Buying a Range Rover L322

Hi all. I'm new here and found the site when doing a google search.

I am looking at buying a TD6, probably a 2004 model and just wanted to see if there are any issues to look out for? I know about the front diff.

Is 120,000 miles a bit on the high side?

I have had 2 P38's both were 4.6 HSE's, are these more reliable?

Thanks for the help.

Liam

BPD said:

Hi all. I'm new here and found the site when doing a google search.

I am looking at buying a TD6, probably a 2004 model and just wanted to see if there are any issues to look out for? I know about the front diff.

Is 120,000 miles a bit on the high side?

I have had 2 P38's both were 4.6 HSE's, are these more reliable?

Thanks for the help.

Liam

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Hi Liam.

The electrically adjustable steering column is the only thing I'm aware of that is an expensive failure item other than the front diff.

Check out Range Rovers for loads more information on all rangies.

I think the L322 is generally more reliable than the P38.

Not too sure about the mileage, but diesels are supposed to last longer.

Happy hunting.

Guy

Hi,

I just went through all this with a 2002 L322 SE. Here is my checklist:

- HPI check
- Is the front prop shaft replaced with the newer flexible version? (VERY important)
- Does the instrument pack work?
- Is the satnav accurate for location? (not fitted to SE)
- Does the air suspension enter all three height modes easily and with the car remaining level?
- Is the driver's side arm rest in good condition and not collapsed?
- Is the battery charged?
- Does any condensation in the rear lamps clear after 10 mins with the lights on?
- Is there any vibration from the steering?
- Do the front CV joints rattle at low speed?
- Are the mirror glasses excessively slack? Do the electric mirrors work?
- Does the steering column adustment work?
- If the tow bar is forward of the rear bumper, does the car come with a tow hitch extender?

Hope that helps.

Nige.

Hi Guy and Nige,

Thanks a lot for the information. I made a few calls yesterday and every single one was sold. Time to carry the hunt on again now.

Cheers
Liam

Keep an eye on High Peak 4x4 - Capital Garage, High Street, Derbyshire, Chapel-En-Le-Frith, SK23 9SS. There is a good throughput of decent vehicles there. He had a few Range Rovers about a month ago. The snowy season sold a few for him!

Nige.

Hi Nige,

Thanks for the tip, will see if they have anything.

Liam

try Brightwells in Leominster. They have a very good 4x4 auction every Tuesday. i got mine from them and it has been brilliant but i think I was v. lucky. Make sure you do all the checks first. You can reject one you have bought within an hour of the auction if you find stg badly wrong.

dolphinboy said:

try Brightwells in Leominster. They have a very good 4x4 auction every Tuesday. i got mine from them and it has been brilliant but i think I was v. lucky. Make sure you do all the checks first. You can reject one you have bought within an hour of the auction if you find stg badly wrong.

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I do keep thinking about auction. I didn't know about this one so thanks. Have looked at BCA already and they have a couple but they are going through today.

Hi Liam
i have just sold an 04 L322 TD6 my advice is dont buy one mine had 80k on the clock and it was just a money pit
August 2009 New Gearbox £3000 +
December 2009 New Turbo £1500 +
January 2010 3 injectors and a fuel pump £ 1500 +
un less you are rich or find one that has all this done as nice looking as they are they can be a money pit
i wouldnt want anyone to have the bills i had with this car
i bought it because it had one owner from new and the looks of the car where stunning came with full history from main steaalers as well
good luck with your search but be warned they bite hard

Hi Liam
I bought an early 2002 model with 65,000 miles - now has approx 100,000 miles.
Previously had a P38 DSE - I could write books on it eg suspension, air con, cylinder heads - why did I entertain another Range Rover.
The L322 has been brilliant - has all the benefits of BMW build with all the benefits of a Range Rover.
The 3.0 litre BMW diesel is a joy with non of the under powered traits of the P38 2.5.
Only issues have been:
- faulty steering column relay - admittedly expensive at £450 exchange for complete column
- faulty connection in bulkhead for + battery lead - give away signs where overheating of plastic and drained battery - normal wear and tear with new discs and rear bushes at 90,000 miles
If you buy one hipe you are as lucky as me and do not have Steve's problems
Also bought my P38 from Brightwells who were very good to deal with - even managed to ring the previous owner before the auction

steveh said:

Hi Liam
i have just sold an 04 L322 TD6 my advice is dont buy one mine had 80k on the clock and it was just a money pit
August 2009 New Gearbox £3000 +
December 2009 New Turbo £1500 +
January 2010 3 injectors and a fuel pump £ 1500 +
un less you are rich or find one that has all this done as nice looking as they are they can be a money pit
i wouldnt want anyone to have the bills i had with this car
i bought it because it had one owner from new and the looks of the car where stunning came with full history from main steaalers as well
good luck with your search but be warned they bite hard

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Hi Steve,

That isn't good!! Thanks for the info. Not sure what to do now. Maybe best to search long and hard for one with everything done as you say.

i personally think that in buying any sort of car with the spec of a rr,especially knowing if things go wrong it could cost £££s you have to budget for the worst,don,t go buying a car for £10,000 if you only have £10,000 savings you,ll be knocking on your bank managers door.also you have to remember although there are horror storys about range rovers going wrong theres also the same storys about x5,ml,s etc,don,t let em put you off.all cars can go wrong,and it does,nt amtter whether its a 1 owner or 10 owner car,full or no history,its luck of the draw

bart2181 said:

i personally think that in buying any sort of car with the spec of a rr,especially knowing if things go wrong it could cost £££s you have to budget for the worst,don,t go buying a car for £10,000 if you only have £10,000 savings you,ll be knocking on your bank managers door.also you have to remember although there are horror storys about range rovers going wrong theres also the same storys about x5,ml,s etc,don,t let em put you off.all cars can go wrong,and it does,nt amtter whether its a 1 owner or 10 owner car,full or no history,its luck of the draw

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Agreed it is luck of the draw. I have already been looking again today. Still can't find one and the 2 I have found they aren't replying to my questions. Just yes it is available.

i not trying to put you off mate but just a helpfull warning
i paid 16k for mine, if you get a good one then you'll love it. its by far the best car to have it makes you feel fantastic when driving it. the advice from Bart2181 is spot on
keep a bit back just in case.
steve

Very informative thanks guys! may have to print out all these things to check tho!

(do i really want one???? HMMMMM!!!!)

Well, I bought my 2003 L322 4.4V8 in Sept 2020, with 128,760 on the clock, which was pixelated, got it fixed for £99.Air struts replaced £928, prop shaft centre bearing £198
Gearbox service £350, Lower suspension arms (MOT fail) £700, usual oil and filter etc £209, that included filters and a new set of plugs. I was getting about 18.2 mpg, fitted a new battery after the service, now up to 22.9mpg
It is fantastic to drive, they are expensive, depending on the parts, but after 132,439 miles (now) it runs great, I love it. The total cost to date is £2778. Most of it is just wear and tear, that hasn't been addressed by the previous owner, who then sell it, for someone else to fix, like me., but worth it

I saw a youtuber say something like 'range rovers are like marmite, you either love them, and therefore forgive their little wobbles, or you hate them and you want everyone to know how bad they are'. Probably not quite true, but there are a lot of vocal people out there that really have some horror stories about anything with a green oval.

Looking at the posts above and to add to this, there will always be a friday afternoon car, in any brands fleet, that's the last car going down the line for that day/shift and the lads just wanted to finish up for the weekend. Unfortunately, friday just seems to have come around a little more often in Solihul than in other places it seems..

I had a Peugeot 406, it was really tidy, came to me with high miles and a full service history, it never put a foot wrong. I sold it, mistakenly and had a brief flirt with a Fiat. The person (a friend) that bought my 406, treat it far harsher than I did, not even keeping up with recommended maintenance levels. It still never put a foot wrong. So I bought another 406, less miles and still a FSH. In the first 8 months of ownership, it spent 4 in the workshop (on and off). I kept thinking 'well maybe when I fix this thing, that will be the last gremlin' I threw good money after bad, I struggled with that car for maybe 18 months. It was the biggest lemon I've ever owned, a complete money pit and looking back, it was definitely not worth the money and hassle it caused me. That was my Friday afternoon car.

I have an L322, 112k, FLRSH, I changed all oils and filters as soon as I bought it, just to satisfy me that it was all up to date, regardless of paperwork, and whilst this is still relatively new to me, so far it has been trouble free. There are little gremlins and a few bits of trim that have weakened with age, but it is 16 years old, so I cannot expect perfection.

Unfortunately, if you have 'the itch', you're going to buy one, it's almost as inevitable as death and taxes, so to add to what another said; just don't drop your entire budget on one thinking that the newer/more expensive one will give you less trouble, find one that lets you keep a little back for repairs, because it will need some, and knowing that you're not already at your limit will mean you don't go into the red trying to save an expensive old car from the scrapper.

Love that this has resurrected an 11 year old post. Love also the passion and enthusiasm that people have with their vehicles, Range Rovers in our case. I've just bought an 18 year old Td6 that will stay with me for as long as I am able to stand, or sit for that matter. She is a bit scruffy and has so many quirks already but she will be cared for and enjoyed. Not many cars out there will the same levels of attachment as these old beasts, but each to their own and long may we continue with our rather large guilty pleasures. May we all enjoy a day of love and laughter, cheers

BillyboysLad said:

Love that this has resurrected an 11 year old post.

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Haha, I didn't even note the age of original post, I just look at the 'recent posts' when I login and thought I'd chime in..

Here's to that day of Love and Laughter @BillyboysLad

rnddave said:

I saw a youtuber say something like 'range rovers are like marmite, you either love them, and therefore forgive their little wobbles, or you hate them and you want everyone to know how bad they are'. Probably not quite true, but there are a lot of vocal people out there that really have some horror stories about anything with a green oval.

Looking at the posts above and to add to this, there will always be a friday afternoon car, in any brands fleet, that's the last car going down the line for that day/shift and the lads just wanted to finish up for the weekend. Unfortunately, friday just seems to have come around a little more often in Solihul than in other places it seems..

I had a Peugeot 406, it was really tidy, came to me with high miles and a full service history, it never put a foot wrong. I sold it, mistakenly and had a brief flirt with a Fiat. The person (a friend) that bought my 406, treat it far harsher than I did, not even keeping up with recommended maintenance levels. It still never put a foot wrong. So I bought another 406, less miles and still a FSH. In the first 8 months of ownership, it spent 4 in the workshop (on and off). I kept thinking 'well maybe when I fix this thing, that will be the last gremlin' I threw good money after bad, I struggled with that car for maybe 18 months. It was the biggest lemon I've ever owned, a complete money pit and looking back, it was definitely not worth the money and hassle it caused me. That was my Friday afternoon car.

I have an L322, 112k, FLRSH, I changed all oils and filters as soon as I bought it, just to satisfy me that it was all up to date, regardless of paperwork, and whilst this is still relatively new to me, so far it has been trouble free. There are little gremlins and a few bits of trim that have weakened with age, but it is 16 years old, so I cannot expect perfection.

Unfortunately, if you have 'the itch', you're going to buy one, it's almost as inevitable as death and taxes, so to add to what another said; just don't drop your entire budget on one thinking that the newer/more expensive one will give you less trouble, find one that lets you keep a little back for repairs, because it will need some, and knowing that you're not already at your limit will mean you don't go into the red trying to save an expensive old car from the scrapper.

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Very good point rnddave, about save a bit for the inevitable repairs, having said that I have just spent £280 on the alloys having them refurbed, they look spanking, not really required, but I always noticed them, so I had to do it. I didn't realise it was an 11 year old post either, I just made a comment.