Hello all, new face here.

Looking at getting a 2008 TDV8 and one has come up locally to me (Northern Scotland). I was directed to this site and it's clear to see the extent of experience in the membership

So basically what I'm looking for is things to look for when viewing. I understand the importance of a proper maintenance history; what I need are more specific things to look for

I am an experienced engineer/mechanic, just not with RRs.

Be gentle

Welcome, there is a great buyers guide in the wiki, good hunting

Ah great thanks. Couldn't see it for looking!

Should really have specified it's the big ticket items I'm after.

welcome to the forum..

buyers guide in the wiki as suggested and as you're not the first to ask this question, have a read of the threads in this section..

telly-addict wrote:

Should really have specified it's the big ticket items I'm after.

I would suggest looking at a few so you have a good idea of what they're like rather than buying the first one you see. Then if you decide the first one you looked at is good, buy it

In my experience, from start to finish to get what you want takes about 6 months.

Ah. Well I went to look at first one last night and...well...I may have bought it. ahem

2008 TDV8 Vogue 110k, FSH upto 80k then receipts for services but no stamps. It has a couple of 'issues', but I got it for a very good price and I'm happy that the big ticket items are reasonably safe.

Issues:

PDC fault - not worried, I'll get to bottom of it in minutes.
Knocking from front suspension - will need to investigate.
Signs of rust developing on rear arches behind the rear doors - will sort that pretty easily.

Everything else was spot on

Pick it up tomorrow night

Congratulations. Sounds like a small array of issues, enjoy

PS. Front will be drop links

Cheers Rosco, my experience of other cars had also led me to that conclusion

So, I'm just back after picking her up and...well I just love it lol

I don't normally gush over cars, but I love the whole experience. Sure there are a number of small items on the agenda that need addressing, but nothing I'm particularly worried about.

Okay so I've found a problem that I didn't notice on test drive; feels like the diffs are locking when turning corners/on decent steering angles. Will post on the appropriate forum.

They all feel a bit ‘limited slip’ and scrubby when on full lock in car parks etc in my experience

I put it down to permanent four wheel drive and tight steering angle achieved by the front geometry

Really? It's really severe..I'm currently looking at whether I've got a terrain control or centre diff fault...

Also it's not necessarily on full lock, just worse on full lock.

On an L322 no - you may well experience this on a P38 with its viscous centre coupling, but L322's uses a torsen centre diff which doesn't have the problem. It is however an electronically controlled locking diff on 2006 and later petrols and 2007 diesels, prior to that non-locking.

Okay, so I've plugged in my diagnostics and although there were a lot of errors, they were mostly spurious/historic or related to a failing battery (new battery just fitted by last owner).

I did notice that the configuration of the car listed; 'Centre Differential lock-up is fitted'

What is this?[/i]