Took the car for its first long (240 mile) journey to Newbury Races. Performed faultlessly and my wife and her friends watched Mamma Mia on the way home, slightly drunk!

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Checked the passenger side sill cover to see how the ACE pipes were looking: Pretty clean.
Initially set out to remove the cover ams spray my home brew Wax, but when one M6 broke off (and I was being really gentle!) , I called it, and just used the Lance to get in give them a good coating.
If I'd looked earlier..through the very small gaps, I'd have seen they were OK and saved myself the drilling and Tapping a new M6 job...
All coated now, incl. The Block and fastenings all along the hidden sill.
Also touched up the areas that I'd missed last week spraying everything
It's a '14 plate V8 with 60k. Really clean underside and has had an easy life.
-Ian Bodsworth (Bosdy) did a super job on a ZF Transfusion a few weeks back.
-I did the oils incl Diffs and Transfer Box.
Tip for spraying at home..I've a full waxoyl kit, but it's kinda messy.
This time I used an airless handheld type gun (like a fence sprayer), and it worked well. It atomized the thickish liquid, and I used a cobbled lance from some chrome tube.
Cheap option over the full compressor kit if anyones thinking of doing it.
I can post the wax/spirit/oil mix if anyone wants it. L405 2014 FFRR Autobiography
Corris Grey
Previously 2011 D4 SDV6 HSE Santorini

Ian Bodsworth arrived today bang on time and treated our fullfat to a full transmission blood transfusion, so it should hopefully be good for another 60K miles, I had just done both diffs myself at the Weekend, so that’s all fluids changed on the car now  V6 Vogue - “Less is More” - less to go wrong!

I dropped her off at the Spa this morning.

Full underbody rust treatment/prevention.
Machine polish and ceramic coating.

She should be back home on Friday.

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Paired new FBH remote ready for the winter to the new to me L405, paired first time. Loved the feature in my old L322 on those cold northern morning. Must saying loving the Autobiography luxury

Took all the underbody shields off (metal and plastic ones) and gave it all a thorough jet wash. Used the snow foam gun to cover the underside and then hosed it all off. Amazing how much crud was stuck up behind the trim panels and how dirty the underside was in general. Once it is thoroughly dry I am going to give everything a coat of Lanoguard before it goes back together. It’s a filthy soaking wet job but pleased it all clean under there now and with the Lanoguard should be all good for winter.

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I stripped the intake system down to clean out the lovely carbon oil chocolate brownie mixture. Very satisfying. Replaced the vacuum pipe on the air filter box the garage had missed when they serviced it prior to purchase.
Also scared myself to death programming a second key using JLR SDD, I got to a stage where the software said turn the ignition back on and the car said no smart key detected, ahhhhhh. Eventually just pressed next on the software and it continued to program both keys. Thought that was going to be expensive. 😅 Also own a 1976 Land Rover 101 3.5 V8.
Previously owned:-
2012 Range Rover Westminster.
1991 Range Rover Vogue 3.9 V8.

Drove from Saint Valery sur Somme to L’Abbaie et Jardins de Valloires; an hour’s drive each way, stuck to the D roads and passed through some amazing little villages. Would like to have got the RR in front of the abbey for a suitably grand-looking pic but not possible - still looking for a suitable alternative before I return to the UK on Monday. Loving it out here, the roads are so quiet. L322 TDV8 4.4 - current
L322 TD6 - sold
Disco 2 TD5 - sold
Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7 - sold
Mitsubishi Pajero 2.8 - part ex'd
Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0 td - sold
Mitsubishi Pajero 2.8 - sold

Not today but recently, all oils and filters, ACE tank, coolant tank as it hadnt been changed when the previous owner had the oil cooler replaced, A/C panel and CarPlay upgrade and finally paint correction and ceramic coat

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Finally bit the bullet last weekend and removed the sill finishers on both sides. Expected to see the inevitable rust with rot holes, BUT, nothing other than fairly mild surface rust! You could have knocked me over with a feather!

All surface rust cleaned off now and area treated and painted, cavities pumped full of Dynax S50, ready to replace finishers.

Now for the Wife's car............!! Drives:
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue - Stornoway Grey
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue SE - Zermatt Silver
1998 BMW E36 M3 GTII

Last edited by rvbush on 25th Aug 2025 4:19pm. Edited 1 time in total

Re-fitted a new TPMS module I bought a while back as the old one started playing up again.

Last time I lit the dashboard up like a tyre related Christmas tree. This time no issues and its all happy.

Got home after a good run out and kept getting a 'Door Open' Warning - suspension wouldn't drop or raise (slammed doors etc etc) and left it over night as couldn't be bothered to investigate in the dark.

Read a post on here that suggested (with a locked car) opening the boot with the button on the key then opening the rest of the car would re-set it.

Worked like a dream and all now functioning as expected. Wow thats obscure, glad I didn't need to take it to the garage for investigation as that would have cost hundreds.

Thank you @UK Marine Some days its just not worth chewing through the restraints.....

Fitted a new front airbag strut, took about 4 hours in all, after making sure I had the correct size tools, then the active damping light came on

Turns out I hadn't refitted the sensor at the top of the strut correctly, refitted and went for a drive, still light was on, so did the old favourite.... undid the battery -, and refitted, job's a good-un.

Next will be the arms and joints. and maybe the oil cooler. 2011 4.4 Vogue, Santorini

Hi,

Fitted new AC compressor at the weekend. What a pig of a job, followed the comprehensive guide and all went well excepting anything under the car a real pig of a job and car fought we every inch of the way.

Hardest part was getting the new one located correctly, just would not go in straight at all. eventually gave up by this time in the dark after about 9 hours hard graft, just could not get enough space to be able to get the pipework out of the way without risking damaging something. Eventually after tracing all the pipes back as far as I could and loosening it all up managed to get enough space to cable tie it all out of the way enough to be able to flex the new compressor into alignment.

Came back fresh start next day, still fought me for a couple of hours again, just would not locate even after removing an additional idler pulley. Problem was the rear and lower locating points and you are doing it all blind and with finger tips and that compressor is heavy, lose all strength in your hands very quickly.

In the end more through luck than judgement managed to get the rear lug located from underneath and could then get the 2 front ones in. Again getting the pipework back in place was a nightmare.

Backs of my hands are all scratched to hell, can't wear gloves down that right side as there is simply no space.

Anyway, got it all back in, started with a few crossed fingers and no problems, got it re-gassed by ATS who degassed it for me the day before.

Instantly cold air, so relieved. Been running for a few days now and glorious in this heat.

I'm not surprised a garage charges in excess of £1k on top of the price of the part or wont even touch it.

I got a Nissen’s unit from Maltings, they delivered within 48 hours, great service and price was reasonable. Fuji White / Jet 2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster