Help I'm at a loss and growing ever more frustrated with my garage. I bought the RR L405 2014 SDV8 from a dealer approx. 3 months ago with 75k on the clock with full service history, within a matter of 2 weeks at anything more the 2.5k rpm white smoke billowed from both tailpipes. Had the vehicle recovered and was diagnosed as predicted with a faulty secondary turbo. This was replaced under warranty and car returned to me, however after that time periodically when accelerating hard white smoke would appear, of which was presumed to be the car clearing its throat and nothing to worry about (words from garage not me), however this smoke would continue for a good few miles. Garage checked it and said all was fine with no fault found, however some 3 weeks later at a speed no greater than 15mph there was a clunk and a strange grinding noise and smoke billowed from the tailpipes, before I had chance to shut it down the engine went to max revs and accelerated the car without me even touching the throttle. I managed to stop the car and kill the engine via the stop/start button. Smoke at this time was coming from below the bonnet.

Car was recovered and taken to the garage and diagnosed with a primary turbo failure and possible engine damage due to being over revved. At that time the garage also informed me the primary turbo had been recently replaced with original LR part (before I got the car) and by another garage due to its outer condition and heat shield not being secured correctly.

Garage is unsure of why the secondary turbo failed, but have sent the primary away to be inspected and cause to be better understood.

Anybody have any ideas why this car keeps blowing turbos, as seemingly this will be the third replacement in a short period of time, and I suspect it may continue to blow them apart if cause is not found?

Could be oil starvation to the Turbo causing them to run dry and then failure. Or has it been given a bonkers re-map by a previous owner. The V8 diesels are normally pretty bomb proof 2021 L405 Vogue SE 4.4 V8 DIESEL ~ #17

I believe oil starvation was ruled out with the secondary turbo failure, and given the engine was running on oil injected into the motor on the primary turbo failure the garage does not believe it to be oil starvation on the primary turbo failure, however we are awaiting the report back from the turbo specialist.

I like you did think somebody may have remapped the ECU which was causing these failures, however the garage said not.

I'm currently thinking it maybe pressure related, either oil or air, neither of which the garage tell me can be checked from the ECU history, however I'm not convinced. From my thinking the more logical would be excessive oil pressure blowing turbo seals, and hence the intermittent smoking prior to the complete failure of the primary turbo during my ownership??

New engine and 2 new turbos, or reject the car

New short or long engine indeed maybe required, and most likely two new turbos....however the cost is massive at £15K for a long engine kit from Land Rover refurb (most of which are apparently new). The issue here is who is liable, the dealer or the garage for failing to diagnose the issue from the secondary turbo failure, which seemingly lead to the primary turbo issue and then subsequent engine damage.

At the moment the dealer is saying it has £5k warranty and not the £20k to cover the complete repair costs and the garage basically stated it was not there problem.

Does the secondary turbo have a twin oil drain? Early 2014 still had a single drain ex factory but may have had a twin drain retro-fitted or if later 2014 may have the factory-fitted slightly different twin drain.

Looks like a classic case for rejection ASAP to me, it will save you a world of pain

It has the revised twin drain setup apparently (first thing I checked for when the secondary turbo started smoking). Unfortunately simply rejecting the vehicle is proving tough, especially as dealership is blaming garage for poor diagnosis and subsequent damage.

Which is exactly why I would insist on rejection without delay. Don’t let the dealer fob you off trying to get off the hook with fine details and getting technical He sold you a car it broke down almost immediately, he fixed it and it broke down again, his problem the end.
This might seem harsh but don’t let him make it your problem get your money back.