Having operated a few too many times on this engine here is what I would recommend. Pull the heads and see what you have. Everything is very well written up in Rave. Disconnect the exhaust and remove the head with the manifold on - it will be easier. Don't worry about timing tools just yet...

You have never "fixed" a RR - only temporarily eliminated a problem. By the sounds of it - your loose connector would certainly cause the issues you were experiencing.

Do a little searching here and on the BMW sites, plenty of right ups on rebuilds and part sources. Taking them out is fairly easy - hardest part is jacking it up and draining the coolant.

Its a Land Rover - if something is not broken it will be. If something is not leaking it is either empty or will be soon. No matter how hard I try to keep my car up something is always going wrong or leaking. This forum always makes me laugh as the banter is top rate. I never took your...

Sounds like you have two options: 1) gas and match; or 2) grab a meter and start measuring battery drain on each fuse. I would start my focus where you are hearing that chatter noise (unless it is some arsonist mice). If you need the car - pull the offending fuse while you sort through the...

Options are not good. The block is Alusil so basically non-servicable. Everything is super expensive on these motors if the block is ruined. Re-sleeve when I looked costs thousands. Pistons and rings are also very expensive. Some say the block is disposable once it is damaged. If not...

That last picture you posted does not look good. I think the block may be toast. That is what my engines #2 and #3 looked like. I have seen three similar engine damage situations by owners on a few forums during the last two months. Is that the only cylinder showing damage? Pull the oil...

If I recall correctly some cross over - some do not. Any specific hose(s)?

All-Coms is a decent unit and affordable. Look at it here and see if it fits your needs. http://www.rswsolutions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=415&Itemid=81 L322 parts for the BMW based vehicles are not bad price wise. As the engine was used in so many vehicles the prices...

I have a failing unit also, but it is still 95% workable - but apparently once they start to bleed they go quick. Yours appears to be flat dead which could be just the inverter. I have sourced most of the information from looking at the same unit utilized in the X5 - which is the same as the...

No - the block is disposable. You can have custom sleeves made, but the cost is way too high. The block is Alusil and is junk if scarred. Nothing off the shelf is affordable if and when available. The head gasket/valve job is not that bad - it is maybe two hours more work from a timing guide...

Gold Rover - post a pic of what you are looking for so we are on the same page. As far as the plugs - if you are happy with the settings I may just leave them unplugged. I have heard the movements go bad and then you are in trouble.

Check your drains. Make sure they are clean. If you have a sunroof make sure those are clean. Check your window seals to see if water is getting in from there. What screen do you have? Is it the Nav screen or just a radio? If it is the Nav screen the LCD may be at end of life. You can...

You have a lot of balls moving. The very first thing I would do is check out the condition of your cylinders. You can do a compression test. My concern is the engine may have cylinder wall damage. After this you can drop the lower oil pan and look for deep scratches and metal sparkle on the...

I am completely happy with my wife - I know she cannot drive - but I assure you that is a fault I would accept any day. She is now in a 2016 XC90 with front and rear cameras, auto park, alarms and all the fixings. See what I mean, a little technology and I have a great wife. Once driver-less...

I had a 1997 Land Cruiser - great vehicle. My wife managed to hit 3 of the 4 corners of the truck while parking. Too big. I traded it for an X5. My wife did not mangle any of the corners, but I got tired of it and traded it for an Lexus LX470. In 8 months my wife managed to mangle all four...

I just installed the factory tow kit and it was fairly simple. Expensive yes, but its done and it works. Maybe you can try to source a used one - go to a yard and pull it??? Just look for one with the electrical showing in back and it will have the module - if it is just the hitch no go.

A great movie, almost Fletch level. Doo: If you really need to know if it is top hatted, I would take the head off and have a quick peek. Track down the paperwork or look at the block and see if you can find some markings on it to see if it is an OEM block - maybe see if it has a serial...

I have seen postings similar to yours and most resolved the issue by changing the fuel filter (which you say you did) or the fuel pump. I thought I had a fuel pump issue so I looked at many posts. One thing is that some owners had your type of issues after they changed the fuel pump because...

Fuel pump is my first guess - second guess is fuel injector(s) - but not likely. Start with your fuel pump relay and work back to the pump. The fact you have to let it sit with the key turned to II tells me the pump is building up pressure.