Anyone know of a good indy that can repair a failed oil cooler in and around Bournemouth/Christchurch area?

TLDR;

So purchased the car in July, the next day driving along the M40 clouds of steam started to waffle over the bonnet and then the low coolant warning came on. Pulled off the M40 at Banbury and parked up in the Texaco garage there.

Lifted the bonnet and found the coolant reservoir had aquired quite a lot of oil, there had been no smke from the rear and lifting the oil cap thankfully no meringue to be seen. Called the garage who said its probably the oil cooler bring it back and we'll fix it.

Took it back they gave me "courtesy car" whist I waited for the return of the Range Rover. Three weeks later the car is back, but wih a few issues. Coolant bottle had not been replaced and still a distinct smell of coolant.

So put into my local bournemouth LR indy who replaced a broken pipe at the rear of the engine which cured a coolant leak (hence the smell), had some DPF issues which was also down to a split intake pipe and a faulty O2 sensor.

Now 3 months into ownership I find that the coolant reservoir is full of oil again, and i'm fast losing confidence in the car.

One thing I did notice is that the coolant system seemed to be constantly under pressure even when the engine is cold - this cannot be normal surely?

I spoke to my local indy who has now refused to work on it, the car is under warranty and I suggested that I would like him to do it, but they have said I should take it back to the dealer to sort which in reality I would rather not as I feel its their work that has now got me into this situation.

The other issue is the garage I bought it from is in the Midlands and im on the south coast so logistically not ideal. so with one too far away and the other not wanting to touch it - anyone know of any indies in Dorset?

Thanks for any help received.

Last edited by proxomos on 6th Oct 2023 6:09pm. Edited 2 times in total

Glenrands 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Glenrands but ensure you tell Ross and Mike the complete back story as some places won’t work on issues that others places have failed to resolve. Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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"some places won’t work on issues that others places have failed to resolve"

Thats what im starting to find out.

Call and chat to them
Tell them I sent you  Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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A typical repair will just involve replacing the seals on the oil cooler but the oil cooler can crack or warp meaning the problem will return. The consensus now is that it’s better to replace it given the work involved to get to it. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Thanks, i'll call Glenrands on Monday.


You know I think that is probably what they did, only half a job. although they said that had to replace the water pump too as Land Rover recommend that should be done with an oil cooler? Gone:
2012 Westminster TDV8 4.4 "Winston"

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When JLR did mine it took 4-5 flushes of the cooling system to clear the oil they did not replace the water pump.
The most expensive part of the job is the labour content.

good luck  2017 SDV8 4.4 silicon silver AB
2012 TDV8 4.4 Stornaway Grey AB
2011 TDV8 4.4 Buckingham Blue
2012 VW V6 3.0 Tougreg

Out of interest how much did they charge?

Thanks Gone:
2012 Westminster TDV8 4.4 "Winston"

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I'm not sure it was about 4 years ago somewhere in the region of £700 I think when I inquired about the job with an Indie there was a couple of hundred pounds in it.
The thing is JLR have a fixed price for changing replacing the part, so as in my case they had to spend more time flushing to complete the job at no extra charge.They did replace the expansion tank because of discolouration.
My advise is to see what JLR charge and then check out others most good repairs will work from fixed price's set by JLR, just less labour cost. 2017 SDV8 4.4 silicon silver AB
2012 TDV8 4.4 Stornaway Grey AB
2011 TDV8 4.4 Buckingham Blue
2012 VW V6 3.0 Tougreg

Just been quoted £1650 to replace the oil cooler, reflush and new coolant bottle. Thats from an indy in Bournemouth, still waiting on JLR to come back to me. Gone:
2012 Westminster TDV8 4.4 "Winston"

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If I were you, I would go to Steve at T & S Norman (https://www.tandsnorman.com), It is 50 miles/90 mins away from you; they are without a doubt the most knowledgable LR specialist there is (over 20 years' LR experience) and fixed mine where everyone else failed. He is a proper mechanic not a laptop jockey. He did mine for c. £1200. replaced all necessary items like coolant bottle, flush out etc.

They now do everything on all my LRs and more importantly don't take the proverbial (unlike the MDs)

They also give you a replacement car (one of their own Disco sports) and turn cars around in a day normally.

Give them a bell. you'll need to book as they are understandably very busy.

Can't go wrong with Glenrands. I've used them for the last 2 years and they've been great.

Sounds like the "specialist" you used was one of these who just like to call themselves that sad don't know the L322 whatsoever - there's many out there. 2015 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 SDV8

So although the oil cooler was replaced using aftermarket parts its not leaking. The coolant system was reflushed 3 times and a smaill amount of oil came out. The coolant system is always under pressure even when cold. So a dye test was carried out and it came back positive.

Might be EGR cooler but more likely headgasket - gutted to say the least, in the four months of ownership ive driven it for about 10 days. Gone:
2012 Westminster TDV8 4.4 "Winston"

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