Advice needed. Looking to buy!

Ok guys, its been years since i looked into buying a car based on anything other then m3 capacity or MPG.

Im looking for an L322, something sort of 04 year, and ive been told i want a gray one......LOL

So what i really need to know is:

What are the models? Vogue? HSE? what do they mean and how do they stack up? what comes with what?

What are the common problems? Ive picked up something about gearbox problems? can anyone explane?

Engines - whats avaliable? which are prefered? any to avoid?

Optional extras? were there any that are worth holding out for?

and basicly anything else you wish you had been told before you bought yours?!


Cheers for you help, with some luck i look forward to doing my 'here she is' thread in the next month!

:search:


There's lots of info on here and also a buying checklist

There's a hell of a lot to check when buying these, search for the list.

Regarding the gearboxes... Yes they fail at around 60-90k

The diesels are known for failing

But I own a diesel td6 HSE and I love it.

Vogue is the top spec model

HSE and SE can vary slightly on optional extras but can be picked up cheaper

Try this post for a starters....

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/advice-before-buying-vogue-first-time-rr-owner-needed-198439.html

Any Q's just ask...

Vogue is the top, with Sat Nav and more seat adjustment and DSP sound

Then HSE, followed by the SE....

Looking at the Diesel options, it seems to be TD6 3.0, is this the much spoken of BMW engine? Is there any other option? Also which gearbox should i be on the watch for? years or engine matches?

Up to 2006 has the TD6 engine

Engine Is pretty good

Although some tend to have injector problems
There pretty reliable otherwise

All the diesels up to 2006 (prefaclift ) have the GM box which is notorious for failing

It didn't put me off though
Just try and find one that's had a recent gearbox change

But if you could stretch the budget I would get a 2006 facelift with the brilliant TDV8 jag engine in it.
The gearboxes seem okay on them too

Ive found one that looks like it has the TDV8, facelift outside but preface dash? is that common did they upgrade the dash later?

shes going to kill me said:

Ive found one that looks like it has the TDV8, facelift outside but preface dash? is that common did they upgrade the dash later?

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It's not a proper facelift model then

They did the interior as well as the outside on the facelift

Sounds like a facelift conversion
What year is it ?

Hummm, the price jump between the TD6 and TDV8 is more then the price of a new box!

2.0_hippo said:

It's not a proper facelift model then

They did the interior as well as the outside on the facelift

Sounds like a facelift conversion
What year is it ?

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2006 with the TDV8, on autotrader its up for £14995 its silver but comes up under a search for black

Never seen a TDV8 down the block for less than £16K - a cheap one is bound to be mega iffy!

StuckAgainSteve said:

Never seen a TDV8 down the block for less than £16K - a cheap one is bound to be mega iffy!

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nah, not necessarly. Unfortunately a lot of people are selling flash motors for dirt as they only have untill the next morgage payment to get it sold....

nasty situation but very very common at the moment.

You keep your eyes open and exec style cars are changeing hands for low money, CL and SL mercs, 5's and 7's BMW and often the Astons and Porsch of the city boys too!

saw a 745Li swap hands for 6K last week! Awesome car!

Give it a test drive

I'm saving up for one

2.0_hippo said:

Give it a test drive

I'm saving up for one

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But then wht do i do if i love it? She really would kill me then!

shes going to kill me said:

But then wht do i do if i love it? She really would kill me then!

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Treat yourself

It will save you more in the long run as there more reliable than the early shape range rovers

Let us know how you get on ! Lol

2.0_hippo said:

Treat yourself

It will save you more in the long run as there more reliable than the early shape range rovers

Let us know how you get on ! Lol

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Bet it isn't when it gets to 7 years and the bills will be huge

shes going to kill me said:

2006 with the TDV8, on autotrader its up for £14995 its silver but comes up under a search for black

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Sorry for getting oar in but was browsing sub £20k L322 myself and dont think its TDV8 as the interior is pre facelift !?

Datatek said:

Bet it isn't when it gets to 7 years and the bills will be huge

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Good point

I suppose they haven't got to the age of the early L322's yet and that is when the problems arise

shandonman said:

Sorry for getting oar in but was browsing sub £20k L322 myself and dont think its TDV8 as the interior is pre facelift !?

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yeah but the body kit is facelift - im sure ive seen a thread where someone else had an eairly TDV8 but with pre interiour