Sounds like you have been bitten by the range rover bug - good luck with the gearbox fix and hope it's not the full rebuild.

Darren

I definitely have. If I do need a new gearbox then I will order one from RRPhil and get a local specialist to me to fit it as he is too far from me lol. But as long as the engine is a good one, then I am happy to scrimp and save and sell stuff to get the money together for the gearbox. I have never got in a car with expensive faults that need sorting immediately and still smiled when driving it

I was told by the Discovery community that by going from a D3 to a Range Rover L322 that I would feel like I was going backwards in technology. I hate to say this, but they were very wrong. I went from a BASE model D3 that I upgraded to GS spec to a Vogue Range Rover. Feels like an upgrade to me even if the Ranger Rover is 3 years older lol.

And to be quite frank, the fuel bill doesn't bother me yet. And the fact that it doesn't have all the off road settings like the D3's doesn't bother me either.

I wanted a car that would take my 3 dogs, my wheelchair, my tools, and that could tow well. This one does all of that apart from towing as it doesn't have a towbar yet.

If I am honest, the colour of the interior wasn't to my taste but it has already grown on me.

But I am annoyed that I am not able to use it and I am having to go between a Mondeo, an Avensis and a D2. Although sweet justice said that after my step dad BOASTED about how wonderful his D2 was mechanically and that there was nothing wrong and me getting the Range Rover was a huge mistake, I learnt that his Autobox on his D2 had gone up the swanny

The Avensis belongs to my mother, but may be mine soon in addition to both my Range Rovers but will be to replace the Mondeo if she decides to get a new car. But even my P38 auto HSE which has an MOT but isn't in daily use puts a huge smile on my face, especially as lots of people I know and used to give lifts to refuse to get in it because of how it looks lmao.

I am planning quite a few little mods now though. Some have already been bought.

Exterior:
Headlight and indicator inserts are going to be painted gloss black.
Tail Lights replaced with the newer rear lights to get rid of the orange indicators.
Wing Indicators being replaced with clear units.
Wing vents I am going to replace with the black and chrome hawk style units.
Bonnet vent I am thinking about painting gloss black.
Front grill is being painted gloss black.
Headlight wiper arms possibly being painted black but not sure yet.
Stainless steel exhaust system from the cat back.
Towbar.
Chrome handle covers.
Reverse camera.
Paint rear trim above the reg plate.
White LED/SMD bulbs wherever they will fit

Interior:
2005 onwards Stereo unit.
Digital TV converter.
White LED Bulbs everywhere they will fit.

Engine:
Remap.
Silicone breather hoses.
Performance HT Leads if these Range Rovers still have leads on them.

The faults I know of:
Passenger mirror won't electrically fold in and stay in.
Gearbox Shift Solenoid B.
Gearbox goes into limp mode.
Cracked drivers rear light.
Cracked passenger indicator unit.
Faulty display on stereo.
Pressure pad for unlock function on the remote is broken.
Drivers seat needs re-dying.
Chain tensioner worn out.
Both rocker gaskets have major leaks.
Breather pipes broken.
Air hose from air filter box to engine is broken.
Exhaust has a minor blow.
1 faulty headlight bulb.
Front and rear wiper blades are dead. (Have now replaced front blades)
Headlight wiper blades green with mold.
Some exterior trims are tatty.
Passenger mirror has a scrape on it.
Parking sensors don't seem to work properly.
Handbrake Non existent.

Plenty for me to be getting on with.

Chain tensioner, breather pipes and oil leaks from rocker gaskets being dealt with at the garage already. Gearbox being looked at properly on Wednesday in the afternoon if I get the car back in time.

Can't wait to start slowly making it mine.

Last edited by green-oval-nut on 13th Sep 2016 4:54pm. Edited 1 time in total

Looking forward to the next instalment! 2006MY 4.2 SC
BMW R1250 GSA Rallye TE
Triumph Tiger 1050 (sold)
1979 Pontiac Trans Am (sold)

green-oval-nut wrote:

1 faulty headlight bulb.

green-oval-nut wrote:

2005 onwards Stereo unit.

That will be a massive amount of work, the 2005 system is totally different to yours, it is fiberoptic controlled, yours is canbus controlled...

Go Android, better than either systems....  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

PaulTyrer wrote:

green-oval-nut wrote:

1 faulty headlight bulb.

If you turn the headlamp switch on and off a few times after you get the 'bong' does the light come on? Ours does this on the nearside headlamp. I thought at first it was the igniter unit so have a spare off an old headlamp unit, but our garage guy who services it reckons it is a loose connection somewhere on the headlamp unit which I havent checked yet.
For your 'limp home mode' issue I would definately get the radiator checked out.

Haylands wrote:

green-oval-nut wrote:

2005 onwards Stereo unit.

That will be a massive amount of work, the 2005 system is totally different to yours, it is fiberoptic controlled, yours is canbus controlled...

Go Android, better than either systems....

Well, the your car will be ready Friday that changed to it will be ready Monday to it will be ready Tuesday has now changed to it will definitely be ready on Wednesday and I was told that as my chain tensioner hadn't arrived yet that they had taken on other work between my car so my car was delayed anyway. Not happy to be honest at this stage as my car WAS due in to the gearbox specialist Wednesday and luckily I have been able to delay it until Thursday. I know it can't be helped but can't help but feel a bit miffed as the timing of the repairs has all gone to hell lol.

Fingers crossed that by the end of Friday my Range Rover will be home fully working.

So that means I stuck using the Mondeo for the rest of the week And sadly after Sunday my otherhalf is back at work and that means no more access to the Mondeo in the daytime during the week. So will be screwed as I can't put the P38 on the road yet because of a coolant leak. The green oval is mean no matter what model it's on Good thing I love my car. But I do believe that it doesn't matter what car I have, it would be the same different brand!

Was really hoping to at least take my otherhalf somewhere fancy this week in the Range Rover as it was our 10th wedding anniversary on Monday. Instead I get to turn up to somewhere fancy in a scruffy Mondeo

Stick with what you have then and ask Mark, mjdronfield what to do, he upgraded the early system and it was good...  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

I am to be quite frank outright fuming at the last owner and his outrageous claims and lies! And more so at the fact that my Range Rover was left in a dangerous state which to me was not obvious.

Luckily my Range Rover went into a great garage local to me, and the owner of RPM in Iden spent a lot of time on my car.
He found missing bolts, bodge repairs, lots of missing and undone jubilee clips on many pipes, and pointless bodge jobs.

When he took the rocker covers off he found the engine was full of crap. The breather pipes were worse than first thought, they weren't even pipes any more, just bits of virtually flat rubber that were just about attached either end.

I though the Range Rover was driving brilliantly. But now it drives a lot better and the MPG has improved a lot.

So today it had silicone breather pipes fitted, new rocker gaskets, front timing chain tensioner which has quietened the chain down a lot.

But what was found is that the chain has stretched and advised it will need doing within about a year, but needless to say, tomorrow my phone will used a lot while I get quotes to have the chain done.

The air intake hose is bodged and needs to be replaced.

The engine needs a mega flush and an oil change asap.

Air compressor for the suspension sometimes works perfectly and other times can be slow.

Front section of the exhaust is blowing slightly.



I have agreed to the mega oil flush as soon as possible but before I book an appointment I want to see what happens Thursday with what the gearbox specialist says. This is only so I know how long he will want the car for, then I can confirm a new appointment with RPM.

The owner of RPM has really gone above and beyond with advice and the work he has done to my car. He made me feel that he really cared about my car and didn't just see me and the car as another job to do.

I treated the Range Rover to a jet wash after I left the garage and wow, what a difference it has made to the colour.

Next week if the weather is good, I will give it a deep polish.

There was some great news though, the Range Rover has got a brand new radiator and top coolant hose and the coolant system is in top condition. So 1 less thing to worry about.

But I have fallen hard for my Range Rover, even though it keeps screaming, I am robbing you blind, and it might just force me to lose weight as it drinks more than I eat I still love this car. Getting in it and driving it is just amazing.

Car looks great.

Sounds like you have a ongoing project on your hands.

Cheers, Jerry THIS WRECKAGE

green-oval-nut wrote:

I was told by the Discovery community that by going from a D3 to a Range Rover L322 that I would feel like I was going backwards in technology. I hate to say this, but they were very wrong.

green-oval-nut wrote:

2005 onwards Stereo unit.

I got myself muddled up about the 2005 onwards stereo upgrade. It is the BMW unit upgrade that I am lead to believe is a plug and play direct replacement with a firmware update needed.

The Range Rover is now at the gearbox specialist in Hastings. And tomorrow morning I find out weather my gearbox is going to be condemned or not.

After I dropped the Range Rover off, I paid a visit to a Land Rover dealer in Ashford. A garage who will never touch any of my cars again but the parts department is full of very friendly and helpful staff. I actually went as I got fed up of no radio working in my P38 and I now have the radio code. And asked for some advice while I was there. Apparently having very thin old oil can cause a gearbox to overheat and give off false codes for shift solenoids. Is this true?

I find out in the morning what the verdict is. For now, I will just have to pine for my car and bounce off the walls waiting for the answer lol

I miss read some dates on the invoices that I have in the history of my Range Rover. I thought the last service was done in January 2016. NOPE January 2015 No wonder there was crap built up in the rockers. Going to have to have a word with my mechanic and get what was planned as an engine flush and oil change, changed to a full service.

No wonder he thought that my service book must have been stamped up without seeing it Me and my horrendous memory. Joys of being me with CAPD. If the Range Rover didn't have Full service history already I would have serviced it myself, but going to keep up the history on it.

A few owners that I have found on the invoices are going to get a surprise letter from me next week too lol, I do this with every car I own, any names and addresses I can find no matter how long ago, always get a letter from me and for security I always give my parents address as the return address in case any of them happen to still have a key

I am feeling very stressed though right now, it's the not knowing about the outcome of the gearbox. I know, I am the most impatient when it comes to my cars as I am very passionate about my pride and joys.

Thanks for sharing, looking forward to the next instalment.  2006MY 4.2 SC
BMW R1250 GSA Rallye TE
Triumph Tiger 1050 (sold)
1979 Pontiac Trans Am (sold)