So I'm trolling along the M25 on Saturday morning (on my way to see the boys at Skid Marques in Brentwood and have the four wheel alignment checked) at about 70ish I pull out behind a Disco 4 which is overtaking me (well you would wouldn't you?) and accelerate a bit when suddenly there is a sensation a bit like hitting the rev limiter or slipping out of gear. It is only momentary and then all is normal again. No further occurrences until I am well on my way home and having pulled off M25 onto an uphill slip road and slowing down for the roundabout when it happens again but this time a bit more violent and a bit of a noise from somewhere below; sounded as if someone had dropped a bolt into the gearbox but again just momentary, no prolonged noises. A bit of a brown trousers moment TBH. Then normal service resumed again.

Anybody else had these symptoms?

Vehicle only has 33k. The threads on here only seem to suggest a gearbox oil change and/or software reflash as possible solutions to transmission issues. I've spoken to a very helpful man at Bristol Transmissions (highly recommended on the "Pikey site") who doesn't think a transmission oil change is likely to help and recommended I have the fault codes, if any, read by a local LR dealer or specialist and get back to them with the information. A quick dip of the transmission fluid to see its colour was also discussed - if it is black and nasty then something is definitely wrong. Job for this weekend I think.

BTW Four wheel alignment check done by Skid Marques showed just the tiniest bit toe out at one rear corner which they corrected. Total cost a very reasonable £30. Highly recommended. 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

Sorry to hear about your gearbox woes, hope it's easily sorted

Skid Marques are great, I unfortunately have to pay them another visit after being forced up a kerb but some twunt the other week - car has now got a tendancy to drift towards the left.

Last time I was there, they did a great job and the car drove as straight as an arrow.  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

something very similar happened to me in a BMW M6, especially the 'sounds like a bolt' part - a few miles later the transmission blewup.. hello £9k BMW warranty job

 ============
2010 TDV8 HSE - ooo laa laaaaaaaaa
2007 TDV8 HSE - superb car and very reliable
============
2012 - dearly departed, sadly missed.. to return in late 2013 with a new TDV8!

could be a worn locator pin? RRS gone
Audi SQ5...Gone Audi Q7 S-Line 240 3.0TDI Gone
Audi A6 Allroad Sport 270 3.0TDI

Thanks for the suggestions although rrsboy's story is not very encouraging I have to say . What does the locator pin locate? It seems there are an awful lot of systems that can input information to the transmission and at the moment I'm hoping it is one of these that is not working properly. One of the systems is steering input and can it be coincidence that on both occasions the rough shift occurred shortly after a bit of steering input? I've read that the first thing to do when investigating engine management problems is to check and clean all the connector plugs and wonder if the same applies to transmission management systems? 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

A quick update on the transmission symptom: had a long-established auto transmission specialist drive the RRS and check for fault codes about a month ago but the symptom wouldn't manifest itself on the test drive and there were no fault codes found. The guy said the shifting (ironically) was the smoothest he could remember. We agreed that I probably had nothing to lose by changing the gearbox oil and filter and am planning to have this done shortly using the kit that can be widely found at parts specialists which includes an LR pan and filter and correct ZF Lifeguard oil. HOWEVER and this is the weird part - the rough shift which happens about once per longish trip seems to be diminishing in severity each time it occurs. Happened once yesterday on the M25 at about 55 mph crossing those numerous lanes to get off at J14 and it was really nowhere near as harsh as previous occassions . Is it possible that previous owner did all short trips and the box is gradually feeing up after rarely getting into top gear? Or is that just wishful thinking?
Have to confess I have been doing mostly v short trips myself recently
Didn't happen at all on the way home later even tho' tried to induce it with a bit of spirited driving .(although I did get the dreaded 'HDC fault system not available' for the first time whilst just rolling along lane three at about 50-60 ish - which I don't think is related and is probably a battery or alternator issue? Have the brilliant CTEK charging the battery right now so we'll see) 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

Might be worth having the gearbox reset and transfer box recalibrated.  Bodsys Brake Bible
Software Updates Contact me
RRS Timed Heat/Remote kits - Contact me
BAS Engine Re-maps/ EGR Blank EuIII and EuIV
Clock On The Dash/ SNOTM /3Flash / BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes read\ Gearbox Reset
See it HERE

Bodsy,
Yes please! You have a PM 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE