Well I've sadly decided to call it a day on the Range Rover brand. Despite enjoying the current Range Rover for over three years, and the previous one for a further 3 years, I am truly fed up with the lack of availability of spares and the spate of repairs over the last 6 months.

My 2012 TDV8 will be up for sale on the forum in the next week or so, once its out of the workshop waiting for parts.

Replaced already with a Mercedes GL350.

John 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Current
2015 E220 with AMG Sport Pack - Currently driven by my son
2010 3.6 TDV8 Vogue - Written off by my son

The same thing nearly ended my ownership a few months ago but I managed to make / repair the part myself and the garage also managed to source the remaining part but I was very lucky. It's not just JLR products that are experiencing parts shortages so good luck on that front with the GL350. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Parts are a nightmare at the moment but as JayGee says it's not just LR parts.
You'll be back in a Rangie in 12months  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
--------------------------------------------------

I truly am sad to part company with the car.

I swapped my Range Rover for a GL 350 some years ago for similar reasons
The GL didn't have the same sense of occasion as the Range Rover and I'm told they are not as capable off road, but if you're only driving it on road, then the GL is a great vehicle - spacious, quiet, efficient
It was well built (reassuringly solid throughout) and, other than annual servicing and consumables, I never had any issues in 4 years of ownership
In short, good choice  2007 Zermatt Silver TDV8 Vogue SE - now sold but was a great car!

Thank you for your reassuring comment as to reliability GraemeC....

I don't off road, will be mainly driven on long distance European motorway travels at moderate speeds.

4434Morrison wrote:

The decision to move on from Range Rovers is not only due to the parts supply issues, you are correct that affects most manufacturers to a greater or lesser degree. Another issue is the crazy design issues such as the thermostat replacement on the 2012 L322 4.4 TDV8. After being quoted by a recommended independant Range Rover specialist in excess of £1000 to replace the thermostat because; the entire fron of the car had to be removed including the bumper and cooling pack to replace it.

Clearly absolute nonsense and I think that is what tipped me over the edge.

@sako243,

To replace the thermostat on its own without the complete thermostat housing, you have tp remove the fan shroud, to remove the fan shroud you have to remove the turbo actuator (as this stops theshroud being removed), then release the transmission cooler from its location (as this blocks access to a fan shroud bolt. Once the shroud is freed off, then undo the fan and remove complete with the shroud. Then you have to undo a couple of bolts holding the metal pipe / hose to the engine block and finally you can release the 4 torx screws holding the plastic part containing only the actual thermostst.

However to purchase a thermostat you have to purchase the entire thermostsat housing, which in addition to the above, requires a top end strip down of the plennum, throttle body, various hoses and other bits and bobs.

To top it all then there are no parts available, and if you start messing with the plastic coolant system, that over the years has become brittle, then you are likely to break more than you fix.

Whoever designed that lot was having a laugh.....

John 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Current
2015 E220 with AMG Sport Pack - Currently driven by my son
2010 3.6 TDV8 Vogue - Written off by my son

Although there's no doubt that our good ol' Fatties have their fair share of issues, to think that other makes don't is a little bit naïve. You only have to look at some other makes' forums to find exactly the same sort of issues that we constantly moan about (eg disinterested and useless main dealers for a start). L322's are complex machines and are a minimum of 11 years old now, so they're bound to have problems, anything similar will also have problems. For me there's no reason not have a Fatty! Drives:
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue - Stornoway Grey
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue SE - Zermatt Silver
1998 BMW E36 M3 GTII

4434Morrison wrote:

Thank you for your reassuring comment as to reliability GraemeC....

I don't off road, will be mainly driven on long distance European motorway travels at moderate speeds.

John

Im sorry sir, she's not as pretty as your outgoing model... Nowhere near...

My car has had more than a few bits replaced over the past 6 months, including 2 new front struts, 2 lower front arms, rear hub bush. I was rapidly coming to the conclusion that this was the tipping point into a money pit, but my Indy pointed out that the old struts were the originals, so 15 years and 190,000 miles could be considered a pretty decent lifespan.
Now my expenditure has slowed (for now), my opinion on moving it on has mellowed somewhat when I think about how much is need to spend on something newer and never get back in the short term what I’ve spent in the past year, so it lives to fight on (for now)  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

I get it, I really do.... I have said that I am sad to be leaving the brand, but at 71 years of age, I feel like I have a young beautiful girlfriend sat at home, not doing the house work,cooking and not such good company, instead spending all day shopping online, whilst I worry what she will get up to next.....

No guys, I have loved and cared for my range rovers over the years, but it is time to move on....

Yes other brands have issues, they all have. I have owned everything from Minis through Fords, various Range Rovoers, Jaguars, Mercs to a Rolls Royce over the last 50 odd years, none of which, even the Range Rovers, have had the iasues I have experienced with this L322.

I have decided on Mercedes as over the years I have owned numerous Mercedes models from the E180, C200, 280SE, E300, E500, the S300, 500SE and the 560SEC and have never once had an issue with the vehicles. The E220 we have in the garage as a runabout is trouble free....

So yes I do get it..... We all love Range Rovers, I still do, but its time for me personally to move on.

John 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Current
2015 E220 with AMG Sport Pack - Currently driven by my son
2010 3.6 TDV8 Vogue - Written off by my son

I recently got rid of mine as I just couldn't justify the cost of running it, plus the numerous things that were starting to go wrong. Add to that the fact that we were just about to go on holiday to Scotland, and I wouldn't enjoy myself with the constant paranoia that I had whenever I went further than a few miles from home.

Had a significant "downgrade" to a normal car, but it has gadgets a plenty that all work - and although it's not quite as comfortable or quiet, I am enjoying driving once again.

Shameless plug : Check out the market place shortly for a few bits I have left in my garage that didn't go with the car

It's been a pleasure to be on this forum for the past few years, where I have learned a lot (mostly that things go wrong a lot) and on the first day of my FF ownership my anxiety was eased when my car went into limp mode and it was explained to me that it was a known issue (intercooler hoses) and an easy fix. Good job really, as they split three times in two years !

Cheers
Andy

@closerthanmost,

Its been 3 months or there about since I sold the Range Rover. 3 months of bliss and savings

The GL350 is comfortable, quiet, reliable, has masses of load space, 7 comfortable full size seats, reasonable off road capabilities sufficient to cope with occassional snow, mud etc. There is no rust what-so-ever despite being 12 years old, no oil leaks, no DPF issues, no coolant issues, simply put none of the numerous issues encountered on my range rovers over the past 8 years, which were both younger than the Merc.

The Merc has performed flawlessly, driving, whether a long distance trip in Europe or a short local journey, is once again a pleasure. The engineering of the Merc's drive train, chassis, body and engine are rock solid. Servicing is easy, availability and physical access to and replacement of key service components, made of metal rather than plastic, ensures low cost service and maintenance.

I wish Range Rover had the same engineering ability as Mercedes, then I would probably still be driving a Range Rover.

Regrets about the move to Mercedes? None!

I too have found this forum to be the absolute best, with engaging and helpful members. I do miss the challenges of sorting the issues on the Range Rovers, but also enjoy the 'me' time by no longer havng to spend weekends dealing with the faults resulting from poor engine design, poor quaility components made of plastic and poor service on the part of main dealers.

Best to all...
John 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Current
2015 E220 with AMG Sport Pack - Currently driven by my son
2010 3.6 TDV8 Vogue - Written off by my son

Last edited by 4434Morrison on 24th Jul 2023 6:53am. Edited 1 time in total

I like those Mercs and that engine is great, glad your happy.  overfinch modified