L322 Range Rover - Cheapest ever?
Discussion
I'm back on here a lot sooner than I thought. I have recently posted this, some details about my E39 Touring.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
A couple of days later, and again, after a few drinks, I saw myself looking for a new family run about. I'm in the process of trying to exchange on a period property, so why not get a country motor to match!
After pretending to be handy with a spanner with the E39, why not crank it up to 11 with a Range Rover?
A few days ago, I picked up this... A 2003 Range Rover L322 TD6 HSE. This cost £3,500, not bad!
Why did I like it? I liked the lack of modifications. So, so many of these have newer grilles and side fins and whatever from a later model. I hate this! It is a 2003 car, let it look like it did from the factory. I'm a tall person, so big cars make life easier for me (also without a sunroof helps). The car also has plenty of room for the children and the child seats.
£3,500 seems like not a lot for a RR. This is true, but it is on 206,000 miles. However, the engine and gearbox are wonderful! The gearbox was (apparently) replaced with an upgraded unit at around 120k, and with how it shifts, I don't doubt it.
Being a bit of a BMW lover, this car is right up my street. From the M57 3.0 24V turbo diesel BMW engine, to the rad cap and bleed valve, or the malfunctioning MID on the dash, this really is a BMW underneath. That means... it needs some maintenance straight away!
I have changed all nine odd litres of oil and changed a blown side light bulb. All good going so far.
So what is left? What could do with some fiddling... Being honest, the list is as follows:
Two barges now on the drive. Final piece of the puzzle, is a track car.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
A couple of days later, and again, after a few drinks, I saw myself looking for a new family run about. I'm in the process of trying to exchange on a period property, so why not get a country motor to match!
After pretending to be handy with a spanner with the E39, why not crank it up to 11 with a Range Rover?
A few days ago, I picked up this... A 2003 Range Rover L322 TD6 HSE. This cost £3,500, not bad!
Why did I like it? I liked the lack of modifications. So, so many of these have newer grilles and side fins and whatever from a later model. I hate this! It is a 2003 car, let it look like it did from the factory. I'm a tall person, so big cars make life easier for me (also without a sunroof helps). The car also has plenty of room for the children and the child seats.
£3,500 seems like not a lot for a RR. This is true, but it is on 206,000 miles. However, the engine and gearbox are wonderful! The gearbox was (apparently) replaced with an upgraded unit at around 120k, and with how it shifts, I don't doubt it.
Being a bit of a BMW lover, this car is right up my street. From the M57 3.0 24V turbo diesel BMW engine, to the rad cap and bleed valve, or the malfunctioning MID on the dash, this really is a BMW underneath. That means... it needs some maintenance straight away!
I have changed all nine odd litres of oil and changed a blown side light bulb. All good going so far.
So what is left? What could do with some fiddling... Being honest, the list is as follows:
- Front wheel bearing grumbling - booked in for tomorrow at a local garage
- MID and speedo LCDs failing - < £100 DIY
- Air compressor inactive warning - ~£20 DIY for replacement compressor piston ring
- Glue or similar on centre console key tray - £60 second hand part for whole centre console replacement
- Offside wing mirror surround missing - £20 odd quid on eBay
- Rust to tailgate and rear arches - not sure on this one, probably not to be sorted for a while
- Rear wiper rusted to buggery and not working properly - £50 for blade and arm, DIY replacement
- Electric steering column only goes up and down - £xxx too much, need to find cheaper way to fix this
- Headlight wipers inoperative - not sure if MoT requirement due to xenon lights, will look into this
- Some of the 11 speakers not working - dodgy connection or second hand amplifier required. Will do for now, though.
Two barges now on the drive. Final piece of the puzzle, is a track car.
- note - cheapest ever RR L322, probably not far off! Certainly one that works and that isn't a CAT C/D! Although if you know of cheaper, do post!
Nice.
The price of Range Rovers is never the purchase price it is the death by a thousand cuts of all the things that constantly go wrong.
I've had a P38 and L322. Both had me fixing things on a near ongoing basis for years. By the end, the maintenance and repair costs (even doing most of the work myself) outweighed the purchase price. But there are quite a few good sources of cheaper parts now, such as Island 4x4.
With the rusty tailgate, make sure you at least brush the rust back and put some rust treatment on it. Then just dust over with a lacquer until you're ready to fix it properly. Once the tin worm takes hold it seems to go through the panels very quickly.
The price of Range Rovers is never the purchase price it is the death by a thousand cuts of all the things that constantly go wrong.
I've had a P38 and L322. Both had me fixing things on a near ongoing basis for years. By the end, the maintenance and repair costs (even doing most of the work myself) outweighed the purchase price. But there are quite a few good sources of cheaper parts now, such as Island 4x4.
With the rusty tailgate, make sure you at least brush the rust back and put some rust treatment on it. Then just dust over with a lacquer until you're ready to fix it properly. Once the tin worm takes hold it seems to go through the panels very quickly.
Super. I like the way Land Rover decided a yellow oil cap and dipstick would be a huge improvement to the M57!
If you have memory seats the drivers switch pack has the ecu within which also controls the steering column (I think it runs the same system as the X5).
If you have memory seats the drivers switch pack has the ecu within which also controls the steering column (I think it runs the same system as the X5).
Edited by helix402 on Wednesday 16th November 07:55
Sounds like you've got a good handle on things; 3500 quid really isn't a lot of money for that much car (and potential).
Are the wheels original? They look a tiny bit odd to my eye.
The headlamp wipers are not an MOT requirement with xenons but the washers and levelling must work (where fitted).
Are the wheels original? They look a tiny bit odd to my eye.
The headlamp wipers are not an MOT requirement with xenons but the washers and levelling must work (where fitted).
Hello everyone.
There aren't any headlight washers on the early ones, only wipers. It looks like it has failed an MoT in the past on them not working, so I am a little confused. We shall see, the MoT is a while off yet.
I did question the wheels, but having found a scanned brochure online, it looks like they were optional alloy wheels from new (18").
Definitely not expecting it to be easy, but hoping it is DIYable. It doesn't seem all that complicated... so far!
The steering column makes a weird noise when trying to make it move in and out, so something has come adrift. Lower dash might have to come off to look.
She's at the garage having the wheel bearing noise looked at. Will be nice to get the car back and see how quiet she is supposed to be at speed. The engine, when driving round town, is surprisingly intrusive. However, I am used to the M54 quietness in the E39.
Anyone with any tips or advice (other than running a mile!), please let me know. Nearest car I've had is a 2nd generation Lexus RX300, which isn't all that close, although did have air suspension (and the worst MPG V6 going).
There aren't any headlight washers on the early ones, only wipers. It looks like it has failed an MoT in the past on them not working, so I am a little confused. We shall see, the MoT is a while off yet.
I did question the wheels, but having found a scanned brochure online, it looks like they were optional alloy wheels from new (18").
Definitely not expecting it to be easy, but hoping it is DIYable. It doesn't seem all that complicated... so far!
The steering column makes a weird noise when trying to make it move in and out, so something has come adrift. Lower dash might have to come off to look.
She's at the garage having the wheel bearing noise looked at. Will be nice to get the car back and see how quiet she is supposed to be at speed. The engine, when driving round town, is surprisingly intrusive. However, I am used to the M54 quietness in the E39.
Anyone with any tips or advice (other than running a mile!), please let me know. Nearest car I've had is a 2nd generation Lexus RX300, which isn't all that close, although did have air suspension (and the worst MPG V6 going).
spookly said:
With the rusty tailgate, make sure you at least brush the rust back and put some rust treatment on it. Then just dust over with a lacquer until you're ready to fix it properly. Once the tin worm takes hold it seems to go through the panels very quickly.
I think this one is past it. The upper tailgate at least. Metal has split into laminar sheets, for lack of a better description. A shame, as that and the left tail light are the only things that let the looks down majorly. MJ85 said:
There aren't any headlight washers on the early ones, only wipers. It looks like it has failed an MoT in the past on them not working, so I am a little confused. We shall see, the MoT is a while off yet.
It should be a fail.Tester's manual said:
1.7 Headlamps
Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.
Where such systems are fitted, they must work;
Reason for Rejection : 1.7.2 headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.
Where such systems are fitted, they must work;
Reason for Rejection : 1.7.2 headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.
TooMany2cvs said:
My car (which has Xenons) has got through the last 6 MOTs without a fail on this, despite the fuse for the headlamp washers being removed. So I guess it's something that's easy to overlookoutnumbered said:
TooMany2cvs said:
My car (which has Xenons) has got through the last 6 MOTs without a fail on this, despite the fuse for the headlamp washers being removed. So I guess it's something that's easy to overlookTooMany2cvs said:
MJ85 said:
There aren't any headlight washers on the early ones, only wipers. It looks like it has failed an MoT in the past on them not working, so I am a little confused. We shall see, the MoT is a while off yet.
It should be a fail.Tester's manual said:
1.7 Headlamps
Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.
Where such systems are fitted, they must work;
Reason for Rejection : 1.7.2 headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.
Where such systems are fitted, they must work;
Reason for Rejection : 1.7.2 headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.
bungz said:
Best of luck with this.
Without fail every time one of these comes up on here for cheap there is a huge to do list, but I guess that's half the fun.
Sounds like the gearing if the motor can be heard in the column, that's got to be fixable?
Cheers! Yeah, definitely works in some capacity. Without fail every time one of these comes up on here for cheap there is a huge to do list, but I guess that's half the fun.
Sounds like the gearing if the motor can be heard in the column, that's got to be fixable?
Dr G said:
Sounds like you've got a good handle on things; 3500 quid really isn't a lot of money for that much car (and potential).
Are the wheels original? They look a tiny bit odd to my eye.
The headlamp wipers are not an MOT requirement with xenons but the washers and levelling must work (where fitted).
Yep, the wheels are correct. Optional on an HSE I think and not that common.Are the wheels original? They look a tiny bit odd to my eye.
The headlamp wipers are not an MOT requirement with xenons but the washers and levelling must work (where fitted).
Looks great op. I've got first refusal on my mate's similar 02 plate V8 Vogue if he ever sells it!
Steering column fault will be a broken piece of white plastic, the part is available for under a fiver but a b
d to fit.
Did mine about 5 years ago hence memory sketchy.
Oh and about removing the lower dash.... not possible I'm afraid so I hope you have small hands!
Edit, have a look here: http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/steering/...
d to fit.Did mine about 5 years ago hence memory sketchy.
Oh and about removing the lower dash.... not possible I'm afraid so I hope you have small hands!
Edit, have a look here: http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/steering/...
Edited by markw996 on Thursday 17th November 08:52
I replaced my rear wiper arm too, but also be aware that the rear washer fluid is piped through the motor / wiper gearbox housing and is prone to leaking and rusting up the wiper motor. I cleaned mine out and fitted an aftermarket seal.
It does have headlamp washers, they are built into the wiper arm caps. If they're not working then suspect the pump. There are 3 identical pumps (that do the headlamp washers, front screen & rear screen) so you can swap them around to aid fault diagnosis.
As you can probably tell, I have spent a lot of time DIY fixing my 2003 L322 over the last 6 years of ownership!
It does have headlamp washers, they are built into the wiper arm caps. If they're not working then suspect the pump. There are 3 identical pumps (that do the headlamp washers, front screen & rear screen) so you can swap them around to aid fault diagnosis.
As you can probably tell, I have spent a lot of time DIY fixing my 2003 L322 over the last 6 years of ownership!
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