Well, that didn’t work out. So difficult to find a genuine car and a genuine owner 👎
Had to do 5 hour round trip to find that the car the guy bought for his girlfriend with fsh (the car, not the girlfriend) actually turned out to be a small time dealer who’d bought it from an auction.
Fortunately whilst trying to find a way to back out and have my deposit returned, while we stood deliberating why the tailgate won’t open there was an almighty PTSSSSSSSSS, and the front suspension collapsed ! Never to rise again, not even with Viagra !
So the hunt continues……

I reckon you'll be lucky to find a really good TD6 now, there will be some good ones about but these tend to be the cars that folks will keep forever.
You've had your 3.6 for about a year so will know it well by now, if it is a sound car you could get a pair of turbos/EGR valves fitted and change the oil regularly then you will know that you've got a well sorted car that's unlikely to kick you in the financial nuts again.
IMHO once you've had a 3.6 the 3.0 will disappoint, the 3.0 was/is a good car but the 3.6 was a big leap forward in many many ways and buying a 15 to 20 year old car is always going to be a gamble.

Hear where you’re coming from Cass.
With respect to the V8 it’s partly the trauma of finding someone reliable and competent to do the work.
I’ve done all my own motorcycle maintenance to complete engine rebuilds, but I’m not a car person, I don’t have the knowledge or who to trust. Experience has never been good.
Unless anyone on here can give a first hand recommendation of someone around Canterbury, north east Kent ???
I’ve “found” a ONE owner, 80k miles, FSH, TD6 I’m considering but need to establish what maintenance is required at that milage and if it’s been done.

Try Discovery Garage near Whitstable 01227 277833.

The guys that run it are ex:LR from around the time your car was built.

They usually have a 2/3 week lead time though.

However, they are just 5minute walk from a railway station.

No connection other than a satisfied customer.

Excellent start Sam. Thank you.
I’ll be on to them in the morning

Looking for clarity as I’m (easily !) confused.
Earlier in this string it’ll be seen that my L322 refused to start until the ‘top turbo’ pipes were removed.
I know understand this is one end of the the short metal pipe that links the EGR valves to the plastic intake manifolds.
My confusion lies in that I’ve heard talk and seen video that physically blanks off these ports without interfering with the running of the car ?