Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Hi Guys, am new to the club and would llike some advice please,
Am wanting to trade my Hardbody 3.3 v6 for a patrol, have two options at present: 2006 4.8 l in good nick with 120000kms or a 98 4.5l with high mileage at 400000kms. The 4.5 displays more use but is half the price,am I ignorant for considering this as a project? When should one expect to redo the motor on these and is it costly?

Would really appreciate some advice,am able to work mechanically on it myself but do not want to buy a bad apple.
Chopper

The 45 is a great car on the auz forum they say 600 000 than do the head . Better speak to the engineering shops for a price on engine overhaul but I have never heard of someone that wanted to change his 4.8 for a 4.5 . The 4.2 up to 4.8 looks the same under with little changes .has the 4.5 got a service history?

Hi Chopper, and welcome.

The 4.8 is in a different league, but the 4.5 is a good, tough, reliable car (as is the 4.8). The 4.5 is simpler in terms of engine/gearbox electronics though, which to me is always a factor, but if you intend buying a 4.5 then under no circumstances test drive the 4.8, if you do you will be buggered.

The basic chassis and drivetrain are virtually identical, although in terms of the auto boxes the 4.8 has a more modern tiptronic unit which works exceptionally well, and contibutes greatly to the car's amazing abilities, especially in sand but also in rocks once you get used to it.

If that 4.5 has been well looked after, then there should be at least 200k km left in it before any major bills (so we are told). I geuss the cost to rebuild would be about the same as for a Cruiser 4500EFI, perhaps 20% more?

If it was me, I would try to stretch the budget to the 4.8

Thanks gents,
The 4.5 has no nissan service history but was owned by a 4x4 specialist, thus has almost all extras,i would imagine that he would not have used it in such a manner without maintaining it? The 4.8 is obviously neater with full history and no dirt use evident, but at R140000 more, perhaps the difference in price,spent on the 4.5 would result in a better vehicle?

Chopper, that depends on your defenition of "better".

I do not know what extras have been fitted to the 4.5, but some extras can indicate that it has had a very tough life (like diff locks over and above standard). There is a saying to the effect that a shoemaker's children always walk barefoot. If you work on other people's cars all week, sometimes you never get around to your own.

However, you should be able to fix almost anything that can go wrong with R140k, and you will certainly have a more comprehensively equipped car, if that is what you are after.

Do remember though that that much hard travelling, particularly if a significant portion of that was on dirt roads, could well have taken it's toll on the electrical system, so have a good look around at the harness, and make sure all the electricals work as they should.

Agreed, had decided on the 4.8 ,but needed to explore all options,think it will be the safer route in the long run. Any advise on problem areas to watch out for on the 2006 model?

As far as I know the 2006 up to 2011 is the same spec just check the dash for bubbles

Funny enough, this one has a few isolated bubbles?

Go 4.8 - you can't go wrong! ..... but negotiate with the seller to first have the dash replaced. Also have a look at pieterpotgieter's post as the dealers will only pay part of his dash replacement otherwise deduct it from the asking price as those pimples will only get worse and irritate the living daylights out of you in the long term.

Thanks all.