The replacement M62 shaped headache

[Bugger]

What you meant to say was:

"The site was down for a week, so I had to find another way to get my car kicks, I saw the RR standing there looking as miserable as I was feeling, so I decided that I needed to pick both the car and myself up, so spent some money doing shit that needed to be done, and at the end, both the RR and I felt supremely better than at the onset of the project"

You're welcome.

 

[Benji]

What you meant to say was:

"The site was down for a week, so I had to find another way to get my car kicks, I saw the RR standing there looking as miserable as I was feeling, so I decided that I needed to pick both the car and myself up, so spent some money doing shit that needed to be done, and at the end, both the RR and I felt supremely better than at the onset of the project"

You're welcome.

In summary, exactly that

Except none of this "needed" to be done. After all these forced jobs (ie. fixing broken cars) it is really nice to take my time to do voluntary jobs - upgrades or nice-to-haves

 

[Kish2604]

In summary, exactly that

Except none of this "needed" to be done. After all these forced jobs (ie. fixing broken cars) it is really nice to take my time to do voluntary jobs - upgrades or nice-to-haves

A bit of a late congratulations on what turned out to be a stonker of a find at the price you paid. The Range Rovers arent all bad and yours is more BMW than Range Rover realistically, The L494's are more Ford than Range rover and the new ones, well... that is yet to be determined.

Couple items from my side, rear diff and transfer case fluids need to be changed, the rear diff should be a LSD and the transfer case needs new oil after 100k kms for longevity, there are no filters needed here so its just oils and new drain plugs. Also make an effort to clean out the sunroof drains when you can. On that sagging front end, its mostly a brittle air pipe that's causing kak or the valve block mis behaving. The bellows themselves are typically pretty strong but a spray of soapy water around the mounts will identify quickly whats going on?

Also does yours have the DSC (active anti roll bars) system installed?

 

[Benji]

A bit of a late congratulations on what turned out to be a stonker of a find at the price you paid. The Range Rovers arent all bad and yours is more BMW than Range Rover realistically, The L494's are more Ford than Range rover and the new ones, well... that is yet to be determined.

Couple items from my side, rear diff and transfer case fluids need to be changed, the rear diff should be a LSD and the transfer case needs new oil after 100k kms for longevity, there are no filters needed here so its just oils and new drain plugs. Also make an effort to clean out the sunroof drains when you can. On that sagging front end, its mostly a brittle air pipe that's causing kak or the valve block mis behaving. The bellows themselves are typically pretty strong but a spray of soapy water around the mounts will identify quickly whats going on?

Also does yours have the DSC (active anti roll bars) system installed?

Thank you! I am quietly optimistic...not that this era BMW is the most reliable lol

Good point on the sunroof drain, will pull out my tall step ladder and have a look when I can.

I have had a precursory soapy water spray at the bottom of the airsprings with no bubbling found, but will remove the fender liners to get to the top of the bags. Will also "service" the valve blocks before throwing money at the air springs

No DSC, mine is pretty poverty spec except for the Xenons and cool interior, I dont have many gimmicks - less things to go wrong!

 

[Mytfine]

My cousin just took in a full fat range rover autobiography supercharged with hail damage on every panel that but in excellent condition otherwise. Gonna drive it tomorrow and see if it holds appeal for me.

 

[Benji]

Ive worked out that I have spent over 20 hours on this cars exterior...Much cheaper than therapy, but perhaps more time consuming

Wash, claybar, quick single stage polish finished off with the venerable Menzerna Power Lock to lock in the freshness.





My favourite angle


You know you are doing something right when 4 separate colleagues make the journey to your office to compliment the L322. It was definetely not pity

 

[Peter@AEW]

The WOOD!!!

 

[Urban963]

Ive worked out that I have spent over 20 hours on this cars exterior...Much cheaper than therapy, but perhaps more time consuming

Wash, claybar, quick single stage polish finished off with the venerable Menzerna Power Lock to lock in the freshness.

View attachment 34361
View attachment 34362
View attachment 34363
View attachment 34365
My favourite angle
View attachment 34366

You know you are doing something right when 4 separate colleagues make the journey to your office to compliment the L322. It was definetely not pity

Yoh, I have seen this thing around, you're around the corner from me.

She's looking lovely bru. You'll move more product if you make her black though.

 

[Bugger]

Ive worked out that I have spent over 20 hours on this cars exterior...Much cheaper than therapy, but perhaps more time consuming

Wash, claybar, quick single stage polish finished off with the venerable Menzerna Power Lock to lock in the freshness.

View attachment 34361
View attachment 34362
View attachment 34363
View attachment 34365
My favourite angle
View attachment 34366

You know you are doing something right when 4 separate colleagues make the journey to your office to compliment the L322. It was definetely not pity

What area are you in Benji? I’d like to at some point see this in the flesh 😬

 

[Benji]

Yoh, I have seen this thing around, you're around the corner from me.

She's looking lovely bru. You'll move more product if you make her black though.

Thanks man, must give us a hoot if you drive past

What area are you in Benji? I’d like to at some point see this in the flesh 😬

Haha shes not for sale but you are welcome to, Im around Fourways area

 

[Bugger]

Thanks man, must give us a hoot if you drive past


Haha shes not for sale but you are welcome to, Im around Fourways area

noooooooooo I can't be buying anything now, so you're safe from unsolicited offers

 

[modocrat]

What area are you in Benji? I’d like to at some point see this in the flesh 😬

The bug is biting.... the shower is getting slippery...

 

[Kish2604]

Ive worked out that I have spent over 20 hours on this cars exterior...Much cheaper than therapy, but perhaps more time consuming

Wash, claybar, quick single stage polish finished off with the venerable Menzerna Power Lock to lock in the freshness.

You know you are doing something right when 4 separate colleagues make the journey to your office to compliment the L322. It was definetely not pity

She is definitely looking very fresh! the peak of aristocratic luxury before it became footballers and tenderprenur fashion.

i dont know if you mentioned it already, how the suspension so far? any creaks or knocks?

 

[Bugger]

Why's this so quiet Benji?

 

[Benji]

This is, by far, the best headache Ive ever had. I adore the Range Rover, she has earned so much respect from me. She literally makes me "lol" and giggle like a 6 year old when I drive her. Perhaps I am a bit smitten, but I dont see how any other car comes close to what the L322 offers, except perhaps a better L322...

Mercedes G-class? Pretentious, expensive and perhaps a bit agricultural.
A Fortuner/Everest? Stop asking stupid questions.
A ML or X5? Useless offroad, not as comfortable/luxurious and just a bit vanilla.
Land Cruiser? Probably the closest you will get, but will never be as cool, is 5 x the price (for equivalent age/condition) and dare I say, a bit unimaginative.

The L322 is beautiful, it is not pretentious, it is supremely comfortable on the open road, offers excellent visibility in town, easy to place on the road, offers surprisingly good handling and steering feel while remaining luxurious over any surface. Take it offroad, and it simply drives over the most impassable obstacles. It recalibrates your view on what a car is capable of doing. And all this for under 60k...

I would happily throw multiples of the purchase price on it to keep it on the road because there simply is nothing else quite like it. It was a game changer when launched in 2001 and was widely and deservedly praised as the "best car in the world".

In 2003, a new ML55 AMG cost 900k (a ML500 was 600k) while the RR was 700k. The ML feels like a farm implement next to the RR. I cannot believe the 2 were on sale at the same time. The ML interior reminds me of a late 90s Toyota Hilux. How any sane person with any functioning senses took the time to test drive both and still spent the money on a ML, baffles the mind...

Anyway, enough besotted babbling.

We took the ML and the RR to De Wildts this past weekend, which is a really cool 4x4 park in a nature reserve with 14 obstacles, each with a bypass for the less capable vehicles. The ML fell at the first hurdle, it literally could not even make the bypass, which was a bit embarrassing. So we left it next to the track and piled into the L322 for the rest of the course.

The L322 never ceased to amaze, with running commentary from the back seats which all seemed to include phrases like "what, how is this possible", "yoh, this thing is a beast" and "like it was nothing" after each obstacle. On a few occasions we had to redo obstacles to choose a harder line just to challenge the L322. It never broke a sweat.

The first obstacle which we did going up and down, just to make sure:



Investigating the lack of ground beneath the tyre






We were brave enough to do "Gert se Klip" which is a 45 degree rock climb and forms part of the "Extreme Red Route" . The L322 handled it as if it were the school run.


Could not resist a quick splash in the pool


Stopping for a few beers and a steak at the restaurant after a good day out with the boys, the ML cowering in shame after the RR rescued it.


Back on the road in a refined luxury cruiser, like nothing ever happened, ignoring its new paint decorations


What a machine, what a car! It simply does anything you could possibly ask of it without ever getting flustered, taking everything in its stride. For a garage to be called "ultimate", it simply must have an L322 in it. Anything else is simply incomplete and will be found lacking.

I believe I have found a new outlet for my fast-approaching midlife crisis. I can guarantee all 4 of my mates who experienced the day with me are sitting on Autotrader, looking for an L322 Correctly so. Good lads...

Now to break out the pressure washer...

 

[Bugger]

This is, by far, the best headache Ive ever had. I adore the Range Rover, she has earned so much respect from me. She literally makes me "lol" and giggle like a 6 year old when I drive her. Perhaps I am a bit smitten, but I dont see how any other car comes close to what the L322 offers, except perhaps a better L322...

Mercedes G-class? Pretentious, expensive and perhaps a bit agricultural.
A Fortuner/Everest? Stop asking stupid questions.
A ML or X5? Useless offroad, not as comfortable/luxurious and just a bit vanilla.
Land Cruiser? Probably the closest you will get, but will never be as cool, is 5 x the price (for equivalent age/condition) and dare I say, a bit unimaginative.

The L322 is beautiful, it is not pretentious, it is supremely comfortable on the open road, offers excellent visibility in town, easy to place on the road, offers surprisingly good handling and steering feel while remaining luxurious over any surface. Take it offroad, and it simply drives over the most impassable obstacles. It recalibrates your view on what a car is capable of doing. And all this for under 60k...

I would happily throw multiples of the purchase price on it to keep it on the road because there simply is nothing else quite like it. It was a game changer when launched in 2001 and was widely and deservedly praised as the "best car in the world".

In 2003, a new ML55 AMG cost 900k (a ML500 was 600k) while the RR was 700k. The ML feels like a farm implement next to the RR. I cannot believe the 2 were on sale at the same time. The ML interior reminds me of a late 90s Toyota Hilux. How any sane person with any functioning senses took the time to test drive both and still spent the money on a ML, baffles the mind...

Anyway, enough besotted babbling.

We took the ML and the RR to De Wildts this past weekend, which is a really cool 4x4 park in a nature reserve with 14 obstacles, each with a bypass for the less capable vehicles. The ML fell at the first hurdle, it literally could not even make the bypass, which was a bit embarrassing. So we left it next to the track and piled into the L322 for the rest of the course.

The L322 never ceased to amaze, with running commentary from the back seats which all seemed to include phrases like "what, how is this possible", "yoh, this thing is a beast" and "like it was nothing" after each obstacle. On a few occasions we had to redo obstacles to choose a harder line just to challenge the L322. It never broke a sweat.

The first obstacle which we did going up and down, just to make sure:

View attachment 35329

Investigating the lack of ground beneath the tyre
View attachment 35331

View attachment 35332

View attachment 35333

We were brave enough to do "Gert se Klip" which is a 45 degree rock climb and forms part of the "Extreme Red Route" . The L322 handled it as if it were the school run.
View attachment 35334

Could not resist a quick splash in the pool
View attachment 35335

Stopping for a few beers and a steak at the restaurant after a good day out with the boys, the ML cowering in shame after the RR rescued it.
View attachment 35336

Back on the road in a refined luxury cruiser, like nothing ever happened, ignoring its new paint decorations
View attachment 35337

What a machine, what a car! It simply does anything you could possibly ask of it without ever getting flustered, taking everything in its stride. For a garage to be called "ultimate", it simply must have an L322 in it. Anything else is simply incomplete and will be found lacking.

I believe I have found a new outlet for my fast-approaching midlife crisis. I can guarantee all 4 of my mates who experienced the day with me are sitting on Autotrader, looking for an L322 Correctly so. Good lads...

Now to break out the pressure washer...

If only it were green.