Yes another moan...

I've been trying desperately over the past 5-6 years to recapture the love I had for my first L322 3.6.

After selling the dreadful L405 back in February and saying 'no more' I bought a large diesel saloon for daily driving purposes and I've been largely happy with that.

But the desire to recapture the love and have a working and enjoyable RR in my fleet was just too strong so when a 2006 TDV8 came up for sale cheap with issues I dove in head first. (This was in April)

I've done plenty of work fixing it up and getting an MOT.

Now driving it round I'm dissapointed yet again as it's exactly like the last 3 RRs.

Lethargic and laggy engine, heavy steering and the ride quality isn't right although this time it's not too hard/firm but too bouncy. (This 2006 doesn't have adaptive damping like the 09, 11 and 2015 I've had)

I'm not asking for help or anything as I know it's unfixable just venting.

Really ? It’s 18 years old - what did you expect 2021 L405 Vogue SE 4.4 V8 DIESEL ~ #17

I know a good therapist.... Having driven your 405, which seemed perfect to me, I have to say I think a lot of your disappointment maybe because you don't really want one...

Stick with the saloon and enjoy that....  Pete
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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Step into a 5.0 and the smile will return

Mines gonna cost me about £2600 next week, it can’t be worth any more than 10k. I’ve only done 1500 miles this year. Questioning my sanity too…. 🤣

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Yup get a 5 litre , expecting a revelatory experience in an old full fat might be too tall an order

MarianaWestminster wrote:

Yes another moan...

I've been trying desperately over the past 5-6 years to recapture the love I had for my first L322 3.6.

After selling the dreadful L405 back in February and saying 'no more' I bought a large diesel saloon for daily driving purposes and I've been largely happy with that.

But the desire to recapture the love and have a working and enjoyable RR in my fleet was just too strong so when a 2006 TDV8 came up for sale cheap with issues I dove in head first. (This was in April)

I've done plenty of work fixing it up and getting an MOT.

Now driving it round I'm dissapointed yet again as it's exactly like the last 3 RRs.

Lethargic and laggy engine, heavy steering and the ride quality isn't right although this time it's not too hard/firm but too bouncy. (This 2006 doesn't have adaptive damping like the 09, 11 and 2015 I've had)

I'm not asking for help or anything as I know it's unfixable just venting.

He tried new shocks all round along with lots of other bits and reckoned it was just the same, and that was across three fatties IIRC....  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

New shocks definatley improved mine after 170k miles on the old ones. Maybe slightly harder ride ( vastly improved with new tyres) but way better body control during changes of direction. I guess it depends how worn the original shocks were. Mine were still fully functional just not optimal. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

I wear-out shocks in 80K Kms where I drive, although I put up with the worn CVDs by recalibrating until around 130K Kms because of their high replacement cost.

Never found the calibration feature in the GAP IID tool to do anything noticable. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

I openly admit that everything points to me being the problem and not the cars.

Anyone know a good therapist?

The ride on this one is likely to be shocks, 3 are original and 1 a replacement. There's no electronic control (CVD) as it's a 2006 so just plain old shocks with air bags.

I'm sure I'm not wrong when I say the steering should be 'palmable' which it was on the 2009 Westminster I had first.

The laggyiness of the engine could be down to me being hyper sensitive who knows.

My Westminster was quite simply the best car I'd ever owned right up until it blew it's boost hoses then was never right afterwards.

I think I'm in for a lifetime of buying and selling RRs until I finally find ones that drives 'right'.

For the heavy steering, you could try unplugging the electrical connector on the servotronic valve on the neck of the rack to check that the steering is then heavier at slow speed, as evidence that the valve is working. You could also check that the gauze in the bottom of the reservoir isn't mostly blocked, or simply whilst idling that there is significant disturbance in the reservoir indicating good surplus capacity from the pump.

Hi Graeme,

One of the problems this cheap example had upon collection was a noisy power steering pump.

I've replaced it with new, flushed and replaced the fluid, replaced the reservoir, found a leaky cooler and replaced it.

It's now quiet and there is good turbulence in the reservoir from the new pump but in my opinion it's still heavy.

It's not possible to 'palm' the steering as I used to do in my original Westminster.

Unplugging the servotronic valve makes it almost impossible to steer.

It's the same complaint I had about L322s #2, #3 and the L405.

None of them have been as light and easy to turn as L322 #1.

When we look back, it's often in fondness.

My 2005 L322 drove differently when I changed from 18" to 20" wheels. Whilst steering was still vague and handling required good anticipation, it seemed less bouncy/wafty. When I switched to a 2011MY, everything was a little better, probably down to the newer suspension components. But I found the ride slightly firmer again.

I noticed a big change when I got the L405. Its drive was much more car-like, and its steering and handling were more precise in comparison to the L322. What is do remember is when the tyres got low (first set) or old (second set after 5yrs) the ride was harder and a bit thrashy, if that's the right word. This was on 22" wheels.

My memories of my first L322 on 18" wheels were its fantastic road presence, comfortable wafty ride, wonderful seats and a big steering wheel, I think most remember these characteristics. However, I bet I'd get a shock if I were to drive even a mint TD6 today. 2024 P550e Autobiography
2016MY TDV6 Autobiography - Gone
2011MY 5.0 SC Autobiography Black - Gone
2005 TD6 Vogue - Gone