HI,

I'm considering buying a used LR4 with 80k miles for roughly $30k

I know Land Rover isn't known for reliability but just wondering if this is not a good idea or if anyone can point me in the right direction as to what kind of maintenance/issues I can expect.

Thanks in advance!!!

Al

 

It’s a great car, but it requires maintenance and people do have their share of problems with the vehicle. You really need to read through the forums to get a sense of what kind of problems you might encounter. If you are not willing to do maintenance and repairs yourself, it can get expensive. Dealer prices on repairs have become completely unreasonable.

The most critical preventative repair for this particular car is probably the coolant crossover pipes - if they haven’t been changed, they need to be changed immediately. Dealer will tell you they’re fine based on a leak test - but that’s not the issue. They’re plastic and they slowly degrade, then rupture. When they rupture, you have very little time to pull over before the engine overheats, and these engines do not tolerate overheating. The heads warp really quickly. It requires pulling the supercharger, and the dealer will likely charge $2500 for this repair. If you’re handy with a wrench, and follow the info in the various forums, you can replace the coolant pipes and, while its apart, replace the water pump, thermostat, supercharger coupler, and belts for something like $600-700.

You should be aware of what you’re buying form an options standpoint as well. Many people buy these cars looking for an off-roader, only to find out the particular car they bought doesn’t have a locking rear differential or even a high/low transfer case. These options only come in the HD package in the 2014-2016 model years. In 2013, I believe the high/low transfer case was standard, but the locking rear diff was only in the HD package. The car can still go off road without, but they are good options to have if you are looking for an off road vehicle.

So, read through this forum, and landroverworld.com. Tons of info on this topic. Happy to answer any specific questions.

 

Wow, thank you for this info. I really appreciate it

 

No problem, and I don’t mean to steer you away from the car. I love mine - it’s really a great vehicle in all respects. IMHO, there is no other vehicle that has the same off-road capability and on-road comfort. But, I do my own work on the car and a lot of research to try to anticipate problems. It becomes something of a hobby.

 

Not at all. I just wanted an honest opinion on the car. I may go test drive to see how much I like it. Wasn't going to be a purchase in the immediate future but a car that I've always admired and I think it's unique compared to all the other cars on the road

Your insight is very helpful.

 

If you aren't doing your own work, buy the best warranty the JLR dealer sells. It will pay for itself over time. It will be expensive, but the cost of the warranty is based on the repair averages of any vehicle. I work at a highline dlr and have seen catastrophic repairs covered with only a deductible and a few hundred in extras " while in there" repairs. I worked at BMW before that, same thing. You get what you pay for with extended warranties. Stay away from the TV actor endorsed commercials. Those warranties stink. They want you to take veh to Pep Boys and the like for repairs. Good luck with the purchase. They are hard to find with low mileage.

 

I love my 2012 LR4, but in the shop multiple times every year. If it's not brakes its coolant issues. As much as I love LR, used to own a DII, I think this is my last one. BUT - like others stated if you can repair yourself and be honest with yourself about your time avaialable to do so then worth a shot.