I think that’s not the rust he was going on about, if you look at the picture of the left hand rear with the door open you can see rust disappearing down behind the sill cover. This is a well known rust trap that no one sees until too late. The only answer would be to get the dealer to remove the sill covers both sides so you can see for your self.

I’ve never met a dealer willing to do that and there have been many bitten by the rust bug hiding underneath those covers. ______________________________
Simon
______________________________

Range Rover Classic 3.5 efi - Gone
Range Rover Classic 3.9 efi - Gone
Range Rover Classic 4.2 LSE - Sadly gone
Land Rover 110 3.5 - Gone
Range Rover P38a 4.0 SE - Pleased it's gone
Range Rover P38a 2.5 DHSE - Just sold
Range Rover L322 4.4 v8 Petrol - Current

I think you'd be very hard pushed to find any L322 without some rust on the rear arches (unless they've been sorted). They aren't protected from the factory along the section within the rear door and are very prone to stone damage. From the photos (and I emphasise it's only from the photos) it doesn't look too bad so hopefully is only surface rust that can be sorted. Obviously you can't see behind the sill finishers, but what's above gives an indication.

At the end of the day it's going to be down to luck, but you can sneakily prise the finisher away from the arch a bit to see if there's anything nasty lurking just underneath, but you can only see a small bit. Drives:
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue - Stornoway Grey
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue SE - Zermatt Silver
1998 BMW E36 M3 GTII

Fox889 wrote:

Being a LR ‘specialist’ he should know it’s not Stornaway grey but Orkney grey…….says he trying very hard to be a smart arse. 🤣 Stornaway was the 3.6 tdv8 colour? Egg on face if I’m wrong.

Here's my (ex) Orkney TD6 next to my Stornaway TDV8. It's only after reading what you wrote that I realised they are actually slightly different colours.

Click image to enlarge

I guess they're both still pretty grey places, especially in winter.

...or the other way round.

I made these one piece rubber covers that completely cover the wheel arch lip when the door is shut so no nasty stones can do any more damage.

Click image to enlarge

UK Marine wrote:

I think that’s not the rust he was going on about, if you look at the picture of the left hand rear with the door open you can see rust disappearing down behind the sill cover. This is a well known rust trap that no one sees until too late. The only answer would be to get the dealer to remove the sill covers both sides so you can see for your self.

I’ve never met a dealer willing to do that and there have been many bitten by the rust bug hiding underneath those covers.

Cheers for all the advise, guys.

I am going to see it on the weekend so will add all of this to my already monstrous list of things to check. I am really hoping she's a good one, though.

A little bit of rust in the arches I can deal with, any further and we may have to have a rethink.

He has sent me a video of him going around the car and to be fair to him, he was thorough. It looks clean, he showed the arch rust, very much looks like surface rust. I intend to get this sorted quite soon - providing I make the purchase.

Reference the colour; regardless of whether I purchase, I will report back on the colour of it. in terms of my preference, I am not really fussed as long as it isn't black or white. As for interior, I'm also not too fused as long as it's not black. Not sure Almond would be my first choice, but it's lighter than the black, which IMO, is needed.


Again, thanks for the help and I'll debrief my findings here.

AFAIK you can now get repair panels for the arches.

When I bought mine from them there was a small amount of surface rust on bothe arches visible - little did I know what was lurking underneath..............

Be careful, very careful & check underneath & behind the sill covers.

when you say underneath, where do you mean?

Ill have a look at repair panels.

Round the jacking points & suspension mounts - don't forget the door sills.

just realised it was you that scrapped the car due to it...

what age and milage was the car when you bought it? Did you park it in the sea (lol)
Did you go back to the dealer to discuss options?

SamThomas wrote:

AFAIK you can now get repair panels for the arches.

Just had mine done. Two new panels but be aware they do not extend all the way down to the sills. Body shop had to fabricate inserts to carry them down.

I think, from the photos and the way mine were, that the sills are going to have to be done as well. I can tell you, not a cheap job.  John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

Really? You think the sills will be shot?

The rust on the arches looks very minor, the lips is just surface rust from what I can see.
The dealer send me a video walk around of the car and shows them, they look ok.

I’ll find out tomorrow, anyway.

You need to check. Mine seemed alright but when the covers were removed they weren't. Have a good root around' John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

beemer5711 wrote:

Really? You think the sills will be shot?

The rust on the arches looks very minor, the lips is just surface rust from what I can see.
The dealer send me a video walk around of the car and shows them, they look ok.

I’ll find out tomorrow, anyway.