Hi All,

Similar to another parties post, but slightly different questions.

We’re looking for a reliable family car and like the rangie, our budget is about £13k assuming we get a good px on our 986 low mileage Boxster. It’ll be c.100k on the clock looking in trader with fsh, we do about 12-15k per year, mainly motorway with a bit of forestry tracks in Scotland.

1. Is there a detailed buyers guide you can guide me to for the L322 4.4tdv8? So i know where to look on a vehicle for grot and leaks etc.
2. The OH will kill me if it’s not reliable! So if we get it what would you do straight away as preventative maintenance? Oil change on gearbox ? Etc
3. I see some reference to turbo oil drain, how much is that? And where do you get it done?
4. Would you get a pre purchase inspection done?
5. Is air suspension a big expense if it goes wrong?, bags and compressor.

The other cars being considered by the OH are a Lexus RX, Landcruiser Amazon and Mercedes GL. Think we would like one but other internet commentators make us nervous, hence asking on here.

Cheers,

D

welcome, buyers guide in our wiki, as are many write-ups.. ... - .- -.




click link for ,

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workshop manual downloads are in our wiki

.

Thanks Stan, I'll have a read through the wiki link tonight.

Guess there's a lot of critics out there, so need to take a balanced view based on facts from real owners!

Bear in mind that even on owner forums you tend to hear mainly about problems.

Very rarely do people post to say that nothing went wrong.

On the reliability issue I'll relate an anecdote about my D2.

I'm always being told that my D2 is unreliable and we always break down whenever we go anywhere. Despite that my 2003 D2 now has 227k miles on it. How on earth did it manage that if it's so unreliable?

Dunc. The life you have is the only one you'll get; make the most of it.
--------‐--‐-----------------‐------------------‐---------------------------------------------------
2012 4.4 TDV8 L322 Autobiography
2003 TD5 Oslo Blue D2 ES Premium Auto (with mods!)

My journey is documented here
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic44115...p;start=75
My main things were oil leaks from oil cooler, pump and small turbo. Rest are just maintenance stuff
Buy on condition and history and have a small reserve pot to get it 100%
Lots of support on here  2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
New Defender D300 90 on order so "Rory" will be going to a new home....!
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
--------------------------------------------------

Last edited by DrRob on 30th Jun 2020 12:37pm. Edited 1 time in total

I think the fact I already have an old landy doesn’t help!

I’ve a 1976 series 3 109” station wagon with a six cylinder engine....in my defence I saved it from scrap!, but it’s a project and 41yrs old with no service history. It’s off to the garage in October for new clutch bearings. Suspect she’s worried a Rangie will turn into another project

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

I've owned every model with the exception of a Freelander, I've not suffered any horror stories with any of them. The big thing is regular maintenance from either an independent or a good main dealer. Most modern cars are so crammed full of computers and sensors, you're going to get some issues at some point. If you want complete reliability, buy the Lexus, but the car is soul less and last time I priced up a Lexus service, it wasn't particularly cheap either. The LC100 Amazon is a good truck, bombproof reliability, but its a truck and definitely showing its age, the LC200 is again reliable but can have a thirst for oil. People say things about the reliability of Land Rover cars, I do about 40k miles a year across the South of the country and see more new and relatively new Mercedes at the side of the road than any other manufacturer.

If you buy a good L322 4.4TDV8 based on condition and with a good service history, you won't go far wrong. Look for one of the last Vogue SE's or an Autobiography with all of the toys.

The turbo drain mod isn't always needed, do a search on the forum to know what to look out for. If it does GreenOval in Leeds seem to be the preferred people and they're not a million miles away from you.

As for the air suspension, if its kept in good working order, it shouldn't cause too many problems, Porsche use a similar system on the Cayenne. The compressor typically goes before the bag.

Happy hunting.

Thanks. Just looking on the vogue centre website and they have some nice ones on there albeit for c.£16k

If you want reliable get the Lexus. If you want to fall in love....... get a Rangie 👍🥰👻🕺

Slow progress wrote:

Thanks. Just looking on the vogue centre website and they have some nice ones on there albeit for c.£16k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ad...archad=New

This is one we’re thinking of going to look at. Thoughts please

Dolphinboy wrote:

If you want reliable get the Lexus. If you want to fall in love....... get a Rangie 👍🥰👻🕺

I think Haylands may have a view on that one Swings and roundabouts etc.... Go for it based on your gut feel

Unnecessary quote removed

Its a Kent registered car, being sold locally, its had one owner, so if it was a dog they probably would have sold it on a while ago. Its got good tyres, when people like to scrimp on maintenance, tyres are the first to go. Doesn't look like a bad car from pictures, but it depends on what the service history is like. Mileage is on the high side, but sometimes a car thats used regularly is better than one that isn't. It is coming up for 9 years old and some big bills may be round the corner. You'd really have to see it and drive it to get a good idea.

Rosco wrote:

Dolphinboy wrote:

If you want reliable get the Lexus. If you want to fall in love....... get a Rangie 👍🥰👻🕺

I think Haylands may have a view on that one Swings and roundabouts etc.... Go for it based on your gut feel

Hmmm .... did some research and according to the warranty companies the Mercedes GL is about twice as unreliable as the Rangie.

There are a couple of vogue se’s at 80000 miles for the same money, would they be a better bet?

Open to advice on target mileage for up to £15k