Newbie first Range Rover

Hi everyone,

I hope I've done the right thing ?

Bought my first Land Rover (Range Rover) yesterday.

I read all the horror stories of unreliability, engine problems, transmissions exploding and electrical nightmares. The massive running costs and the crippling yearly government RFL (£500!) rip off and yes I still had to have one.

I shall try and keep a monthly log of my experiences for the benefit of other newbies who are dithering about taking the plunge into the Landy abyss.

Nothing to report as yet except for the expense of the first tank full of diesel, I wonder how long that will last.

Best regards
AWT

:welcome:

Welcome.

AlisRR said:

Hi everyone,

I hope I've done the right thing ?

Bought my first Land Rover (Range Rover) yesterday.

I read all the horror stories of unreliability, engine problems, transmissions exploding and electrical nightmares. The massive running costs and the crippling yearly government RFL (£500!) rip off and yes I still had to have one.

I shall try and keep a monthly log of my experiences for the benefit of other newbies who are dithering about taking the plunge into the Landy abyss.

Nothing to report as yet except for the expense of the first tank full of diesel, I wonder how long that will last.

Best regards
AWT

Click to expand...

Well not a great deal to report except 10,000 miles of wonderful motoring, this is by far the best vehicle I have ever bought, it is simply gorgeous.

I changed the transmission fluid and filter after the first 2,000 miles, very black, very nasty. I'm going to do it again next week to make sure all that black fluid is flushed out.

Rear wiper/washers packed up but sorted this, after reading Saint.V8 post rear wiper parts 1 & 2.
I have posted my fix on his thread.
Best regards
AWT

Fitted a Witter towbar this week.
Golden rule is "it's never one job" you start one thing and then a couple of unforeseen problems crop up.
I actually wanted to fit a pucker Westfalia towbar as they look "discreet" and have a removable towball. Unfortunately when I contacted P.F.Jones they said the Westfalia towbar was out of stock and they didn't know when they would get some, so I went for their recommendation and bought a Witter.
When it arrived I was reasonably impressed it is a weighty piece of iron.
Fitting it took me two days but it could be done in one if you pulled your finger out.
I looked on youtube to find out how to remove the bumper and that went OK. Under the plastic bumper is the real metal one that is held on by 4 bolts either side. You need to remove a far bit of trim to get at the nuts and a 21mm rachet ring is useful unless you want to remove more trim and the spare wheel.
The Witter instructions are fairly good and all went smoothly except for the exhaust mount. The holes it the Witter are not correct. If you look at the bracket you remove and the new Witter bracket (with spacer bush) it's obvious that the holes are too low. You need to drill a 10mm hole 45mm down from the top face and 25mm in from the edge. Hold the old with the new and you will see.
With the Witter I also purchased a PCT Logicon ZR2500 solidstate relay box. This fits between the Rangey wiring and the tow socket electrics. It basically isolates the trailer's electrics from the car's electrics so all that electronic stuff doesn't get confused by the extra load. This went Ok except that the "scotch block" connectors supplied in the kit are no good with the Rangey wiring as it is too thin and doesn't make a connection. Don't use these, push back the insulation and make a soldered joint it will save you a lot of head scratching when the electrics don't work. I downloaded the RAVE wiring diagrams from Landyzone and this gives all the wire colour codes you need although I still have them if anyone is going to fit a Witter.
All done now and I have to say that I am very pleased with the Witter, although it is a mighty piece of iron sticking out of the back it really does look the business. My car is fitted with reverse sensors and they do not "see" the towball so there is no problem there.