Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.7L V8
Discussion
I'm a regular reader of this section, always like to read about what 'others' are doing and what they have. There are really some interesting threads in this section to read. Most all of the cars are interesting to me, must be an age thing!
Anyhoo, I have recently bought the above car blind from Azerbaijan and when I return home for my xmas break I will be picking it up and driving back to my little place in Worcestershire.
The basic spec is Grand Cherokee, 4.7L (non HO), leather, FSH, new grabber tyres, enthusiast owned and a genuine 60,000 miles.
Plan is - Fly to Heathrow, get a cab, pick car up and drive 150 odd miles home......
It's always a risk buying blind, I have done it before (I have worked here a long time) and find that so long as I am totally upfront in my communications that the person selling is too. A few phone calls help here, something that we tend not to do these days during the negotiation stages.
I never expect a car to have zero issues (I mean, even new cars tend to have them) but so long as there is nothing catastrophic occurring and I like what have I read within the communications; things tend to work out okay.
So, the plans for this?
Firstly, it's a toy. It's not for getting to work, doing business in or anything other than having (a) the WJ itch scratched and (b) experiencing the wafting, the power delivery and most importantly, give me something to buy little things for when abroad.
There is nothing better than to search things out on the internet (you know, little improvements that make cars special for you), have them shipped home so upon the next visit you can fit them. Not squandering money, but finding things that add value (for me anyway).
It will be kept mint (I am a very keen detailer in my spare time, have all the toys for this including my favourite thing - a FLEX mop. Many hours will also be wasted cleaning things that were never meant to be cleaned. All part of the fun for a OCD car cleaner
I return home on the 21st. I'll add to this thread that evening, maybe it will be a good news story, maybe not, we will see.....
For now, here's some pics and these threads need pics!!
Will update soon.....
Anyhoo, I have recently bought the above car blind from Azerbaijan and when I return home for my xmas break I will be picking it up and driving back to my little place in Worcestershire.
The basic spec is Grand Cherokee, 4.7L (non HO), leather, FSH, new grabber tyres, enthusiast owned and a genuine 60,000 miles.
Plan is - Fly to Heathrow, get a cab, pick car up and drive 150 odd miles home......
It's always a risk buying blind, I have done it before (I have worked here a long time) and find that so long as I am totally upfront in my communications that the person selling is too. A few phone calls help here, something that we tend not to do these days during the negotiation stages.
I never expect a car to have zero issues (I mean, even new cars tend to have them) but so long as there is nothing catastrophic occurring and I like what have I read within the communications; things tend to work out okay.
So, the plans for this?
Firstly, it's a toy. It's not for getting to work, doing business in or anything other than having (a) the WJ itch scratched and (b) experiencing the wafting, the power delivery and most importantly, give me something to buy little things for when abroad.
There is nothing better than to search things out on the internet (you know, little improvements that make cars special for you), have them shipped home so upon the next visit you can fit them. Not squandering money, but finding things that add value (for me anyway).
It will be kept mint (I am a very keen detailer in my spare time, have all the toys for this including my favourite thing - a FLEX mop. Many hours will also be wasted cleaning things that were never meant to be cleaned. All part of the fun for a OCD car cleaner
I return home on the 21st. I'll add to this thread that evening, maybe it will be a good news story, maybe not, we will see.....
For now, here's some pics and these threads need pics!!
Will update soon.....
Yes, rear light replacement is on the list of things to get hold of. I like them when looking at the car from the side as they key in with the front. But only from that angle 
I think it'll be a very interesting project, I want to install a double din big screen to replace the old stereo and allow fitting of a reverse cam, this in itself is proving to be no simple task.
I think a lift kit will be in the pipeline too as will something to spruce up the exhaust note, just a little.
I think it'll be a very interesting project, I want to install a double din big screen to replace the old stereo and allow fitting of a reverse cam, this in itself is proving to be no simple task.
I think a lift kit will be in the pipeline too as will something to spruce up the exhaust note, just a little.
George7 said:
For a minute, I thought the car was in Azerbaijan and you were going to drive it back to the UK from there!
That's how I read it too!! 
OP, good base car there.. be interesting to see how it progresses and if it throws any curveballs your way because I've got a hankering for a 4x4 of some sort and always liked Grand Cherokees.
Cheers,
Grant
So to update this thread....
After leaving the town where I currently live in Azerbaijan at 8am on the 21st (Sunday), I finally made it back to the UK at around 4:30pm the same day (Would of been 8pm in Azerbaijan).
I needed to get to Tunbridge Wells from Heathrow by 6:00pm in order to pick up the car. Having a few problems along the way; My very large suitcase wheel decided to fall off and could not be put back on, I had saved the wrong number in my phone for the seller, My iPhone bought in Az with my English sim inserted decided I would not be allowed to search things on the internet and finally the bright spark that advised me to take the tube and train to Tunbridge. I also found out the following...
The minimum cost for a call from a public phone was 60p, however, 10p pieces would not be accepted so it ended up being a pound. Paying £1.70 for a bottle of water is unacceptable! Paying £2 for a small bottle of Coke is unacceptable, Wispa bar sizes have shrunk but the cost has not......
It took a total of 2.5 hours to get to TW in the end - I believe a taxi would have taken around 1 hour on a Sunday if I had only decided to make that choice. Never do I want to travel on the tube again, I found it painfully annoying .... all the stops, so many stops, start, stop, start stop....
Now around 7pm, I paid the money, had some discussions about Azerbaijan and the car and left for Worcester (Malvern to be exact).
10 minutes down the road coffee and chocolate was needed so the first port of call was a small M&S service station to fill up the car and myself. £71.00 added in fuel.
The car seemed nice, good powerful engine and a muffled growl upon acceleration was nice to feel and hear, it was a little wallowy in the handling department but generally my first impressions of the car were good. Had a quick 'orientation' session with the controls at the service station, used the electrical adjustment on the seat until I felt happy, removed my coat, used the cup holder to support my coffee, turned on the lights and headed off.
I eventually got home at 12:00am. The car performed perfectly, no issues, no strange noises, the only real problem for me was the dodgy widow tints on all the windows (seems to be a blue colour with I think about a 10% tint) as the bad installation of this made the view from all the windows look like there is a heat haze rising! Combine this with light rain and you can imagine! Not good for tired eyes.
£71.00 of fuel put in and I retuned to Worcester with 1/2 tank of fuel remaining (181 miles in total). My speeds averaged 65 or 70 mph with the occasional blip on the throttle. I was very pleased with this considering the size of the engine (4.7L V8).
This morning (22nd) new window wipers were purchased for front and rear and a steering wheel cover was installed. The steering wheel is one of the hardest and thinest I have ever felt. Never bought any such thing before; but anything would be better than nothing on this wheel.
Having only spent two weeks in the UK in 2013, the browse around Halfords this morning was really pleasant experience!!!..... as was realising that everyone could speak English and everyone understood what I was saying
So work will begin on the car as soon as I feel a little rested, will update with thoughts, feelings and findings soon and not to forget some more pic added.
After leaving the town where I currently live in Azerbaijan at 8am on the 21st (Sunday), I finally made it back to the UK at around 4:30pm the same day (Would of been 8pm in Azerbaijan).
I needed to get to Tunbridge Wells from Heathrow by 6:00pm in order to pick up the car. Having a few problems along the way; My very large suitcase wheel decided to fall off and could not be put back on, I had saved the wrong number in my phone for the seller, My iPhone bought in Az with my English sim inserted decided I would not be allowed to search things on the internet and finally the bright spark that advised me to take the tube and train to Tunbridge. I also found out the following...
The minimum cost for a call from a public phone was 60p, however, 10p pieces would not be accepted so it ended up being a pound. Paying £1.70 for a bottle of water is unacceptable! Paying £2 for a small bottle of Coke is unacceptable, Wispa bar sizes have shrunk but the cost has not......
It took a total of 2.5 hours to get to TW in the end - I believe a taxi would have taken around 1 hour on a Sunday if I had only decided to make that choice. Never do I want to travel on the tube again, I found it painfully annoying .... all the stops, so many stops, start, stop, start stop....
Now around 7pm, I paid the money, had some discussions about Azerbaijan and the car and left for Worcester (Malvern to be exact).
10 minutes down the road coffee and chocolate was needed so the first port of call was a small M&S service station to fill up the car and myself. £71.00 added in fuel.
The car seemed nice, good powerful engine and a muffled growl upon acceleration was nice to feel and hear, it was a little wallowy in the handling department but generally my first impressions of the car were good. Had a quick 'orientation' session with the controls at the service station, used the electrical adjustment on the seat until I felt happy, removed my coat, used the cup holder to support my coffee, turned on the lights and headed off.
I eventually got home at 12:00am. The car performed perfectly, no issues, no strange noises, the only real problem for me was the dodgy widow tints on all the windows (seems to be a blue colour with I think about a 10% tint) as the bad installation of this made the view from all the windows look like there is a heat haze rising! Combine this with light rain and you can imagine! Not good for tired eyes.
£71.00 of fuel put in and I retuned to Worcester with 1/2 tank of fuel remaining (181 miles in total). My speeds averaged 65 or 70 mph with the occasional blip on the throttle. I was very pleased with this considering the size of the engine (4.7L V8).
This morning (22nd) new window wipers were purchased for front and rear and a steering wheel cover was installed. The steering wheel is one of the hardest and thinest I have ever felt. Never bought any such thing before; but anything would be better than nothing on this wheel.
Having only spent two weeks in the UK in 2013, the browse around Halfords this morning was really pleasant experience!!!..... as was realising that everyone could speak English and everyone understood what I was saying
So work will begin on the car as soon as I feel a little rested, will update with thoughts, feelings and findings soon and not to forget some more pic added.
Edited by Patch234 on Monday 22 December 23:15
After having the car for 5 days I have had time to give it a good look over and I am very pleased to say that the internet 'punt' to buy it online without seeing it has paid off.
Body work is in very good condition all over, no dings or dents on any panel (amazing for a jeep really)
The tyres (general grabber AT's) are all like new, the wheels have definitely been refurbished recently (great).
Interior is in amazing condition all around and the carpet is clean and plush. All the electrics work as they should.
The engine bay is in great condition as is the boot
Since I've had it she has been mopped and waxed and I refurbished the headlight lenses. There was a broken earth connection (the part that joins to the earth terminal on the battery. Had been bodged to work by the previous owner. I could not source a new one, so I eventually found a suitable solution after a long drive to many part shops around the Midlands on Christmas Eve. This has now been fitted.
Anyways, here's some pics before the mop and polish...
Body work is in very good condition all over, no dings or dents on any panel (amazing for a jeep really)
The tyres (general grabber AT's) are all like new, the wheels have definitely been refurbished recently (great).
Interior is in amazing condition all around and the carpet is clean and plush. All the electrics work as they should.
The engine bay is in great condition as is the boot
Since I've had it she has been mopped and waxed and I refurbished the headlight lenses. There was a broken earth connection (the part that joins to the earth terminal on the battery. Had been bodged to work by the previous owner. I could not source a new one, so I eventually found a suitable solution after a long drive to many part shops around the Midlands on Christmas Eve. This has now been fitted.
Anyways, here's some pics before the mop and polish...
Nice car op , got a soft spot for these chunky off-roaders and the closest I have got yet was a white Audi SQ5 ( I know piston heads fav hates , the colour/ it's a diesel/ too many exhausts ) 😉.
I too done the Internet buying thing from Baku a few years ago when I used to work out there with oceaneering ( would love to work there again ) , some garages were not interested when you mention you work overseas and can't come and see the car this minute , but in the end I found a nice Audi garage that handled everything inc trade in details via emails it was truely painless .
Second that on the hideous rear lights , what was the owner thinking .
I too done the Internet buying thing from Baku a few years ago when I used to work out there with oceaneering ( would love to work there again ) , some garages were not interested when you mention you work overseas and can't come and see the car this minute , but in the end I found a nice Audi garage that handled everything inc trade in details via emails it was truely painless .
Second that on the hideous rear lights , what was the owner thinking .
Very nice.
Back in the summer I bought my first car unseen, apart from a few pics. Spoke at length to the owner and also spoke to the garage he had bought it from a year earlier.
Sent a deposit and sorted insurance. Had to fly from London to Aberdeen then get a train towards Inverness. The owner picked me up in a taxi from the station and we spent a couple of hours drinking tea and talking cars.
I then took the keys to my new 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis and drove it in terrible weather along the banks of Loch Ness and over nighted on the West coast before spending a day driving through Glen Coe and along the shores of Loch Lomond. I headed down past Glasgow and eventually picked up the M6 to finally stay in a hotel in Glossop.
In the morning I drove the Snake Pass to Sheffield and then headed home to London.
I still have the car now and it's great. It's in as new condition and all I have had to do to it was to sort a parasitic drain.
Sometimes going with your gut works.
Enjoy your Jeep
Back in the summer I bought my first car unseen, apart from a few pics. Spoke at length to the owner and also spoke to the garage he had bought it from a year earlier.
Sent a deposit and sorted insurance. Had to fly from London to Aberdeen then get a train towards Inverness. The owner picked me up in a taxi from the station and we spent a couple of hours drinking tea and talking cars.
I then took the keys to my new 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis and drove it in terrible weather along the banks of Loch Ness and over nighted on the West coast before spending a day driving through Glen Coe and along the shores of Loch Lomond. I headed down past Glasgow and eventually picked up the M6 to finally stay in a hotel in Glossop.
In the morning I drove the Snake Pass to Sheffield and then headed home to London.
I still have the car now and it's great. It's in as new condition and all I have had to do to it was to sort a parasitic drain.
Sometimes going with your gut works.
Enjoy your Jeep
Did exactly the same as you early in 2010 and bought a 4.7 WJ Grand sight unseen (from Angola rather than AZ but still....)
5 years down the line it has become the car that I've owned the longest in my life, I really cannot imagine what to replace it with that would provide me with the same functionality that the Jeep does.
It's as happy fetching 350Kg of logs from the sawmill as it is taking 2 adults and 2 kids around France.
Like you I have bought all sorts of random things over the years to improve her, including replacing the stereo system... (do not undetake this lightly if you have the OE fitment Infinity system, changing it is a complete pig)
I have to agree with other posters and say lose the rear lights and I'd also say lose the steering wheel cover, it's terrible. one of the things I like the most about the WJ is the thin wheel, it's lovely and tactile to use.
5 years down the line it has become the car that I've owned the longest in my life, I really cannot imagine what to replace it with that would provide me with the same functionality that the Jeep does.
It's as happy fetching 350Kg of logs from the sawmill as it is taking 2 adults and 2 kids around France.
Like you I have bought all sorts of random things over the years to improve her, including replacing the stereo system... (do not undetake this lightly if you have the OE fitment Infinity system, changing it is a complete pig)
I have to agree with other posters and say lose the rear lights and I'd also say lose the steering wheel cover, it's terrible. one of the things I like the most about the WJ is the thin wheel, it's lovely and tactile to use.
Great cars.... I bought my 99 4.7 V8 back in 06.. It was a cat d but at £5k, with a brand new LPG install costing £2k and only 50000 miles it was a no brainer..
9 years later, it's on 135000 miles, and all its had is routine maintenance, a radiator and general consumables...
Its been used for everything...towing caravans, car trailers, horse boxes, plant trailers trips to the tip, holidays, dog mobile, and off-roader..... First thing I did was fit a lift kit and some AT tyres..... It's always passed its mot and is a nice place to sit....
I recently gave it to the wife, and replaced it with the later model Hemi....which is ok, but if I'm honest, I think the old Wj is a far better car..
I bought my 99 4.7 V8 back in 06.. It was a cat d but at £5k, with a brand new LPG install costing £2k and only 50000 miles it was a no brainer..9 years later, it's on 135000 miles, and all its had is routine maintenance, a radiator and general consumables...
Its been used for everything...towing caravans, car trailers, horse boxes, plant trailers trips to the tip, holidays, dog mobile, and off-roader..... First thing I did was fit a lift kit and some AT tyres..... It's always passed its mot and is a nice place to sit....
I recently gave it to the wife, and replaced it with the later model Hemi....which is ok, but if I'm honest, I think the old Wj is a far better car..
They really are great cars. I'm loving mine. Really nice drive and very powerful. Been towing a large trailer for the past two days as we were moving house (locally); it's been fantastic. Like nothing was being towed! With regards to the stereo replacement I have sourced an adapter that allows for the infinity amp and the speakers. I thought it was a great find
Summing things up so far, I could not be more happy with the purchase and luckily, the wife loves it too. She's done well considering she was so used to her Saab covertible
Summing things up so far, I could not be more happy with the purchase and luckily, the wife loves it too. She's done well considering she was so used to her Saab covertible
Edited by Patch234 on Sunday 4th January 22:38
Patch234 said:
With regards to the stereo replacement I have sourced an adapter that allows for the infinity amp and the speakers. I thought it was a great find
Yep, I sourced one of those too, with all kinds of promises that it would work.... have a guess where it is now - the great landfill in the sky.Hoping that yours is actually a different one and that it works for you.
For the stereo adapter I got a CT51-CH01 amplified active speaker adaptor. This one handle the amp, there are others available that don't and they don't tell you this!! Time will tell.
Great fix for that spare wheel! Looks very neat and tidy. Still loads of boot space left too!
Big change from a GC to a 2 seater Porsche !!
Great fix for that spare wheel! Looks very neat and tidy. Still loads of boot space left too!
Big change from a GC to a 2 seater Porsche !!
Patch234 said:
Great fix for that spare wheel! Looks very neat and tidy. Still loads of boot space left too!
That was in the days when I used to clean it and look after it
.... Now days it's in a pretty sorry looking state, but it's doing the job I need it to do....My mate's just sold his it had 200000 miles on it.....
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