After sitting on the fence for 6 months, and reading all forums,when i actually went to buy my ffrr i roughly knew what to look for and what questions to ask. So when i met my lovely td6 Vogue i knew that as the service history showed no signs of any dear box work,and coming up to a 100,000 miles it would only be a matter of time. So after not been able to fault the car in any other way i got a grand knocked off the asking price to go towards a gearbox fund.( Thank you forum).

I drove my pride and joy back from Warwickshire mid December and instantly was in love. I noticed that on starting every morning that when selecting drive, it would not pull away intantly, a delay of 6 - 12 seconds before drive picked up, if i selected first gear using steptronic it would instantly drive. So avidly reading all about changing fluid filters etc,i took her to my indie that i have always used in Maidenhead. £350 later and i had a gear box with clean fluid, new filter (strainer) and a bucket full of dirty gunge. Alas drive was still slow to pick up and i realised that before things got worse it would be prudent to get my box sorted.
A good friend of mine who owns the same model as mine,and has had his from new,told me to go to an auto transmission firm in Reading,and it would be the best 1500 quid i could spend.

I phoned them with my symptoms and a really nice guy said Cheerfully "yeh mate,your box is knackered, an exchange unit is 1590 +vat, torque convertor is 495+vat , fluid is 395+vat and then the small matter of labour 595+vat, bring it in tomorrow and it will take about a week."

Stupidly the term " about a week" put me right off as i could see about a week becoming about a month. So i googled Berks auto transmissions and found a firm a little nearer,i phoned and described the symptoms. He said without stripping the box he couldnt say,but it could be a minor hydaulic fault,it could be a minor mechaniclal fault, but the very worst scenario a recon box would be 1500 +vat and if i bring it in now it will be ready Fri as now is mon lunch time the deal is done. I take my beloved car to this company and find the auto specialist a very nice chap,he tells me he has worked on auto boxes all his life and mine is easy peasy,my solenoids dont frighten him. I kiss my car good bye and tell it i will pick it up fri. sob sob.

I am now one of the happiest men in Berks, as i whistle whilst doing things in the garden,knowing i have done the right thing by my range rover and i am an exceptionally nice range rover dad.

After hearing nothing all week (no news is good news) i ph thurs eve to find out what time i can pick it up. I am told that the news is bad,the gear box is in a bit of a state and he has ordered all the parts but they wont be here till mon and as my box is in good nick appart from being trashed ,he feels it correct to refurb mine and keep it with the car. (he being the ex pert) i reluctantly agree,the car will now be ready tues eve.

Tuesday evening and no phone calls,so wed morning i phone,all day i get just the answer phone. I have now stopped whistling and have started lying to my wife when she asks when am i getting my car back. The phone is eventually answered on thurs and he says sorry mate but i am still waiting for the torque convertor. the box is built and as soon as it comes its just a matter of popping it in. So i brush the large Donkey ears that have grown on the side of my head and through gritted teeth i say phone me when its ready.

After another range rover free weekend,i phone on Monday Yeh mate the torque has just arrived,its easy peasy to pop it in.

I phone on tues to be told that the box is in and drives lovely,however on the test drive there is an issue with one of the reverse bands, he has been on to the manufacturer and they admit liability and will supply new parts but alas he will have to whip out the box again. After trying to understand how such a technician like him could not see that a part was faulty what can i do ,he promises that my car is now priority and he will phone me tomorrow.
He obviously doesnt phone,so fri morning i am now a very unhappy bunny,with extremely long Donkey ears,and quite a long donkey tail. I phone and the tell me the new parts are there and they are on the case. when can i collect it, as soon as we are finished i will phone. "I want my bloody car back today" He says i promise you will have it back in the morning. Grrrrrrr Hee Haw

Sat morn and my ph rings HI just to let you know the box is in and i am doing a small job with it,i will ph you in a couple of hours and the car is yours. It will be 1500 +vat and i want cash.
If you lose the vat then ill give you cash failing that ill pay the normal way.
Sat afternoon i get a call to say there is a slight problem and the car doesnt appear to be communicating with the box. he will work on with an auto electrician to resolve the problem. so i suggest that he doesnt let an auto spark any wher near my car.

Mon morn and i decide enough is enough and i will go and collect my car and trailor it away.Just as i start my p38 the ph rings and they try to tell me that afault on the cam bus has overpowered an ecu which in tirn has blown 4 solenoids in the box Hee Haw I had a game of golf that was to late to cancel so left him to it.

Yeterday morn i donned my gangster shades and leather trench coat and went to the garage, picture the scene, an empty garage axcept for my range rover with bits of gear box all over the benches.I am now going into nasty mode and am about to get very cross when he says "dont worry come with me" he takes me out to his car and there in the boot is a brand new gear box. He says hes so sorry and pls forgive them.its been a nightmare but all will br resolved,its easy peasy to stick the new box in and all will be fine. It will be ready tomorrow (which is now today) i dont want to sound like a sceptic but it is now 13.40 and as yet the phone hasnt rung. Hee Haw

So now as i enjoy my bucket of carrots,i am wondering if he is expecting a tip. I also think that my P38 will be sleeping alone again tonight. Can i reccomend a good auto man in Berks you bet i can . Hee Haw.

how you can remain so calm and humorous is amazing.. ....i feel for you and hope you DO get your donkey cart back today.... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Thanks for that Scarey, the humour is masking napalm attack that i am secretly planning.And after all of this i am still pretending to the wife that this is all perfectly normal.

I really feel for you. I don't know hiw you;re staying so calm.

I hate having my car away from me for more than a day, how you're not climbing the walls right now I don't know!

Fingers crossed they will sort it for you today. I hope you've not paid anything up front? 

These are the horror storys I hate! I agree with others, how you have stayed calm is beyond me! I have already looked around locally for a trusted specialist in my area (Portsmouth\Southampton) in case the worse ever happens. Problem is (as I have found in the past) some garages seem great, until they have your car! Reformed

Sorry to hear your troubles but what a fantastic write up Really made me laugh with your unique comedy. Love the donkey ears bit and the bucket of carrots. Used to have:
2005 FFRR 4.4 Vogue - BRC LPG Conversion & Remapped

Now have:
2008 SSRR 3.6 TDV8 - HSE and plenty of toys

Okay,hot off the press is the latest up date.

I received a phone call 5 minutes ago. "Hello your car is ready,it runs like a dream and all the gears are working".

Great,i am on my way over to collect it. "Sorry it wont be able to be collected until tomorrow,as we have all finished early and have already left". "we have a late start tomorrow so you can pick it up at 11.am and you need to bring £1980 in cash." You quoted me 1500 +vat "no i didnt it was 1650 +vat "


I am now fuming but what can i do, so i will go and make myself a light dinner of Bran and mash,sprinkled with a few carrots and a handfull of hay and wait and see what 11am tomorrow brings.

His final parting shot was that it has a 12 month or 12000 miles warranty. would i take it back foe warranty work ,hell would have to freeze over first.

sort of good news then...i would test drive the range first and insist on a proper receipt...


when you go and collect ,take a carrot and munch it in front of the bloke , then let him ask why?.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Take the garage owner on the test drive too. 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

Thanks Scarey i will do that very thing,and good point Tim i will take him on test drive,although that said if my car has 2 reverse speeds and none foreward i am still bringing it home. I will not be the least surprised if i get a a call in the morning telling me the garage burnt down in the night.

On the plus side,since all this has happened,i have found that i enjoy nothing better then driving to country stores and gazing longingly at the latest Saddles and Bridles. and i wouldnt be without my new found tail,so handy for swishing leaves from the lawn. Hee Haw.

And finally after reading through my posts i see lots of stupid typing errors,alas my reading glasses are in my range rover, and i stupidly thought i would only be without them for four days. Hey Ho.

thought i'd seen you before.....

. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Eeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwways says that


Feeling your pain mate. Hope it drives a dream for what you endured..... My Previous RR's!
2018 P400e Autobiography
2008 TDV8 Vogue
2006 TD6 Vogue
2007 TDV8 Vogue
2007 RRS (I know, it doesn't count!)
2005 4.4 Vogue on LPG
2005 TD6 Vogue
2003 4.4 Vogue
2001 4.6 HSE
2000 2.5 DHSE
1999 4.6 HSE
1997 4.6 HSE on LPG
1995 2.5 DSE
1989 3.9 EFI classic
1988 3.5 EFI classic

And I thought I had a nightmare start with my FFRR. My fingers are crossed for you tomorrow  FFRR TD6 HSE
Adriatic Blue with Parchment leather.

I've been there with gearbox rebuilds on other vehicles, some of these mechanics/garages are a complete joke!

Hope it's all sorted swiftly