Hello all and greetings from the UK

I would like to introduce myself as one of your newest members.

For background, i've been into the Mercedes scene for the last 2.5 years and have been on a steep learning curve around them and DIY'ing all the tasks. Prior to March 2019 I hadn't ever used a socket wrench before. I have been active over on the MBO forums..

While I plan on keeping my Mercedes, I have just recently acquired a 2005 4.2 SC L322 in Silver

What's totally mental about this purchase is that I don't have a massive amount of detail on the car. I haven't actually seen the interior at all and only a couple of not great photos of the exterior at odd angles. I have been told it's "very clean"

I do know the suspension is bust (on bump stops) due to water ingress during a recent car wash episode. The water has been identified as coming in one of the rear doors (side or tailgate).
The remote locking had supposedly stopped working but that has been referenced as fixed.
Also only one key (hate that!)
According to recent MOTs the rear subframe bushes are outstanding and nearside non-obligatory mirror is damaged (god knows how bad and the price of what I guess is a wing mirror)
The rear video screens aren't working.
Rear cameras and parking sensor work 90% of the time.
It also has "superficial" rust in the usual rear quarters. No idea about the tailgate.


Oh and it has 162k miles on the clock.....

After some initial research here is what I am currently thinking

* Suspension is due to compressor getting shorted/wet. Considering that, the suspension system has shut down and won't raise because it knows the compressor is bust. The compressors needs test/refurb/renew and errors cleared and should work (big a** guess!!) - DIY
* I can get a new spare key programmed for £100
* Rust is a cut/weld/fill/spray job - DIY final spray might be pro depending on impact (silver is difficult to match)
* I believe the wires to rear screen were incorrectly routed under seats around 2005ish. I believe those wires are probably sliced and can patched up.
* No idea on rear camera + sensors
* Rear subframe bushes are a brutal job but i'll still DIY them.

I haven't actually received the car yet too... Surprised

I have referred to DIY as I am kind of into that. I have a decent tool setup and have done various jobs on my MB. I am also restoring a Renault Clio 172 Cup track car which has thought me a load and given me plenty of confidence. You can find that build here if curious. https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/thread...ar.111627/ (07) 2007 3.6 TDV8 L322 - 135k miles.
(05) 2006 MY Supercharged L322 - Zambezi Silver on Jet Black - 162k miles.

** Smiles per gallon - never forget **

Last edited by conor on 7th Jan 2024 1:48am. Edited 3 times in total

Ok, lads & lassies, boys & girls, ladies & gents!!

After two months, the motor has arrived!!

Plenty of work to do and a few positive surprises..

The good:
(surprise) More than half a tank of fuel [​IMG]
(surprise) Venture cam exists
(surprise) Rear screens work (had to turn on), after being told they didn't
(surprise) Car seems to have rose up on it's own after the engine running a while. Can't operate the suspension height though as it thinks a door is open.. I guess that is because everything is unplugged on passenger door.
The interior isn't in awful nick. While currently rough and dirty.. I think it has the potential to come up nice.. The piano black trim seems in good order and should clean up nicely. The leather is good all around. For 162k miles. The driver seat bolster shows a faint bit of wear. But no tears or broken stitching..
Tyres seem in decent order. Plenty thread on back and a reasonable amount up front. Not the best brand IIRC.
No lip on rear brakes - a little up front, but still meat in them.
Apart from the body work, it's not in bad nick to be honest. No dents / dings scratches etc. That I could see. Will need to take a closer look.
From initial inspection - here's what needs doing:
Rust, obviously [​IMG]
Check engine light....... Waiting on IID to arrive.
Add the door card back in and get the electrics working and go to town on the suspension.. when the door is back working it may highlight further issues.. because the reason for the firesale from previous owner was a suspension fault. We shall see.
On the suspension point - car has sat a lot - need to open the spare wheel well and see if there is a swimming pool or what it's like in there.
No brakes! Need to repair the lines, warning in dash to check fluid - I believe it's leaking somewhere.
Brake discs are rust after sitting for 12 months. Probably remove and clean with citric acid.
Mirrors - OS missing glass - NS won't open/close electronically! That could be expensive!!
Cosmetically, centre console trim needs spraying. The broken button for hill descent needs fixing. Also key is in a sorry state so will see what can be done. One key only, too..
I think first of all it's brakes and suspension so I can drive it.

That's 3 of us on here that have bought SC's for around £2k and seem to have gotten good cars out of them!

When they're running properly and sorted out they're fantastic cars

Hopefully your IID tool turns up quickly!

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

I wish o was that brave.

Looking forward to the updates.

dhallworth wrote:

That's 3 of us on here that have bought SC's for around £2k and seem to have gotten good cars out of them!

When they're running properly and sorted out they're fantastic cars

Hopefully your IID tool turns up quickly!

David.

Amazing.. any project threads for those?

A friend has the IID tool, but no longer an RR owner. I just need to collect from him at the weekend and then just transfer the ownership.

Pics are here by the way.

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Here's my project thread here:

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic57991.html

I really wish mine was silver rather then black!

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

Thanks David.

I went snooping and found it

And the third owner would be me.

Looks like a good deal their mate. Considering the age of these vehicles it's hard not too expect to be able too do any work but long as your handy with a few tools, they are pretty easy to work on and manage.

For me, I just find fuel is the biggest killer.

Before you start on any jobs mate, get it into a decent indy and cough up a few quid and get them too go over as much as they can and give you a report so you'll know what's needed if anything

Good luck with it mate. I'll keep an eye on this thread.

Here's mine below


https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic59959.html

I must admit, given the way the price of fuel is rising at the moment, I do feel kinda smug filling mine with LPG at 52ppl.

Normally I'd not buy an SC on LPG and certainly wouldn't convert one myself but this one was too cheap not to buy and came with it so I may as well use it

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

I always say no point buying a petrol range rover if your a tree hugging eco protester and care about how many mpg you get. I know fuel is on its way up and whilst that hurts the pocket, it's easy to forget when you hear the charger whinging away saying that

Thanks for the responses guys..

I'm not terribly worried about the fuel aspect of the vehicle. I am primarily (in normal times) based in London and do few miles. It is planned that this Range Rover will reside back in Ireland and I will use it sparingly, only when I return home to visit family. I'd say 1-2k miles max per year.

@Bean19844 Hi there! Thanks for posting your project - i'll be sure to keep track of it.

Quick update:

* I'm not sure if I had previously said. But the running boards at least on the passenger side are completely, completely rotten. I don't plan on forking out for a new set but I will investigate to see if I can save them. There is a guy on Facebook with a page called "My Range Rover Project" and he rebuilt his rotten ones. I would be keen to see if something can be done like that.

I would be happy enough to discard them and replace the slotted mudflap, but I do like the look of the boards and would like if the remained.. but afterall, this is a bangernomics type project and I aint sinking loads of cash for these type things. If I get into spending money bringing it back to this level of refinement it will never stop lol. I think I can get it to a nice level without all the expense.... we shall see heh!!

On that note.. you might see that the headlight on the passenger side is a lot more faded than the drivers side. I saw a picture before that indicated it was parked up facing a wall that that left the passenger side exposed to the elements.. and also that car only did 100 miles between October 2020 and October 2021. The running board on that side is rotten too. So I guess that explains it.

I might previously have said that I thought it had been facelifted to 2010 with aftermarket parts. After some research and a Facebook conversation, I believe it's all factory and based on 2006 Supercharged spec. The only thing now is those 20" wheels from a 2009ish Range Rover Sport. I must say, i'm not a fan and they feel ever so slightly pimped up for me. I would rather go back to a traditional Range Rover look...

I've not started work on this yet, but here is a list of the jobs that I plan on doing over time..

GET RUNNING ON ROAD
Brakes (Diagnose + Repair + Bleed)
Fix passenger door locking
Re-install door card + airbag + reconnect wires
Troubelshoot suspension
Fix O/S Mirror glass
Secure reg plates
Heater blowing cold air


OTHER JOBS - No particular order really
Scan for error codes + clear
Frozen radio
Parking sensors (Troubleshoot + fix)
Struts - Bonnet and Tailgate (Replace)
Sun roof (Troubleshoot and fix)
Running boards (Remove)
Front mud flaps (Replace with non slotted)
Heated steering wheel (Fix)
Fix exterior rust (Tailgate door + arches + sills) + Paint
Exhaust tips (Clean)
Hitch + tow eye (Spray black)
Interior trim (Spray Foundry silver)
Check side light error in dash
Brake discs (Citric acid + spray silver)
Refurb wheels
Fix N/S Mirror mechanics
Review exterior badging
USB Power socket
Key fob shell renew
Polish Headlights
Clean + polish interior
Reversing camera
Second key

SERVICE
Supercharger
Coolant
Diff
Transmission
Engine
Aux belt

What are the symptoms of your frozen radio? Is it just the LR Logo you're getting on the screen?

All of the electrics reside in the left hand side rear quarter. it's fairly common for the bluetooth module to get wet and when it packs in the whole system goes down as they're linked by the fibre optic network in the car.

As a very crude test you can remove (carefully) the fibres from the clip, get a BIC biro and cut the tube down and then put one fibre in each end to test it. It's not fool proof but can work, the other option you've got is to buy a loopback plug for it and bypass it.

If you want to go back to the standard look, I had 3 Supercharged alloys that I'm selling just now in the For Sale section. You'd need a 4th one but I'm not looking for a lot for them and would probably do a deal for the 3.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

Thats a lot of car for the money, well done

One of these will soon sort that wrecked key/remote out:

https://bit.ly/3GSWT6A

What part of London you based in mate.

Most of that all looks pretty simple stuff tbh but if you need a hand I'm in the east side of London.

You can get the side boards for around £150 for a copy. Before you fit them cover them up in wax oil or something so that will protect it.