So where are all the first impressions? (right here)

[James]

Finally, someone being 'more honest' about the RHD footrest issue (I think a few others also deep down hate it and are secretly scared by owning LRs where truth telling was frowned upon) - flame suit on! My wife today said, "I always have to move my foot". Other than that, love the truck!

Yeah- why are people who dont feel the same as you about it being dishonest?

 

[Mitchell300]

Hi Mitchell, They did a fix of sorts, not 100% but better than it was and the panel gap is more even, I understand it was just a degree of shoving, the panel is fixed in the middle and the extremities are just "sitting there ".

The new issue is water coming through the roof into the cargo bay where three of the fixing points for the roof grab rails are not waterproof, In on the 5th December to have that looked at

The droopy petrol [Diesel] filler cap cover remains to be sorted as does the off set steering wheel [ it is in the 1 oclock position when the wheels are straight ahead and the rear door which continually say they are open even when tight shut. all down to be fixed on the 5th Dec, mind you that will be the 3rd attempt on the rear doors. watch this space...

Thanks for the reply, sorry to hear about the ongoing problems.

 

[lightning]

My experience of yesterday, going off road in a very wet field was not as expected. Drove onto field in order to check all three difflocks worked. Good news was yes, they all worked. Bad news, sank up to axles in soft mud. Three hours of hard work in extracting myself. One mudguard ripped off but otherwise, all seems OK.

Same with my new Defender
Drove across a field to get to a job, yeah the Defender will be fine, with all the tech.

Erm, no. Axle deep in mud at least l had a decent tow rope so the farmer could tow me with his tractor.

 

[beanohallett]

Thanks for the reply, sorry to hear about the ongoing problems.

Just one of those things - still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it so in that respect its worth its weight in gold

 

[xychix]

I thought someone mentioned here in the last day or so that they are a European compound and softer than those supplied to US and I assume Aus markets.

I'd doubt that.

I ran the older KO's on my hilux and did 115K km's on them and still had 6+mm thread left (original was 13mm)
Thereafter a set of KO2's drove them for ~75k km's but as they got a bit slippy and noisy I decided to move on (plenty of thread left for normal driving) and have Cooper STT/Max (hybrid) on my lux

 

[Maxwell]

I have rather mixed feelings now. After the first 30 kilometres driven (got the car with about 150 km on the odo, after 10 months at the dealer and several issues fixed), the yellow engine light came on. It’s still on, although the batteries are at 95%. I also get the impression that I smell exhaust fumes within the passenger cabin. Also, the door seals come loose. The engine and drive train have strong vibrations in some speed ranges and when accelerating from 100 km/h at the latest. Now, 300 km on the odo. Hope that the issues can be fixed. Otherwise, I will return the car and ask for a refund.

 

[FlyingTexan]

I have rather mixed feelings now. After the first 30 kilometres driven (got the car with about 150 km on the odo, after 10 months at the dealer and several issues fixed), the yellow engine light came on. It’s still on, although the batteries are at 95%. I also get the impression that I smell exhaust fumes within the passenger cabin. Also, the door seals come loose. The engine and drive train have strong vibrations in some speed ranges and when accelerating from 100 km/h at the latest. Now, 300 km on the odo. Hope that the issues can be fixed. Otherwise, I will return the car and ask for a refund.

Sounds like you’ve received a lemon. Sorry you’ve had to go through all that :-(

 

[trobex]

I have rather mixed feelings now. After the first 30 kilometres driven (got the car with about 150 km on the odo, after 10 months at the dealer and several issues fixed), the yellow engine light came on. It’s still on, although the batteries are at 95%. I also get the impression that I smell exhaust fumes within the passenger cabin. Also, the door seals come loose. The engine and drive train have strong vibrations in some speed ranges and when accelerating from 100 km/h at the latest. Now, 300 km on the odo. Hope that the issues can be fixed. Otherwise, I will return the car and ask for a refund.

Ah to confirm I had fuel/burning diesel/burning oil/lubricants odours in the first week also... but gone at week two. Just in case you're wondering.

 

[Chris P]

1000kms in, loving it.
Minor issues:
- one of the rear parking sensors faults to detecting a very close object despite there being nothing.
- fuel gauge vs distance remaining, quarter of a tank and the red lights are on saying 70km remaining..... come on ineos
- turning to the right and the steering creaks, not sure what is catching but it only appeared about 500km in and is getting worse.
I guess I have the latest update for the media system as there has not been any incorrect warning lights or media issues.
Love the driving position, visibility to the front corners, the fact that when I check over my shoulder I'm actually looking out the back window.
Yet to get off road, hopefully this weekend!
No regrets, well maybe not ticking yes on safari windows but time will tell. Sitting back it is dark and relaxing in cabin without the top windows.

 

[JOB]

As posted elsewhere, our diesel Station Wagon is in for some repairs and I have kindly been loaned another Grenadier, only powered by the B58 petrol motor.

It is the first other Grenadier I have driven on the road, and the first I’ve tried with this motor. For completeness I will add I’m no stranger to the BMW I6 petrols having had both M135i and M2.

When I first fired it up the noise while on choke is quite pleasant and true to the cars philosophy feels very old school and analogue. On takeoff I noticed that this car (fitted with KO2s and alloys, we’re on Bridgestones and steelies) has noticeably lighter steering. Other than possibly less unsprung weight I can’t work out why this would be the case. Any suggestions appreciated as I think this car steers better than ours.

Comparing B58 and B57 is not like comparing chalk and cheese. The petrol has slightly better initial response but notably less “go” below 3k rpm, they even seem to sound about the same when under light load. Run the B58 out and it does give a nice sound but nothing like I have experienced in other BMW applications. I’m not complaining, as that’s not the point, but 6 cylinder engines sound so lovely I would like to hear a bit more. Overall, I can’t see any reason to have the petrol model over the diesel (for our use case) and am super pleased that both engines share amazing smoothness and great power delivery. I hope they prove reliable over the long run as these BMW motors are just superb.

Other observations and differences - no centre armrest, reverse camera or front sensors are a chore but no heated mirror glasses in 2023 is simply a safety oversight. I can’t believe they aren’t standard fit and am so glad to have opted for the power and heated mirrors.

I have enjoyed my flirt with another Grenadier but am looking forward to picking the Green Gren up next week.

 

[rovie]

Gradually, driving reports on the Grenadier are also being published in off-road trade journals. I can only talk about Germany at the moment. But I also know of comparable magazines in France.
On 25 January 2024, the German magazine 4x4 action will publish a report on a vehicle from a reader of the magazine. Allegedly, he was one of the first to optimise the vehicle individually. I think I've even seen the licence plate here in the forum before.
@Stu_Barnes , should we create a separate thread under media for reports from magazines?

 

[YellowLab]

Gradually, driving reports on the Grenadier are also being published in off-road trade journals. I can only talk about Germany at the moment. But I also know of comparable magazines in France.
On 25 January 2024, the German magazine 4x4 action will publish a report on a vehicle from a reader of the magazine. Allegedly, he was one of the first to optimise the vehicle individually. I think I've even seen the licence plate here in the forum before.
@Stu_Barnes , should we create a separate thread under media for reports from magazines?

Great idea to have a separate section

 

[matt34]

I’ve just got back from six hours driving today in mine - nothing exciting, sadly.

However, I too struggled to get the HVAC to work consistently to a set temperature. I noticed after a while that when you turn the temp dial, it shows the temp (in degrees) on the central screen for a few seconds. However, pressing the Auto button, didn’t hold the temperature. It just kept blowing cold air. Switch off the Auto button, and it blew hot air - without changing the temperature.

Would love to hear if anyone has mastered it.

I also had a few software issues, with a few spurious warnings (Climate Control, PDC, a few others). Turned on and off a few times, some persisted, others cleared. Then I tried switching the ignition on and leaving the car for about 30 seconds. Seemed to go through all its checks. Then I started it. No more spurious warnings, for the three hour journey home.

Might be worth giving it a try and see what happens.

Finally, I have zero vibration at any rpm. Just smooth all the way through.

Hope this helps

Hello Highwayman,

Were you or your dealer ever able to solve the issue with the temperature settings on your HVAC? Mine has the exact same issue. The dealer has been unable to advise or fix. Just curious if you are still dealing with it. Thank you.

 

[Highwayman]

Hello Highwayman,

Were you or your dealer ever able to solve the issue with the temperature settings on your HVAC? Mine has the exact same issue. The dealer has been unable to advise or fix. Just curious if you are still dealing with it. Thank you.

Hello @matt34

Probably like many others, I’ve developed a “coping strategy”!

My dealer spent a good deal of time (days) bleeding the cooling system to ensure there were no airlocks. When this was finished, I could get hot air through HVAC - a step forward.

I always have the air con switched on. In my damp climate, it dries everything out quickly, even in winter.

If it’s cold outside I set the temperature to warm (23/24 degrees) but make sure “Auto” is NOT selected on the climate control. This allows the car to warm up thoroughly. If it starts to get too hot, I press “Auto”, but leave the temperature setting alone, and typically it starts to cool the car down. If it gets too cold, I switch Auto off again, and so on.

It’s hardly ideal, but it sort of works for me.

My dealer is aware of the issue, but tells me there is no fix at the moment.

I have had two occasions where it pumped out hot air no matter what settings I had. Solution was to stop, switch off, allow the system to reset for a minute, then start again and it reverted to “normal”.

Again hardly ideal, but that’s how I cope with it.

Hope that helps

 

[JOB]

If it’s cold outside I set the temperature to warm (23/24 degrees) but make sure “Auto” is NOT selected on the climate control. This allows the car to warm up thoroughly. If it starts to get too hot, I press “Auto”, but leave the temperature setting alone, and typically it starts to cool the car down. If it gets too cold, I switch Auto off again, and so on.

It’s hardly ideal, but it sort of works for me.

My dealer is aware of the issue, but tells me there is no fix at the moment.

I have had two occasions where it pumped out hot air no matter what settings I had. Solution was to stop, switch off, allow the system to reset for a minute, then start again and it reverted to “normal”.

Again hardly ideal, but that’s how I cope with it.

Our car was off the road from December until April with climate control issues - it did not cool in summer or warm in winter. The whole system was inop.

We waited until March for a fix but Ineos have tried pretty much everything (including an entirely new HVAC unit, dash out and the lot), still no joy.

We have now been refunded as they can’t fix the car. I wouldn’t criticise an individuals choice, but driving to work all winter in thermals, a woolly hat and gloves is not acceptable to me in a brand new vehicle!

N.B. I believe the issue affects only diesel models.

 

[Cheshire cat]

Our car was off the road from December until April with climate control issues - it did not cool in summer or warm in winter. The whole system was inop.

We waited until March for a fix but Ineos have tried pretty much everything (including an entirely new HVAC unit, dash out and the lot), still no joy.

We have now been refunded as they can’t fix the car. I wouldn’t criticise an individuals choice, but driving to work all winter in thermals, a woolly hat and gloves is not acceptable to me in a brand new vehicle!

N.B. I believe the issue affects only diesel models.

I am having similar issues in my diesel model but thankfully, no where near the level of discomfort you have suffered. It does however, very much have a mind of its own.

 

[Flinthills]

I also have the same issues. Obviously a gas model, wish it was a diesel. Some days it is like the volume knob, move it slightly one way or the other, and you are either freezing or burning up. It is frustrating, but I am being patient. Went into this deal fully knowing that it is a brand new company and car, so there will be speed bumps.

 

[ADVAW8S]

I also have the same issues. Obviously a gas model, wish it was a diesel. Some days it is like the volume knob, move it slightly one way or the other, and you are either freezing or burning up. It is frustrating, but I am being patient. Went into this deal fully knowing that it is a brand new company and car, so there will be speed bumps.

Have you had a/C refrigerate added to both tanks and then air bubbles bleeded?

 

[Flinthills]

Have you had a/C refrigerate added to both tanks and then air bubbles bleeded?

No I have not. Biggest reason is dealer location to me. Mine is 500 miles away.

 

[Coullabus]

No I have not. Biggest reason is dealer location to me. Mine is 500 miles away.

Know the feeling. My nearest service partner is 3hours to get to the mainland, then a 3½ hour drive.