seeking advise from Rover Veterans: considering purchase of 99 4.0SE
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
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seeking advise from Rover Veterans: considering purchase of 99 4.0SE
Hello Rover Lovers - I am a brand new forum member and thank you all for this valuable forum with so much information.
I am considering the purchase of a 1999 Range Rover 4.0SE with approx. 90,000 - asking price is $5,000 but I'm going to offer $4,300 or so........you know how that goes.
Question: Is the fact that the air suspension system has been converted to steel spring coils a major plus?
The dealership I am considering buying it from is the 3rd owner, 1st owner bought new and had it until 2012, 2nd owner till about 6 months ago. Dealership tells me (when I asked for service records) that they called and spoke to the previous owner who traded the truck to them - and that person indicates they performed all periodic maintenance themselves and that they had the EAC replaced with steel coil springs.
I guess I like the idea of the EAC system as I had read details of it and it is quite amazing how it auto-adjusts for conditions and speeds.
And, I also understand that EAC is notorious for problems, failures and EXPENSIVE maintenance/repairs.
Is the handling and performance of this truck now impaired in any way by this conversion to springs? What are the pro's and con's of this?
I am pretty scared to buy the truck with no service records - can anything useful be obtained via CarFax regarding if maintenance or any recall/warranty work was performed on this truck during it's lifetime?
Thank you! I appreciate any feedback, advice or opinions anyone has.
Shawn.
I am considering the purchase of a 1999 Range Rover 4.0SE with approx. 90,000 - asking price is $5,000 but I'm going to offer $4,300 or so........you know how that goes.
Question: Is the fact that the air suspension system has been converted to steel spring coils a major plus?
The dealership I am considering buying it from is the 3rd owner, 1st owner bought new and had it until 2012, 2nd owner till about 6 months ago. Dealership tells me (when I asked for service records) that they called and spoke to the previous owner who traded the truck to them - and that person indicates they performed all periodic maintenance themselves and that they had the EAC replaced with steel coil springs.
I guess I like the idea of the EAC system as I had read details of it and it is quite amazing how it auto-adjusts for conditions and speeds.
And, I also understand that EAC is notorious for problems, failures and EXPENSIVE maintenance/repairs.
Is the handling and performance of this truck now impaired in any way by this conversion to springs? What are the pro's and con's of this?
I am pretty scared to buy the truck with no service records - can anything useful be obtained via CarFax regarding if maintenance or any recall/warranty work was performed on this truck during it's lifetime?
Thank you! I appreciate any feedback, advice or opinions anyone has.
Shawn.
Baja
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 318
From: Boston Strong
if you can get it for around 4k the price is right, not have service records is a big gamble.
You are correct the air suspension is more problems, a lot have been converted to coils for just the reasons you mentioned.
I hunted for mine for a while because I wanted a working air suspension that had not been cannibalized. And OH what a ride it is.
I have found keep my air suspension working in both my trucks not that expensive, because i buy parts from people that are doing spring conversions. Car fax will only tell you if it been in an accident.
You are correct the air suspension is more problems, a lot have been converted to coils for just the reasons you mentioned.
I hunted for mine for a while because I wanted a working air suspension that had not been cannibalized. And OH what a ride it is.
I have found keep my air suspension working in both my trucks not that expensive, because i buy parts from people that are doing spring conversions. Car fax will only tell you if it been in an accident.
Baja
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 318
From: Boston Strong
couple things;
check for campaign tags (a fancy way to say recall ) on the radiator support,
they give you the date and mileage that the recall/ campaign was done. It might help you decide how the car was treated, in my case there were 3 campaigns.
also on the front of a P-38 there is a air-dam that snaps onto the front bumper it hangs about 3 inches lower on the corners and 11/2 in the center.
if that is missing you might want to ask yourself why?
has it already been off-roaded?
you have one owner up to 2012 that's great. but the second guy probably paid $1-2k on springs and got rid of it after a year. was it just to much car or did he foresee other problems?
check for campaign tags (a fancy way to say recall ) on the radiator support,
they give you the date and mileage that the recall/ campaign was done. It might help you decide how the car was treated, in my case there were 3 campaigns.
also on the front of a P-38 there is a air-dam that snaps onto the front bumper it hangs about 3 inches lower on the corners and 11/2 in the center.
if that is missing you might want to ask yourself why?
has it already been off-roaded?
you have one owner up to 2012 that's great. but the second guy probably paid $1-2k on springs and got rid of it after a year. was it just to much car or did he foresee other problems?
Last edited by drowssap; Jan 23, 2014 at 03:06 PM.
Thread Starter
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 30
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couple things;
check for campaign tags (a fancy way to say recall ) on the radiator support,
they give you the date and mileage that the recall/ campaign was done. It might help you decide how the car was treated, in my case there were 3 campaigns.
also on the front of a P-38 there is a air-dam that snaps onto the front bumper it hangs about 3 inches lower on the corners and 11/2 in the center.
if that is missing you might want to ask yourself why?
has it already been off-roaded?
you have one owner up to 2012 that's great. but the second guy probably paid $1-2k on springs and got rid of it after a year. was it just to much car or did he foresee other problems?
check for campaign tags (a fancy way to say recall ) on the radiator support,
they give you the date and mileage that the recall/ campaign was done. It might help you decide how the car was treated, in my case there were 3 campaigns.
also on the front of a P-38 there is a air-dam that snaps onto the front bumper it hangs about 3 inches lower on the corners and 11/2 in the center.
if that is missing you might want to ask yourself why?
has it already been off-roaded?
you have one owner up to 2012 that's great. but the second guy probably paid $1-2k on springs and got rid of it after a year. was it just to much car or did he foresee other problems?
So, knowing that the 1999 P38 was converted to springs, would you say that it might ride and feel about like my old 1991 County (short wheel base) Classic? That would be *just fine* if so.
Pictures show the air dam to be in place and appears to be in good shape.
Thanks again for the feedback.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 11
From: mini soda
Just to chip in about service records...
I bought both of mine with basically no prior service information. The D1 was sitting in someones yard for over a year needing a fuel pump. When I drained the oil the first time, it was grey and totally opaque. The swivel ***** were empty and one looked like it had sand in it. Large chunks of the body were rusted out and the front half was from a completely different rover (salvage title).
The D2 was owned by a college chick who let the cooling system get to a point where the heater ran cool, white smoke out of tail pipe, erupting coolant jug, and a coolant-cleaned #5 cylinder.
They are both running fine with no unexpected major maintenance. The D1 engine sounds fantastic at warm idle...just a nice hummmmmm.
Ive read of more than a few where people say bought a disco with a slew of service records and almost immediately have major work to do. TRIARII bought his D2 with a virtually complete maintenance history and has had to do tons of stuff.
Basically, complete service records can be like that "Guarantee" on the box in Tommy Boy.
I bought both of mine with basically no prior service information. The D1 was sitting in someones yard for over a year needing a fuel pump. When I drained the oil the first time, it was grey and totally opaque. The swivel ***** were empty and one looked like it had sand in it. Large chunks of the body were rusted out and the front half was from a completely different rover (salvage title).
The D2 was owned by a college chick who let the cooling system get to a point where the heater ran cool, white smoke out of tail pipe, erupting coolant jug, and a coolant-cleaned #5 cylinder.
They are both running fine with no unexpected major maintenance. The D1 engine sounds fantastic at warm idle...just a nice hummmmmm.
Ive read of more than a few where people say bought a disco with a slew of service records and almost immediately have major work to do. TRIARII bought his D2 with a virtually complete maintenance history and has had to do tons of stuff.
Basically, complete service records can be like that "Guarantee" on the box in Tommy Boy.
Last edited by pinkytoe69; Jan 23, 2014 at 03:49 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
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Just to chip in about service records...
I bought both of mine with basically no prior service information. The D1 was sitting in someones yard for over a year needing a fuel pump. When I drained the oil the first time, it was grey and totally opaque. The swivel ***** were empty and one looked like it had sand in it. Large chunks of the body were rusted out and the front half was from a completely different rover (salvage title).
The D2 was owned by a college chick who let the cooling system get to a point where the heater ran cool, white smoke out of tail pipe, erupting coolant jug, and a coolant-cleaned #5 cylinder.
They are both running fine with no unexpected major maintenance. The D1 engine sounds fantastic at warm idle...just a nice hummmmmm.
Ive read of more than a few where people say bought a disco with a slew of service records and almost immediately have major work to do. TRIARII bought his D2 with a virtually complete maintenance history and has had to do tons of stuff.
Basically, complete service records can be like that "Guarantee" on the box in Tommy Boy.
I bought both of mine with basically no prior service information. The D1 was sitting in someones yard for over a year needing a fuel pump. When I drained the oil the first time, it was grey and totally opaque. The swivel ***** were empty and one looked like it had sand in it. Large chunks of the body were rusted out and the front half was from a completely different rover (salvage title).
The D2 was owned by a college chick who let the cooling system get to a point where the heater ran cool, white smoke out of tail pipe, erupting coolant jug, and a coolant-cleaned #5 cylinder.
They are both running fine with no unexpected major maintenance. The D1 engine sounds fantastic at warm idle...just a nice hummmmmm.
Ive read of more than a few where people say bought a disco with a slew of service records and almost immediately have major work to do. TRIARII bought his D2 with a virtually complete maintenance history and has had to do tons of stuff.
Basically, complete service records can be like that "Guarantee" on the box in Tommy Boy.
Thank goodness for this forum - where we can rub elbows with the Guru's and Jedi's! Hoorah!
Baja
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 318
From: Boston Strong
A lot of recalls are caught and done during regular service by the dealership, that would mean that the owner at least took it to the dealer enough to get the recall's done.
I not sure what the ride is like after a conversion, as i said I was looking for air suspension,
i'm sure if you redesign i system meant for air to spring there must be a difference, but people do it all the time and dont seem to mind.
beside the disco; i also have a 90 coil spring RRC the rides nice, 90 was an odd year as the didn't use a rear sway-bar,which make wide sweeping corner interesting.
I'm a gambler so service records are nice but not mandatory FOR ME. My P-38 came from an on line auction, i never touch it until it was backed off the carrier.
i more thing you could check turn on the heater and see if there is a picture of a book in the lower right hand corner of the screen, if there is you have a least one bad damper motor. (bargaining tool)
I not sure what the ride is like after a conversion, as i said I was looking for air suspension,
i'm sure if you redesign i system meant for air to spring there must be a difference, but people do it all the time and dont seem to mind.
beside the disco; i also have a 90 coil spring RRC the rides nice, 90 was an odd year as the didn't use a rear sway-bar,which make wide sweeping corner interesting.
I'm a gambler so service records are nice but not mandatory FOR ME. My P-38 came from an on line auction, i never touch it until it was backed off the carrier.
i more thing you could check turn on the heater and see if there is a picture of a book in the lower right hand corner of the screen, if there is you have a least one bad damper motor. (bargaining tool)
Last edited by drowssap; Jan 24, 2014 at 06:17 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
A lot of recalls are caught and done during regular service by the dealership, that would mean that the owner at least took it to the dealer enough to get the recall's done.
I not sure what the ride is like after a conversion, as i said I was looking for air suspension,
i'm sure if you redesign i system meant for air to spring there must be a difference, but people do it all the time and dont seem to mind.
beside the disco; i also have a 90 coil spring RRC the rides nice, 90 was an odd year as the didn't use a rear sway-bar,which make wide sweeping corner interesting.
I'm a gambler so service records are nice but not mandatory FOR ME. My P-38 came from an on line auction, i never touch it until it was backed off the carrier.
i more thing you could check turn on the heater and see if there is a picture of a book in the lower right hand corner of the screen, if there is you have a least one bad damper motor. (bargaining tool)
I not sure what the ride is like after a conversion, as i said I was looking for air suspension,
i'm sure if you redesign i system meant for air to spring there must be a difference, but people do it all the time and dont seem to mind.
beside the disco; i also have a 90 coil spring RRC the rides nice, 90 was an odd year as the didn't use a rear sway-bar,which make wide sweeping corner interesting.
I'm a gambler so service records are nice but not mandatory FOR ME. My P-38 came from an on line auction, i never touch it until it was backed off the carrier.
i more thing you could check turn on the heater and see if there is a picture of a book in the lower right hand corner of the screen, if there is you have a least one bad damper motor. (bargaining tool)
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Well ?
Did you buy it ? My daughter just bought a 1999 RR 4.0SE stock and I have been tiring to figure out a few things. I have to post some questions but so far it's clean and the air ride is a must have for off road. Don't think springs would be worth changing. If you park with the front wheels 6-7" above the rear will level the car so you can see whats over that hill 
Mudding
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 114
Likes: 2
My 98 RR se had a great ride but 7 years ago the air bags started leaking. I decided to have the dealer in Baton Rouge change to springs.
It's not the same ride but it's good enough to me.
The major problem to my wife is with springs the CD player jumps at every bump. The CD never jumped with the air system, but I use the radio so I'm fine.
I like my 98 RR, I like the looks better than the new RR and Sport models. I don't like the Evouge, or what ever they call it. And I plan on keeping the 98.
Parts are easy to find, and it's easy to work on. I don't consider any problem I've had with the 98 as time to get rid of it.
It's not the same ride but it's good enough to me.
The major problem to my wife is with springs the CD player jumps at every bump. The CD never jumped with the air system, but I use the radio so I'm fine.
I like my 98 RR, I like the looks better than the new RR and Sport models. I don't like the Evouge, or what ever they call it. And I plan on keeping the 98.
Parts are easy to find, and it's easy to work on. I don't consider any problem I've had with the 98 as time to get rid of it.
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