Hi team FF,
I am trying to sniff out a Range Rover Vogue and casting my net wide to find one that fits my wants list (2008-12, 3.6 or 4.4, no dark paint, no privacy glass and with a light interior). Like everyone I would like one or few owners, up to date service history with main dealer or specialist, and lots of supporting paperwork as starters.
But realistically I expect to trade off one or some of these along the way - a missed service, three owners or more and a small pile of paperwork.
But what if a nice looking car in your desired colour and spec turns up without ANY service history, in fact no service book or MOTs.
Some of this can be recovered via the DVLA, but NO evidence of any service work or the supplying dealership at all?
I invite your comments and advice.
Ron

Clearly a roll of the dice, but I'd look for other indicators too.

I traded my last one in - they didn't ask for any paperwork - I left it all in the car, but they weren't that bothered. I was kicking myself on the way home for even having left the spare wheel, they were so disinterested.

My usual test is 4 matching premium tyres. It generally shows corners haven't been cut. Whereas 4 random cheap brands implies maintained on a shoestring.

MOT history can be found online - any gaps in dates imply sloppy maintenance. Any advisories rolled from prior years kind of the same IMHO.

Then just price in the risk.....

Agree about the tyres, although dealers have a habit of replacing quality but worn tyres with new Chinese ditch finders.

If the condition of the car is OK & there's no worrying signs of serious neglect, it may only be a sign of carelessness - so it's all about the risks you're willing to take vs the price paid & if you've got enough "reserve" for anything that could go wrong. Paul,
2001 Discovery 2 TD5, 211,000 miles & climbing
2006 FFRR TDV8 Vogue 151,000 miles & now sold
Member of Midland (Land) Rover Owners Club, www.mroc.co.uk

As already mentioned, tyres are a very good indication.

General visual condition too.

Check the vehicle over/get it checked & if it seems like a good vehicle then go for it, but factor in immediate oil/filter changes & look at changing other fluids.

Factor in some contingency funds & you may get a very good vehicle for a good price.

If you get a gut feeling that it's not right when viewing just walk away.

However, you don need to consider the fact that when you come to sell, some people will simply not want to know. 2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6

LT wrote:

Agree about the tyres, although dealers have a habit of replacing quality but worn tyres with new Chinese ditch finders.

I always look at what tyres are fitted, if it's got 4 matching premium tyres (Conti's, Goodyear, Pirelli, etc) that's a very good sign. My own rule of buying is "if it's got 4 matching Michelin's then buy it"!

But as you say, 2nd hand dealers often throw £50 a corner stuff on, which definately puts me off a car. Although the car could have had 4 well-worn premium tyres before said ditch finders were fitted!

Jon 1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
2014 Disco 4 HSE
===================
Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)

IMHO the same rule applies to dealers as owners..... if they fit obviously cheap tyres, then they will have likely bodged any other issues that needed resolving - getting the car to a just about good enough standard before selling.

I'm a self confessed tyre snob though

For the age of vehicle you're talking about there may be few which have a comprehensive set of proper service / repair documentation (i.e. documented rather than just a 'stamped service book ').

I'd say its a major plus if you can actually meet the owner (i.e. buy privately) and ask directly about what maintenance and repairs have been done during their ownership. Compare the details provided with typical concerns for fattys such as the usual suspension parts etc etc. Unless it's done hardly any miles they should have been spending £1k + per annum on maintenance / repairs and it would be a cause for concern if they hadn't, or were unable to explain the lack of expenditure.

Look for 'unnecessary but nice things' stuff they bought like new wheels or maybe had the wheels refurbed, paint treatment etc,

As mentioned above, the most obvious thing to suggest the owner hasn't skimped on running costs is 4 matching premium tyres

Sadly because of data protection rules, a lot of dealers are destroying any paperwork which comes with a car like old service invoices and parts receipts as they contain names and addresses of previous owners and so any other associated paperwork like old MOT certificates are just being disposed of with them. Which means at best you are going to get a stamped service history or look up the old history online for the newer JLR vehicles. So if you are looking for a nice bundle of paperwork you are likely only going to find it on a private sale and then only if the seller has owned the car from new. If a second owner buys a car from a dealer and sells privately you are then only going to get the paperwork from that owner as they won't have received anything when they bought it.

Personally I also wouldn't get too hung up on the number of owners - these are/were expensive luxury vehicles from new - by the very nature they have often gone through several owners (often corporate) when they are approaching 8 - 10 years old. Low owner number vehicles are about but often or not they will have had 2 or more owners by the time they are 5 - lots of dealer demos and JLR corporate vehicles which are on their second owner by the time they are 1 and possibly third owner by the time they are 3. It doesn't mean there is / has been a problem with the vehicle, its just by the nature of them. If you are looking at a 2008-2010 then they are at least 10 years old - its more than likely those cars are likely to be on owner 4 or 5 by now. 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)

Yep, as above.

When I traded my 322 to the dealer, they had no interest in the pile of old invoices and receipts for it.

Happy with the service book and a copy of the current MOT. The rest they gave back to me.

So if anyone out there has recently bought YD12TFJ rest assured it’s been cared for pretty well.

In terms of No service history.... it really depends on the price of the car. If it’s discounted to reflect the lack of history, then this could give a cushion for any Nasty repairs. If it’s coming from a non franchise (which it will be) dealer then they should be able to at least give you a service as part of the deal and it should come with some warranty for peace of mind.

I would think buying private you are less likely to come across a car with absolutely no history at all. And if you are looking at a 12 plate, then unless it’s never seen the inside of a LR dealership pretty much all will have some service history logged on the LR system somewhere. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6

Let's face it buying a RR is a gamble whichever way you look at it, go with your gut 🤔 On my 10th LR product and this one is trying to bankrupt me more than most but I still love it!

Thanks folks,
All very interesting. In the past few weeks I have come across two 3.6 Vogues both 100k+ miles.
One, a pre facelift '59, is in my much desired colour/interior/glass combination from a small independent garage (not specialist LR). The guy admitted it was not good not having any history/paperwork but he had many RRs across his forecourt and this looked honest, it also looked great.

The other, a facelift '60 with a nice colour and interior is a private sale. A previous owner had lost all the paperwork in a house move but the seller had carried out, or seen that it has had all new air suspension and steering and a new MOT. This one had some cosmetic and electrics issues.
Both were priced circa £8k. Interestingly the '59 has a new set of Pirellis fitted by the dealer?

Lots to ponder within your collective wisdom - the stand out message seems to be 'keep looking at the for sale section of this forum!' Though, after many months lurking on this site, it seems we are well in a dry patch for members' RRs coming onto the market!
Thanks again (I love this website)
Ron
PS I am also now lurking on the DVLA MOT history site too!

Our old L322 had history up until our ownership, we had one service locally at a garage and they did a awful job so we decided to maintain it ourself... it had a huge stack of paperwork for LR/OEM parts and had things like the heated/cooled seats Peltier units replaced. I would argue that a enthusiast owned private sale is possibly the best bet! But either way you get a good sense of the car from the current owner IMO. Sold - Bell a 2015 MY16 Loire Blue Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Previously George a 2007 MY07 Java Black VSE 3.6 TDV8
Previously a 04 MY04 Defender 90