Last week, we talked all about finding an L322 Range Rover that was in good cosmetic condition if you're looking for a used one. We went through the process of finding a list of used Range Rovers that would be good to inspect more at a dealership or in person. If you missed the last video, check that out in the I above. Today, though, we're talking about what to inspect once you get there to test drive the L322 Range Rover.
L322 Range Rover Inspection Checklist: thebreakdown.xyz/carchecklist
--------------------------------------------------------
Part 1: • How to Find a GOOD Use...
L322 Range Rovers Off-Road: • L322 Range Rovers Off-...
--------------------------------------------------------
Read More About It:
--------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe!: TheBreakdown.xyz/SubAuto
Our Website:
Email: Hello@TheBreakdown.xyz
-------------------------------------------------------
First up, let's talk a bit more about cosmetics. In a picture in the last video, I pointed out something about the paint in one example. In order to check it out more closely, we have a few options. For the most part, the paint should look like it blends in normally. It's not always the end of the world if a car has been repainted if it's been done properly, but the issues come when it was done cheaply and poorly since it will affect your resell value and could also mean other cheap fixes have been done.
By no means am I a paint expect, and a pre-purchase inspection can tell you more about it, but before you waste your money, there are a few things you can do to check for paint quality. First up, check for overspray and runs in the paint. This is a huge indication that it's been repainted at some point. Paint is near perfect when the car comes off the assembly line, and on something like this, there should never be any overspray or runs in the paint. I'll link a video below showing you what that looks like.
Moving on to the interior, check that the seats have just normal stretching and wear on them. Every L322 I've seen has stretched leather on the side of the seats, but make sure it's not cracked or torn. Not only does it get very annoying, it's also ridiculously expensive to replace with genuine parts.
For the air suspension, make sure it raises and lowers correctly without throwing any faults. It's still the dealerships car, so test EVERYTHING, and please never listen to their BS excuses of “oh, that's just normal.” If it doesn't seem normal, it's not, and falling for the trap makes it your issue.
I test drove an LR4 once at a Chevrolet dealership, and when I tested the air suspension, a fault came up telling me the vehicle was raising slowly. The salesman said “Oh, they all do that. It's normal with this weather.”
Assuming all is working well, start up the engine and open the hood. Listen for any unusual noises, and if there are any you have a question about, make a note of it for your Pre-Purchase Inspection. It could be nothing, but it's better to make sure first.
Timing chain replacement on 2010 to 2012 models can be common, so if you hear a knocking on the engine that increases when the engine is revved, consider walking away. The last thing you want is to inherit someone's old problems.
If the used Range Rover you're looking at is on a Land Rover lot, it's a little more trustworthy. They know the car, and if it's a few years old, they've probably kept it because it's in decent condition and won't risk screwing more loyal Land Rover customers. Most of the time. Keep in mind, they're in it for profit too, so if it's at a Land Rover dealer, find an independent shop to do the inspection that specializes in Land Rovers. Normally, if there's a dealership, an indy shop will be nearby.
If the used Range Rover you're looking at isn't at a Land Rover dealership, I'd recommend taking it to a Land Rover dealer for them to inspect; however, indy shops work fine too. Above all else, just have someone inspect it if you're not confident in your own skills to fix it. They'll be able to point out the problems and give you estimates for fixes to help you negotiate or walk away.
On top of that, don't let the dealership or private party refuse to let you have it inspected. It doesn't matter if it's the perfect spec you've been looking for on the outside. If you can't have it inspected, don't bother. We drove the 4 Series over an hour to have it inspected, and the dealer had no problem with us doing that. It's your money on the line - not the dealers. Get it inspected if it's the only part of this series you take with you.
So assuming everything looks good and the inspection is setup, we're another step closer to buying a used Range Rover. Next episode, we'll talk about what to do with the inspection report, how to negotiate the price based on the report, and what to do once you've purchased it.