Thinking about an L322....

[akelly]

Hi all,

I've been offered an L322 - TD6, Nov '03, 178k, no offroad, VGC, price is right. We are currently running a TD5 D2 and really like it - I do most of the servicing and minor stuff like brakes etc... myself and we've been through all the usual D2 TD5 issues like oil in loom, double cardan, fuel pump, 3 amigos.

I like the idea of the Rangie, much nicer car obviously, and my wife is the main driver - I'm banished to the IIA. My worry is that some widget will die and cost me 10k in the first week. Assuming that the service history is sweet (I know it will be, the dude is careful with it) what are the big issues that others have had? I've scoped out the usual sites and read up what I can, but I'm interested in hearing the verdict of other Aussie users. I haven't driven the car yet, but lets assume that the transmission is not knackered (I wouldn't buy it if it was) and I know its had the diff recall done.

Bottom line - if you had the choice, would you go from a sorted D2 that you know to an L322 that you dont know (other that service history)?

Thanks,

Adam

[Scouse]

My advice is to stay right away.












Oh, make sure you PM me the contact details of the seller though :).

[mickboot]

I have done what you propose to do and parked the D2 in the back yard and got a 2002 L322 v8.
the rangie does not feel like a 4x4 like the disco, and the guy I got it from said he's never seen a warning light come up, well 4 weeks of ownership and I have had air suspension inactive and trans overheating warnings come up, (I think the radiator needs a good flush). I hope you dont need a towing kit with electric brakes Like I do.$$$

I almost wish I brought a run out model HSE d2 with the twin sun roofs


out of the frying pan and into the fire.

[justinc]

Fantastic vehicle, but you'd want deep pockets if anything goes south:( Just a new info display LCD screen unit is over 2.5K:eek:

Trans issues with Td6 are common if hi km, towing or city driving, they are (up until recently) not normally serviced at all.

Engine is fantastic, driven hard they aren't a very quiet powerplant, but you're using less than half of the V8's fuel doing it:twisted:

Brakes etc are easy to replace, not all that costly to buy either, easy to service, and really are a classic shape in my book.

Go for it, but keep in mind the pitfalls can be deep ones, with bamboo spikes at the bottom :(

JC

[Scouse]

Trans issues with Td6 are common if hi km, towing or city driving, they are (up until recently) not normally serviced at all.

With the Td6?
The V8 auto is the one I've seen die often :(.

[Bearman]

My son has had one (2006 RRSport Supercharged V8) for over a year now. Its a beautiful vehicle to look at and drive. Goes like a dog shot in the arse. However he has had a few issues with it from about 70k onwards.
1.....Front diff seal (Apparently common issue)
2.....Front lower control arm bushes. (they replaced the whole arms-say its cheaper than just replacing the bushes)
3.....Fuel tank sender units
4.....Starter motor issue - starter running on when motor starts
Luckily its a lease vehicle and he didn't have the pay the exhorbitant prices for rectifying these faults. Oh, I forgot the sunroof leaks too - they have had one go at fixing this but it still leaks a little. I told him when he was looking at it that sunroofs are as handy as an ashtray on a motorbike. Especially up here in Qld.......Brian

[justinc]

With the Td6?
The V8 auto is the one I've seen die often :(.

Yes, your right Scott, I have done that before:( Its the ZF box in the V8 that has more problems than the GM box in the Td6, although there is a possibility of more coming to light as the vehicles get older due to the 'filled for life' nature of these gearbags. I'm servicing one soon at 160K because it has never been touched, I would be interested to see what the filter etc looks like...so far it is still changing and behaving OK though.

JC

[drivesafe]

Hi akelly, the first version of the L322 is in my opinion a better vehicle than the later model, depending on how you want to use it.

The front diff problem is now permanently fixed ( i had 2 go ) and if you do the transmission then your up for about $7k+ for and exchange ( did 1 and that needed replacing by the time I traded up ).

But the cab is the roomiest of all the LR vehicles, the new RR actually has far less room, go figure.

If you want to go off road, they are fantastic and again better that the later version, mainly because you can fit far better tires.

If you are still looking at different vehicles, the D4 is in my opinion far better value for money that a new RR and something to consider if your looking at an early model L322

[sniegy]

(2006 RRSport Supercharged V8)
Bearman,
Different kettle of fish.
The L322 is the Bigger brother to the Sport. Sport & D3/4 share Chassis.

Adam,
I too went through his debate when i sold my D2 & ended up with a D4, not that the cost of parts or service was the issue. Mainly my wife didnt like the "Space" or the feel when driving, found the D4 a better or more comfortable vehicle to drive in her opinion. :eek:

I would of loved the L322, But very very happy:p:p with the D4..things to check-check fluid in G/box, if very dark get it replaced imediately. Has previous owner done a lot of towing? Give it a good "energetic" drive make sure the fuel pump is keeping up its pace as we have seen a few fail pumps. Not cheap, but then again not hard to replace. Coolant bottle, make sure no white powdery substance/stain has coated the engine bay, this is normally a sign of a coolant leak for some reason.

Check all electronics, SatNav?, TV?,etc as these modules can be expensive.

Obviously trims can be changed if need be, but again on the expensive side.
Engine & gearbox are near bulletproof & driven with respect will provide good economy too for such a large vehicle.
The vehicle itself is excellent, but its just as with any vehicle, in time things degrade & may stop working. Whether it be poor servicing or just a plain failure no one will ever know.

Good luck;)

[akelly]

Thanks everyone. Food for though. We're quite happy with the disco and had not really considered getting rid of it, but the L322 has been offered to us through the family.

Not sure what we'll do - but thanks for all the info. I'll print this out when I go to look at the car.

Cheers,

Adam

[PAT303]

I bought a Td6 and have never ever regretted it.The power is smooth,the drivetrain is smooth the ride everything is right.They have heaps of room and running costs are lower than a hilux.I had the auto serviced and will do it every 50K so don't expect an issue,it is cheap ($275) so why wouldn't you do it.They are a great vehicle. Pat

[adm333]

I have done what you propose to do and parked the D2 in the back yard and got a 2002 L322 v8.
the rangie does not feel like a 4x4 like the disco, and the guy I got it from said he's never seen a warning light come up, well 4 weeks of ownership and I have had air suspension inactive and trans overheating warnings come up, (I think the radiator needs a good flush). I hope you dont need a towing kit with electric brakes Like I do.$$$

I almost wish I brought a run out model HSE d2 with the twin sun roofs


out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Can you please elaborate on what you mean by the "towing kit" with electric brakes. Is there something special you need to get if you want to use electric brakes ?

The reason I ask is my sister has a late model Merc and has had all sorts of trouble getting the electric brake module to work properly. Having glanced over this post a few days ago, it made me wonder if some of these more hi-tec cars require additional stuff to get the electric brakes working properly ???

[VladTepes]

That and you are still think of an L322 aren't you adm333 ?!

[adm333]

That and you are still think of an L322 aren't you adm333 ?!

I only have one thing to say to that .....

"A fool and his money are soon parted"

.... so yes, there is an evil little voice inside my head but I am trying to ignore it.

[PAT303]

I have done what you propose to do and parked the D2 in the back yard and got a 2002 L322 v8.
the rangie does not feel like a 4x4 like the disco, and the guy I got it from said he's never seen a warning light come up, well 4 weeks of ownership and I have had air suspension inactive and trans overheating warnings come up, (I think the radiator needs a good flush). I hope you dont need a towing kit with electric brakes Like I do.$$$

I almost wish I brought a run out model HSE d2 with the twin sun roofs


out of the frying pan and into the fire.

So what your saying is you've never serviced the cooling system or had a tranny service done and now it's LR's fault that your vehicle is playing up?. Pat

[adm333]

I've read a lot of comments from people who have gone from a Discovery 2 or the likes, up to an L322.

Most of these comments talk about how far superior the L322 is for long distance driving and comfort etc etc.

I would like to hear from anyone who has gone from a P38 Range Rover to an L322. I have driven a D2 and I would say exactly the same thing about the gap up to a P38.

The P38 Range Rover in full flight is also a magnificent long distance touring vehicle and extremely luxurious.

Having a fairly intimate knowledge of everything on my P38 and being fairly confident with its "quirks" I am struggling to justify how an extra $30K will give me an extra 30K worth of luxury and comfort, and not just a whole new roller coaster ride.

So, if you have upgraded from a nice P38 to an (even nicer) L322, let me know what you think.

Cheers
Dave

[PAT303]

I went from a D1 to L322 so can't help you,I have driven my L322 across Oz and will again in July and doing it with three fuel stops makes it worth it. Pat

[Hoges]

I've read a lot of comments from people who have gone from a Discovery 2 or the likes, up to an L322.

Most of these comments talk about how far superior the L322 is for long distance driving and comfort etc etc.

I would like to hear from anyone who has gone from a P38 Range Rover to an L322. I have driven a D2 and I would say exactly the same thing about the gap up to a P38.

The P38 Range Rover in full flight is also a magnificent long distance touring vehicle and extremely luxurious.

Having a fairly intimate knowledge of everything on my P38 and being fairly confident with its "quirks" I am struggling to justify how an extra $30K will give me an extra 30K worth of luxury and comfort, and not just a whole new roller coaster ride.

So, if you have upgraded from a nice P38 to an (even nicer) L322, let me know what you think.

Cheers
Dave

$30K (and the forgone interest thereon) buys a heck of a lot of parts/maintenance/fuel etc for an existing serviceable vehicle...providing it suits your needs
plus you are signing up for accelerated depreciation... ...which is one of the reasons I have decided to hang on to my current P38...and I can now probably fix all but "catastrophic" failure

(though I have been mightily tempted by a TD6 :angel::whistling:)

[ozscott]

Its and interesting comment about the D2 v P38A - I have driven both and my brother in law owned aP38A - I have owned a D2 V8 Manual since new in 02 and a D1 - 95 - since 2001. Personally I love the ride on the coiler D2 - in fact more so than the (well maintained....(read constantly replacing the bits)) P38A, but I guess its preference. I have recently stuck in firestones into the coils on mine for towing very heavy loads but with 10pounds in found them to enhance on road handling. As for long distances I like the D2 seats and driving position and there isnt much between it and the P38A. The front end is the same pretty much.

Just my take.

Cheers

PS. I have only been in the rangie for relatively short (45 mins etc) trips so the air suspension and seating on long distance trips might then come into its own, I cannot say.

[Daniel]

Yep, I'm one of those -


We traded our old and tired '96 P38 HSE in on a new 2005 L322 HSE td6.
I also own and drive '89 RR, a '94 RR and a 2000 td5 D2.

In my opinion the sports bitumen handling of each RR model has deteriorated with the L322 being the worst of the lot. The rear wheel steering of the classic RR was brilliant through its engineering/geometry giving it totally neutral handling. The P38 achieved almost as good through its rear radius arm design giving only slight understeer.
The L322 is like every other BMW - boring and understeers badly.

Similarly seat comfort is best with the '89 classic velour sears, slightly worse with the '94 leathers, P38 leather was a little better but still not as good as the '89. The L322 seats are typical BMW - hard and boring! However they still give you a better ride after sitting in them for a 13 hour trip to Melbourne than any jap crap car will.

Every model RR has vastly improved NHV levels over previous ones.

Off road the L322 is just as good as the classic RRs because of the ECUs doing their stuff properly whilst the classic RRs did it through simple engineering.

For towing every model RR is better than the one before.

What else do you want to know?





I've read a lot of comments from people who have gone from a Discovery 2 or the likes, up to an L322.

Most of these comments talk about how far superior the L322 is for long distance driving and comfort etc etc.

I would like to hear from anyone who has gone from a P38 Range Rover to an L322.
So, if you have upgraded from a nice P38 to an (even nicer) L322, let me know what you think.

Cheers
Dave

[adm333]

Thanks Daniel

I was trying to get an idea of whether or not the extra 30K spent on an L322 is worth it or not.

It's all relative I know, but I am reading your response and thinking maybe it isn't worth it. Remembering also, that I would be getting a 5 or 6 year old one, not a brand new one.

I know - I have to make my own decision.

Dave

[bidds]

Hi Daniel,

I'm also considering a P38 or L322. I've presently got a D2a td5 (wife's town car) and a 90 RRC (bush bashing and camping).

For camping and general town use I'd like some more space and improved on road handling (my RRC has slightly longer but still very soft springs and no sways, so it's not exactly 'sporting') and so I'm looking at these two vehicles.

Could you please comment on the usable space and off road ride comfort of each? Even through I'm sure either will get where I want to go, I'm a big fan of the RRC's ride in the rough.

Have you driven a V8 petrol L322? How does it compare with the td6 (apart from fuel economy, which doesn't bother me too much)?

cheers,

bidds

[catch-22]

I've read a lot of comments from people who have gone from a Discovery 2 or the likes, up to an L322.

Most of these comments talk about how far superior the L322 is for long distance driving and comfort etc etc.

I have owned my L322 for near 3 weeks now and I still cannot get it as comfy as the D2a. I am sending it to the auto upholsterer next week with clear instructions - soften it all up and make it feel like my D2a :D

[akelly]

Hey-ho, I didn't realise this thread was still going! Well, here's an update...

I didn't buy the L322 - couldn't convince myself to spend the cash. The good news is that my parents did buy it - after a long time the seller got back in touch with me still trying to sell, I passed him along to my Mum who was thinking about buying a Jag(!) - long story short, they love the Rangie.

Thanks to all those that gave their opinions - it really helped. I'll post up some pics when I get a chance.

Cheers,

Adam

[ozscott]

I have owned my L322 for near 3 weeks now and I still cannot get it as comfy as the D2a. I am sending it to the auto upholsterer next week with clear instructions - soften it all up and make it feel like my D2a :D


Mate - I have to agree - my previous post wasnt as lucid as yours...the Rangie is a bit hard. Beautiful looking vehicle and highly competent. Off road the D2 should still be overall slightly better (again 'overall;) (with CDL and traction control) despite the RR air suspension but you letting us know your thoughts would be good. The D2 is a seriously nice ride. I cant believe I paid $41,500 all up on the road in 02 for mine brand new.

Cheers

[catch-22]

Mate - I have to agree - my previous post wasnt as lucid as yours...the Rangie is a bit hard. Beautiful looking vehicle and highly competent. Off road the D2 should still be overall slightly better (again 'overall;) (with CDL and traction control) despite the RR air suspension but you letting us know your thoughts would be good. The D2 is a seriously nice ride. I cant believe I paid $41,500 all up on the road in 02 for mine brand new.

Cheers

Heya Scott, well I am completely comfortable with the RR now after having the seat padded and spending no less than 3 days getting the seat in just the right spot. Have done a few big drives already and now understand what the RR is all about.

Firstly, I cannot believe the Disco and L322 are made by the same people. Just worlds apart. The D2a cannot even come close in terms of refinement and build quality / tolerances etc..

Both can still take you anywhere you want in complete comfort but how they do it is completely different.

Have to jet off to work else I would do a full write up...

In terms of off road....that never really worried me. I do less than 1% of off roading in my D2a so off road capability was never a consideration when I bought the RR. it was all about comfort, quiet, and safety. 8 air bags....you beut..

Cheers
Caine

[DirtyDawg]

two years in and the L322 has been awesome , except the brake pad/rotor swap at the second service thing runs like a dream just clicked the 80k mark so for a diesel she is still new......;)

[cairnsrover]

I bought a diesel 05 model in May with 42K's

I drove up in two days from Sydney to Cairns. That is a trip I have done many times in many different vehicles incl trucks landcruisers etc etc

I have to say that the run in the RR was the best of any vehicle for a long trip. The electic seats means that you can fiddle as you drive and its amazing how a small adjustment can save the aches from forming.

Been in the dirt with it - wet rainforest tracks and its quite amazing what a ride.

Any vehicle can cost a fortune to fix these days unless you do the repairs.

I am wrapt in it and smile when looking at carpoint and $250K Autobiographies !!

[drivesafe]

I can’t hold back any longer.

My 07 Turbo V8 diesel L322 Range Rover Vogue Lux has to be the greatest waste of space I have ever come across.

When i bought it I thought I was being smart in that I kept the 18” mags off my 03 RR ( now on Steizy’s RR ) so I could swap the anal 20” mags on the 07 RR.

But no, the retards at Land Rover saw fit to wreck the RR further by installing Brembo racing brakes. So the the only wheels that fit are the 20” mags and low profile tyres.

What half-wit fits low profile tyres to a 3 tonne 4x4?

The wheels are only part of the problem.

My 03 L322 RR was without question the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned, and I have owned some bombs, BUT I wish I still had it.

The 07 RR with the exception of the Sound Sat Nav system, is without doubt the most reliable vehicle I have owned but then again, I now rarely drive the puss box.

When I drove back from Melbourne after buying the 07 RR, the seats didn’t seem to be a comfortable as the 03’s seats were. After a short time back home, I realised the half-wits at Land Rover had decided to add two cup holders to the centre console.

Great idea, except the F”wits had to widen the console to fit the cup holders and in doing so, had to fit narrower front seats than those that are in the 03 RR. What a brilliant idea!

So now the RR is actually smaller inside than the older one, and it’s noticeable when driving the puss box.

Now to the sound-Sat Nav system, or should I correctly say, lack of a sound sat nav system, because if the puss box didn’t have the crap it’s fitted with, you would never know it.

I have never come across a cheaper, nastier piece of junk like the crap they have in the new RR.

I can’t play more than the first 40 track on any MP3 CDs even when the CD has up to 150 track, and the CDs work in everything else I try them in, including my wife’s D4.

Not long after buy the heap, I was driving along and the sound system kept getting louder and louder without anything being touched. I gave up and took it in the have it fixed.

Job done only now parts of the sat nav don’t work and they can’t fix that.

I was going to use the TV to entertain myself while the wife shopped, no way, every time I turned the TV on, the puss box went look for UK stations and it took about 10 to 15 minutes to get it back on to Australian station.

It went back in for another fix.

Now tell me how many vehicle come standard with an iPod connection, well RRs don’t. Talk about backwards.

Oh and the seat are air-conditioned, this has been done to add some additional comfort for the owner. RIGHT, except they have filters on them that are SUPPOSED to be charged every second service, at $120 a go. Mine still have the original filters fitted and I’ll ripe the FN seats out before I pay the ridiculous price.

There are other problems with the sound-Sat Nav system, too many to waste your time with but this heap of crap is a total waste of money.

It’s nothing more than a grossly over priced, over rated, under performing pimp mobile and my 03 RR was 10 x the vehicle this thing is.

I use to drive up to 6,000 kms a month in my old 03 RR, I drive less that 600 kms a month in this puss box and can see that getting even lower especially as it is now parked in the back yard with a flat tyre. Nothing is wrong with the tyre but when I went to get the “tyre” fixed, it turns out that the tyre is fine but the mag is cracked, so until I get all the mags check, the s”box is not fit to drive.

This is what happens when retards put low profile tyres on a 3 tonne 4x4.