Is this a common problem? I've been looking at used L322's online and checking MOT history on a few and noticed that a some are coming up with MOT advisory of corrosion on sub frames. Is this easy to spot from a quick underbody look see? Or are the MOT garages being a bit OTT with a few bits of surface rust? I did see one report of a rusty Diff. I mean how long would it take for a diff to rust through, 200 - 300 years!

It's usually not too bad to check, put the fatty in off road height, open a door to stop it levelling and have a look... Some will be very rusty, they tend to be the ones that have launched a boat in the sea...!! Pete

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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

That made me smile Pete I've launched many a boat, never had a need to get the car in the water I tend to put the trailer in it But I know what you mean, I've seen a fair few interesting launches and at the wrong time...

I can't say I'm an expert on these cars, but I think it depends which ones you are looking at. I mean there can be quite an age, maintenance, usage variant between all of these. If they are rusty to the extend it gets noted I would walk away, plenty of them about.

My 2002 td6 failed its mot in January for rear subframe corrosion and front subframe corrosion. Talking to the mot tester who owns the garage that specialises in land rovers it is unfortunately becoming more common now. Even the newest l322 he’s had to fail on corrosion on the subframe. You’d have thought Land Rover would’ve learnt to make something that didn’t rust by the time they got to the L322.

It will of course depend how it’s been looked after but once the rot starts it won’t go away on its own. After what I’ve gone through with mine I will be rinsing the underneath every month to get rid of any salt or mud as well as apply protection in the summer.

If you get a good one spend some time protecting it.

Mine had an advisory about the rear sub frame last year. I set to with wire brush and chipping hammer to remove all the surface rust. That's all it was with plenty of "meat" left. I then coated with an underseal/waxoyl type substance.
Pointed it out to the MOT tester this year and he was satisfied enough to pass it. He couldn't fail it anyway as it had a coating on it! Previous cars:
S-Max 2007-2013 (only diesel I've had, good car but expensive when diesely bits go wrong, so what's the point?)
Galaxy 2001-2007
Mondeo Estate 1997-2001
Sierra Estate 1993-1997
Uno Turbo 1987 -1993
Fiesta 1984 - 1987
Fiat 127 1982 - 1984

Wk52RR wrote:

You’d have thought Land Rover would’ve learnt to make something that didn’t rust by the time they got to the L322.