So my 2004 Autobiography LE, bought in May 2013 with 101k on the clock has just turned over 171k so I thought it was time I shared everything thats happened to it as every repair has been documented. (update July 2018 - now 196k(

I live in West Wales on a small farm where my wife breeds horses, and I run my own IT consulting company, working with large banks and insurance companies predominately on their IT strategy. This often means a Mon-Fri commute to Manchester, London, Birmingham or abroad so I am almost always trekking up the M4 on a Sunday night and Friday evening. I used to have a flat in Berkshire which was my base, but have recently changed flats for one in Wimbledon in South London as more of my work is City based. South Circular on a Sunday night and Saturday morning!

So in 2013 after a string of Jaguar XJ's I decided I could finally justify running a Range Rover. I knew it had to Petrol and mileage wasn't a concern - my last 3 Jags had all been bought for pennies with about 100k on the clock each and sold about 18months later at 150k with very little other than routine servicing needing done. I knew buying a 100k L322 would be an expensive maintenance affair but I have a very good local mechanic who does mates rates (also useful as he'll pick it up on a Saturday morning and drop it back on a Sunday afternoon when it needs work). I wasn't concerned about fuel consumption as buying at the bottom of the depreciation curve I have no finance, no interest and very minimal depreciation and plenty left in the kitty!

So in May 2013 I finally found the one I wanted. It was a 2004 04 plate BMW engined 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE. The LE element was a limited edition run of 125 in Java Black or Zambezi Silver with Autobiography trim, 20in wheels, black leather and an optional factory fitted DVD headrest DVD system. Although mine wasn't fitted with the factory system it did come with an aftermarket system installed. This one had 101,697 on it, silver with black leather and was immaculate other than a bit of rust on the upper tailgate seam and with a full service history and brand new MOT. It was for sale by a small business near where I work who did car leasing deals from the front room and had taken this as a trade in as a favour for a good customer and it was up at �9,000. I had been watching it for a few weeks (middle of May, very hot early summer, petrol was �1.30 a litre) and hadn't sold and it had dropped in price to �8k. I went to see it and made an offer of �7,000 on it, reasoning that I would then have around �2k in case anything needed done and said I was in no hurry. A few days later they rang back and said I could take it for �7,250. It was mine. I picked it up that evening from the office I was working, drove 30 miles to Heathrow, parked it in the long term and went to Paris for 4 days on business.

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What a fabulous write up Nick. Really enjoyed reading! Many thanks for sharing. Mine has just clicked over 105k miles so good to know the sort of normal wear and tear issues likely to pop up.

Jase

great story..  ... - .- -.




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plus one great reading

+1. Very good

although I didn't think they made a autobiography in 2004 thought only a vogue vogue se and hse where produced that year?

Introduced Sept 2003 for 2004MY from memory.

It's not a full Autobiography - it's known as an Autobiography LE which was 125 units made in November 2003 as a special edition. All were petrol V8's and the only optional deviation from the fixed spec was a factory rear entertainment system - models with that fitted are known as Autobiography LE (DVD). Only 2 colour choices and they were not made by Special Vehicles but carry the autobiography logos except for the Special Vehicles plate on the front suspension strut. Somewhere I have a copy of the press release and brochure - as soon as I get time I will scan it in.

I also believe but don't have evidence that this limited edition run was started to generate interest in the SV Autobiography programme which was launched at the same time Current Fleet:-
2018 Discovery 5 3.0 HSE
2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrack
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8
1993 Defender 90 200TDI Pickup

Gone - not forgotten
2016 L405 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE
2012 L322 4.4 Westminster
2004 L322 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE
2000 P38 RR 4.0 HSE (ex Clarkson test car)

Last edited by nicksaab on 14th Dec 2016 11:58pm. Edited 3 times in total

cheers nick love to read it very interesting

Nice write up. I enjoyed reading than.

As to the 4.4 TDV8,

Many thanks for the positive feedback - I wasn't sure if anyone would find it interesting so thanks for that.

As promised I dug out the press release from Land Rover at the time - there was only 125 made (originally I had thought it was 175). Interestingly enough (to me) it looks like most, if not all were made prior to being released - mine has all the components on it date stamped the last week in October 2003, but it wasn't registered until 30th March 2004 at Guy Salmon in Sheffield. The last sentence in the press release implies there would be cars at each dealership on 8th November 2003 so I'm assuming at least one was sent to each dealer as a showroom car?

Anyway looks like they are pretty rare - I understand only about 80 of them are still on the road and a further 15 are on SORN, so 30 have been scrapped or exported.

cool thanks for showing very intresting

To end off 2016, at 172,204 miles absolutely filthy having spent a day moving horse bales from my supplier to home.

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happy new year nick

Good to see one being used as it should be! There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6