Thread: D4 3.0 SDV6 catastrophic failure

Originally Posted by goldey

Yep, happened last weekend on the way back from the beach. Cruising along and then all of a sudden, knock knock knock engine stops. Coast to a stop and hop out and look under the hood. I get my son to start it and there's a wild old bang bang bang in the engine. Shut it off straight away and wait for NRMA to attend though I know in my heart what has happened. No warning signs, no indications on the dash, oil level is fine and no coolant loss or overheating.

NRMS are none the wiser and speculate that you've got some big end noise there pal, do you think? Towed to the nearest stelaership where a couple of days later (and a few hundred dollars poorer) we get the definite verdict that the crank and/or crank bearings have rotated and on the last attempt to start the motor as part of the diagnosis work the engine locks up permanently, won't even move with a breaker bar on the crank....

We've had the D4 since November last year and it's been flawless till last weekend. It has just clocked up 160,000kms. The previous owner had the front and rear belts done before we bought it (at 152k kms).

Now the options that I might need some help with gents:

• Brand new motor from LR $40k (yeah right );
• Replacement reco motor using all of our existing ancillaries for less than $20k (concern about our turnbos and injectors??); or
• Low mileage second hand unit (if I can find one) for maybe about $15k to $20k.

The other option is we cut our losses and scrap it with the local wreckers (not preferred). At this stage I'm inclined toward a good second hand unit.

What say ye wise people?

I am aware of a 2011 D4 here in WA that had a similar failure. I know the owner. The owner did ask the question of Land Rover via the selling dealer. In my discussions with him he advised that LR did come to the party with approximately 50% of the total cost. Mind you this still ended up costing around the $22k mark for a brand new LR 3.0L engine fitted. He also advised that he had serviced the vehicle to the schedule (in fact better than was suggested by the schedule) albeit via an independent LR specialist and this service history documentation showing that the correct oil was used throughout the life of the vehicle proved (in his opinion) to be all important. These facts coupled with representations from the selling dealer no doubt assisted. The owner also took a 'matter of fact' approach and was careful not to be 'aggressive' in his dealings. All considered if it was my vehicle (my 3.0L 2011 D4 is approaching the 300,000km mark) and I had the full service history to back me up I would ask the question of LR and be a bit persistent. If that fails then I would certainly look at an exchange engine. There are a few places in the UK that re manufacture these engines and I had been considering that as an option should I need one. I don't know much about what is being offered here in Aus but would give them a look in and if I felt comfortable with their re manufacture process it could be a good option. Others that are more mechanical than I could comment on the turbo's etc.

*160,000km seems to be the magic death number for either the early 2.7lt or the 3.0lt failures.
*a Discovery 4 3.0lt failure unfortunately is an expensive repair for owners.

*And people bag me (mostly Land Rover fan boys) because in good conscience I cant recommend Land Rovers as a vehicle to purchase.
*What they dont see or have to deal with is the human side of major engine failures with Land Rover models. Owners that suddenly have no vehicle for family use and have to deal with the huge expense of repairs that they simple cant afford and end up borrowing from a friend or relative or maxing out some line of credit.

*If I didnt have to deal with the personal hardship this causes owners none of this would bother me.
*This is something a large dealership doesnt have to deal with, throw out a figure and see if the customers rolls with it or not, I've seen quotes of $50K from dealerships.

Originally Posted by DazzaTD5

*160,000km seems to be the magic death number for either the early 2.7lt or the 3.0lt failures.

My 05 D3 is doing ok then - 344,000km on the original engine so far

Originally Posted by DazzaTD5

*And people bag me (mostly Land Rover fan boys) because in good conscience I cant recommend Land Rovers as a vehicle to purchase.

Mine will be for sale in the next month or so,and i have a good mate who wants it.
It has taken quite a few months to talk him out of it.

If i get less for it,have to advertise it,i don't care,at least we will still be mates.

Good chance the engine will be fine,being a 2.7,D4,but its all the other expensive repairs,he won't be happy about.

Originally Posted by LGM

I don't know much about what is being offered here in Aus but would give them a look in and if I felt comfortable with their re manufacture process it could be a good option. Others that are more mechanical than I could comment on the turbo's etc.

There is a mob offering rebuilt 3L TDV6/SDV6 in NSW. See post #7 and 8 for details.

It is on an exchange basis so I would imagine any damaged parts (such as damaged crank or rods) would be extra’s. And of course have to add removal/fitting.

Good to have options though.

DiscoMickey on the UK RRS and Disco3 sites is finding a common issue with failed 3.0 engines - in his business it is low engine oil where the dash system is not showing a low reading, often combined with owner neglect to proactively check oil levels.

The is a post there now, not by him where the vehicle suffered an engine failure and it only had 750ml of engine oil in the engine.

Originally Posted by 101RRS

DiscoMickey on the UK RRS and Disco3 sites is finding a common issue with failed 3.0 engines - in his business it is low engine oil where the dash system is not showing a low reading, often combined with owner neglect to proactively check oil levels.

The is a post there now, not by him where the vehicle suffered an engine failure and it only had 750ml of engine oil in the engine.

My experience on the 2.7D is that the oil burn between 6 month changes at 230k kms is negligible. I’ve never topped off.

Originally Posted by 101RRS

DiscoMickey on the UK RRS and Disco3 sites is finding a common issue with failed 3.0 engines - in his business it is low engine oil where the dash system is not showing a low reading, often combined with owner neglect to proactively check oil levels.

The is a post there now, not by him where the vehicle suffered an engine failure and it only had 750ml of engine oil in the engine.

One of the first things that the LR dealer checked was the oil level. It was due to be changed (was planning on doing it the coming weekend so I could baseline 10,000km oil changes at the 160k km mark), but the oil level reading showed midway between half and full.