The £3900 Range Rover l322
Discussion
That's it done 4000 miles in my ownership in 2 months.
Been calculating the mpg doing the brim to brim method, coming in at 24.2 mpg over my 500 miles a week.
Total cost has been just 2 tyres, a battery and a drop link.
However, gearbox isn't too happy going into drive after sitting in neutral, takes a few seconds to engage. Solved it by just creeping up to lights in drive for now. It was a returned box so presuming they didn't change all the parts.
Might try a oil change just to see if it saves it.
Been calculating the mpg doing the brim to brim method, coming in at 24.2 mpg over my 500 miles a week.
Total cost has been just 2 tyres, a battery and a drop link.
However, gearbox isn't too happy going into drive after sitting in neutral, takes a few seconds to engage. Solved it by just creeping up to lights in drive for now. It was a returned box so presuming they didn't change all the parts.
Might try a oil change just to see if it saves it.
Sheepshanks said:
Slow said:
However, gearbox isn't too happy going into drive after sitting in neutral, takes a few seconds to engage. Solved it by just creeping up to lights in drive for now.
Does it drop into neutral when stopped? I know some auto boxes do that now, but it's quite a new thing.Picked up a set of broken rear lights, one cracked at the base (goes from base and up 2 inches) to replace my one that is full of water and misting up. Will be able to sell the misting up one for more than the pair of cracked ones costed. The other one is pretty much garbage as half the lens is gone.
Changed 4l of the gearbox oil on Friday. Easy job really.
Open filler plug
Open drain plug
Drain all oil, will only get 4l or so as you can only get what's in the sump
Replace drain plug
Run metre of hose from fill plug up through engine bay and attach funnel (there's a prop giving like 4cm of space to try put oil in if you don't run a hose)
Pour new oil in
Once full, turn car on and cycle through gears a few times
Add more oil
Replace filler plug
Job done
Could do with it being done again due to the fact you can't change all the oil in one go.
The oil which came out smelt burnt which worries me. Is this normal for a 50k miles auto tranny?
In other news, mums taking the car on holiday for 10 days so I'm stuck at home.
Changed 4l of the gearbox oil on Friday. Easy job really.
Open filler plug
Open drain plug
Drain all oil, will only get 4l or so as you can only get what's in the sump
Replace drain plug
Run metre of hose from fill plug up through engine bay and attach funnel (there's a prop giving like 4cm of space to try put oil in if you don't run a hose)
Pour new oil in
Once full, turn car on and cycle through gears a few times
Add more oil
Replace filler plug
Job done
Could do with it being done again due to the fact you can't change all the oil in one go.
The oil which came out smelt burnt which worries me. Is this normal for a 50k miles auto tranny?
In other news, mums taking the car on holiday for 10 days so I'm stuck at home.
Car did 1700 miles with mum on holiday faultlessly. Then drove to Bradford and back.
It's currently done over 8000 miles in the 3 months I've had it.
It's last trip has done its box though I fear.
Sadly the gearbox failed 20 miles from home! Drove from Inverness to Norfolk and back, pulled off the a9, everything was happy. It changed down to second for the first time since I got on the a9, trans fail safe! Smelt very hot under bonnet and oil cooler was toasty. Hoping it's just burnt it's oil and fresh oil might save it.
As it sits, won't engage drive but will engage reverse, weird.
In more positive news, the defender is in good nick for the price
It's currently done over 8000 miles in the 3 months I've had it.
It's last trip has done its box though I fear.
Sadly the gearbox failed 20 miles from home! Drove from Inverness to Norfolk and back, pulled off the a9, everything was happy. It changed down to second for the first time since I got on the a9, trans fail safe! Smelt very hot under bonnet and oil cooler was toasty. Hoping it's just burnt it's oil and fresh oil might save it.
As it sits, won't engage drive but will engage reverse, weird.
In more positive news, the defender is in good nick for the price
Slow said:
Car did 1700 miles with mum on holiday faultlessly. Then drove to Bradford and back.
It's currently done over 8000 miles in the 3 months I've had it.
It's last trip has done its box though I fear.
Sadly the gearbox failed 20 miles from home! Drove from Inverness to Norfolk and back, pulled off the a9, everything was happy. It changed down to second for the first time since I got on the a9, trans fail safe! Smelt very hot under bonnet and oil cooler was toasty. Hoping it's just burnt it's oil and fresh oil might save it.
As it sits, won't engage drive but will engage reverse, weird.
In more positive news, the defender is in good nick for the price
I would't be so optimistic about fresh oil, sadlyIt's currently done over 8000 miles in the 3 months I've had it.
It's last trip has done its box though I fear.
Sadly the gearbox failed 20 miles from home! Drove from Inverness to Norfolk and back, pulled off the a9, everything was happy. It changed down to second for the first time since I got on the a9, trans fail safe! Smelt very hot under bonnet and oil cooler was toasty. Hoping it's just burnt it's oil and fresh oil might save it.
As it sits, won't engage drive but will engage reverse, weird.
In more positive news, the defender is in good nick for the price
Slow said:
Car did 1700 miles with mum on holiday faultlessly. Then drove to Bradford and back.
It's currently done over 8000 miles in the 3 months I've had it.
It's last trip has done its box though I fear.
Sadly the gearbox failed 20 miles from home! Drove from Inverness to Norfolk and back, pulled off the a9, everything was happy. It changed down to second for the first time since I got on the a9, trans fail safe! Smelt very hot under bonnet and oil cooler was toasty. Hoping it's just burnt it's oil and fresh oil might save it.
As it sits, won't engage drive but will engage reverse, weird.
In more positive news, the defender is in good nick for the price
I would't be so optimistic about fresh oil, sadlyIt's currently done over 8000 miles in the 3 months I've had it.
It's last trip has done its box though I fear.
Sadly the gearbox failed 20 miles from home! Drove from Inverness to Norfolk and back, pulled off the a9, everything was happy. It changed down to second for the first time since I got on the a9, trans fail safe! Smelt very hot under bonnet and oil cooler was toasty. Hoping it's just burnt it's oil and fresh oil might save it.
As it sits, won't engage drive but will engage reverse, weird.
In more positive news, the defender is in good nick for the price
As said above, an oil change will do nothing for this gearbox.The vibration you felt when coming to a stop was the lock up clutch in the converter failing to release, almost the same sensation as not dipping the clutch in a manual car when stopping and almost stalling it.
If the oil is burnt, then its almost certainly burnt the clutch plates. More than likely, the accumulators in the valve body have worn out, meaning the oil pressure isn't correct. We rebuild at least 5 of these a week, and the most common mileage for them to fail is between 50-100k. A little word of advice, please make sure that you use a qualified ZF rebuilder for your gearbox, as the aftermarket parts aren't worth the packaging they come in! We are the only technicians in Ireland officially qualified by ZF themselves and one of only 6 in the UK. Only qualified technicians like ourselves can get parts direct from ZF, so make sure you check. In the meantime, call up Sussex Autos and say that Paul French from "Wexford Transmission Services" sent you. They've worked with my Father for 30+ years, so I'm sure they could help you out.
Feel free to check out our website. We have images in our gallery of a gearbox the same as yours that shows some of the rebuild process.
www.wexfordtransmission.ie
If the oil is burnt, then its almost certainly burnt the clutch plates. More than likely, the accumulators in the valve body have worn out, meaning the oil pressure isn't correct. We rebuild at least 5 of these a week, and the most common mileage for them to fail is between 50-100k. A little word of advice, please make sure that you use a qualified ZF rebuilder for your gearbox, as the aftermarket parts aren't worth the packaging they come in! We are the only technicians in Ireland officially qualified by ZF themselves and one of only 6 in the UK. Only qualified technicians like ourselves can get parts direct from ZF, so make sure you check. In the meantime, call up Sussex Autos and say that Paul French from "Wexford Transmission Services" sent you. They've worked with my Father for 30+ years, so I'm sure they could help you out.
Feel free to check out our website. We have images in our gallery of a gearbox the same as yours that shows some of the rebuild process.
www.wexfordtransmission.ie
There was no vibration coming to a stop, i was still moving and the message popped up. Drove under its own steam up hill for 200 yards till I could find a passing place large enough. Then turned it on and off, message went, drove another 100 yards just fine till the message popped up. Pulled over again and then it wouldn't go into drive. Would reverse just fine though.
Not sure its a zf box anyway? Fairly sure its the s
t gm box.
What sort of price would a recon box cost?
Not sure its a zf box anyway? Fairly sure its the s
t gm box. What sort of price would a recon box cost?
Slow said:
So £1600 later it has a new refurbed box with a 6k miles /6 month warranty.
MoT is out this month and I have a airbag light on, hoping its nothing too major.
Land Rovers really know how the build them don't they! Really annoys me. Airbag light should fail a MOT. There are loads of adverts in the back of the LR mags advertising gearbox rebuilds for L322s, so I'm guessing gearbox failure is fairly common. MoT is out this month and I have a airbag light on, hoping its nothing too major.
I was amazed that you could buy a L322 for £3900, as I thought they had hit bargain basement at £5.5k. Sadly this thread is proof that maybe you shouldn't buy at the bottom of the price bracket
Its early days on the latest RR, but hopefully LR have learned their lessons and are building them properly.
bakerstreet said:
Slow said:
So £1600 later it has a new refurbed box with a 6k miles /6 month warranty.
MoT is out this month and I have a airbag light on, hoping its nothing too major.
Land Rovers really know how the build them don't they! Really annoys me. Airbag light should fail a MOT. There are loads of adverts in the back of the LR mags advertising gearbox rebuilds for L322s, so I'm guessing gearbox failure is fairly common. MoT is out this month and I have a airbag light on, hoping its nothing too major.
I was amazed that you could buy a L322 for £3900, as I thought they had hit bargain basement at £5.5k. Sadly this thread is proof that maybe you shouldn't buy at the bottom of the price bracket
Its early days on the latest RR, but hopefully LR have learned their lessons and are building them properly.
Even after £1600 for a box I'm in for £5500 with a recon box. Better than £5500 with a ropey box as they seem to be online.
Slow said:
Oh I know airbag light will fail mot, getting it fault read and hoping that doesnt come back bad.
Even after £1600 for a box I'm in for £5500 with a recon box. Better than £5500 with a ropey box as they seem to be online.
That won't be the end though. Expect issues with compressor for the air suspension. Known to be weak and do eventually wear out. Keep an eye out for water ingress too. They leak around the rear 3/4s and cause issues with the electrics. Even after £1600 for a box I'm in for £5500 with a recon box. Better than £5500 with a ropey box as they seem to be online.
bakerstreet said:
Slow said:
Oh I know airbag light will fail mot, getting it fault read and hoping that doesnt come back bad.
Even after £1600 for a box I'm in for £5500 with a recon box. Better than £5500 with a ropey box as they seem to be online.
That won't be the end though. Expect issues with compressor for the air suspension. Known to be weak and do eventually wear out. Keep an eye out for water ingress too. They leak around the rear 3/4s and cause issues with the electrics. Even after £1600 for a box I'm in for £5500 with a recon box. Better than £5500 with a ropey box as they seem to be online.
Doesn't seem to leak any water at all just now.
Has been a good car except for the gearbox.
bakerstreet said:
Slow said:
Oh I know airbag light will fail mot, getting it fault read and hoping that doesnt come back bad.
Even after £1600 for a box I'm in for £5500 with a recon box. Better than £5500 with a ropey box as they seem to be online.
That won't be the end though. Expect issues with compressor for the air suspension. Known to be weak and do eventually wear out. Keep an eye out for water ingress too. They leak around the rear 3/4s and cause issues with the electrics. Even after £1600 for a box I'm in for £5500 with a recon box. Better than £5500 with a ropey box as they seem to be online.
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