Alright everyone, looking at getting an 2008 LR2 with 70,000 miles. Petrol engine. Big fan of these vehicles and found one in my price range.

Any tips that I should look out for?

Or things I should try to do on the test drive?

Anyone against these vehicles? Or anything in particular that I should run from if I catch it?

 

That's a low mileage barn find! I would be suspicious that the odometer was set back.

 

These days it is almost impossible to get away with this because of services like CarFax that track the vehicle's history.

I assume the person who posted this ran a CarFax check...

 

It's also harder to set back a digital odometer.

I would probably buy one at 70K if it was in good cosmetic shape (ie garaged).

Make sure suspension feels tight and it shifts OK (assuming automatic). But jerky shifting at 70K is more likely just motor mounts, or needs new ATF at that mileage, so that wouldn't be a show stopper for me.

Verify that tire wear is even, another indicator of suspension issues.

Verify that the rear drive coupler (Haldex) engages... from a stop on pavement, hit the gas aggressively, it should accelerate without the front tires squealing.

Use a scantool to check for codes. I wouldn't worry about any codes related to CAN network, entertainment system, etc.

Engine should be fine at that mileage, but if you have any doubt about actual mileage, get a compression check done.

If you buy it, come back here for a discussion about maintenance schedule... the OEM schedule is NOT adequate for many items, and at 70K you'll want to do some specific fluid changes asap.

 

Thank you everyone! Did do a Carfax and verified mileage. Work was done on it, not far from me, so that's a plus.

 

One of the weak spots on these is rear differential pinion bearings. The differential should be silent while driving. If there is a drone or a roaring from the rear end while driving, I would either not buy it or buy it and budget $2K for a rebuild.

 

Have a chat with that mechanic about the car before buying it, ensure he/she still wants to work on it when necessary.

 

Check for full service history, smooth transmission shifts, and listen for rear diff or haldex unit noise. Look for coolant leaks around the thermostat and water pump. Test all electronics, especially windows and sunroof. On the test drive, take it to highway speeds, do tight turns to check AWD function, and brake firmly to feel for vibration. Suspension clunks can mean worn components. If everything checks out and maintenance is solid, the 2008 LR2 can be a good buy.