03 Range Rover Diesel

[tyeo86]

Morning,
I wanted to ask for some advice. I currently drive a BMW 530d touring 05 and I the been toying with the idea of swapping it for a 02/03/04 RR td6. I went in a friends the other day and for a car that's 11 years old and has done 90k I must say it was lovely. The only thing that gave away the age was the mega drive looking nav. Anyway I have owned an 07 RR sport TDV8 and an 03 Porsche Cayenne S but had to buy the BMW because of change of circumstances. The RR sport was ok and the Porsche was far to thirsty. Money is tight so I'd be looking in the 10k ball park, basically what I can get for the BMW.

The Beemer is fine but I miss being up high. Does this sound like a good idea on will it be a massive money pit and do they give up after 100k

Thanks

[bigee]

10k is sufficient to get a decent one,gearbox is the big concern with these. If you can find one (and you normally can,loads about) with recent box/tyres/brakes/maybe suspension refresh then a cracking car for the money.Fullfat is the place to go for info.

[edc]

I'd be tempted to consider the V8 depending on your circumstances. Paid £6.5k for our 02 last year and just px'd it with a £5k value against a 57 RRS.

[tyeo86]

edc said:

I'd be tempted to consider the V8 depending on your circumstances. Paid £6.5k for our 02 last year and just px'd it with a £5k value against a 57 RRS.

I had a v8 cayenne and got tired of filling the thing up. it just drunk through the fuel!

Did you find yourself worrying after the bought the RR v8 because of the gearbox, air suspension and other items.

[edc]

tyeo86 said:

edc said:

I'd be tempted to consider the V8 depending on your circumstances. Paid £6.5k for our 02 last year and just px'd it with a £5k value against a 57 RRS.

I had a v8 cayenne and got tired of filling the thing up. it just drunk through the fuel!

Did you find yourself worrying after the bought the RR v8 because of the gearbox, air suspension and other items.

If worrying was a big trait for me I would not have done what I did and buy a high mileage L322 with no history and as a sale for a "brother" from a work from home dealer. The gearbox oil was changed straight away. The front airbags perished some months later and there was a diff problem that needed recovery but that was fixed relatively cheaply. The front bags was something like £700 for a pair fitted. Everything else seemed to be fine if a little rough around a few edges. I still think it was a good value car and could arguably have got more money selling privately than the purchase price.

It came to us with a long term trip mpg of 12.3 which was bettered to 12.7 after a few weeks before being reset. I think the real average mpg given it was either really short runs or 85 on Mway was around 20-22mpg.

[D4MJT]

The gearbox on the V8 petrol is stronger than the TD6.

Plus you can usually buy them cheaper initially. Usual things to watch out for are the compressor for the suspension running too long, it's located in the spare wheel well in the boot. If you fully extend the suspension it's easy enough to check the condition of the airbags as they're visible in the wheel arches. Also check the electric steering column extends / adjusts as it should, and the radio works. The audio / nav gubbins are located in a cubby in the left pocket of the boot, and can suffer from condensation / water ingress. Apart from that, listen out for VANOS rattle on startup from the V8, and check the cooling system, the radiators aren't brilliant, and the water pumps last around 100k.

My old man ran a 54 plate V8 4.4 for 100K miles, we still have it as a spare now, and it's been brilliant for what it is. The costs that catch you out are things like mirrors and lights, £400-500 for a wing mirror, £200 a light etc. In his time it's had a water pump, an alternator, and a radiator as noticeable extra parts outside of maintenance, all of which I've been able to tackle comfortably on the drive within a few hours with basic tools.

The radiator was around £200, water pump was £60 and the alternator was £170.

Cracking car for what it does. The CAT's can crack around the welds as well, so listen for a blowing from the exhaust downpipes. They can be welded if you have a friendly welder, aftermarket replacement CATS are around £550, genuine are £1k a side.

[tyeo86]

D4MJT said:

The gearbox on the V8 petrol is stronger than the TD6.

Plus you can usually buy them cheaper initially. Usual things to watch out for are the compressor for the suspension running too long, it's located in the spare wheel well in the boot. If you fully extend the suspension it's easy enough to check the condition of the airbags as they're visible in the wheel arches. Also check the electric steering column extends / adjusts as it should, and the radio works. The audio / nav gubbins are located in a cubby in the left pocket of the boot, and can suffer from condensation / water ingress. Apart from that, listen out for VANOS rattle on startup from the V8, and check the cooling system, the radiators aren't brilliant, and the water pumps last around 100k.

My old man ran a 54 plate V8 4.4 for 100K miles, we still have it as a spare now, and it's been brilliant for what it is. The costs that catch you out are things like mirrors and lights, £400-500 for a wing mirror, £200 a light etc. In his time it's had a water pump, an alternator, and a radiator as noticeable extra parts outside of maintenance, all of which I've been able to tackle comfortably on the drive within a few hours with basic tools.

The radiator was around £200, water pump was £60 and the alternator was £170.

Cracking car for what it does. The CAT's can crack around the welds as well, so listen for a blowing from the exhaust downpipes. They can be welded if you have a friendly welder, aftermarket replacement CATS are around £550, genuine are £1k a side.

Based on the MPG I think the TD6 is what I will go for. Do you know anyone whom would do a pre-purchase inspection?

[D4MJT]

tyeo86 said:

Based on the MPG I think the TD6 is what I will go for. Do you know anyone whom would do a pre-purchase inspection?

I would check about, that may well be the case, but as far as I'm aware the early TD6 still has a 6 speed gearbox, and I believe that circa 24-26mpg on a run is what you would expect from one, against the 19-21mpg of the V8.

Depending on mileage you're covering, if you factor in the reduced purchase price and depending on your location, the extra cost of diesel per litre, you may find it's pretty much equivalent.

[tyeo86]

D4MJT said:

I would check about, that may well be the case, but as far as I'm aware the early TD6 still has a 6 speed gearbox, and I believe that circa 24-26mpg on a run is what you would expect from one, against the 19-21mpg of the V8.

Depending on mileage you're covering, if you factor in the reduced purchase price and depending on your location, the extra cost of diesel per litre, you may find it's pretty much equivalent.

The problem I have now and with the Cayenne is that we are 90% town drivers and the stop start nature means the mpg rarely went above 12. in my diesel beemer the average is 24 maybe i think and td6 would be easier to stick.

[D4MJT]

tyeo86 said:

The problem I have now and with the Cayenne is that we are 90% town drivers and the stop start nature means the mpg rarely went above 12. in my diesel beemer the average is 24 maybe I think and td6 would be easier to stick.

Ah, fair point indeed then, my miles are mostly motorway. The joys of living miles from anywhere in the sticks!

[grand cherokee]

yes, you can buy one for sub 10K

BUT

when it comes to service/repair costs its still a £70K car - be warned

so many are sold on within 6 months when folk find its not like a Ford Fiesta when it comes to maintenance etc

be aware

i'd suggest you set side say £150/month in an ISA as your repair fund