I'm devastated - my RR with 55k miles has an engine that's dead!!!

I'm looking for recommendations of high quality reconditioning people, I don't want to be messing about forever, so don't just want to go to a breaker and have heard loads of horror stories about reconditioners using cheap Chinese parts that last 3-9 months and then you need a new engine again!!

I want something quality, so the car lasts.

Any recommendations very gratefully received. Thanks!

Been there, done that. My conclusion was there was no reliable reconditioned units, so I ended up buying a secondhand short block just for the crank and then rebuilt mine. If you want the info, take a look at: -

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic68615-30.html

Incidentally, I ordered a short block in December 2023 and just recieved it this month, decided to buy it for a rainy day project or in case I have any further issues with my current vehicle, saying that I'm now nearly 30K in and all running sweet.

Good luck, it's a minefield out there!! L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

Last edited by 4RRS on 13th Nov 2024 6:40pm. Edited 1 time in total

I keep recommending QP-Online Based in Maidstone. 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

Qp were top of my list before I decided to go my own route. Biggest issue is the crank, if it can't be ground then its aftermarket only and I wasn't prepared to take the risk on an essential component like the crank. L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

Oh dear.... that doesn't bode well. Surely there is at least one good company? I found turner engineering but they don't do this engine.

Would a breaker be preferable then (to a recon, that may not be brilliant)?

I considered that, but how do you know what you are buying, I guess a breaker engine and a strip down to check bearing shells could be a possible route. In the post I linked to I mentioned I rang many breakers and the general concensus was they're all liars, trying to tell me an engine was a 2017, when it had early (2013-14) intake stub hoses. Asked many for engine numbers or vin of car to verify it's year and was never met with a response.

It's not something I would want to go through again (hence I bought the new short block I had on order for 11 + months). L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

Chef45 wrote:

I'm devastated - my RR with 55k miles has an engine that's dead!!!

I'm looking for recommendations of high quality reconditioning people, I don't want to be messing about forever, so don't just want to go to a breaker and have heard loads of horror stories about reconditioners using cheap Chinese parts that last 3-9 months and then you need a new engine again!!

I want something quality, so the car lasts.

Any recommendations very gratefully received. Thanks!

What happened? The V8 diesels are usually pretty robust  2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography
2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster - Gone, but not forgotten

That was what I thought too, but at the dealer last month I was told there were now increasingly crank problems, which, combined with the lack of replacements, had led them to adopt a policy of not having them as second hand stock any more. Only Range Rovers since 1988

The reason being, if they sell one as approved used and it suffers an engine failure within the warranty period, JLR have to buy back at the sale price as they can't repair them.

That being said, JLR have just this month taken delivery of a number of short blocks to repair all the buy backs that are sitting in storage, I managed to bag the only short block they would allow to go to retail.

Just wait for the flood of V8's coming onto the market, although rumour has it they still won't offer them as approved used, so will probably dispose of them via the auction route. L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

Tinman wrote:

I keep recommending QP-Online Based in Maidstone.

Rob99 wrote:

Chef45 wrote:

I'm devastated - my RR with 55k miles has an engine that's dead!!!

I'm looking for recommendations of high quality reconditioning people, I don't want to be messing about forever, so don't just want to go to a breaker and have heard loads of horror stories about reconditioners using cheap Chinese parts that last 3-9 months and then you need a new engine again!!

I want something quality, so the car lasts.

Any recommendations very gratefully received. Thanks!

What happened? The V8 diesels are usually pretty robust

I was just driving along and it got lumpier and lumpier until it was lurching and screeching and sounded like a bag of spanners. Got AA and to garage - DOA big end!!

4RRS wrote:

The reason being, if they sell one as approved used and it suffers an engine failure within the warranty period, JLR have to buy back at the sale price as they can't repair them.

That being said, JLR have just this month taken delivery of a number of short blocks to repair all the buy backs that are sitting in storage, I managed to bag the only short block they would allow to go to retail.

Just wait for the flood of V8's coming onto the market, although rumour has it they still won't offer them as approved used, so will probably dispose of them via the auction route.

Chef45 wrote:

Rob99 wrote:

Chef45 wrote:

I'm devastated - my RR with 55k miles has an engine that's dead!!!

I'm looking for recommendations of high quality reconditioning people, I don't want to be messing about forever, so don't just want to go to a breaker and have heard loads of horror stories about reconditioners using cheap Chinese parts that last 3-9 months and then you need a new engine again!!

I want something quality, so the car lasts.

Any recommendations very gratefully received. Thanks!

What happened? The V8 diesels are usually pretty robust

I was just driving along and it got lumpier and lumpier until it was lurching and screeching and sounded like a bag of spanners. Got AA and to garage - DOA big end!!

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

Chef45 wrote:

4RRS wrote:

The reason being, if they sell one as approved used and it suffers an engine failure within the warranty period, JLR have to buy back at the sale price as they can't repair them.

That being said, JLR have just this month taken delivery of a number of short blocks to repair all the buy backs that are sitting in storage, I managed to bag the only short block they would allow to go to retail.

Just wait for the flood of V8's coming onto the market, although rumour has it they still won't offer them as approved used, so will probably dispose of them via the auction route.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! This is OUTRAGEOUS. Is there a different engine that would easily fit that's better?