Range Rover Diesels - Which is the most reliable?

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
My advice would be to avoid the L322 with the GM gearbox, the M57 engine is brilliant, but the box is like driving under a perpetual sword of damaclese! You know it's going to go some time, the electrics are also troublesome but liveable with especially if you have the right kit and knowledge of relatively advanced and over complicated circuitry.
 
gstuart said:
Plus 1 , indeed cheap and Land Rover in the same sentence never match

also have to consider insurance as this year many premiums have doubled so would at least check that beforehand in what u decide
Click to expand...
I'll do that, I hadnt considered it but my existing premiums due soon and I've heard its likely to be painful - Thanks for your input
 
Datatek said:
The first question should be which is the least unreliable:rolleyes: The second question should be which is the easiest and cheapest to fix when it goes wrong.:rolleyes::rolleyes: For me, the answer to both questions is the P38 diesel, but since you have had a D3, no doubt you hanker after something more modern and complicated:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Haha - indeed, valid points. My last was actually a TD5 Defender and tbh it wasn't too bad. The Disco 2 and Disco 3 were the most problematic but of course much nicer to drive and extremely economical (as most miles were done on an RAC truck). Ease of repair and parts prices are important to me, so is the Diesel P38 the bmw 2.5? How unreliable is that?
 
stustrong said:
Td6 engine wise is quite hassle free, but noisey and still a bit underpowered and not that great on fuel gearbox will go one day servicing will prolong it but the inevitable will happen,
Electrics are simple enough few odd bits that can bring other modules down but nothing too bad pre 2007 with the earlier electronics are a bit simpler then a d3,

After 80k miles in just over 3year in my td6 it was time to treat myself too somthing nicer i had always considered a 3.6tdv8 but the more i paid attention to owners pages with egrs and turbos it worried me that much it would go bang randomly if i got one
A 4.4tdv8 was more then id want too pay for a vehicle (although the skid car owes me 3x my RR and i lauch it at barriers for fun) so i went with my initial idea of a 4.2 supercharged,

Almost a year and almost 30k into it and iv had a few bits but it was a chance on a 3k motor
Randomly put itself into transport mode once
Rear brake pipes
A set of brake pads
Whining front diff got worse i never noticed it as it started on high load/speed situations
A gearbox cooler pipe
And a pas pipe (which resulted in making the pas pump whiney)
Starter motor.
And the heated steering wheels stopped working,

It gets jumped in and used every day, it tows, wheels and tools for my drift car get thrown in it,
Click to expand...
£30k into it... You could have just posted that haha - Next please...
 
lhandrover said:
Haha - indeed, valid points. My last was actually a TD5 Defender and tbh it wasn't too bad. The Disco 2 and Disco 3 were the most problematic but of course much nicer to drive and extremely economical (as most miles were done on an RAC truck). Ease of repair and parts prices are important to me, so is the Diesel P38 the bmw 2.5? How unreliable is that?
Click to expand...
I have two running P38's, one I have had for almost 14 years. After overhauling the EAS, and fitting new air springs it has been pretty reliable, just the usual easy to fix failures like a window regulator, air con condensor and a height sensor so it has been pretty reliable. The only serious problems have been a split radiator luckily just as I arrived at my mates farm in the UK and a failed water pump which I should have replaced before it failed as the impeller is plastic as standard. Just remembered, I also had to do the heater O rings about 13 years ago. I may have forgotten some small jobs. The engine has been totally reliable. I have removed the unreliable viscous fan and use the aircon fans for cooling.
So, all in all, not too bad and very cheap to run. As far as maintenance is concerned, I replaced the exhaust with stainless a long time ago and recently replaced the swivels, track rod and drag link, the sort of stuff that would have to be done on any car at 140K miles.
 
around 30mpg will run on anything. If you get a lemon could be looking at new timing chains/FIP, air springs. Basically get constant little things like electrics needing attention which if ignored add up to the whole thing being pretty shabby. Parts are cheap and available plus it’s all pretty much diy-able with a little help off here. Ideally you want one with both keyfobs and the all important EKA code. They are extremely strong and long lasting vehicles (if not dipped in the sea), can tow anything and go anywhere even on bald road tyres.

 
RangeRoller dt said:
around 30mpg will run on anything. If you get a lemon could be looking at new timing chains/FIP, air springs. Basically get constant little things like electrics needing attention which if ignored add up to the whole thing being pretty shabby. Parts are cheap and available plus it’s all pretty much diy-able with a little help off here. Ideally you want one with both keyfobs and the all important EKA code. They are extremely strong and long lasting vehicles (if not dipped in the sea), can tow anything and go anywhere even on bald road tyres.

Click to expand...

And if you turn off EKA and the Immobiliser, you don't even need the FOB's to work :)
 
Grrrrrr said:
+1.

P38A with the M51 is pretty reliable, although the VM in the Classic was OK too. I'd steer away from the TD6 in the L322 but the 4.4 v8 is not bad. However it is thirsty enough that you might as well do yourself a favour and get a model with the Jag v8 petrol in it.
Click to expand...
Td6 is a very good and strong engine. Just gearbox is a bit weak. However one with a recent rebuilt box would be hard to beat.
 
nevillen said:
My advice would be to avoid the L322 with the GM gearbox, the M57 engine is brilliant, but the box is like driving under a perpetual sword of damaclese! You know it's going to go some time, the electrics are also troublesome but liveable with especially if you have the right kit and knowledge of relatively advanced and over complicated circuitry.
Click to expand...
Presumably when in private ownership (a less demanding environment) the M57 doesn't catch fire like the traffic cops response BM's can do/have done :rolleyes:
 
norseman said:
Presumably when in private ownership (a less demanding environment) the M57 doesn't catch fire like the traffic cops response BM's can do/have done :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Wasn’t the M57, the dodgy one I think is N57, modern version of the M57 which is cleaner/ better on fuel but more problematic and has a weak chain at the back of the engine.
If I got rid of my 4.2 RR, and was looking at any car again, I’d prefer something like x5,7 series etc with the M57, look on YouTube there’s a guy who’s stripped one down and it’s massively over built. Very good engine really.
I was happy with my td6 RR and I think there fine for everyday use, still very quiet and refined on motorways when Torque locked up.
 
lhandrover said:
I'll do that, I hadnt considered it but my existing premiums due soon and I've heard its likely to be painful - Thanks for your input
Click to expand...

ur so welcome and found using compare the market etc web sites so handy where u can alter details , what different vehicles ur looking at for prices of the premiums etc

ie, things like limited mileage , excess, how many years NCB etc you’ve got ,

did have a shock seeing I can’t work anymore due to disability i first put in un employed and quote easily doubled , changed it to retired and went right back down

know this isn’t the case for ur good self , but found out from an insurance company they double or treble the premiums for people that arnt working as there thought process is the person won’t be able to repair the vehicle therefore increasing the premiums

see ur also in Kent , may I ask where abouts are u plse as if ur not to far away might be able to help u if u ever get stuck
 
rich28uk said:
Wasn’t the M57, the dodgy one I think is N57, modern version of the M57 which is cleaner/ better on fuel but more problematic and has a weak chain at the back of the engine.
If I got rid of my 4.2 RR, and was looking at any car again, I’d prefer something like x5,7 series etc with the M57, look on YouTube there’s a guy who’s stripped one down and it’s massively over built. Very good engine really.
I was happy with my td6 RR and I think there fine for everyday use, still very quiet and refined on motorways when Torque locked up.
Click to expand...
My mistake, yes the N57 .. got the letter wrong :oops:
 
lhandrover said:
Hi - I'm thinking about getting a Range Rover and wondered if there was a reasonable consensus on which engine/gearbox is considered the most reliable. Or for that matter, which Range Rover is the most reliable. I've had all the Defenders (only up to TD5) and Discoveries (only up to 3.0v6) and I had all the usual issues but the worst was the Disco 3 even though it was the nicest to drive. I'm not looking to spend lots so I realise that in itself might be the start of my woes ;)

Any advise gratefully received, even if its just "Don't" - I searched for a buyers guide but couldnt find one but a pointer to that would help too
Click to expand...
I have a L322 4.4 MY 2012 - I absolutely love it however, it's not been without a few gremlins - oil cooler leak, air con compressor failure DAB failure. It returns about 32 Mpg which is pretty good in my book of uneconomical cars
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Loss of coolant - 2008 Range Rover
2
Replies
28
Views
2K
lightning
lightning
M
Range rover evouque 2021 ambient lighting issue
Replies
8
Views
509
backinblack
backinblack
A
2006 L322 4.2 SC - Bluetooth / MOST query
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
kds
K
B
Range Rover Sport 2009 HSE Diesel Auto
Replies
3
Views
743
skullbiker
S
S
L322 SC Electrical Issues. Terrain control, Handbrake
Replies
0
Views
354
spitfire
S
Back
Top