QuestionI'm looking to purchase a 2001 Land Rover SE. I found one that has approx. 92,000 miles. I brought it to the Land Rover dealership and they have identified the following primary issues (there are some smaller things -- windshield wipers, cup holder, etc. that I won't list):
(1) check engine light is on -- code is mass air flow sensor
(2) rattle-catalytic converter
(3) T-Box Input Seal/Shaft
(4) Rear Mail seal
(5) Transfer Box Seal
(6) Right Jockey Pull
When pressed they said they couldn't tell me how bad the leaks were and said they were pretty typical of a LR this age/mileage. The seller wants approx. $9000 for the vehicle. Land Rover wants $5000 to fix whats wrong, including $1800 for the pipe-exhuast (part ECD000443). Should I walk away from this vehicle, or does this stuff sound typical? What should I absolutely get done this moment if I do purchase it? How much is a decent deal on this vehicle?
Thanks in advance.
AnswerYour dealer is right - the list is typical of what you'd find on an older Rover. But something is missing - maintenance. There's a $1,000 major service due at 90,000 miles. Did they mention that?
Are the fluids dirty?
Does it need brake pads soon?
Does it need wiper blades?
The fact that none of those sort of things are mentioned tells me they may not have done as thorough an inspection as I'd have liked. A more careful check might yield an even longer list.
The mass air meter is an easy repair, a $210 part. The catalyst rattle is annoying but not any kind of hazard. It could be ignored till you have funds to fix it. The oil leaks are typical, and unless they are really bad, they are probably a waste of money to fix.
The jockey pulley is a simple $150 repair.
You might want to read the articles on buying and servicing Land Rovers on our company's web site, www.robisonservice.com > service > land rover
Good luck.
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John
