Hi,

Not sure if anyone is following the journey of this chap on YouTube as he works his way seemingly through the often painful experience of Range Rover content. But is latest venture has got me wondering is he brave or just foolish for taking on what appears to be major surgery:


Having seen some of the pain others have gone through to fix a terminally ill engine, and given this poor chaps rather “Heath Robinson” approach to vehicle repairs the question I have is this;

Does he actually have a chance of fixing this within his budget?

You might need to watch a couple of his subsequent videos but you certainly can’t fault his drive and determination but I wonder whether that’s going to be enough to overcome what is clearly a deeply technical challenge.

Thoughts?

From watching far too many car-related YT videos, I've concluded, it's all about views.

Create a video on a popular topic which seems hopeless. The popular car attracts views and the hopeless side allows numerous videos to be created.

This will attract sponsors to their channel. As long as the car is popular, the more foolish it seems the better. Often, the money is made from the video sponsors and ads rather than the car itself.

I remember when Salvage Rebuilds bought a RRS with a dead engine and did an engine swap. Their channel at the time was a similar size to his and it took off, I think they have about 330k subscribers now.

At the moment on social media, RR's are to cars what Apple is to tech. Viewers love them.

Hats off to him though, he's putting in the work and taking the risks. 2024 P550e Autobiography
2016MY TDV6 Autobiography - Gone
2011MY 5.0 SC Autobiography Black - Gone
2005 TD6 Vogue - Gone

All true but YouTube nonsense aside, will he fix it or is it too big an ask for an amateur?

Jon

I'm sure it can be fixed but I won't be watching it, the endless drivel drives me nuts.

It's a bit of a bore really.

Nearly every video now starts with please subscribe and hit like even before the videos been on a more than a few minutes.

I realise people do want to be paid for their creativity, but it's all getting a bit repetitive, as mentioned earlier in the thread, it's all starting to follow a very specific formula.

Are they wanting rewarding for something they're doing that's interesting to them, or are they just picking a subject because it's a proven recipe for success. I reluctantly suspect the latter.

I've never actually clicked on any of them, probably never will.

A. Fuji White / Jet 2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster

One of the automotive You Tubers that I watch, can't remember which, admitted that he loses his shirt on the cars he "salvages" but the YT ad revenue and merch sales more than make up for it.

Matt Armstrong is a perfect example of this YT trajectory:
Fix cars on driveway as hobby
Film it on you tube for 'n'gigz
View and subscriber count starts increasing
"Great news guys, I've managed to purchase a workshop"
"Great news guys, thanks to all of you, I've managed to give up my day job, from now on its all YT"

And its at this point imo that the quality suffers as they start chasing "Likes and subscribes"

Edit: Oh and of course, the awful mid-roll adverts for Car Vertical and such like. ---------------------------------
2008 L322 Supercharged
2007 Porsche 987 Boxster S
2021 BMW iX3

I think it's too much to ask of an amateur, though. I wish him luck.

I now avoid all YT RR content; it's unbearable. Click-bait videos posted by clueless halfwits jumping on the current RR repair craze.

The only exception would be if Harry did another L322 video. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster - Baltic Blue, Jet interior
1997 P38 2.5 DSE auto & 1998 P38 2.5 DT Manual
1988 Vogue 3.5 EFI - Manual, gone.
2004 Volvo C70 2.0T convertible, had since new.
2007 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport Roadster/Coupé, had since new.
2024 Mini Cooper S cabrio, JCW kit, 2.0, DCT auto

From the fact he only just recently purchased a 200 piece Halford's socket set, I'd say he's not got a lot of experience working on cars. I think he openly admits this.

So, I don't think he's got much of a chance on his own. No doubt he'll pull it off though, with some help.

Not a channel for me, YT has reached saturation point with this sort of stuff surely? 1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
2014 Disco 4 HSE
===================
Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)

TDV8_Tommy wrote:

I think it's too much to ask of an amateur, though. I wish him luck.

Assuming it's spun a big end shell, I think it's a bit too big of an ask for a virgin amateur. Unless he just swaps the motor with a second hand unit, then doable. Rebuild the motor? No.

I'd probably have a go if I had a workshop with lift, though. 2012 Vogue TDV8 in Aintree green over sand

That engine knock is going to take some fairly specialist work to get sorted.

I hope he can sort it or he's going to be listing a car on eBay as stripped, needs new engine and reassembly.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

If you want a laugh at someone trying to resurect the dead with little more than a Halfords tool kit then check out NEV.

https://www.youtube.com/@NotEconomicallyViable

He literally used to do his thing on his driveway in the rain, but I guess due to the success of his channel he's now got a workshop with ramps etc so it's somewhat lost it's charm

A fine example of internet success breaking a winning formulae.

A. Fuji White / Jet 2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster

I also watch him, it’s the “have a go” attitude that is likeable and combined with projects that you can realistically see yourself giving a go that’s makes it interesting.

In keeping with the theme of the thread though he also repaired a rather “dead” L322 that was bought as a crash damaged car. Very good watch.

But I think our young man referenced in the OP is sadly going to end up in a world of pain emotionally and financially - could be wrong.

J

Aw man, You guys are putting me off my idea of doing YouTube videos where I spend hours working on the car but getting nothing achieved! I've had plenty of practice at it!