Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum as I recently purchased my first RangeRover Vogue 2011 4.4 TDV8 from an Carpart auction. I took a bit of a gamble on it as it only looked like a faulty starter. However when the car was delivered to me last week, I quickly realised that the extent of damage is much worse. Upon opening the oil cap, I was horrified to find a massive build up of oil sludge which tells me that either the engine wasn't serviced for a very long time and/or it had a coolant leak which caused the sludge build up. Either way, I tried hand cranking the engine through the pulley but I couldn't move it which makes me believe that it's seized. The car has done 135k miles. This means that now I have couple of options, 1) try selling for spares 2) replace the engine.
I have been repairing and maintaining all my cars for 15years (only needing to go to a garage for tyre fittings), so I'm quite comfortable with most car/motorbike work, however given the size and challenge of removing the engine from these cars, I feel that this job will have to be outsourced to a garage with a ramp. I was hoping whether you guys could give me your opinion on this and also any recommendations on a reliably garage that could do the engine swap in my area (Brackley, Northamptonshire). I paid £5k for the car and apart from the (seemingly) blown engine, it looks to be in good order so I am currently inclined to have it fixed. However I understand why some of you might say that it's probably not worth the hassle. Either way, I have been waiting to buy this car for a long time, so having one in my driveway but not being able to drive it/fix it myself is 'driving' me crazy Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Last edited by PeterRRVogue on 22nd Jan 2022 5:04pm. Edited 1 time in total

I think you've posted in the wrong section.

Being a 2011 car, I suspect you'd get better answers in the L322 section, rather than the L405 section. Current:
- 2017 L405 3.0 V6 Autobiography
Sold:
- 2013 L405 4.4 TDV8 Vogue
- 2004 L322 4.4 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 2002 L322 4.4 HSE (having fixed timing chain guides)
- 2000 P38 4.6 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 1981 2-door In-Vogue
- 1980 Ex-Army SIII LWB
- 1976 SIII LWB
- 1968 SIIA
Stripped for parts:
- 2003 L322 4.4 Vogue

If you only paid 5K for it I'd have an exchange engine fitted. Have you had a quote for an engine plus fitting?

That's what I am currently thinking too. However looking around, the second hand used engines seem to sell for around £7k + fitting; if I go down the route of a reconditioned engine (engine only so no turbos, etc) they seem to be around £5k incl. fitting (on exchange basis). With the reconditioned turbos and all, it might be close to £7k if not more. These are just prices I've found on eBay so ballpark really, as I haven't ready called anyone yet.

Zebedee wrote:

I think you've posted in the wrong section.

Being a 2011 car, I suspect you'd get better answers in the L322 section, rather than the L405 section.

Defo get an exchange engine / engine repair if you only paid £5k. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Speak to Mick Loughran at Loughran’s of Towcester (opposite Tesco).

There’s not much he doesn’t know about LR product - I’ve known him and used them for (ahem...) around 30 years so dread to think how much I’ve spent there over the years!

Thanks for the tip "LiftedDisco". Never been to Loughran's as I'm fairly new to the area, but will pop in on Monday to speak to Mick. Do you know whether they would be able to do the engine swap as they seem to be a tyre shop..

The tyre shop bit is closest to the A5 - the bays at the far end (ie nearest to where you drive into their yard) is just LR stuff and they are stupidly busy.

Getting booked in may actually be your biggest challenge!

Good luck...

Thanks! I’ll pop in tomorrow, but more I’m thinking about it (mostly from the financial perspective) I might be better off just getting another one and sell this one for spares.. it just doesn’t look like I can do an engine rebuild for less than £8k. Even used engines that I can find are selling for £7k + labour..

May be worth more as a working car in today's used car market. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Thanks 'JayGee'. Looking at prices of 2011 used Vogues on ebay/Autotrader, I don't think that's the case. If i spend north of £7-8k on the engine that brings the cost of this car to 12-13k before sorting out a few little bits and pieces that might inevitable crop up once the car actually drives. And i doubt the car will be worth more than £13-14k if I try to sell private.

Fair point as long as you can sell the parts for the same as you paid for it. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)