Member Since: 02 Feb 2008
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 421
LR Approved Used Vehicle
Does any one know what standards the garages work to when preparing an approved used car for sale. I.e how many miles till next service before they are obliged to do one, how many months to MOT before they have to do it, how much tread on tyres before they should be replaced before sale.
A mate is picking a 57 plate disco3 up next friday from a dealer so he wants an idea on what should and should not be fixed, changed and checked as part of the process. The website gives all the sales bumf but does not tell you what is supposed to be done by the dealer
I recently purchased a LR Approved used Disco 3. If you consider the LR Multi-point inspection appended below, then the trained technicians most have been on holiday when mine was due for its inspection.
So far I have had a new front diff, it was droning, a new drivers side mirror, it didn't fold. There were a some paint scratches that I could easily see with my untrained eye. Everything else works ok - so far, but I guess there is something just around the next corner waiting to surprise me.
Where I work we have a sign in the despatch area that says "The next inspector will be the customer!!!" so in reality that is LR's policy as well?
Old Sailor
LAND ROVER COMPREHENSIVE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION
Behind the Land Rover badge is a wealth of specialist knowledge. All vehicles are given a comprehensive inspection by Land Rover trained technicians. Everything from the paintwork to the performance and safety is checked. Should any faults be found with the vehicle, they are rectified prior to display and sale using only genuine Land Rover parts. The inspection always includes a complete engine preparation, a road test and final inspection before the vehicle is professionally valeted.Run silent, run deep!! HM Submarines Conqueror, Churchill, Renown, Ocelot, Porpoise, Onslaught.
Oh Lord! send down a dove, with wings as sharp as razors.
To cut the throats of men, that sell bad beer to sailors.
VIN 138A476***
18th Sep 2010 8:58 am
pcregeen
Member Since: 02 Feb 2008
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 421
thsnks old sailor , but your quote sums up my query, only says they look for issues, do LR set out guidelines for when a tyre tread is not fit for sale. i.e at 2.8mm it should be replaced but at 3mm it should be ok to sell??
pete
18th Sep 2010 4:08 pm
DN D3 Decade
Member Since: 23 Jun 2006
Location: W.London.
Posts: 2345
After buying an 'approved used' D2, 5 yrs ago, I suggest that they don't even look for, or rectify issues. I drove it home, and it veered all over the place on the motorway. After checking tyre pressures, found one tyre with low pressure and a screw embedded in it Looked at some pics I had taken a few days earlier on the forecourt and could see then that the tyre was not fully inflated, although I had not noticed it when I had viewed it and driven on local roads. The vehicle (I found out later), also leaked water through the tailgate window seal, had an oil leak, and a torque converter problem which I had asked them to fix, but they had done nothing with.I also believe that the vehicle had been 'clocked' as some things were certainly not in the condition I would have expected for a vehicle with only 8k on it. All in all, a pile of crap, and it went back to them under the 30 day dissatisfaction agreement, and I bought a new D3, and even they, I can tell you, are not without faults. Ask your mate to be very wary, check everything thoroughly and drive it under all possible conditions and if he doesn't know anything about these vehicles, take someone who does.
I feel you are right. I did however go through the service record book and spoke to the original supplying and servicing dealer (Marshals of Cambridge). I was able to speak to a young lady in the service department, she kindly confirmed the dates and milages of the services and recalls. So I was happy on that score.
When I test drove the D3, I didn't know what to listen for and only decided there was a failure on the front diff due to the noise and vibration through the steering, after a couple of days ownership.
As for the statement that they finally do a professional valet is laughable, there was an empty coke can under the passenger seat of ours.
I think the dealers ignore any problems, hoping nothing is picked up on the test drive etc as it will cost them money. Following that all work will be covered by the warranty at someone expence.Run silent, run deep!! HM Submarines Conqueror, Churchill, Renown, Ocelot, Porpoise, Onslaught.
Oh Lord! send down a dove, with wings as sharp as razors.
To cut the throats of men, that sell bad beer to sailors.
VIN 138A476***
18th Sep 2010 6:29 pm
pcregeen
Member Since: 02 Feb 2008
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 421
Cheers guys,
Lets maybe think this differently then, the car has 26000 miles on it and is a 57 plate.
What would you guys expect in terms of receipt. The car is 4k away from its 30k service (should this be done therefore) and what tread on tyres would you guys class as acceptable for a car from a dealer of this age?
This is his first disco 3 and he has been lurking on here and we still have not put him off. I pushed him, sort of, towards the disco so would be good to make sure i help him as much as possible
cheers
pete
18th Sep 2010 7:53 pm
ELD70
Member Since: 28 Jan 2008
Location: Romford.
Posts: 901
Just tell them you want it serviced or deal is off, thats what I would do.Now driving BMW 330d Touring....misses D3...but not when at traffic lights
18th Sep 2010 7:59 pm
DigitalJunior
Member Since: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 4401
I can't find it now but I think if a service is due within 3,000 miles they will do it but as poster states above what are you doing agreeing to buy a car without including this is deal ?
Always 'load' the deal as much as you can - service, 12 months tax, accessories, 2 year warranty, mats, seat covers, sauce pan etc SOLD - 23my Range Rover Sport D300 Dynamic SE
18th Sep 2010 9:03 pm
ukdave104
Member Since: 31 Jul 2007
Location: Stonehaven
Posts: 266
pcregeen wrote:
thsnks old sailor , but your quote sums up my query, only says they look for issues, do LR set out guidelines for when a tyre tread is not fit for sale. i.e at 2.8mm it should be replaced but at 3mm it should be ok to sell??
pete
My local dealer (T&C) advised me when I bought mine that if any tyre was below 4mm it was their policy to replace the tyres, so I had 2 new ones on the front before I picked it up.
Not sure if thats LR policy or down to individual garages.
2014.5 Discovery 4 HSE in Corris Grey Metallic - arriving this week.
2011 Range Rover Vogue 4.4 TDV8, now departing
2012 Freelander HSE SD4 Auto - Mrs UkDave104's Toy.
2010 Discovery 4 XS - gone
2008 Discovery 3 HSE - gone
2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4 - gone
well you pays your money ......etc...... i bought mine privately ,2 year old hse 08,....57,600,miles ? high miles full service hist,immac cond ,not a thing has gone wrong mechanically we havent broken down ,due service tomorrow,we went to france no bother at all ,i too was thinking of buying at dealers,but they want too much money ,i got a good deal ,and feel better there is still a warranty on it ,so anything goes wrong ,its down to them,2008 ,hse, it does what it says .
19th Sep 2010 8:46 pm
Ambo
Member Since: 28 Jun 2010
Location: Ventnor Isle of Wight
Posts: 262
I bought a 58 plate with 17000 miles on the clock form Marshalls at Melton Mowbray and have been very pleased with it, it was serviced 4 new tyres and valeted to a very high degree. I really cant fault it and love the damn thing! When I went to buy it I was extremely scruffy and the initial look was almost ^what are you doing in our beautiful showroom". However on stating exactly what I wanted, cash , no part exchange and I wasn't there to kick tyres I was treated almost like royalty!Nick
2009 D3 SE
Isle of Wight Steam Railway
26th Sep 2010 2:13 pm
ruggedpeak
Member Since: 10 Jun 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1625
Re: LR Approved Used Vehicle
pcregeen wrote:
Does any one know what standards the garages work to when preparing an approved used car for sale. I.e how many miles till next service before they are obliged to do one, how many months to MOT before they have to do it, how much tread on tyres before they should be replaced before sale.
To be blunt LR Approved means diddly squat - its just marketing drivel to justify paying more.
Your mate needs to treat it as if buying privately or from Arthur Daley's car lot. Whilst some dealers are good, others won't touch it before it goes out and hope you don't come back.
My mate just bought from main dealer and luckily found 2 condoms still in the packet under the 3rd row of seats before his wife did - after a supposed full valet Tony
Club RLD Wheel Protector & Sump Guard
Club 4x4 Info activated
26th Sep 2010 3:29 pm
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1929
Re: LR Approved Used Vehicle
[/quote]
To be blunt LR Approved means diddly squat - its just marketing drivel to justify paying more.
Your mate needs to treat it as if buying privately or from Arthur Daley's car lot. Whilst some dealers are good, others won't touch it before it goes out and hope you don't come back.
[/quote]
Yep - that's about the size of it. It's largely meaningless.
On checking my car from Lakeland (who had supposedly prep'd it) I picked up the fact that it was missing the rear cargo cover; the drivers door rubber was actually in pieces (not just bad, but in bits; impossible to miss) and a rear seatbelt was in tatters and would have been an MOT failure.
Now, they put all these things right before I took the car, but it shouldn't have been up to me to pick them up.
Treat like Arthur Daley and you're on the right track.
Do a full and very thorough inspection on your own without a salesman in your hair. Write out a list of what to check, etc and then negotiate.
As for tyres and service, I'd take nothing less than 4mm and about 4000 miles to next service.PAGODA
26th Sep 2010 4:20 pm
Q86ARR
Member Since: 23 Feb 2010
Location: Jersey
Posts: 379
LR Standard is to do a service if due within 3000 miles or 3 months from the date of doing the approved check.
And LR Standard is min 3mm on tyres (spare being 2mm).
The approved check all boils down to the ability\knoweldge of the tech, and also how much the sales department are prepared to spend on prepping the car!
Mine was given the "Check" before I bought it, but still failed the MOT a few months later for bushes (And had been an advisory the year before) - I didn't pay for the MOT or bushes!
It has since had the EPB replaced and 3 wheel bearings replaced. Just waiting for approval for the transfer box to be replaced - apparently its easier to do the whole box rather than stripping it to sort the leak out. Find that hard to believe, but as long as it's under warranty, I care not!
Oh, and I had it in april and have just done about 8 or 9K in it.Mark.
2006, D3 SE Auto - gone but not forgotten.
2014 BMW 530d M Sport Tourer.
1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500
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Looked at some pics I had taken a few days earlier on the forecourt and could see then that the tyre was not fully inflated, although I had not noticed it when I had viewed it and driven on local roads. The vehicle (I found out later), also leaked water through the tailgate window seal, had an oil leak, and a torque converter problem which I had asked them to fix, but they had done nothing with.I also believe that the vehicle had been 'clocked' as some things were certainly not in the condition I would have expected for a vehicle with only 8k on it. All in all, a pile of crap, and it went back to them under the 30 day dissatisfaction agreement, and I bought a new D3, and even they, I can tell you, are not without faults. Ask your mate to be very wary, check everything thoroughly and drive it under all possible conditions and if he doesn't know anything about these vehicles, take someone who does. 
I pushed him, sort of, towards the disco so would be good to make sure i help him as much as possible
well you pays your money ......etc...... i bought mine privately ,2 year old hse 08,....57,600,miles ? high miles full service hist,immac cond ,not a thing has gone wrong mechanically we havent broken down 
,due service tomorrow,we went to france no bother at all ,i too was thinking of buying at dealers,but they want too much money ,i got a good deal ,and feel better there is still a warranty on it ,so anything goes wrong ,its down to them,
