That's the tow car sorted - Cheap L322 Range Rover Content
Discussion
As some may be aware I purchased a racing car at the end of last year with the intention of running it in various events this year. One thing I still needed to sort was how to get it around the place when it wasn't possible to steal one of the transporters from work. Having sold my RX8 and Kangoo Cup (both of which are being very much missed to be honest) I had some budget to go looking, not a lot of budget though..... in fact absolutely cock all budget to quite frank!
Cheap Navaras were a no go as the two I had a look at both had significant chassis rot, there was a Ssangyong thing but I just couldn't live with that, I looked at some X5s but they were all either massively Barried or broken in some way, then a friend suggested a Range Rover. As we all know Range Rovers are absolute drama and one should always buy the newest, lowest mileage, most warrantied one that it is possible to do....... so I went and purchased the cheapest, highest mileage 4.4 Vogue that there was on e-bay
It's brilliant!
And if you closely, past the massively worn steering wheel, you can just make out why it was so cheap:
Yep 203,743 miles, it has absolutely no service history and smells mildly of excited spaniel but everything works properly, including the heated wheel and air suspension, it drives really nicely with a perfectly smooth gearbox and came with a proper tow bar fitted. The body isn't even that bad and the rear tailgate has a bit of lacquer peel but not ever any rust on the edges. There is a tiny bit just starting at the bottom of the rear doors but having pulled the sill covers back this is only surface. It needs a headlight as one is holed and the parcel shelf is AWOL assumed eaten by the previous canine boot residents.The paint has many, many scuffs, dings and chunks out of it but then hey it's been a working vehicle.
The price? £2500 with some fuel left in the tank and 9 months MOT. Absolute lunacy IMHO for a fully working length of fairly recent looking, not that bad Range Rover!
The job list on this one is pretty short, it was going to include fit a hands free kit but it came with an Chineseium Android head unit fitted which seems to do most of what is needed, including Google maps. It's got a rattle from the front suspension over bumps so likely to need ARB drop links and/or bushes and/or control arms etc. (this could be the budget busting bit), rear tyres are low but the fronts are recent Rainsports so another pair of those will go on the back and I'll give it a big service including the box oil and filters. I'll have the sill covers off properly and deal with the surface rust down there along with flapping down and repainting the rear arch inner lips and may even treat it to a rattle can of the right colour to blow in some of the bigger paint damage. Aside from that and seeing if there are any pertrol refineries left open after midnight that I might be able to access (14mpg
) I'm just going to see how long it lasts!
Cheap Navaras were a no go as the two I had a look at both had significant chassis rot, there was a Ssangyong thing but I just couldn't live with that, I looked at some X5s but they were all either massively Barried or broken in some way, then a friend suggested a Range Rover. As we all know Range Rovers are absolute drama and one should always buy the newest, lowest mileage, most warrantied one that it is possible to do....... so I went and purchased the cheapest, highest mileage 4.4 Vogue that there was on e-bay
It's brilliant!
And if you closely, past the massively worn steering wheel, you can just make out why it was so cheap:
Yep 203,743 miles, it has absolutely no service history and smells mildly of excited spaniel but everything works properly, including the heated wheel and air suspension, it drives really nicely with a perfectly smooth gearbox and came with a proper tow bar fitted. The body isn't even that bad and the rear tailgate has a bit of lacquer peel but not ever any rust on the edges. There is a tiny bit just starting at the bottom of the rear doors but having pulled the sill covers back this is only surface. It needs a headlight as one is holed and the parcel shelf is AWOL assumed eaten by the previous canine boot residents.The paint has many, many scuffs, dings and chunks out of it but then hey it's been a working vehicle.
The price? £2500 with some fuel left in the tank and 9 months MOT. Absolute lunacy IMHO for a fully working length of fairly recent looking, not that bad Range Rover!
The job list on this one is pretty short, it was going to include fit a hands free kit but it came with an Chineseium Android head unit fitted which seems to do most of what is needed, including Google maps. It's got a rattle from the front suspension over bumps so likely to need ARB drop links and/or bushes and/or control arms etc. (this could be the budget busting bit), rear tyres are low but the fronts are recent Rainsports so another pair of those will go on the back and I'll give it a big service including the box oil and filters. I'll have the sill covers off properly and deal with the surface rust down there along with flapping down and repainting the rear arch inner lips and may even treat it to a rattle can of the right colour to blow in some of the bigger paint damage. Aside from that and seeing if there are any pertrol refineries left open after midnight that I might be able to access (14mpg
) I'm just going to see how long it lasts!With anything like this I think you have to go into it with the understanding that anything costing more than £500 or so to fix it means it's going back on e-bay as a spares or repairs.
It only has to work for a couple of thousand miles this year and I'll have got my monies worth vs renting something that can tow..... and where's the fun/challenge in that
It only has to work for a couple of thousand miles this year and I'll have got my monies worth vs renting something that can tow..... and where's the fun/challenge in that
rich12 said:
£2500 is a decent price. If you had the time and space, you could sell all the parts for a lot more than that.
Did it start this morning?
Yep started on the button. Doesn't even have timing chain rattle from cold start! Did it start this morning?
Remote central locking appears to be 50/50 though but I'll try a battery in the remote as a quick fix
I had a spare afternoon this weekend and was going to do a few bodywork tidy up bits but as it showed that was out of the question so I thought I'd tackle the occasional misfire and coolant usage it had developed. Symptoms were a slow loss of coolant, 100ml or so per 1K miles and a random misfire fault code logged although it never really felt that misfire'y.
The misfire was a simple one, one coil pack was loose on its mounts - all the other retaining nuts were hand tight at best too so seems whoever was in there last hadn't nipped them up! It was treated to a fresh set of plugs anyway because why not whilst you're in there, the originals were fairly well used too:
The coolant leak was even more simple, the top bleed hose on the rad had pinholed at the hose clip so a quick remove, chop and refit with a new hose clip and that was solved too. I gave the bay a quick spruce in celebration:
I've ordered some new side light/indicator assemblies as both are cracked and aside from that it'll have a new seat base trim when a cheap one appears on e-bay and hopefully keep motoring along
The misfire was a simple one, one coil pack was loose on its mounts - all the other retaining nuts were hand tight at best too so seems whoever was in there last hadn't nipped them up! It was treated to a fresh set of plugs anyway because why not whilst you're in there, the originals were fairly well used too:
The coolant leak was even more simple, the top bleed hose on the rad had pinholed at the hose clip so a quick remove, chop and refit with a new hose clip and that was solved too. I gave the bay a quick spruce in celebration:
I've ordered some new side light/indicator assemblies as both are cracked and aside from that it'll have a new seat base trim when a cheap one appears on e-bay and hopefully keep motoring along
CornedBeef said:
Seems to be running along nicely mate, only small issues - typical PPBB good level of detail describing/monitoring it all as well!
Dare I ask in the wrong thread, how's the 996?
Brilliant as always Dare I ask in the wrong thread, how's the 996?
It's having a rest at the moment as the weather is too poor for AD08s to be sensible and I have take the opportunity to have a few bits of interior retrimmed, rewrap the wiring looms and make some changes to some of the electronics. It'll be back out in time for the start of the season. bakerstreet said:
£2.5k and what looks like a well fitted aftermarket stereo is an absolute bargain and if you get a couple of years out f it you are doing well.
The only reason I'm highlighting the stereo, is they are a pig to upgrade. Bluetooth didn't really exist in Land Rovers eyes until about 2012
Like all Land Rovers, gearboxes are one of the weakest points. However the box in the L322 is cheaper to refurb and replace than the one used in the Discovery 3.
Few more pics of the interior would be welcome. Its one of the best things about the L322.
Yep it came with an Android based double din in it which I found a better ROM for and rooted at the same time. Now has 128GB of strorage on board, Google Maps, Deezer, Hue and a load of other stuff on there so that did work out very well. No way to set the time on the analogue clock now though The only reason I'm highlighting the stereo, is they are a pig to upgrade. Bluetooth didn't really exist in Land Rovers eyes until about 2012
Like all Land Rovers, gearboxes are one of the weakest points. However the box in the L322 is cheaper to refurb and replace than the one used in the Discovery 3.
Few more pics of the interior would be welcome. Its one of the best things about the L322.
The box is supposed to have had a fluid flush and filter change recently but judging by the age of the spark plugs I'm not sure how recently that is. I know the radiator is a bit sludged up as the transmission temp is around 120 degrees in motion so when the ramp is free (assuming it will lift the heavy old hector) I'm going to change the rad, fluid and filter. The box shifts nicely, doesn't bang into gear and does all the things you'd expect it to so I'd like to be on the safe side with this.
hoppo4.2 said:
Always loved the l322 went to look at a supercharged one today it drove lovely but it was rusty in all the normal places.
Weirdly this one isn't that rusty! It's got a few stone chips that are going that way above the screen and the rear arch inner lips next to the rubber strip have the usual surface rust but the rest of it is sound, there isn't even any on the tailgate although the lacquer has peeled in a few places. 
Quick update. I've now covered 5000 miles in the Range for the total investment of a couple of front tyres and a radiator/upper rad hose. The rad wasn't strictly necessary but the lower channels were fairly well clogged leading to the box going into high temp protection mode when stuck in traffic or after towing for a bit.
I've done a few none essential things like some fresher trim to replace the torn a-pillar trim and sorted the lacquer peel on the bootlid. The old bus carries on going and I'm currently on the lookout for a cheap, right colour bonnet and load cover on e-bay.
I drove it to Magny Cours a month or so ago (as the Porsche was mid drive shaft rebuild) and it was the most ridiculously comfortable thing ever, in 1000 miles it used about 3/4L of oil which isn't bad for a motor with well North of 200K miles on it. This would no doubt be lower if I actually addressed the oil leak it had too
Next on the job list is to sort the surface rust on the rear arches and pull the side skirts off to make sure there isn't anything nasty under there. I also need to find a low range switch on the bay as mine is broken. It will probably need a gearbox rebuild soon but right now it's going strong aside from a slight random low speed judder that I can never replicate.
I can only conclude that a cheap L322 is incredible value for money and it's likely we'll always have one around from now on!
I've done a few none essential things like some fresher trim to replace the torn a-pillar trim and sorted the lacquer peel on the bootlid. The old bus carries on going and I'm currently on the lookout for a cheap, right colour bonnet and load cover on e-bay.
I drove it to Magny Cours a month or so ago (as the Porsche was mid drive shaft rebuild) and it was the most ridiculously comfortable thing ever, in 1000 miles it used about 3/4L of oil which isn't bad for a motor with well North of 200K miles on it. This would no doubt be lower if I actually addressed the oil leak it had too
Next on the job list is to sort the surface rust on the rear arches and pull the side skirts off to make sure there isn't anything nasty under there. I also need to find a low range switch on the bay as mine is broken. It will probably need a gearbox rebuild soon but right now it's going strong aside from a slight random low speed judder that I can never replicate.
I can only conclude that a cheap L322 is incredible value for money and it's likely we'll always have one around from now on!
Well that's 210,000 miles ticked off. The "Range" has had a bit of a birthday to celebrate:
I'm blown away by how good it has come up! I'm not much of a detailer but that was a big claybar, few machine polished bits, black hole, HD wax, plastics hot air gunned, wheels cleaned, interior scrubbed to buggery with a rotary brush on a drill to get the muck out of the textured plastics and a damn good hoover. Along with lining some stuff back up and sorting some loose trim. I also got a cheap set of black door handle trims from e-bay as the chrome ones were looking very second hand.
It's also had a new water rad, new aircon rad, new gearbox heat exchanger, brakes all round, drop links and ball joints and a service. This has resulted in a gearbox that no longer goes into temperature related limp mode, aircon that works and is icy cold and no more rattles from the front end. I've also tidied the interior up with some second hand bits of ebay, so the seats no longer have broken trims and the A pillars aren't peeling. It's a really nice place to be now!
All I've got left to sort is a slight oil leak and the fact that the HVAC flaps do weird stuff and randomly turn off the centre vents a few seconds after startup. I'd also like to swap the rock sliders for side steps to get rid of the last of the chrome. I'll get around to that at some point!
I'm sure I have just been lucky with this one, afterall there are so many horror stories about cheap Range Rovers but I am considering it the best bargain buy I've every managed!
I'm blown away by how good it has come up! I'm not much of a detailer but that was a big claybar, few machine polished bits, black hole, HD wax, plastics hot air gunned, wheels cleaned, interior scrubbed to buggery with a rotary brush on a drill to get the muck out of the textured plastics and a damn good hoover. Along with lining some stuff back up and sorting some loose trim. I also got a cheap set of black door handle trims from e-bay as the chrome ones were looking very second hand.
It's also had a new water rad, new aircon rad, new gearbox heat exchanger, brakes all round, drop links and ball joints and a service. This has resulted in a gearbox that no longer goes into temperature related limp mode, aircon that works and is icy cold and no more rattles from the front end. I've also tidied the interior up with some second hand bits of ebay, so the seats no longer have broken trims and the A pillars aren't peeling. It's a really nice place to be now!
All I've got left to sort is a slight oil leak and the fact that the HVAC flaps do weird stuff and randomly turn off the centre vents a few seconds after startup. I'd also like to swap the rock sliders for side steps to get rid of the last of the chrome. I'll get around to that at some point!
I'm sure I have just been lucky with this one, afterall there are so many horror stories about cheap Range Rovers but I am considering it the best bargain buy I've every managed!
Edited by poppopbangbang on Sunday 24th June 21:58
Croutons said:
That's considered lucky!!?
Well yes because the big expensive mechanical bits are all in rude health and still going strong. Croutons said:
For most mere mortals paying retail for parts and an hourly labour rate, the cost to do that would have exceeded the value,
This is why mere mortals should stay away from anything involving the words "old", "bangernomics", "cheap" or "project" as it just ends up with a thread on here made up of 50% moaning, 50% sympathy hunting that whatever old large thing they've got off ebay has just got them a many zeros at the end bill from some marque specialist or other, or alternatively a perfectly good car gets scrapped because it takes more than a Halfords tool kit and a Youtube video to fix it.The entire point of dicking about with old stuff like this is that you have the skill set to fix it and are a shrewed discount code/e-bay'er to source the bits cheap to boot. Think of it like a side hobby with life size Mechano that's enjoyed on the odd weekend afternoon with the bonus that you get some sort of usable thing out of it
CornedBeef said:
That's looking good! I can't believe that model came out in 2002, it doesn't feel that long ago to me that they were new. Good stuff though mate, I love a high miler - my 335D is chugging towards 200k without many complaints and I couldn't part with it. What do you reckons costlier to keep on the road - this or the 996?
Neither are that bad really. My benchmark is what would a 320D cost to lease. If I'm under that montly cost per car then they're a bargain in my opinion.lordf said:
I'm in the middle camp as I had a more than a fair amount more tools than a halfords tool box, but no training, and yet no fear.
I think no fear is very important..... .as is a fairly large amount of patience lordf said:
My measure of success is equation based: How long it sits on parents drive, how much I've told my OH I've spent on it, how much I've actually spent on it, how many bits I've broken, how many new bits I've had to buy as I've broken something, then how many new bits I've broken... I'm just banned from owning Alfa Romeos by my entire family as there were three of them on the drive at one point.
Ah yes the actual spend vs the reported spend balance! Always a tricky one to get right...... Out of interest where do you keep the Alfas now? Well at 240 odd K miles it had finally become time to say bye bye to the Range. Head gasket failure brought on by overheating due to coolant loss from a failing gearbox cooler and of course the fact that the box had been running on an ATF/Engine coolant mix meant that was likely not long for this world either finally meant it was more economical to turn it into spares for other L322s than the fix it. It provided sterling service though giving me nearly 40K miles for less than a couple of grand outlay and I'm sure it's various parts have helped keep some other L322s on the road.
I missed it though and I think once you've had a Range Rover you can't really manage without one.... after all what else can carry 5 people across a muddy field in perfect comfort and yet also look the part outside a nice hotel....... so meet the replacement for the cheapest Range Rover ever:
A not quite as cheap (but still pretty bloody cheap) 4.2 Supercharged one with the 2010+ face lift and a myriad of other bits (including the later TV and Bluetooth modules, side steps, -6% super charger pulley etc. etc.). It's also a lot less rusty than the old one and has a many, many fewer miles on the clock. There's a few bits that need attention the most major of those being a possibly suspect mechantronics unit but all in all it's very tidy, in excellent condition and makes rude supercharger whine on demand!
I'm now taking bets on the level of bork'age this one can manage
I missed it though and I think once you've had a Range Rover you can't really manage without one.... after all what else can carry 5 people across a muddy field in perfect comfort and yet also look the part outside a nice hotel....... so meet the replacement for the cheapest Range Rover ever:
A not quite as cheap (but still pretty bloody cheap) 4.2 Supercharged one with the 2010+ face lift and a myriad of other bits (including the later TV and Bluetooth modules, side steps, -6% super charger pulley etc. etc.). It's also a lot less rusty than the old one and has a many, many fewer miles on the clock. There's a few bits that need attention the most major of those being a possibly suspect mechantronics unit but all in all it's very tidy, in excellent condition and makes rude supercharger whine on demand!
I'm now taking bets on the level of bork'age this one can manage
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