L322 Sight unseen L322 with inactive suspension..

Hello all

I have just recently acquired a 2005 4.2 SC L322 in Silver, for £2k

What's totally mental about this purchase is that I don't have a massive amount of detail on the car. I haven't actually seen the interior at all and only a couple of not great photos of the exterior at odd angles. I have been told it's "very clean"

• I do know the suspension is bust (on bump stops) due to water ingress during a recent car wash episode. The water has been identified as coming in one of the rear doors (side or tailgate).
• The remote locking had supposedly stopped working but that has been referenced as fixed.
• Also only one key (hate that!)
• According to recent MOTs the rear subframe bushes are outstanding and nearside non-obligatory mirror is damaged (god knows how bad and the price of what I guess is a wing mirror)
• The rear video screens aren't working.
• Rear cameras and parking sensor work 90% of the time.
• It also has "superficial" rust in the usual rear quarters. No idea about the tailgate.

Oh and it has 162k miles on the clock.....

After some initial research here is what I am currently thinking

• Suspension is due to compressor getting shorted/wet. Considering that, the suspension system has shut down and won't raise because it knows the compressor is bust. The compressors needs test/refurb/renew and errors cleared and should work (big a** guess!!) - DIY
• I can get a new spare key programmed for £100
• Rust is a cut/weld/fill/spray job - DIY final spray might be pro depending on impact (silver is difficult to match)
• I believe the wires to rear screen were incorrectly routed under seats around 2005ish. I believe those wires are probably sliced and can patched up.
• No idea on rear camera + sensors
• Rear subframe bushes are a brutal job but i'll still DIY them.

I haven't actually received the car yet too...

I have referred to DIY as I am kind of into that. I have a decent tool setup and have done various jobs on my MB. I am also restoring a Renault Clio 172 Cup track car which has thought me a load and given me plenty of confidence. You can find that build here if curious. https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/thread...car.111627

Howdy guys,


Quick update from me..another day and another round of speculation.


Got a few pics from the mechanic today who has been holding the car.


I'm not too familiar with L322 body styling and versions etc. I had been trying to narrow down the front bumper but it looks like it may have been retrofitted with a facelift bumper, possibly grill and front lights. I'm not sure if that is an aftermarket grill or the standard supercharged version.


I also find it strange that one headlamp is clean and the other dulled. I guess the clean one was a renewal at some point.


Overall, a clean looking car up front anyway?





Part of the door card I guess... but what gets me in this photo is the oil. I guess it's burning oil?






Superficial rust, eh!? Good job I have a grinder and mig and know how to use them





Nice black leather.. from this angle it looks very clean considering age and miles. Looks like a bit of wear on the driver, door side. While difficult to say for sure, doesn't look like any collapse of the foam inside.


I'm not going to lie. This photo fills me with a little excitement. Looks clean and looks like a very nice and comfortable place to be.


Seems like i'll need a cigarette lighter anyway.





Brembo and some Overfinch wheels. I wonder do I keep these wheels, are they too big and prone to cracking? What size do you guys reckon?


Looks like smaller than 22inchers so should be good for me.. this won't be no chelsea tractor!





Here's where the speculation begins.. Why is the door car removed?


I had originally believed that the rear door/tailgate had leaked water into rear and caused a suspension fault.... but I don't imagine a suspension fault could be trigged from inside this door, could it? I think that perhaps this photo is closer linked to the central locking fault that had been mentioned by the seller in advert. They did say the locking problem was fixed.


That leads me to the suspension problem..... according to the MOT in October 2020. There was 162k miles. There are still 162k miles on it. Go figure.. it hasn't been driven in 12 months and just sat, understandable due to CV19.


That leads to me to believe that perhaps something gave way in the suspension. It is plausible that perhaps a bag had perished and when they went to drive the car recently the compressor couldn't reach operating pressure and shutdown as a result.





Good ride tyres.... class! (Not!?)

well i have 2 un cracked matching wheels and 2 very cracked ones, if yours are the after market ones change them

What you got? Size brand?

Mine are 20 inch I think. They say Overfinch but I am not sure if authentic or eBay specials.

Either way, I kind of prefer OEM so they are likely to be going and replaced with some nice AB versions.

im running 22s at moment, but these ones have a higher load rating than the ones i did have, i keep a spare set of 19s just in case

Hiya
So much to answer but I am going to start with wheels. When you say "no Chelsea Tractor", what exactly do you mean? A working vehicle, farm tracks, fields, sheep in the back, squares of hay, getting through proper snow, and going up inclines that the other marques stop at the bottom of,such as I have done over the years. Then off down the bypasses and motorways in comfort. Well, I run on the standard 18" and they do the job without issue, and look like they were made for the vehicle, as they were.
Around town, a few tracks, and low level greenlaning? I think up to 20". Someone else will know, who greenlanes for fun. Some go for 20" because they don't like the look of the space left by the 18". The problem being once the size starts to go up, the rubber starts to get thinner.
22" why bother? Big wheels and rubber bands on a 4x4?! Which drugs do you sell?
On the subject of wheels, get your mechanic to do tracking and balance. Those wheels have done a kerb check every time they turned a corner
Tinworm on arches. Get a proper look at it.
Water ingress at rear: "The water has been identified as coming in one of the rear doors (side or tailgate)". Who and how was this identified?
"nearside non-obligatory mirror is damaged (god knows how bad and the price of what I guess is a wing mirror)" Whilst it may not be illegal to drive with a broken nearside wing mirror, you may be issued by a notice, from police to fix it within 14 days , if stopped. Also if there is an incident where on overtaking, changing lane on the m/way or if you're parking, there may be cause for the other party or police, to say you did not have adequate view for the maneouvre. As to price it depends, domyou mean wing mirror 'complete', or 'just' glass, and which type glass. Prepare to sit down, with a cool fan if photochromatic automdimming
Think I'll let others pick up on the rest

mind he was a brave man buying a l322 site unseen

badfluffy said:

mind he was a brave man buying a l322 site unseen

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It adds to the fun. To be honest, I wasn't really in the market for one. I just like this as it was going cheap with a bunch of problems. I like solving problems. It would be a lot cheaper if jigsaws made a V8 rumble when you finished it, but hey ho!

badfluffy said:

mind he was a brave man buying a l322 site unseen

Click to expand...

There are other descriptions more fitting than brave!

gold rover said:

Hiya
So much to answer but I am going to start with wheels. When you say "no Chelsea Tractor", what exactly do you mean? A working vehicle, farm tracks, fields, sheep in the back, squares of hay, getting through proper snow, and going up inclines that the other marques stop at the bottom of,such as I have done over the years. Then off down the bypasses and motorways in comfort. Well, I run on the standard 18" and they do the job without issue, and look like they were made for the vehicle, as they were.
Around town, a few tracks, and low level greenlaning? I think up to 20". Someone else will know, who greenlanes for fun. Some go for 20" because they don't like the look of the space left by the 18". The problem being once the size starts to go up, the rubber starts to get thinner.
22" why bother? Big wheels and rubber bands on a 4x4?! Which drugs do you sell?
On the subject of wheels, get your mechanic to do tracking and balance. Those wheels have done a kerb check every time they turned a corner
Tinworm on arches. Get a proper look at it.
Water ingress at rear: "The water has been identified as coming in one of the rear doors (side or tailgate)". Who and how was this identified?
"nearside non-obligatory mirror is damaged (god knows how bad and the price of what I guess is a wing mirror)" Whilst it may not be illegal to drive with a broken nearside wing mirror, you may be issued by a notice, from police to fix it within 14 days , if stopped. Also if there is an incident where on overtaking, changing lane on the m/way or if you're parking, there may be cause for the other party or police, to say you did not have adequate view for the maneouvre. As to price it depends, domyou mean wing mirror 'complete', or 'just' glass, and which type glass. Prepare to sit down, with a cool fan if photochromatic automdimming
Think I'll let others pick up on the rest

Click to expand...

Thank you GR!!

So by Chelsea Tractor I mean an SUV/4x4 that sees only manicured tarmac at a max speed of 20mph. For my L322 I would like to do some offroading, greenlaning etc during the lifetime of my ownership. I think 20" should do me for general day to day and light extra curricular. If i'm going more extreme i'll probably go 18 with some decent rubber. Harry Metcalfe made a solid recommendation for daily wheels that have good tyres that cover 12 months of seasons. I need to refer back to it.

In any case, if whats on it is legal, then I won't change until the rubber is worn a bit.

The mirrors look good in the pics. Here's hoping it was either fixed or is just the glass. If the actual body piece has cracks/minor damage that triggered the advisory it will be a job for UPOL, AkzoNobel and Devilbliss (I already had a look at prices and thankfully I was already sitting).

There is some serious suspense in waiting to see what is lurking under the side skirts.

conor1n said:

Thank you GR!!

So by Chelsea Tractor I mean an SUV/4x4 that sees only manicured tarmac at a max speed of 20mph. For my L322 I would like to do some offroading, greenlaning etc during the lifetime of my ownership. I think 20" should do me for general day to day and light extra curricular. If i'm going more extreme i'll probably go 18 with some decent rubber. Harry Metcalfe made a solid recommendation for daily wheels that have good tyres that cover 12 months of seasons. I need to refer back to it.

In any case, if whats on it is legal, then I won't change until the rubber is worn a bit.

The mirrors look good in the pics. Here's hoping it was either fixed or is just the glass. If the actual body piece has cracks/minor damage that triggered the advisory it will be a job for UPOL, AkzoNobel and Devilbliss (I already had a look at prices and thankfully I was already sitting).

There is some serious suspense in waiting to see what is lurking under the side skirts.

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Oddly enough it is cheaper, and easier, to source second hand complete mirror, than just replace the glass, with new, correct spec.
Ask me how I know

gold rover said:

Oddly enough it is cheaper, and easier, to source second hand complete mirror, than just replace the glass, with new, correct spec.
Ask me how I know

Click to expand...

I'll keep that in mind, thanks.

Car should be collected today.

I would get diag on it and clear the hard fault 1st and see if the pump/suspension works as it should seeing as it's been standing a year. You need special diag for the L322 most common types don't work

biketeacherdave said:

I would get diag on it and clear the hard fault 1st and see if the pump/suspension works as it should seeing as it's been standing a year. You need special diag for the L322 most common types don't work

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Absolutely, a local friend of a friend is going to give me an IID BT as he no longer has his L322. I will transfer the ownership and off I go.

First thing, as you say will be to clear faults and see what happens.

Well there is £400 saved

biketeacherdave said:

Well there is £400 saved

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True. Although I feel like giving the owner a token €50 or something if they will take it. I need to pay £30 for transfer of ownership too.

...Arrgggh!

Still not here. I engaged a second business to collect this 2 weeks ago. It was "booked in" for last week. Supposed to be collected on Friday, but no!

Well seeing as you popped in with an update I notice no internal door handle or cable on that passenger door so reckon cable broken hence door card off.

The suspension maybe on the bumps also because the height sensors are faulty. That could also cause it to be stuck.

I regret buying a cheap compressor. Mine now goes and down albeit slowly.

The rust would concern me. The rear quarter in particular. It could be in the sills and you can't see that without removing the side steps and the plastic covers. If they are rotting the jacking points could be gone and it many many of of work to rectify it. You might also be catching before it gets really bad.

It's a good thing you like solving problems as you certainly have a few.

kds said:

Well seeing as you popped in with an update I notice no internal door handle or cable on that passenger door so reckon cable broken hence door card off.

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Haha yes, to be honest not much to update at the moment as the thing is taking forever to get here.

Are you referring to the fact that lot's of people come by with grand visions, start a thread then leave? Lol, I hate that. I try to keep everything updated really, but it's difficult when there is a lack of engagement. I posted this thread to a few forums but overall this place seems to most welcoming and engaging. I have a build thread of my Clio 172 Cup track car over on the mig welding forum if that's your thing too. https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum...-renault-clio-172-cup-track-car.111627/page-7

Agarange said:

The suspension maybe on the bumps also because the height sensors are faulty. That could also cause it to be stuck.

I regret buying a cheap compressor. Mine now goes and down albeit slowly.

The rust would concern me. The rear quarter in particular. It could be in the sills and you can't see that without removing the side steps and the plastic covers. If they are rotting the jacking points could be gone and it many many of of work to rectify it. You might also be catching before it gets really bad.

It's a good thing you like solving problems as you certainly have a few.

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Haha yea, I sure do have a few things here alright. I'm looking forward to getting stuck in. I have promised to get my track car build painted and driving before looking at the Range.