Hi guys,

I am looking at purchasing a 5.0L SC Autobiography (2011) and have requested the dealer history. The dealer has provided the history but the codes used are a little hard to understand.

However, from what I can see, the car seems to have had issues when new with dead batteries, the telephone, it was reported the radio was not working, possible front seat issues, issues with internal and external lighting, the rear view camera, the remote, instrument cluster (fuel gauge) and the cigarette lighter.

Given the complexity of the car and the fact it is now 4 yrs old and done 100,000km, are these normal issues for this late version of the L322 or am I buying a car that is plagued.

I have a 2004 TD6 and have had it for 18 months and had no issues at all with it. I don't know if these issues with the 2011 model are normal small things or if I should look elsewhere (not many other offerings in Australia - just TDV8s!).

Any one who has one of these and can shed some light and perhaps reassure me it would be appreciated!!

Cheers

I recently obtained a full list of warranty repairs that my vehicle had in the first 3 years.
As you say, the codes make little sense (they're simply part numbers) but put them into a Google search and all becomes clear.

Make out a list of your findings and make a decision.

The 2010MY cars did have battery related issues that plagued new owners, I have a new battery in my SC and despite this, if I leave a door open for about 5 minutes, such as when cleaning it out etc, I get the dashboard message saying the battery is low and to start the engine.

Checking the onboard diagnostics it seems to pop this up as soon as the voltage drops below 12V.

It's never run flat or not been able to start though.(YET!)

Maybe the dealer just replaced loads of modules in the hope it would cure this battery issue? I think it ended up being a software issue. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

It is very difficult to say whether you have a plagued car or not based on this info. If it is sold by a dealer, then insist that all the ECUs are updated with the latest software, then go for a test run and let them show you the codes (if any) that have popped up.

Make sure the battery is (near) new as well, just to be sure.

Then make sure you have 3 month warranty as comprehensive as possible. Once you have that DRIVE and see if anything pops up.

Mine seems to be brilliant sofar and has done a lot more than 100 k kilometers. I did 4000 k in one week and it didn't miss a beat (and was brilliant to drive). Luck or just a good one as they do exist .

The SC and NA petrol models seem to be relatively problem free compared to the diesels besides your problems could quite easily be related to connectors, doors left open too long etc. etc. I suggest that you try to find out what exactly went wrong and how they fixed it and whether it was gone till now for example.

Statistically new cars have more problems in their first year due to manufacturing issues and then it goes down until year 4 or 5 and after 10 years the amount of problems goes up quite a lot (age obviously), if I remember correctly from a study by the ADAC (German AA).

Regular and proper preventive maintenance can keep most cars going well for decades, if combined with sensible use of course .

The only thing I don't know is how well they hold up in the notorious Aussie red dust but that is easy to check (pull some of the connectors underneath the bonnet and open the bid electronics box underneath there to see if there is any dust ingress), the dust is apparently quite conductive so once it gets into a connector it can cause lots of issues. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

careyba wrote:

.......
However, from what I can see, the car seems to have had issues when new with dead batteries, the telephone, it was reported the radio was not working, possible front seat issues, issues with internal and external lighting, the rear view camera, the remote, instrument cluster (fuel gauge) and the cigarette lighter.
......

Or in short terms....

Everything!!!

You can look at it two ways. Either all has been fixed by now, lasting now for many many many miles, or, it's a bad example and you'll be plagued.

Of course, battery issues are notorious for gerenrating spurious ECU warnings, so it may well all be down to the battery? Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

I had a go at "Googling" the codes but the local dealer codes must differ as there was no information at all on the Net.

I guess I will just have to call them to find out. I suspect that the issues were teething issues as a lot were in the first year. However, the words "air conditioning" and "engine" (with no additional description) pop up in a couple of entries which I would like to know about.

And the red dust in Australia is mostly contained to the desert areas (which granted, is most of the country!)

My 11MY was problematic within it's first couple of years with quite a few problems. However, since all were resolved under warranty, touch wood the last couple of years have been OK!

I called the dealer and obtained details of the service items. The main ones were

1) Replaced the entire aircon system - failed compressor destroyed the condensor and evaporator
2) Fixed another aircon leak - cracked fitting
3) Headlight fault due to water from the air con
4) Seat fans failed
5) Gear selector fault ($800)
6) Parking sensor module ($800)
7) Various sensor faults and recalibrations

This is on top of the other issues. Quite a list for a 5 year old car. Not sure the fun of driving the car will overshadow the lingering feeling that it may jump up and bite you!

The independent inspection found low voltage alarms and worn front control arms as the only major issues.

wow

RRUK wrote:

The 2010MY cars did have battery related issues that plagued new owners, I have a new battery in my SC and despite this, if I leave a door open for about 5 minutes, such as when cleaning it out etc, I get the dashboard message saying the battery is low and to start the engine.

Checking the onboard diagnostics it seems to pop this up as soon as the voltage drops below 12V.

It's never run flat or not been able to start though.(YET!)

Maybe the dealer just replaced loads of modules in the hope it would cure this battery issue? I think it ended up being a software issue.

Adam, my 4.4 is simply phenomenal on battery life! I have recently left her for 4 or 5 days constantly opening the doors in the workshop (doing some interior mods) & she still had no battery issues...Must be at least twice as long (before it goes flat) as my last FF & thats got a new JLR battery (and imho is one of the better ones!)...

My point is not to brag Adam but to say, I thought JLR sorted the battery life issues out on these later cars, what with glass mat batteries etc etc... Maybe worth a proper check up on yours Adam if its that temperamental! Has yours had the battery upgrade & mods from JLR? If so, was it some time ago? AGM batteries have a 3yr warranty by JLR

Gazellio @ Prestige Cars wrote:

wow

I am assuming that this list is a little unusual for this age car.

Not really!

I would say that most of the issues are likely to be warranty issues and may have been resolved for good. The ECU updates are a must IMHO as that should take care of any "age related" or later discovered issues.

Honestly, if the car is "the spec you wanted" I would be going for it.

With the FFRR there is always the risk that it jumps up and bites you but also it could be purring away happily for years.

If you get it, make sure all the relevant maintenance is up to date (clean oil in every single box/unit), run some injector cleaner, new filters all round, new coolant, new brake fluid, full aircon service, brake pads (discs to be checked) plus of course the new control arms.

And then pray pray pray to whatever deity tickles your fancy  MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

To the OP - I'd walk away.

To Craig - I can't be bothered to pay the dealers hundreds of pounds for hours and hours of investigation and then the inevitable "Let's try replacing this module and see if this is the cause".


The last time I logged this with the Dealer they noted on the service sheet "Software issue logged with audio control module, recommend updating ACM touch screen and TV module."

I can only imagine the bill.

I was on a shoot a few weks back, another chap had a 2009 5.0SC and in the time his doors were open from loading his car, his went flat too.

Overall, my cars have run better when they go nowhere near a garage, dealer or mechanic. Once someone starts tinkering, things start to go wrong. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB