Range Rover 2.5dse yr 2000 advice on purchase

Good evening. Im after some advice
I would like to buy and have the chance of buying a range rover 2.5DSE 131000 miles on the clock on a 2000 plate. I have been told it has the bmw engine which im totally clueless about. I tow an avondale rialto 640/6. Its not the towing im bothered about its how reliable are these motors. Are there any known faults The chap selling wants £2995 is this a decent price.
Thanks in advance

There are gooduns and baduns take someone with you who knows about them. If it's been looked after 130,000 is nothing for the engine. There is not a lot that's hard to sort if you are mechanically minded. But can be a money pit if you're not and you get a badun.:welcome2:

:welcome2:

Theres a looonnng list of faults
:nothingtoadd:

If it's a good 'un then that's a nice price. I've had one for over two years and it hasn't missed a beat - but I looked at over 20 and spent six months on here before I bought.

If you do a search there was a pre-purchase check list on here a few weeks ago but you'd be much better taking someone with you.

if your going to tow then.

Air springs
compressor
Brakes
cooling system check if its getting hot under pressure

many thanks to Tcubed for this list.


Electrics
• Both keys present and working; deadlock, relock, memory
• Electric Seats (memory settings if fitted)
• Heated Seat Elements (should fully heat within 3 minutes)
• Heated front and rear windscreen
• Message Centre (150 different reports)
o Speed Warning system, trip functions
• Dashboard Panel Lighting (dimming) and interior lighting
• Horn
• Clock
• Power windows, sunroof and mirrors
• All external Lighting systems, including reverse light on low range
o Lighting delay
o Hazards
• Washers and Wipers (3 settings, including variable intermittent). With wipers on, engage reverse – rear wiper should activate
• Air Suspension
o All 4 settings work independently (Park, no brakes, doors shut)
o Vehicle is level
o Inhibit switch
o Vehicle should raise from ‘access’ to ‘off road’ in 30 seconds
• Cruise Control
• Audio System
o CD player
o Radio/Cassette
o Tone Controls
• Climate Control System
o Confirm full temperature range.
o Full aircon vs full heat on opposite sides
o All fan speeds and fan flow positions functional


Transmission
• Full High-Range
• Full Low- Range (flashing lights and sound upon selection)
• Smooth changes in both transfer settings
• Sport Mode (High-Range)
• Manual Mode (Low-Range)
• Kickdown




Mechanical Systems
• Fuel cap release
• Bonnet release
• ABS (Light for system should remain on upon ignition, and off after 5 metres of driving
• Traction Control (This cannot be tested except off road, but if ABS is fully functional it should be working)


Age Testing
• No rust. Range Rover is mostly Al-27 (Most likely place for rust is below lower tailgate)
• Air Springs (some coarseness is normal)
• Coolant fully contained; no leaks
• Coolant clean, any unusual material could indicate Head Gasket failure (Most common fault of BMW M51)
• Off road damage beneath (Land Rovers are tough, so anything visible could have been serious)
• No smoke or steam on hot or cold starts
• Exhaust in good condition; Catalytic converters should not rattle

h6m4 said:

Good evening. Im after some advice
I would like to buy and have the chance of buying a range rover 2.5DSE 131000 miles on the clock on a 2000 plate. I have been told it has the bmw engine which im totally clueless about. I tow an avondale rialto 640/6. Its not the towing im bothered about its how reliable are these motors. Are there any known faults The chap selling wants £2995 is this a decent price.
Thanks in advance

Click to expand...

If you are mechanically minded, great, if not be prepared to open your wallet. First off, if they haven't been done, you will need new suspension air springs as they have a life of 7/8 years. Cheap and easy to DIY. Lots of other niggles but all do-able with help from this forum, and all the info you need is available.
It's a good price and the post 2000 cars are the best.
:welcome:

And of course, if it is a good one, and you're able to mend the niggles; you drive a Range Rover, and there are few better feelings Good Luck
I would add to my list to check the RF receiver (search RF receiver battery drain....) as that can cause a world of hurt.

TCubed said:

And of course, if it is a good one, and you're able to mend the niggles; you drive a Range Rover, and there are few better feelings Good Luck
I would add to my list to check the RF receiver (search RF receiver battery drain....) as that can cause a world of hurt.

Click to expand...

I'll second that :5bbanghead:

I have one for sale

Everything the guys above say,but even if you think youve got a good un it can also turn out to be a bad un.....talking from experience,and i looked at 12 before i settled on this one....

scoobypete said:

I have one for sale

Everything the guys above say,but even if you think youve got a good un it can also turn out to be a bad un.....talking from experience,and i looked at 12 before i settled on this one....

Click to expand...

I spent few months - looked at loads, but no matter how many questions you ask or time you spend looking you will still have to put effort in once you own a P38

Remember - you do not have x-ray eyes and can't see inside everything!! and unless you have a BS meter with you take everything the seller says with a pinch of salt, they are selling it and will forget to mention anything that may put you off!

saying that though, I managed to find mine and I’m happy with it 1 owner from new and full Land Rover service history and less than 100K miles (not anymore)

and all I have had to replace is the RF unit and battery had the flat battery problem, repair the grubby looking keys, correct my wonky steering wheel, full service as a precaution, replaced the snapped tailgate check straps, changed the head lights and full beam to HID, new air con belt (that's now been spat off and I have seized air con pump) removed the viscous fan and wired up the A/C fans for cooling, replaced the thermostat as it was stuck open, fiddled with the yellow wire under the driver’s seat until the SRS light went out, repaired the heated seats as neither worked, set my EAS with software from datatek and changed the stereo from 1980 cassettes to iPod connectable head unit

but other than that it's been a dream to own hahahahaha

I looked at loads before I bought mine..... oh no I never I bought the 1st one I saw. Purely by luck and in the right place at the right time. I absolutely love it and amazed how good it is on fuel.