L322 Risks of buying a 02 L322 3TD with 250k on the clock?

Just seen an advert for a 2002 L322 which sounds nice and a bargain at £4k but has it has done 250K miles.

Just wonder if it is too risky to buy with that sort of mileage?

Anyone have any advice? I am looking to replace my 96 P38 after 12 years of hard graft and with 225k miles getting a bit hard to start when warm.

I dont want to jump out of the frying pan in to the fire.

Personally i wouldn't. Then again i am not predisposed to jumping from 300 hundred foot cliffs with sharp rocks at the bottom even when the tides in.

Thanks Wammers

Would you care to point out what the major risks would be?

One word..... Gearbox

The GM5 box is a major fail on the TD6 L322's......usually only last 80-100k miles, so I'd think it has been replaced at some point and could be due again!

The L322 is a complex machine full of sensors and annoying faults that are hard to trace.....but they are great vehicles to drive when they are working well.

Expect high repair costs when it does go wrong, and if you don't have yur own diagnostics or not able to spanner your own repairs, the bills can be eye watering!

Just the sort of advice I am looking for. The vendor claims he bought it to transport some kids bikes but has changed his mind as it looks too good.The price is attractive as I would have to pay around 3 k for an old P38. However the P38 2.5 diesel is fairly simple and I know all the problems are 12 years of ownership.

The vendor of the car I am looking claims it has been run through a company for the last 2 years with expense spared.

Over 2 years it's had a engine strip down and major overhaul ticks,new transfer box, gearbox reconditioned, new air suspension compressor and injectors reconditioned so as you can see it's had everything that could cause a problem replaced but the mileage is the real worry at 260'000.

So am I safer with another old P38?

Oldpilot said:

Thanks Wammers

Would you care to point out what the major risks would be?

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As Ant says gearbox on the diesels. You can look at it from several angles. Possibly everything that can go wrong with it will have occurred at least twice in 250K. But as Ant says if you can't mend it yourself steer well clear. After 2006 they are better but the cost of parts for these is staggering compared to the P38 which are bad enough themselves.

My worry is buying from someone who recently bought and suggests a change of mind. He also has another two cars listed but is claiming to be a private seller.

Which is the most reliable...an old P38 or an old L322?

Neither
..but one is cheaper and easier to repair.

That would be the P38 then?

What do you drive Wammers?

old pilot said:

That would be the P38 then?

What do you drive Wammers?

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A p38 diesel auto of course. He's too old to use a manual. That's for the Forrest dig Tony.

tomcat59alan said:

A p38 diesel auto of course. He's too old to use a manual. That's for the Forrest dig Tony.

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Automatics are more refined and genteel.

wammers said:

Automatics are more refined and genteel.

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Unlike their owners, oh bugger the one I just bought is an auto, looks like we're in the same boat mate.

tomcat59alan said:

Unlike their owners, oh bugger the one I just bought is an auto, looks like we're in the same boat mate.

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You can now join the exclusive club enjoyed by management. Rather than drive like the plebs.

wammers said:

You can now join the exclusive club enjoyed by management. Rather than drive like the plebs.

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But I do have a choice, drive the auto like the old buggers or the manual like the real men ( isn't that right Brian), yes I'm looking for back-up.

tomcat59alan said:

But I do have a choice, drive the auto like the old buggers or the manual like the real men ( isn't that right Brian), yes I'm looking for back-up.

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I have a manual Porsche in the garage if that helps, one day i will get around to working on it.

wammers said:

I have a manual Porsche in the garage if that helps, one day i will get around to working on it.

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That will do mate.

4K is not a bargain for a 2002 with 250k

I would suggest looking elsewhere for a lower mileage vehicle or offering much lower than 4k

Yep real men drive manuals, sorry am late.

brianp38dse said:

Yep real men drive manuals, sorry am late.

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Real men understand what is in manuals. Others ask daft questions.

scrappyloz said:

4K is not a bargain for a 2002 with 250k

I would suggest looking elsewhere for a lower mileage vehicle or offering much lower than 4k

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Sorry for the delay in replying but I thought I would bring you up to speed.
I did some reserch on the guy and it transpired he bought and sold cars and only had this for a few weeks. The supposed engine rebuild was done by the previous owner with no paperwork. It was an ebay sale and despite having the winning bid I walked away.