
If you are looking for a V8, check to make sure there aren't any exhaust bi-products in the coolant. If there are it is almost certainly a cracked block. This is apparently more common on the 4.6 as it has a very lean fuel map in the mid range. Having said that, mine was a 4.0 when I bought it (cheaply) with afore mentioned woes. Now has a 4.6 fitted and is much more torquey in the mid range. It is still running the 4.0 fuel map and don't believe people who tell you a 4.0 - 4.6 swap can't be done without a hugely expensive chip upgrade. My mpg is between 16 - 17 measured properly - the trip computer is very pessimistic.
Other problems you will almost certainly find are:
Various farty whirring sounds associated with the ABS and air suspension but generally nothing to worry about....touches wood.
Leaking heater 'O' rings @£1500 dealer price or two hours swearing and cursing if you do it yourself.
Steering wobbles. They are very sensitive to anything being 100% - including tyre pressures.
Heated seats won't work.
Air con won't work - most likely fixed in 10 mins by removing a spacer from the air con clutch.
Leaking tailgate round the seal - buy a new one or cheapskates glue them on with silcone sealer......
All in all you can't beat em !
Edited to say it's only let me down once in 2.5 years when the front propshaft broke up at 95 in the middle of France - eek !
>> Edited by thruster on Tuesday 30th March 13:23
Edited again to say - maintain it yourself - you only need to change oil, filters etc. as you do on other cars. A service costs me £35 including fully synth oil.
>> Edited by thruster on Tuesday 30th March 13:25
cracked blocks was never an issue on 4.6,s the problem stemmed from pourous blocks normally occuring in one of the piston liners,this was put down to poor manufacturing on cars built between 1995-97,altough it did occure on later cars,but in very small numbers.if buying one use an independant for servicing and repairs,most are now equipped with the autologic diagnostics software and seemed to be more clued up on rangies than what most of the main dealers are.
If you want to get a good idea of what can go wrong, have a look at the following:
www.p38a.co.uk
www.rangie.com/articles_topic.php
Though please don't get scared !!! I know many people who have driven P38s for many years and had no major problems if they are serviced regularly, just like any other car.
Yes, there are known problems with the electrics and aircon and these are well documented, but by no means do they happen to every car...
My top tip for the day is to fit your own manual release for the fuel filler cap - there isn't one as I found out embarrasingly in a petrol station one night after the lead fell off the back of the switch in the dash !
www.p38a.co.uk
www.rangie.com/articles_topic.php
Though please don't get scared !!! I know many people who have driven P38s for many years and had no major problems if they are serviced regularly, just like any other car.
Yes, there are known problems with the electrics and aircon and these are well documented, but by no means do they happen to every car...
My top tip for the day is to fit your own manual release for the fuel filler cap - there isn't one as I found out embarrasingly in a petrol station one night after the lead fell off the back of the switch in the dash !
Just been for a test-drive in a 99v 4.0 se.
Fairly nice, but i'm very disappointed with the performance. Now maybee i'm spoilt (Car1:bmw540, Car2:4x4 Dakar with 5.7 chevy), but it seemed quite lethargic.
Even the missus said it didn't seem to have much "go" in it.
This had the later Bosch fuel injection system which was supposed to have more low down torque as well.
Now, i don't expect sports like performance, but a bit of grunt would be nice.
I want to try a 4.6 hse, at least on paper they seem better.
e.
Fairly nice, but i'm very disappointed with the performance. Now maybee i'm spoilt (Car1:bmw540, Car2:4x4 Dakar with 5.7 chevy), but it seemed quite lethargic.
Even the missus said it didn't seem to have much "go" in it.
This had the later Bosch fuel injection system which was supposed to have more low down torque as well.
Now, i don't expect sports like performance, but a bit of grunt would be nice.
I want to try a 4.6 hse, at least on paper they seem better.
e.
I am 4 weeks into the ownership of a '97 4.0 and have covered 1k miles in it and according to the trip computer have averaged a smidge over 18mpg...on a slow motorway trip i swear the trip fleetingly showed 26mpg!
Upgraded from a Golf Gti and am loving the Rangie. As a second car (not the daily driver) it can't be beaten. We looked at 4 before buying privately and so far it is all working......ironically the golf broke down the day it went in Autotrader!!!
Does anyone know a good independent specialist for services in South Bucks or Berks?
Upgraded from a Golf Gti and am loving the Rangie. As a second car (not the daily driver) it can't be beaten. We looked at 4 before buying privately and so far it is all working......ironically the golf broke down the day it went in Autotrader!!!
Does anyone know a good independent specialist for services in South Bucks or Berks?
Graham Goodyear (Amersham way I think, I'll dig the phone number out) and the V8 centre in Wycombe are current recommendations. I have not tried them myself, but since I live in Marlow, they are who I will be trying if I have any probs. They have both been recommended to me by local Rangie owners...
Graham Goodyer - 01494 431367 - Luckings Farm, Magpie Lane, Coleshill.
I have never used him myself as yet (only had mine a few months) but he has been mentioned to me by more than a couple of people as a good independent Landie/Rangie guy.
Also, I heard that the guy who runs the V8 Centre in Wycombe (mentioned in many other places on PH in the past) is good with them too, esp. as apparently he used to be lead mechanic at a Land Rover dealership.
That's the extent of my knowledge, but multiple recommendations - but if you do use them I would be interested in any feedback.
I have never used him myself as yet (only had mine a few months) but he has been mentioned to me by more than a couple of people as a good independent Landie/Rangie guy.
Also, I heard that the guy who runs the V8 Centre in Wycombe (mentioned in many other places on PH in the past) is good with them too, esp. as apparently he used to be lead mechanic at a Land Rover dealership.
That's the extent of my knowledge, but multiple recommendations - but if you do use them I would be interested in any feedback.
After 2 months the first set-back in P38 ownership and with a complete failure of all the elctrics in the centre console...
So off down the road to Graham Goodyear who was very helpful, efficient, etc.. and so with the part on order it's going back for replacing and a 60k service next week...fingers crossed its not too painful!
So off down the road to Graham Goodyear who was very helpful, efficient, etc.. and so with the part on order it's going back for replacing and a 60k service next week...fingers crossed its not too painful!
When Dads 4.6 went into have the central computer replaced for the 3rd time he was given a 4.0 for a while. The performance seemed to be somewhat lacking and the fuel performance wasn't any better. This was probably down to pushing a little harder to get a reasonable kick from the engine. If your going down the LPG route then IMHO you'd be better going for a 4.6 with the added benefit of the luxury extras.
pontypool said:
After 2 months the first set-back in P38 ownership and with a complete failure of all the elctrics in the centre console...
So off down the road to Graham Goodyear who was very helpful, efficient, etc.. and so with the part on order it's going back for replacing and a 60k service next week...fingers crossed its not too painful!
I am interested in what you thought of Graham - I have not used him myself yet, but have had him recommended (as I did to you!).
Are you having the 60k service with him? If so how much did he quote?
The service itself was £250 incl. all the usual bits and bobs that got changed.
The shiny new centre console means that all the electric bits now work again.
Was genreally impressed and would go back without hesitation; it is a nice little set-up that appears to be run by people that are enthusiasts of the marque.
However by far and away the best bit was the price compared to HR Own and the like!
The shiny new centre console means that all the electric bits now work again.
Was genreally impressed and would go back without hesitation; it is a nice little set-up that appears to be run by people that are enthusiasts of the marque.
However by far and away the best bit was the price compared to HR Own and the like!
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