P38

Rover Mac

Well-known member
Feb 7, 2006
634
1
Los Angeles
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Robert Alley said:
Were the gems P38 any better or worse than the Bosch? I know the Bosch ones had problems, but never really hear much about the GEMS. I'm really trying to fight the urge, but I kind of want a P38.

I have 160K miles on my 97 GEMS, including a fair number of trail miles.

Would I recommend one to anyone else, probably not but I do have a love / hate relationship with mine.

It serves as a reliable (if maintained) daily driver, comfortable interstate freeway cruiser and as a capable trail truck for 3 or 4 passengers plus dog.

http://s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj89/CelticRover/Land Rover Trail Photographs/

Air suspension only ever failed once:rolleyes: replaced with coils.

Only seen a flatbed once ( Not while I was driving, water pump failure, trashed the original 4.0 )

Tired of replacing the O rings on the heater core, stupid design, replaced my heater core with one from an Audi, fits in the factory housing, and eliminates the "O" rings.

Only needed diagnostics ( so far) for resetting adaptive values, changing security settings to Australian market, did not help with my transfer case Hi / Lo issues, (the Bosch versions have more transmission diagnostic options)


http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=34136

http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=34136&page=2
 
p m said:
This is true, Paul, but it is in the same category as, say GEMS vs. Lucas EFI. People like Lucas because they think it is simpler and more reliable - or, going even further, that a carburettor is more reliable than EFI.

That may be, but if the BeCM goes haywire, you're screwed and in for a huge bill anyway one looks at it.

I laugh at folks wanting used ones. Do you really want to trust a used part when the one you had went so far bad?
 

knewsom

Well-known member
Jul 10, 2008
5,262
0
La Mancha, CA
Robert Alley said:
Given the company her ex owned I doubt the gun even made a tiny dent in her settlement.

If I could get to the $1m a year club a H&H shotgun and P38 would be high on my list. Of course a 101, 110, light weight, and an Aston Martin would also be on that list. I have met a lot of people who have owned them and know the problems and just can't stay away...

If I was in the 1M club I'd be looking at supercharged RRSs...
 

Rover Mac

Well-known member
Feb 7, 2006
634
1
Los Angeles
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ptschram said:
That may be, but if the BeCM goes haywire, you're screwed and in for a huge bill anyway one looks at it.

I laugh at folks wanting used ones. Do you really want to trust a used part when the one you had went so far bad?

I am actually looking for a used one:eek:

I was told by one LR mechanic that he thought some of the BECM failures were from over velous valet steam cleaning of the carpets, no idea if there is any truth in this.

The BECM does usually give some advance notice of impending failure (side lights staying on etc) or so I have been told.

I am looking for a spare top circuit board , which apparently is the one prone to fail? and there is a guy in the Valley who repairs these and is able to unlock them, I am looking for one as a spare (assuming my RR keeps on running in the mean time).

The plastic used in the P38 is rubbish:mad: Trim panels especially under steering wheel, fuel filler release, plastic gears in blend motors, plastic in door lock actuators, radiator expansion tank nipple, expansion tank, fuse box (problems with the fuse box have been apparently frequently misdiagnosed as BECM issues) Even plastic clip on gearlever to engage reverse can break:eek:
 

Some Dude

Well-known member
Feb 12, 2009
1,590
0
Boise, ID
A friend of mine had a 98 for 10 years and just dumped it for an armada. He went through all the typical BS but kept the love for a whole decade. I would LOVE a nice black one but am too scurred of the potential bills to pull the trigger.
 

JohnB

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2007
2,292
12
Oregon
I saw one a few days ago with a couple african americans driving it with the rear comepletely on its bump stops. Is that normal? Had nice chrome wheels. No spinners though.
I shoudn't make fun though since my D2 has rear air bags and 150K on them.
 

KyleT

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2007
6,059
8
39
Fort Worth, TEXAS
JohnB said:
I saw one a few days ago with a couple african americans driving it with the rear comepletely on its bump stops. Is that normal? Had nice chrome wheels. No spinners though.
I shoudn't make fun though since my D2 has rear air bags and 150K on them.

around here all 4 are on the bumps...