MY21.5 D350 - anything special?

[Graeme]

I'm about to sign for a MY21.5 D350. Is there anything special for one of these that is out of warranty or is it just another vehicle that can be user-serviced? I bought my MY12 TDV8 L322 just out of warranty and have only been to a dealer once which was for some ecu updates, although I did request that the secondary turbo twin drain update be done as part of the deal.

[Graeme]

Perhaps it's time for an update.

It's the last of the L405 model but apparently no different to the MY18 facelift except for the LR 3L Ingenium straight 6 engine having replaced the Ford 4.4L SDV8 for the 2nd half of the MY21 range. It has too many overly helpful features such as door soft close which immediately relatches if the handle isn't held in the open position until the door is pushed awy from the catch, can't totally turn off the heater without having the a/c on along with recirculation and the usual LR buggy software, but I'm slowly learning to live with what I can't fix. At least I've been able to keep stop-start switched-off.

As it has the same brake package as the D300 D5 which was introduced at about the same time and D5 19" rims fit all D5 brake packages, the D5 19" rims fit over the big brakes which has allowed me to fit my current favourite GG AT3 in 255/60R19 which I found suited my needs well on my previous MY12 4.4L TDV8 L322 and still do on this vehicle. I didn't even get to see the vehicle with its original 21" Turbines as the D5 rims were fitted for me by the dealer. 21" aren't suitable for 100 kph on gravel and rocky mountain goat tracks, let alone for comfortable country road travel.

It's only an SE rather than my previous L322 AB but has most of the L322's features. Unfortunately the electrically-adjustable rear seats don't fold forwards by any useful amount, so the cargo area can't be extended but at least the seats can be set vertical to get full use of the floor.

The ride is quite wafty on the comfort setting but far too harsh for my liking on the dynamic setting, wheres the L322's single mode was in between. Auto mode seems to be the same as dynamic the few occasions that I tried it.

The final drive gearing is lower than the L322, which I appreciate as I always found the L322 gearing too high in hilly areas and when towing the van. I've only towed the van once with the L405 but I wasn't aware that the speedo was excessively optimistic so travelled more slowly than usually and therefore I don't have a proper appreciation of how this vehicle tows the van. The speedo is now almost perfect, travelling at 99 kph for an indicated 100 kph.

Indicated average fuel consumption is very good, usually within 0.1 L/100 and usually around 9L/100 km for local driving or just over 8L/100km for longer drives.

Light throttle response after momentary closed throttle isn't particularly good and there isn't currently a later PCM s/w version. I had hoped that as this engine is used in several other current models that LR would have had this sorted. Cleaning the MAP sensor only made a slight improvement.

Is it special? Not particularly so far, just as expected for a vehicle produced nearly 10 years later than the previous Range Rover.

[RANDLOVER]

You could try a throttle controller like "Ultimate9" to improve the throttle response...Throttle Controllers – Australia’s Highest Selling Throttle Controller

[Graeme]

The throttle issue is fluffyness. I could easily use more throttle but then it jumps to life much more than I want. My L322 had much the same issue prior to EGR being mapped-out so possibly also EGR related.

[peter g]

Hi Graeme, Thanks for the update. How do you find the adblue consumption when towing the van ?
A friend has a 2021 Disco (TDV6) and it uses a lot, he has to carry quite a few litres when heading anywhere remote.
Peter

[Graeme]

Unfortunately it's too early to tell as I've only towed the van once for 1100 kms out of the 8K that I've done and no prospects of getting away again for some time yet.

I bought 10L of Ad-Blu 6 months ago when I purchased the car and only a couple of days ago put in about 8L of the 11L that it showed it could take and now shows nearly 11K before needing more. However the engine does very little work with just local driving and the last recorded service was only 11K ago when I assume the tank was topped-up.

I'm on the hunt for a suitable clear 1L plastic bottle to keep in the car.

[chuck]

Unfortunately it's too early to tell as I've only towed the van once for 1100 kms out of the 8K that I've done and no prospects of getting away again for some time yet.

I bought 10L of Ad-Blu 6 months ago when I purchased the car and only a couple of days ago put in about 8L of the 11L that it showed it could take and now shows nearly 11K before needing more. However the engine does very little work with just local driving and the last recorded service was only 11K ago when I assume the tank was topped-up.

I'm on the hunt for a suitable clear 1L plastic bottle to keep in the car.

Grame
From memory Landrover sell a kit which includes such a bottle.

Bought one for my D5 when i had it.

How are you finding the D350 FFRR?

Look to be reasonable value given their cost new & compared to RRS.

What tyres & wheels do you have on it.

Can you get 20" rims for them so as to open up tyre choice.

Cheers

[Graeme]

Thanks Chuck, but I suspect that the LR kit would be rather more expensive than the cost of a bottle if I can't re-purpose one and use 1L from the remains of my $30 10L container.

It's a little more refined than the L322 but otherwise just quite a comfortable vehicle on the open road and as capable on rocky mountain tracks. I haven't had the need to give it much right boot but I'd be surprised if it's much different to the previous 4.4TDV8.

It had 21" rims and I would have fitted 20" L405 rims if the D5 19" didn't fit. My main reason for fitting 19" was that I found 275/55R20 raised the L322's gearing too high for comfortably pulling the van and this has almost identical diff ratios. However I wasn't aware that either lower transfer case or gearbox ratios resulted in a lower final drive ratio so 275/55R20 would probably be OK, excepting that this doesn't have the 4.4's torque. I'm very pleased with the top gear ratio with the original 31" tyre diameter but I doubt that just under 32" would be much different.