Chat & Social > The Bar - General Chat
The p38a
barnhill4x4:
Had mine for just over a year, covered 30k+ miles in that time and the car has covered 166kmiles!
I use it hard pulling trailers and caravans and I take it off road. Only majorish prob was a front wheel bearing! I have changed pads and tyres but they are wear and tear items anyway.
I love it!
thermidorthelobster:
Not ALL 4.6s have porous blocks, but a fair few DO have slipping liners. Take a look at how many on the second hand market have had a new engine at about 95,000 miles. Not all of them, but a good few.
Similarly, a fair few have problems with the EAS sooner or later. Air springs might be cheap, but valve blocks aren't so cheap (although now you can recon many of the parts, it's a lot better than it used to be).
I loved my P38a but I found it too much of a headache; there's a lot that could go wrong, and when it does, it can be rather expensive (although that's getting better now, particularly with the EAS). I would only have another one if I was confident my bank account could stand it.
In the 6 months I had mine, I probably spent over £2.5K on it - new air springs (not OEM), new EAS compressor, new MAF meter (£350 new, £130 from a breaker), realigned crank sensor; but the main part was I had to replace the whole LPG system because the injectors were shot. It also had a new flywheel at a cost of £800 to the dealer who sold it to me (the old one disintegrated the day after I bought it). This was a 115K car which had had a brand new 4.6 engine at 95K.
When I sold it, the whole thing was working great, but I suspect the ABS accumulator was on its way out, although the garage could never find anything wrong with it. At that point I decided my bank account couldn't handle the risks.
v8kenny:
--- Quote from: "thermidorthelobster" ---Not ALL 4.6s have porous blocks, but a fair few DO have slipping liners. Take a look at how many on the second hand market have had a new engine at about 95,000 miles. Not all of them, but a good few.
Similarly, a fair few have problems with the EAS sooner or later. Air springs might be cheap, but valve blocks aren't so cheap (although now you can recon many of the parts, it's a lot better than it used to be).
I loved my P38a but I found it too much of a headache; there's a lot that could go wrong, and when it does, it can be rather expensive (although that's getting better now, particularly with the EAS). I would only have another one if I was confident my bank account could stand it.
In the 6 months I had mine, I probably spent over £2.5K on it - new air springs (not OEM), new EAS compressor, new MAF meter (£350 new, £130 from a breaker), realigned crank sensor; but the main part was I had to replace the whole LPG system because the injectors were shot. It also had a new flywheel at a cost of £800 to the dealer who sold it to me (the old one disintegrated the day after I bought it). This was a 115K car which had had a brand new 4.6 engine at 95K.
When I sold it, the whole thing was working great, but I suspect the ABS accumulator was on its way out, although the garage could never find anything wrong with it. At that point I decided my bank account couldn't handle the risks.
--- End quote ---
I agree there was a liner issue - mainly caused by localised hot spots in the engine caused by the auto box not changing down on hills and making the engine labour a bit IIRC
Service history is vital too - everyone knows how much V8's rely on clean oil
Sounds like you were unfortunate enough to have your suspension probs before parts became cheaper - I picked up a second hand compressor on ebay for £20 plus p&p, put a new teflon seal in for £20 odd and it now sits in my shed, as good as new ready for use if needed
As you know now, valve blocks can be fitted with new o rings etc so I don't reckon air suspension is too bad now
I must admit though If I had to chuck two and half grand at mine in the first six months I would be put off too ! :shock:
Reckon you were just dead unlucky - as I said you really only hear about the bad 'uns
I must say that in my personal experience the rangie is head and shoulders above the TD5 Disco it replaced
thermidorthelobster:
--- Quote from: "v8kenny" ---I must say that in my personal experience the rangie is head and shoulders above the TD5 Disco it replaced
--- End quote ---
'sfunny - I went the opposite route and I'm happiest with the Disco. Mine has hardly been problem-free but it just suits me better.
v8kenny:
--- Quote from: "thermidorthelobster" ---
--- Quote from: "v8kenny" ---I must say that in my personal experience the rangie is head and shoulders above the TD5 Disco it replaced
--- End quote ---
'sfunny - I went the opposite route and I'm happiest with the Disco. Mine has hardly been problem-free but it just suits me better.
--- End quote ---
Well there you go then - what do I know ! :lol:
Don't ask me why I don't like Disco's - I just don't and can't put my finger on why
Had a 200 series V8 for a few months as well and didn't like that either !
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