Yeah, I wouldn't want the V6, it's underpowered. I guess I was thinking more of the V8 supercharged petrol but I guess that's tons of work given it's a diesel.

Sounds like I have to decide between QP, a breaker engine but only if I can get the number, or scrapping... No idea what to do. It's unbelievable really that a £150,000 V8 diesel car with 55k miles is potentially almost worthless.

Chef45 wrote:

So sorry to hear that, No, it's 2017, so out of warranty. I love it and have looked after it well - did a 3 stage paint correction myself. If you can't get a reliable engine though, maybe I'm better of scrapping

Wow. I had no idea these issues were so common! I really thought the engine was bulletproof - I've always been concerned about suspension. Little did I know.

I also don't know the extent of the damage but most of the replacements seem to come with turbos. No idea what I'd get as a non-runner but given it won't be much, I'd more or less decided to put a new engine in it and run it forever. BUT only if I can get an engine I can trust - not going to do this twice. As I have a new car now, it'll just be a run around.

Same here, I went with the SDV8 as back then they had a brilliant reputation, it seems more lately there are quite a few failures being reported, but on the whole it is a good engine. I never got to what caused mine to fail and everything was checked. I can only hypothesise that in it's earlier life it suffered oil dilution and that started the ball rolling towards total failure.

Non runner prices are ridiculous as people in the trade know the position you're in. I decided to repair mine myself as it's now a known quantity and I can only hope that seeing as I did everything exactly to the book using all genuine parts it will last me a good while. L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

Thanks for your advice. Right now, I'm leaning towards a breaker if they can supply an engine number and history. Somehow it feels less risky than a badly reconditioned one. Dunno what I'd get as a non runner but let's say £10k - it's worth more than that to me as a weekend car, so can't see the point in selling it - it's got more than £10k's worth of leather!!

Depending upon spec & whether it's a facelift 2017 model or pre-facelift model I'd say if you got £10K you would be doing very, very well. I've seen 2016 models go for £6K.

I'd agree with the breaker route, at least (hopefully) it hasn't been messed with, that was my route but failed trying to get any assurances of mileage & history and hence went with plan B. From what I recall most breaker units were around the £7-9K range, In my mind I'd beware of any who want your old engine in exchange as that in itself tells you they are rebuilding them. Ideally you want an engine out of an accident damged car that can be proven to be out of that vehicle, not one they've just bodged together and are trying to sell as out of a breaker. It really is a minefield. L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

To use an engine from a breaker, you really need to have the sump removed to check that the crankshaft journals are in good condition but if a journal is damaged then to be able to reject/return the engine. Once confirmed that the journals are OK then replace the mains and big-ends then change the oil regularly.

Thanks so much GraemeS. I'm a bit out of my depth. What would you do, in my position?

Totally agree with GraemeS, just try getting them to agree to that though!! L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

Last edited by 4RRS on 14th Nov 2024 3:08pm. Edited 1 time in total

Have you thought about cutting out the breaker and looking for a complete write off then recovering what you can selling the bits you don’t need?

I think that was the route Cam tech Craig took and all ended well for him. Obviously if you've got to pay someone to do it, there's a fair few hours in labour involved.

Supply of breaker engines are not that plentiful as the 448DT was only ever used in the 405 and 494 so there's not that many options, unlike the SDV6 where you can go with the LR offerings or a Jag Xe/XF and a sump change etc. L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

I recalled that someone had done that.
Unfortunately I think that you’re right about the labour cost. It pretty much makes any repair unviable unless there’s some DIY involved.
Will the 4.4 from the L322 not fit?

It's effectively the same engine in the L322, as much as the block, crank and pistons go. I'm not sure about heads and cams as the engine was only Euro 4 emissions so there wil be emmission related differences and possibly cam profiles will come into that also. Certainly as a short block replacement you could use the L322 as a donor. L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

Excuse me if I'm completly going in the wrong direction here, but there seems to be lots of crankshafts for sale online, some just for the crankshaft, some with all the pistons, shells, gaskets etc, some upgraded crankshafts.
Ignore this if it is not what you are looking for.

Try keeping an eye on this few

https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/64949694/clea...-rove-york

https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/70939384/clea...verhampton

https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/68785734/clea...er-sp-york