Hello,
I have had a Range Rover (2003/139000 miles) inspected today prior to be purchasing it. Whilst 95% of things are O.K. with the vehicle the inspector did pick up a couple of items, I was wondering if anyone out there could advise me of the seriousness/ease of repair that they might require.

The most worrying is the following:
Slight thumping noise noted from the transmission when accelerating from the over run.

The next most serious:
Air-conditioning inoperative.

The not so serious but annoying:
Front cigarette lighter not working
Some sealant around one of the cat converters, but no current leak.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Thank you in anticipation. My Motto: If you are going to have one, have a BIG one!

The Cat converters tend to leak on the seal - its an easy fix to have someone drop the cat and reweld the seal.

Without knowing more about the AC problem, hard to diagnose but would expect £50 to £400 depending on whether it just needs regassed or a new compressor or condenser.

The gearbox though would make me walk away - nothing on the gearboxes is going to be cheap. Again though, would need proper diagnosis - could be anything from slight play in a driveshaft to the torque convertor. Depends how badly you want this particular car - it is a buyers market in the middle of summer for a V8 of this era and mileage. Can I ask what price the car is up at? Current Fleet:-
2018 Discovery 5 3.0 HSE
2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrack
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8
1993 Defender 90 200TDI Pickup

Gone - not forgotten
2016 L405 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE
2012 L322 4.4 Westminster
2004 L322 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE
2000 P38 RR 4.0 HSE (ex Clarkson test car)

Looking at it another way..........That's a very short list of faults for a 11 year old 139k car. Any car, let alone a FF!

AC is usually the condensor which being upfront takes the brunt of the debris. I had a new one fitted and regassed for £256 all in by a mobile on my driveway.

Gearbox? Hmmm - Hard one. At this age and miles there will be all sorts out there, you may find one with a recently reconditioned gearbox but you won't know what standard it's been done to and usually the outlay is reflected in the price......Think of it that the gearbox may go pop next week and cost you £2k, if it doesn't it's a bonus!

 2006 4.2 SC
2019 Renault Zoe Dynamique Nav

The car is up for 7k, it has a full LRSH and according to the inspector is a very well looked after and maintained car. The thump is only just noticeable, but only when accelerated hard, no thump when normal driving.

You know you want it........  2006 4.2 SC
2019 Renault Zoe Dynamique Nav

Looks nice

Use the gearbox issue, and the rest to get money off.... Offer him £6000, tell him the repairs could be £2000 and your splitting the difference....

Get it for near £6500 and I recon it's a good bet.... They always need something changing on them....

If it's had full dealer history you can bet it's on the original gearbox, transfer box and axle oil so I'd get all them changed, get the coolant and brake fluid changed as well just to be safe...

Nice looking car though.... Pete
I now have permission from the boss to use Y.O.L.O. Enjoy life
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

The best colour by far. (not that I'm biased)

At that mileage I'd want it cheap. Air-Con is a relatively easy fix and not too expensive even in worst case scenario. The gearbox is a 2 grand job in any language and if it has the start of an issue then the writing is probably on the wall. You might be lucky and get another 50k out of it. Then again you probably won't.

I would bid him low and end up paying no more than 6 to 6.5k. Or offer him full asking price if the gearbox is replaced with a recon one first.

Still, that's a lot of car for 7k.

Thanks for all the very useful info.

its getting a full service, and aircon repair and new MOT & 6 moths tax for £6250. All I need do now is start saving for a re-con gearbox. The mileage we will do in it (approx. 3000 miles a year) should hopefully give me a little time to save up.

I pick it up next Saturday. My Motto: If you are going to have one, have a BIG one!

That sounds like a good deal.... get ready for the silly grin on your face when you own it....

Enjoy... Pete
I now have permission from the boss to use Y.O.L.O. Enjoy life
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

the above.

I'd take the money because if the current owner replaces the box, you don't know the workmanship and there's an incintive to do it as cheaply as possible. If you like the car, get a professional to check the box, the go for £6.5-7k - £box repair/replace. Once you have a "well taken care of" FFRR with a new tranny, you should be set.

Only 2 more sleeps! My Motto: If you are going to have one, have a BIG one!

May not be the gearbox .... may be the drive shaft. several years before I bought it, mine had a knock when accelerating and the driveshaft was replaced. Now at 165,000 miles and no probs!

By the way - Which Vehicle Inspector / Company did you use ?

I'm looking for a good one for Croydon area now...

Inspectors were DEKRA and very good. £249 for a 4X4 report. My Motto: If you are going to have one, have a BIG one!