Hallo there,
with some luck, I'll join you all rangeroverites soon (if so, I'll properly introduce myself and my car both in the appropriate forum) Though, I'd like to ask for some advice first, if you don't mind.
Thing is, I am considering buying a 2nd-hand Range 4.6 HSE, of '96, some 90K miles, pretty nice far as I can say: leather's all right, interior's good, it even does not seem to leak (that would be a mistake probably: far as I know, all Land Rovers do leak ). There were some small quirks though I would like to check before I part with my money and drive on:
- if staying (on P or on brake on red light), there are very slight, but still noticeable engine vibrations. Well I haven't driven a RR before: is that normal for a ten-year old V8, or should it be silk-smooth? I've thougt with this engine, it should be kind of undistinguishable whether the thing runs or not, until I check the dashboard or try to drive on
- in the same situation (stationary) I can turn the steering wheel an inch or two freely before the wheels start turning. Is this normal with a RR this old?
- the Message Center when switched on a few times reported "ALTERNATOR FAULT" (actually, since the car comes from Germany, "REGLER DEFEKT", which far as I know is the very same info report). The message was intermittent, and after some driving it ceased to occur. The seller says it is kind of normal that sometimes, if the car stays in traffic jam with lights and A/C on for a time (which we did), the alternator is not quite up filling the battery, and this report may occur. As soon as the car runs for a while, the battery gets full again and the message disappears (which it did indeed eventually). He says it is all right, and no corrective action is needed... would you agree? Anybody with similar car and similar experience?
- the trip computer shown four things: trip1 distance, distance to empty, average consumption, trip2 distance. Is that right? I though it should present the average speed, too; possibly though it did not at '96? (I've been able to find an owner's manual for '98 only on Web, not the older one.)
- average consumption shown was about 7 mpg. Seems to me fair for a 4.6 V8 given we indeed spent lotta time in jams... or should it be considerably better even so? For normal driving, I suppose the mileage shoud keep around 15 mpg, am I right?
- how should normally the All Close feature work? I've tried to press and keep pressed the Close button on RC. After about a second the roof window (which happened to be open) indeed began closing. At this moment I've released the button, and the window immediately stopped and Rover beeped a mislock to me. Should I normally keep the remote button pressed the whole time till all is closed?
Thanks a lot for all advices!
OC
with some luck, I'll join you all rangeroverites soon (if so, I'll properly introduce myself and my car both in the appropriate forum) Though, I'd like to ask for some advice first, if you don't mind.
Thing is, I am considering buying a 2nd-hand Range 4.6 HSE, of '96, some 90K miles, pretty nice far as I can say: leather's all right, interior's good, it even does not seem to leak (that would be a mistake probably: far as I know, all Land Rovers do leak ). There were some small quirks though I would like to check before I part with my money and drive on:
- if staying (on P or on brake on red light), there are very slight, but still noticeable engine vibrations. Well I haven't driven a RR before: is that normal for a ten-year old V8, or should it be silk-smooth? I've thougt with this engine, it should be kind of undistinguishable whether the thing runs or not, until I check the dashboard or try to drive on
- in the same situation (stationary) I can turn the steering wheel an inch or two freely before the wheels start turning. Is this normal with a RR this old?
- the Message Center when switched on a few times reported "ALTERNATOR FAULT" (actually, since the car comes from Germany, "REGLER DEFEKT", which far as I know is the very same info report). The message was intermittent, and after some driving it ceased to occur. The seller says it is kind of normal that sometimes, if the car stays in traffic jam with lights and A/C on for a time (which we did), the alternator is not quite up filling the battery, and this report may occur. As soon as the car runs for a while, the battery gets full again and the message disappears (which it did indeed eventually). He says it is all right, and no corrective action is needed... would you agree? Anybody with similar car and similar experience?
- the trip computer shown four things: trip1 distance, distance to empty, average consumption, trip2 distance. Is that right? I though it should present the average speed, too; possibly though it did not at '96? (I've been able to find an owner's manual for '98 only on Web, not the older one.)
- average consumption shown was about 7 mpg. Seems to me fair for a 4.6 V8 given we indeed spent lotta time in jams... or should it be considerably better even so? For normal driving, I suppose the mileage shoud keep around 15 mpg, am I right?
- how should normally the All Close feature work? I've tried to press and keep pressed the Close button on RC. After about a second the roof window (which happened to be open) indeed began closing. At this moment I've released the button, and the window immediately stopped and Rover beeped a mislock to me. Should I normally keep the remote button pressed the whole time till all is closed?
Thanks a lot for all advices!
OC