I'm currently looking at 2012/2013 L320 Sport Autobiography's to run along side my 5.0 L322.

I don't want to spend a lot on one as it'll likely snap it's crankshaft at some point so I'm looking for one that needs some fettling. 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

Just following up on this and specifically the speedo issue. The speedo/odometer unit has clearly either been changed, or zeroed and I'll have an answer soon on why. The question I need to know an answer for then, is can it be put back to the correct mileage for the car ? I understand the vehicle mileage is stored in a number of areas on JLR vehicles and identifying it with the GAP IID or similar should show the correct mileage.

I'm not too worried about a huge jump in mileage between MoTs as it's easily explained that the mileage has been but back to the correct one for the car. It's not illegal to zero an odometer, but it is to wind it back a few 000 miles. I thinking something like a transfer case module or similar may have been swapped out for a used unit, as I know from my RRS days that these are car specific and this could have potentially affected the mileage.

Update - deposit paid and collecting next week with a fresh MoT. Anything that needs doing for the MoT will be done and it will come with 3 months’ warranty.

I’ve had quite a few conversations with the seller (a trader) who to be fair has been really good. He’s forwarded me invoices from within the last 12 months for oil cooler change, plenum hoses, with genuine brand new JLR parts, as well as top and bottom thermostat mounts and new hoses, C1 oil and cooling system flush and new coolant as well (£1,400). It has 4 Pirelli Scorpion Verde’s with approx 6-7mm tread, a recent invoice for £1,500 for suspension arms, ball joints etc and lots of other history to follow. The fact that genuine JLR parts have been used and very recently, gives me a lot of comfort that it’s been looked after.

On the rear sill rust he’s assured me it’s superficial and will sign paperwork to that effect. His mechanic has taken the sill cover off and if it turns out to be major surgery there will be monies coming back to me.

The strange MoT history doesn’t concern me too much - my Indy will set it to what the true mileage is (136,000). It’s obviously been zeroed for some reason, possibly a change of TFT.

Cost wise I’ve effectively swapped my old 2010 RRS HSE 3.6 TDV8, which I sold at the weekend, for a 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE.

I do of course appreciate there will be bills to come and if it costs me £2k in the first year or so in maintenance I’m still quids in and with the knowledge that things that could crop up have been recently done.

First job will be a trip to my Indy for a full service, with all oils, filters and brake fluid and a good old check over.

I shall report back !

Good you worked through all the potential barriers, hope it turns out to be a winner for you.

Jon

Congratulations, looks like a nice car, and with that number plate maybe even an ex factory managers car. Look forward to the adventures to come.

Thanks Jon & Dr F - I'm a very active forum poster (well I was on RRS anyway !), so looking forward to updating all my trials and tribulations. I'm also looking forward to getting my hands dirty changing out all the pulleys, idler tensioner, belts etc. So much so that I couldn't sleep this morning and ended up watching Woody's YouTube vid on the subject at 3am.

Typically, on the school run this morning the aux belt went on my wife's ML which I was driving, so managed to get it into the local garage for repair. I left them with the comment that some things I can't be bothered getting my hands dirty on.

Incidentally, how does the reg plate potentially denote it as a JLR manager's car ?

Cheers

Jonny

Edited on the latter point - Google is my friend https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/post490190.html

If i remember correctly, most factory cars from that year were either OY or OV or VX from memory

Lots of smiles ahead

I've already got the idlers and pulleys lined up for replacement. Might do the water pump whilst I'm in there and will scour the history for anything air con compressor or alternator related, otherwise they'll be getting sorted as well.

On a positive note, the odometer readings have been confirmed as a change of TFT cluster. Apparently there's some paperwork to confirm. It's also passed the MoT with advisories for CV gaiter (will be sorted by seller), high level brake light not working (cheap and simple fix), but also an oil leak. The oil cooler was done this time last year, so could either be residual oil, or I believe there's a couple of O rings that always go on a pipe at the back of the engine.

Any other potential sources of oil leaks on a 4.4 TDV8 ?

Collected at lunchtime after a 7hr train ride and now back home after a 5hr trip. It ran faultlessly and is a really nice drive. Much more oomph than my old 3.6 TDV8 RRS and I was super impressed with it.

A few minor things to sort as is always the way with cars of this age, but nothing I can’t handle and really looking forward to getting it in tip top shape.

It does need a new battery and I’ve read countless threads on batteries in the last hr or so. Decided to go with an AGM. Can anyone please just give me a definitive “buy this battery” as my head is swimming after reading all the various posts.

Make and model would be really appreciated !

Many thanks

Ordered this one last May…
EK950 Exide Start-Stop AGM Car Battery 95Ah 017 1 £145.51
P&P £9.49
TOTAL £155.00

All good so far

Perfect - really appreciated !

Cheers

Jonny

Popped in to see the boys at Bell Automotive who have been doing the diffs, transfer box and gearbox oils, incl sump and filter. They’re also investigating the oil leak which they suspect is the front crankshaft seal. They were also doing a full check over on everything.

Their opinion was that it’s a minter for 140,000 or so miles and definitely worth keeping on top of. That was very good news as it was the first time it had been on a ramp since I got it.

The oil leak might actually turn out to be good news, as it’s a front of car off jobby and I’ll hopefully be able to claim under the 3 month warranty I got with the car. Whilst the front is off I can get them to replace all the pulleys and idler tensioner, which I was going to do myself.

Although I was quite looking forward to doing it myself, knowing it’s not going to cause me any headaches is a bit of a relief.

Question is, do I do some preventative maintenance and replace the alternator and air con pump. Then again, I could do the condenser and rad. And the engine, seats, bodywork….

Someone stop me please !