1999 Discovery Engine Swap Audi 4.2 V8

Hello all,

I have been lurking on the forum for some time but I have only now needed to ask the community’s advice.

I recently purchased a 1999 mk2 Discovery, it is the 4.0 V8 ES 7 seat.

I got the vehicle at a very good price from a friend as the engine was destroyed and he did not want the hassle of replacing the engine.


I have looked at various options to rebuild the block but all of them very costly!

I have recently been offered an Audi A8 4.2 V8 (Engine Code ABZ) complete with all ECU’s clocks wiring looms etc the whole thing is complete and I have been offered it for £500.

I am mechanically minded so I can’t see to many issues with the hardware installation (Famous last words) my concern is all of the ECU systems etc.

Has anyone done a none OEM engine install into this vehicle, and what is involved with getting the AUDI ECU to talk to the rest of the Land Rover sub systems, or getting the Land Rover ECU to work the Audi Engine, or alternatively using an aftermarket ECU like VEMS etc.

Any advice anyone can give me on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all.

Sounds like a good project,
Can't help with any answers, sorry.

Have you tried asking on an Audi forum aswell?

Thanks for the reply Mike.

Yes it’s a very interesting project. The Land Rover 4.0 V8 produces around 190BHP standard. The Audi engine produces 300bhp standard 110bhp extra for an extra 200cc.And it’s more efficient!.


I would tune it slightly as I am looking for around 400bhp, but modifications are cheap and plentiful.

I have come across a few websites with people who have installed the same engine it another Audi, or even into a Lotus Esprit, but none into a Land Rover


All of the installs used an aftermarket ECU to control everything; my concern is what other jobs the ECU on the land rover does. ABS Hill decent etc?

Sangoma said:

Thanks for the reply Mike.

All of the installs used an aftermarket ECU to control everything; my concern is what other jobs the ECU on the land rover does. ABS Hill decent etc?

Click to expand...

I think I'm right in saying that the ABS and related systems are controlled by a separate ECU called SLABS (self levelling suspension and ABS)

Sangoma said:

Thanks for the reply Mike.

Yes it’s a very interesting project. The Land Rover 4.0 V8 produces around 190BHP standard. The Audi engine produces 300bhp standard 110bhp extra for an extra 200cc.And it’s more efficient!.


I would tune it slightly as I am looking for around 400bhp, but modifications are cheap and plentiful.

I have come across a few websites with people who have installed the same engine it another Audi, or even into a Lotus Esprit, but none into a Land Rover


All of the installs used an aftermarket ECU to control everything; my concern is what other jobs the ECU on the land rover does. ABS Hill decent etc?

Click to expand...

As a first step you need to get a LR workshop manual for your car. This will tell you exactly which ecu controls what. I haven't gone into this meself but, for example, the engine ecu responds to signals from the auto gearbox to make changes smoother and to set the change parameters when cold. May be easier with a manual box, but you do need to read up on it first!
As another post says, many functions are controlled by the SLABS ecu.

400BHP! You crazy ! This I gotta see-or have a ride in!

and you will need to have the audi ECU tinkerd with to sort the imobiliser out a ECU repair place should help with this

Thank you everyone for the reply’s.

I have acquired full workshop manuals for both the Discovery and the Audi, so I am now set with more diagrams than I know what to do with!

I have decided to use an aftermarket ECU, dump the stock Land Rover and Audi one and program my own from the ground up. I will use the Audi wiring loom and modify it to work with the rest of the LR. I have chosen VEMS for the ECU as they have a proven record working with the Audi 4.2 V8 and also work with Land Rovers.

This is not going to be a quick project; I want to do this as a weekend Project car something to pass the time and build up over a few months.

Good luck with the project! Let us know how it goes.

Your project sounds great.
I,m fairly sure that if you can controll the Audi power unit, either by its own ECU or an alternative one, that there should,nt be too many other electronic control issues with the rest of the car.

I say this because, my next door farmer,s lad got an X reg V8 with a blown motor for £ 1500 and put the engine out of his rotten 200 Tdi in it.

I,m also good freinds with a very, very knowledgeable ECU code writer and re-mapper. I,ll have a chat with him about your project and see what he says.

Del.

hi all new to this forum and would be interested to know how this conversion turned out as thinking of doing one myself, same set up really, disco 2 with wrecked engine, audi V8 replacement, LPG on top....

hi good luck with your project, two things will the engine bolt up to the gearbox and Will the diffs take all that POWER

good luck from me too some picks along the way would be nice