Should I buy this L322 ??

Should I buy this L322 ??

Author
Discussion

Filibuster

Original Poster:

3,281 posts

222 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
Hi everybody,

This is my first post in the Land Rover section, or so I think.
After many forth and back, I 99% ready to buy my first Full Fat Range Rover party

Maybe some have seen this thread of mine in GG: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Most stuff I have already written there, but anyhow here it goes again.

I always loved FFRRs, and now is the right time of buying one has come biggrin
I considered many different incarnations of the L322, different engine and trim levels.
After having seen some and having spent hours on different forums and youtube, I was set about the following:

  • '07 onward
  • not black, white, silver (actually only darker or lighter shades of green or dark blue)
  • no tinted windows
This narrows the choice down considerably!
Also after having viewed and driven different ones, I realised how dated they begin to look inside and out, and how dated they feel to drive.
Not off putting at all, I really like what they are! But now I know that I'm not prepared to spend £25-30k on one (I'm in Switzerland and I'm translating all numbers to old money). I set my the maximum amount I'm comfortable with spending on a L322 at £15k.

So, a long story short, I set my eyes on this beauty:













She's a 2010 3.6 TDV8 Vogue with the facelifted interior. Westminster Blue (I think) with navy interior.
With rear entertainment and 4 zone climate control, as well as seat ventilation she is good equipped but unfortunately has no BLIS or 360° camera system.

In her almost 10 years she has done 70k miles, which I deem as perfect, since @7k p.a. it indicated regular use, but not excessive.
It also hopefully buys me some time re the EGR and DPF (@90k, hopefully); air suspension and bushes (@100k, hopefully); transmission (@120k miles, hopefully).
The paintwork is by no means perfect, but good enough for what I want (a small blemish at the right corner of the bumper gets painted and the car polished). But I want a car I need not worry about in the carpark and not a show queen! Also looking a bit beaten up adds character to one of these!
The interior is in reasonably good condition, and will shine when I spent a day going over it with a tooth brush. The gorgeous navy leather wears much better than the light ones I've seen. The same day I was viewing one with half the miles and sand interior that looked far, far worse!

Now I just need you to push me over the 100% certain barrier, so that I phone the dealer first thing tomorrow and buy this beauty!!

Any comment welcome!

akirk

5,621 posts

121 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
It will never be a car which is a 100% the right thing to buy - you have to have some heart in there as well as head - So, if you have done this amount of research and it looks that good - just buy it - they are lovely cars and you will need to be able to afford some budget for repairs, but it looks good from what you have shown...

camel_landy

5,088 posts

190 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
akirk said:
It will never be a car which is a 100% the right thing to buy - you have to have some heart in there as well as head - So, if you have done this amount of research and it looks that good - just buy it - they are lovely cars and you will need to be able to afford some budget for repairs, but it looks good from what you have shown...
^^^ This...

Just do it.

M

Mikebentley

6,715 posts

147 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
You have done your research and seem to know you want it. Get it bought and enjoy.

Wonderman

2,484 posts

202 months

Monday 21st October 2019
quotequote all
Check everything works, and that the gearbox has new fluids (or haggle so you can get this done at a dealer/ indie) and just get it done. I have that engine in my RRS after watching this, I just don't have room for a FFRR much as want one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl51reRXxgE
I ended up with Buckingham Blue as similar to you was trying to avoid black.
Enjoy!

CSK1

1,686 posts

131 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
quotequote all
Looks beautiful, get it bought.
I used to own a 2007 Vogue (bought new back then) and the colour looks very much the same, it was Buckingham Blue.
Do keep us posted!

ATM

18,957 posts

226 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
quotequote all
Wonderman said:
Now I want one

Filibuster

Original Poster:

3,281 posts

222 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
Thank you all for your replies.
I have seen Harry's video at least a dozen times lately!!
Also so many other on youtube, including probably hours of Nut Jobs videos.

As I told you, the ad went live last Friday. Saturday I was viewing the car (along a 5.0 S/C the same day) and haggled the price.
I told the dealer I will think about it over the weekend and called him on Tuesday saying I liked the car and wanted to buy it, but (and now comes the but part) I want to come see it again after they fixed the broken air strut sensor. So I agreed to come by Friday afternoon. (The car is 1.5 hours away and I got a job after all)

Now an hour ago I received a call that the car was sold now .... grumpybangheadcensoredweepingweepingweeping

This is the second time a 3.6 TDV8 gets sold under my nose .... The first one having been a tonga green one.
I know this is entirely my fault. I could cry ....

So

27,694 posts

229 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
Filibuster said:
Hi everybody,

This is my first post in the Land Rover section, or so I think.
After many forth and back, I 99% ready to buy my first Full Fat Range Rover party

Maybe some have seen this thread of mine in GG: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Most stuff I have already written there, but anyhow here it goes again.

I always loved FFRRs, and now is the right time of buying one has come biggrin
I considered many different incarnations of the L322, different engine and trim levels.
After having seen some and having spent hours on different forums and youtube, I was set about the following:

  • '07 onward
  • not black, white, silver (actually only darker or lighter shades of green or dark blue)
  • no tinted windows
This narrows the choice down considerably!
Also after having viewed and driven different ones, I realised how dated they begin to look inside and out, and how dated they feel to drive.
Not off putting at all, I really like what they are! But now I know that I'm not prepared to spend £25-30k on one (I'm in Switzerland and I'm translating all numbers to old money). I set my the maximum amount I'm comfortable with spending on a L322 at £15k.

So, a long story short, I set my eyes on this beauty:













She's a 2010 3.6 TDV8 Vogue with the facelifted interior. Westminster Blue (I think) with navy interior.
With rear entertainment and 4 zone climate control, as well as seat ventilation she is good equipped but unfortunately has no BLIS or 360° camera system.

In her almost 10 years she has done 70k miles, which I deem as perfect, since @7k p.a. it indicated regular use, but not excessive.
It also hopefully buys me some time re the EGR and DPF (@90k, hopefully); air suspension and bushes (@100k, hopefully); transmission (@120k miles, hopefully).
The paintwork is by no means perfect, but good enough for what I want (a small blemish at the right corner of the bumper gets painted and the car polished). But I want a car I need not worry about in the carpark and not a show queen! Also looking a bit beaten up adds character to one of these!
The interior is in reasonably good condition, and will shine when I spent a day going over it with a tooth brush. The gorgeous navy leather wears much better than the light ones I've seen. The same day I was viewing one with half the miles and sand interior that looked far, far worse!

Now I just need you to push me over the 100% certain barrier, so that I phone the dealer first thing tomorrow and buy this beauty!!

Any comment welcome!
I don't know if you'd picked up on the fact that the steering wheel has been fitted on the wrong side? It's probably just a JLR quality control issue.

ATM

18,957 posts

226 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
So said:
Filibuster said:
But now I know that I'm not prepared to spend £25-30k on one (I'm in Switzerland and I'm translating all numbers to old money).
I don't know if you'd picked up on the fact that the steering wheel has been fitted on the wrong side? It's probably just a JLR quality control issue.
Nice try

Filibuster

Original Poster:

3,281 posts

222 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
So said:
I don't know if you'd picked up on the fact that the steering wheel has been fitted on the wrong side? It's probably just a JLR quality control issue.
yikes
I missed that one.... Really shoddy build quality these....

But since the drive on the wrong side on the continent (and I'm based in Switzerland), it is rather convenient having the steering wheel also on the wrong side wink

So

27,694 posts

229 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
Filibuster said:
So said:
I don't know if you'd picked up on the fact that the steering wheel has been fitted on the wrong side? It's probably just a JLR quality control issue.
yikes
I missed that one.... Really shoddy build quality these....

But since the drive on the wrong side on the continent (and I'm based in Switzerland), it is rather convenient having the steering wheel also on the wrong side wink
Phew, stroke of luck.

Nice looking car though and if you have children the rear ents will be massively useful. Our L322 had them and they kept young children silent for hours.

Filibuster

Original Poster:

3,281 posts

222 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
After the disastrous outcome with the blue/blue 3.6 TDV8, I can't stop the urge of getting a L322!
So I had another look at the classifieds. Although not wanting a black one, I will be viewing this one tomorrow:

















Much worse than a black exterior, is a black interior imho. I quite like the tabac interior, although I would prefer a burr or cherry wood trim rather than the dull (again, imho) piano black trim (already looking on ebay for a wood interior+steering wheel wink ). That said, it suits the black exterior. And it doesn't have tinted windows. thumbup

Being a '10 5.0 S/C Autobiographie, it comes equipped rather nicely thumbupthumbup
It has been for sale for the best part of 4 months now, but the price has just been lowered to £17.5k (from £19.5). This isn't far of my initial max of £15k I'd feel comfortable spending for an L322.

@ 88k miles it is rather on the high side, and probably will need for a lot over the next couple of years .... rolleyes
I'm full aware RE the timing chain issues on those, but at least no EGR and DPF to worry about ! thumbup

I would feel rather more comfortable at no more than £15k. Well let's see how desperate he is selling, having it for 4 months now.

Now let my check my stockage of brave pills in the house pharmacy .... biggrin

So

27,694 posts

229 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
Filibuster said:
After the disastrous outcome with the blue/blue 3.6 TDV8, I can't stop the urge of getting a L322!
So I had another look at the classifieds. Although not wanting a black one, I will be viewing this one tomorrow:

















Much worse than a black exterior, is a black interior imho. I quite like the tabac interior, although I would prefer a burr or cherry wood trim rather than the dull (again, imho) piano black trim (already looking on ebay for a wood interior+steering wheel wink ). That said, it suits the black exterior. And it doesn't have tinted windows. thumbup

Being a '10 5.0 S/C Autobiographie, it comes equipped rather nicely thumbupthumbup
It has been for sale for the best part of 4 months now, but the price has just been lowered to £17.5k (from £19.5). This isn't far of my initial max of £15k I'd feel comfortable spending for an L322.

@ 88k miles it is rather on the high side, and probably will need for a lot over the next couple of years .... rolleyes
I'm full aware RE the timing chain issues on those, but at least no EGR and DPF to worry about ! thumbup

I would feel rather more comfortable at no more than £15k. Well let's see how desperate he is selling, having it for 4 months now.

Now let my check my stockage of brave pills in the house pharmacy .... biggrin
What happened with the other one. Looked good and it had the nice gear lever instead of the retarded rotary knob and crappy paddles.

Filibuster

Original Poster:

3,281 posts

222 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
Filibuster said:
Thank you all for your replies.
I have seen Harry's video at least a dozen times lately!!
Also so many other on youtube, including probably hours of Nut Jobs videos.

As I told you, the ad went live last Friday. Saturday I was viewing the car (along a 5.0 S/C the same day) and haggled the price.
I told the dealer I will think about it over the weekend and called him on Tuesday saying I liked the car and wanted to buy it, but (and now comes the but part) I want to come see it again after they fixed the broken air strut sensor. So I agreed to come by Friday afternoon. (The car is 1.5 hours away and I got a job after all)

Now an hour ago I received a call that the car was sold now .... grumpybangheadcensoredweepingweepingweeping

This is the second time a 3.6 TDV8 gets sold under my nose .... The first one having been a tonga green one.
I know this is entirely my fault. I could cry ....
This happened...

But the new one also has a proper gear lever wink
AFAIK with the L322 only the 4.4 TDV8 with the 8 speed box (ZF28HP, or something) had the rotary gear selector. The 6 speed (ZF26HPX) that came with the 5.0 S/C alays had a proper lever biggrin

camel_landy

5,088 posts

190 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
Filibuster said:
AFAIK with the L322 only the 4.4 TDV8 with the 8 speed box (ZF28HP, or something) had the rotary gear selector. The 6 speed (ZF26HPX) that came with the 5.0 S/C alays had a proper lever biggrin
IIRC - That's correct. The 5.0SC was too powerful for the 8spd, so they stuck with the 6spd for that engine (same in the RRS).

M

Mr. Jimmy

129 posts

130 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
As a long suffering owner of Range Rovers from the 70's and owner of two L322's and a brand new one, here is my checklist for buying an L322.

1. Make it it a 4.2sc. The engine is bulletproof if maintained, it will last.
2. 2006-2008 were very good build years,
3. Change the oil in all the diffs and gear boxes.
4. If something goes wrong, stop, turn it off and on again.
5. 80 percent,(honestly),of problems are caused by duff batteries or poor charging.



So

27,694 posts

229 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
Filibuster said:
Filibuster said:
Thank you all for your replies.
I have seen Harry's video at least a dozen times lately!!
Also so many other on youtube, including probably hours of Nut Jobs videos.

As I told you, the ad went live last Friday. Saturday I was viewing the car (along a 5.0 S/C the same day) and haggled the price.
I told the dealer I will think about it over the weekend and called him on Tuesday saying I liked the car and wanted to buy it, but (and now comes the but part) I want to come see it again after they fixed the broken air strut sensor. So I agreed to come by Friday afternoon. (The car is 1.5 hours away and I got a job after all)

Now an hour ago I received a call that the car was sold now .... grumpybangheadcensoredweepingweepingweeping

This is the second time a 3.6 TDV8 gets sold under my nose .... The first one having been a tonga green one.
I know this is entirely my fault. I could cry ....
This happened...

But the new one also has a proper gear lever wink
AFAIK with the L322 only the 4.4 TDV8 with the 8 speed box (ZF28HP, or something) had the rotary gear selector. The 6 speed (ZF26HPX) that came with the 5.0 S/C alays had a proper lever biggrin
Oops sorry.

The lever is important IMHO because the rotary selector and flappy paddles were deigned who knew nothing about off road cars.

classicaholic

1,910 posts

77 months

Saturday 26th October 2019
quotequote all
I had a 2012 car that was in great condition but had done 130k when I got rid at auction, its now showing on the MoT site as only 48k so be aware, its very easy to clock them!
The big problem is the Turbo's have a habit of going around 130k or as the new owner may be surprised at his going at 50K!

Great cars and the L322 was very sorted by the dates you are looking at and you know the ages stuff goes wrong, most is easy to replace but the turbo issue can be quite expensive if it takes the engine with it!

ATM

18,957 posts

226 months

Saturday 26th October 2019
quotequote all
I've seen some cars with broken engines. What does a decent engine rebuild cost - fitted done and dusted?