Sanity check please - Buying a P38

I think that I am going to shake hands on the P38 I mentioned earlier in the week.

I've only had a brief look so far, but the car seems honest and the seller is a neighbour of a close mate.

So far, I've had a brief check at some of the major known problem areas (air suspension seems to work properly, blend motors seem to do their job, no obvious coolant leaks, engine temperature steady on test drive etc). The car has had a full replacement 4.6l within the past 18 months, which has now done 14000 miles ish.

On a short test run there seemed to be a bit more wind noise from the sun roof than I would have expected. Anyone come across this before?

I'm going to crawl over and under it tomorrow, and would like a check list of other specific P38 things I really should be looking at. As a start:

Damp carpets (heater matrix O rings). Condition of air springs. Bubbling or pressurisation of cooling system.

What else?

Finally, 1995 4.0SE with a recent 4.6 fitted by local independent specialist, nice condition leather interior (even driver seat is good)

94,000. Good service history. The seller seems like a thoroughly nice bloke and I think has been totally honest and open - the known faults he has told me about consist of a slightly sticky drivers seatbelt buckle and a patchy electric front screen heater. Probably can get it for approx.£5000. Sounds OK doesn't it?

Nervous of Hertfordshire

David

Reply to
rads
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"rads" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

David:

Basically a new engine... Go for it! Good luck.

Jack

Reply to
Jack

Reply to
Staffan Tjernstrom

|| On a short test run there seemed to be a bit more wind noise from the || sun roof than I would have expected. Anyone come across this before?

Definitely not. There will be a bit of wind noise from around the window frames, but I don't recall any from the sunroof. Check it's seated into the roofline properly when it's shut.

|| || I'm going to crawl over and under it tomorrow, and would like a check || list of other specific P38 things I really should be looking at. As a || start: || || Damp carpets (heater matrix O rings).

Could easily be a blocked aircon drain - easily fixed at the cost of an eyeful of cold water.

|| Condition of air springs.

Try them up and down with the engine idling, several times. It won't react immediately, but should rise up to highest setting within a minute or so, and should lower itself to access mode the same. If it won't do it, or is very slow about it, you're looking at a fair amount to put it right. If you get a test drive, cruise it at over 50mph for 30+ seconds - the ride height should lower to low profile (-1") automatically. You won't feel or see it do this, but the EAS light will flash to let you know. When you drop below

35mph for 30+ seconds, it should return to normal height. Having said all that, the system can be a bit erratic. Mine worked fine throughout my ownership, but just now and then it would take 5 minutes and 5 miles to pump up to normal from a cold start. Never found out why!

|| Bubbling or pressurisation of cooling system.

Definitely, although with a nearly new engine this is less of a concern

|| What else?

Check every electrical system for function. Things don't often go wrong, but most of the electrickery is pretty complex and if something's amiss it would be a good bargaining point.

|| Finally, 1995 4.0SE with a recent 4.6 fitted by local independent || specialist, nice condition leather interior (even driver seat is || good) 94,000. Good service history. The seller seems like a || thoroughly nice bloke and I think has been totally honest and open - || the known faults he has told me about consist of a slightly sticky || drivers seatbelt buckle and a patchy electric front screen heater. || Probably can get it for approx.£5000. Sounds OK doesn't it?

Sounds great. Go for it. They are absolutely lovely cars.

Reply to
Richard Brookman

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