Hi Guys.

I am from t'other side (Disco3) but my daughter is looking to buy a 2008 TD4 XS from a Landrover main dealership. What are the main points to check before buying, as in known weak points etc etc.

Can she drive it whilst applying make-up in the rear view or vanity mirror


Serious answer: all the basics - service history etc

Other issues commonly discussed on the forum are wheel bearings and rear diff on that sort of age vehicle.

Most of these things should be covered by the Dealer Warranty though check though 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

All the basics and service history are good, wheel bearings and rear diff I will check. It will come with 12 months Landrover Approved Warranty, but its always handy to check the know weak points.

Split in seat squab, seatbelts chafing with door pillar trim, tailgate lock failing, transmission, clutch dual mass flywheel, check all electrical accessories work, am module on radio.....are some I have read about here but have experienced none of these.....Good luck with the purchase. JT Upgraded to an ex demo, 7 mth old, Rimini Red/Ebony Napoli Auto HSE on 28th Jan 2011, added roof rails, mudflaps and side strips.
Gone - A great 57 Plate, Auto SE, Bought Feb 2009, Roof Rails and Mudflaps added on purchase. Blue colour, anything but drug dealer black.....

See if you can get a peek at the registration document, make a note of the last owner and contact them. You tend to get an honest view of the car from someone who knows it but no longer has a vested interest. John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

JST wrote:

See if you can get a peek at the registration document, make a note of the last owner and contact them. You tend to get an honest view of the car from someone who knows it but no longer has a vested interest.

Good idea.

JST wrote:

See if you can get a peek at the registration document, make a note of the last owner and contact them. You tend to get an honest view of the car from someone who knows it but no longer has a vested interest.

Look for an oil leak at the very back of the engine - comes from the breather hose there - common problem easily fixed. Would be visible from above without any dismantling.

RegG wrote:

JST wrote:

See if you can get a peek at the registration document, make a note of the last owner and contact them. You tend to get an honest view of the car from someone who knows it but no longer has a vested interest.

Very wise to do this. I didnt't and now find the previous keeper of my '09 HSE was Enterprise Rent A Car UK Ltd!!! The salesman told me the car had come direct from LR which, to be fair, it may have done after they had taken it back from ERAC UK Ltd!!

RegG wrote:

JST wrote:

See if you can get a peek at the registration document, make a note of the last owner and contact them. You tend to get an honest view of the car from someone who knows it but no longer has a vested interest.

Very wise to do this. I didnt't and now find the previous keeper of my '09 HSE was Enterprise Rent A Car UK Ltd!!! The salesman told me the car had come direct from LR which, to be fair, it may have done after they had taken it back from ERAC UK Ltd!!

quote] I thought all rental cars and learner cars had to be declared now as it effect the resale price etc. Who did you buy from, you may have a case against them?[/quote]

That's interesting... has any other forum member heard about any such required declaration? I bought from a major dealer with franchises across the country (but it wasn't Stratstone!) but prefer not to say at the moment as I am awaiting contact re another matter.

The car does feel good to drive. I had a 2 month old FL2 Sport as a loan car the other day with 1200 miles on the clock - mine felt virtually as good to drive as the new one so am I worrying too much??  2010 HSE TD4 auto, Biscay Blue, Almond Leather, facelift front and rear, detachable towbar, front & rear mudflaps, bib spoilers, clear high level brake light, smooth rear wiper, colour coded door handles.

Previous Land Rovers:
2007 Freelander 2 HSE i6 in Stornoway Grey
1991 Discovery 200tdi 3 door in blue

RegG wrote:

quote] I thought all rental cars and learner cars had to be declared now as it effect the resale price etc. Who did you buy from, you may have a case against them?

That's interesting... has any other forum member heard about any such required declaration? I bought from a major dealer with franchises across the country (but it wasn't Stratstone!) but prefer not to say at the moment as I am awaiting contact re another matter.

The car does feel good to drive. I had a 2 month old FL2 Sport as a loan car the other day with 1200 miles on the clock - mine felt virtually as good to drive as the new one so am I worrying too much?? [/quote]

The pertinent legislation is "The consumer protection from unfair trading practices regulations 2008".

The declaration regarding ex rental vehicles is part of the OFT's guidance to motor traders which formed part of the consultative document for the above act. Whether this declaration is now required by law, I do not know.

Interestingly the guidance says that a motor trader must use all due diligence and take all reasonable steps to establish a vehicles history before exposing a vehicle for sale. The seller must not fail to disclose that the vehicle is an ex rental vehicle and may have had a number of drivers or users. It is not sufficient to inform a customer only the number of owners and mileage.

If you are in England, the fact that the dealer omitted to declare a material fact which would make a consumer take a different purchasing decision is I believe an offence for which trading standards could prosecute if they so wished, if you are however in Scotland the matter is not quite so straight forward.

RJS - Thanks very much. That makes interesting reading. It seems to me that the dealer in question has failed to meet the requirements as set out in the relevant legislation...... As I have already said, the car seems good to me so what next?..... 2010 HSE TD4 auto, Biscay Blue, Almond Leather, facelift front and rear, detachable towbar, front & rear mudflaps, bib spoilers, clear high level brake light, smooth rear wiper, colour coded door handles.

Previous Land Rovers:
2007 Freelander 2 HSE i6 in Stornoway Grey
1991 Discovery 200tdi 3 door in blue

I bought ours from Stratsones, as said in an earlier post, they gave political answers on the vehicle history, i wasn't pleased when I did find out the history but to be fair, the vehicle was fine, 12k on the clock 18 months old, only had the one problem with it luckily just before the end of the three year warranty. They lost out in the future as when I replaced it they didn't get a look in for a number of reasons.