Hi milage Range Rover 4.6 HSE... would you?
 

Hi,

Am looking at a 1995 Range Rover 4.6 HSE
It has 170,000 miles though
Looks in great condition especially inside.
It's cheaper than most things I can find of the same standered... so it's basically just the milage that I am worried about.

What are your thoughts?
Any big reasons for or against a 4.6 HSE Range Rover?

If the price reflects the mileage, its has a good SH and you dont plan on doing a big mileage then its probably not such a problem. The 4.6 V8 is hardly a stressed engine so it should cover a huge mileage.

except that old rangies had a huge roster of reliability problems. I wouldnt touch it TBH unless you really wanted it, dont mind spending the money and have a backup car.

How much is it? Less than £3000 I guess. Main problem to look for is a porous block. Also check out air suspension and aircon. If there is a handbook symbol on the aircon, there's a problem. At 170,000 I guess it's not on the original engine. There are better ways to spend your money IMO.

dave -
yeah... sort of around the £3k mark

any way of checking for a porus block?

John - the last time I looked into porous blocks it was most obvious by low coolant level. The 4.6 is more susceptible because it has a greater bore and hence thinner walls. It can happen to any Rover V8 though. For 3k I would consider a Discovery V8 ES. You'll get a 100k 1997 car for that money. You'll get most of the equipment though it's not quite as quick and corrosion is worse. Far less to go wrong. Take a look at Brightwells > Homepage - worth a trip if only to gain a better understanding of LR models and values.

cheers dave.

I don't really like the "look" of the disco.
It's probably very good though but I had a go in a few before I bought my Frontera and it was a bit wobbly on the road as well.

Not yet driver a Range Rover but really like the P38 looks.
Top Hat liners aparently solve the pourus block problem.
I like the 2003 look convesion people are doing as well P38 - 2003 kit
I wouldn't mind getting a spares/repairs/salvage Rangie and doing the full 2003 kit conversion.

Going to look at an inpreza tomorrow so that's gonna wittle my Range Rover fund down... so it will be a while before I am looking again for a rangie.

This is the one I was originally looking at eBay.co.uk: RANGE ROVER HSE 4.6, 22 INCH WHEELS, PRIVATE PLATE, (item 110075298413 end time 13-Jan-07 21:00:00 GMT)

My dad knows someone with that model, its only done 40k and it costs a fortune in repairs. I would say that unless its being given away steer well clear, potential money pit, go for something Japanese.

Ask a RAC or AA man !!

With a car like that..... buy it, run it until something goes wrong, then scrap it. It will never be worth fixing.
Take this into account when considering how much you really want to pay for it.

If it were me........ not even with a bargepole!!

Hi mate,

I looked at a 4.6 hse, on an m plate. Before you do it, read :-

http://www.rrr.co.uk/P38/P38%20Ownership.htm

Range Rover P38/4.0/4.6 Common Problems and Fixes

4.6 have lots of problems, as they have over 16 different ecu's. The engines are weak due to being bored out so much to make 4.6, that they over heat and need new liners, or `top hats` as its called. 90% suffered over heating, and lots had new egnines under warranty.

Read the above links, and if honest, walk away. Fuel MPG is awful, reliabilty is awful, interiors dont wear too well. Be honest with yourself, are you buying it for the image or the actual car ?

I was after the image if honest, but soon walked away. For the money, if you need a good 4x4, go pajero. I brought a 45K miles, 2.8 (electronic pump) fieldmaster, on a p, for £5K. Runs on veg oil, so cheap, quick, and so reliable.

Infact, Ive got two now, as I gave that to my brother. I now have an 2.8 exceed.

Cheap as chips, jap reliablily, cheap parts, runs on veg oil, happy days ! :-)

If you need any inof on pajeros', give ma shout.

Cheers

SBK

my mate absolutely loves range rovers and land rovers of this age, says theyre fantastic. then again he owns a specialist repairing them and drives a bmw for relaiability

cheap enough for "wanna be gangstas" !!

I have ended up buying a UK Scooby anyway.

But... still like the Range Rover.
I would have not been buying for the car only I openly admit I would also be buying for the looks as well. The way it looks is a big factor.

I have my LWB Fronty now and am happy with the look but it's far far far too slow LOL did I mention it's slow? damn ice cream engine!!!
BUT BUT!!! ..... it runs on
Veg oil with no mods too, so very much like the jap shogun.
Plus I believe when Vaux bought the design from Izuzu, lotus did the suspention tweaks, handles very well for a 4x4 (offroad jeep type car).

That wanna be gangsters cr@p, couldn't care less mate.
I am at an age and maturity now where I am free from peer pressure to by for the acceptance of others... you spend your money you makes your choices. I buy what I like because I like - simple as that.

Thanks for the info anyway SBK1972
The Pajero evolution would be more down my steet though... 3.5 mivec for £7k if you can find one... pity they didn't do that with the LWB, would have been a real winner sales wise.

So to cap... not going to buy a RR for now because of the scooby purchase.
Thanks to all who posted serious answers/input, much appreciated.
This is the scooby BTW eBay.co.uk: SUBARU IMPREZA TURBO 4WD SILVER HKS BLITZ GREDDY P1 WRX (item 230072182782 end time 08-Jan-07 14:27:30 GMT)

John, I had a Pajero Evolution. Silver / Tiptronic. Lovely looking thing, real macho ! :-) However, performance was, ok it was quick for a 4x4, but not the 0-60 5secs that some mags suggested. Also, the fuel usage !!!! Christ on a bike. I was blowing £200 a week on it as I used it for my company hack. I could never get more than 120 out of it though and believe me, Itried nearly every day up / down the M23.

In the end, the tiptronic was not changing up, common fault normally due to the wrong fluid in the g/box, so I traded it in for a 97' mkiv tt supra. Now that was / is fast, and better fuel mpg.

Ive had a number of pajeros now, keep going back to them. Just a lot of car for the £££. What I love to have is a Range Rover Sport. :-) Probably will end up with a Landcruiser Amazon though.

Good luck with your purchases !

SBK

Youll need to get rid of the stupid wheels and tyres, or at least fit the correct size of tyre (and the bodged on VTA blow off valve). The 'Jun front splitter' and the 'STI8' rear spoiler are bollocks too, but Im sure you realise that.

Maybe the Pajero evo is just looks good an paper.

GC8 -
I like the stupid wheels and tyres LOL they will be staying.

The Jun and the STI8 things are OK as well, bit larrish but they will stay, not sure they are of any benifit though LOL but asthetically they are attention grabing to a certain extent and the car will be outside my beauty salon so I was not looking for a modest looking car.

The bodged VTA blow off valve... I don't know anything at all about these at all.
But is it bodged? -
what would need doing to make it right?