Engine replacement after little over 40'000 miles?

I just thought I would pop along here to ask if it were unusual to need an engine replaced when the mileage is such.

I have to say that mechanically my Defender 90 XS has been absolutely sound and problem free up to last week when it sounded sick enough that I got it towed back to the dealer with the feeling it might be tappet or cam chain trouble.

They have stripped it down and offered me a mysterious, all-encompassing reason for the break down... 'engine failure'. I still have no idea exactly why it failed. However if I pay out £2800 plus VAT they will put a new engine in, LR offering to rebate 66% of the cost.

I have to say that as it's only three months out of Warrenty I'm not overly impressed. Has anyone else here tackled a similar situation? I think I could go with 20% of the cost myself, that sounds a bit fairer to me, I would be very grateful for any tried and tested haggling techniques! Then I think I will have learned my lesson and chop it in for a new one straight afterwards.

Without knowing why it failed I wouldn't fork out for a new engine. First off I would ask for the fault and reason for the fault to be put in writing to you.

Once you have this it'd be worth a word with trading standards. Even the threat of bringing trading standards down on em may just turn the whole thing around in your favour.

Am I correct in saying that it's a late TD5?

You should expect 250,000 miles out of a diesel engine.

It all sounds extremely suspect to me.

Welcome to the Zone Alison :welcome2:

As usual Ratty's right raise:

There are not many reasons you would replace a diesel engine at such low mileage (similar to mine ) catastauphic component failure (con rod / crank shaft broken) this doesn't sound sick it's a loud bang and lubrication failure which screws every component and cooling system failure which screws the lubrication and if left long enough will distort the major engine components. A TD5 is due a service around that mileage, had that recently been done? For land Rover to admit 66% liability up front I think someone either did something wrong or a component was faulty.

Good luck

i wouldnt do anything until i knew exactly what damage has been done.....and then id want to know the likely cause.......but for them to condem the whole engine then something major must have 'let go'inside so this to me points at either a timing chain(unlikely)or the engine hydraulicking and this isnt unheard of with TD5s(injector weeps then fills a bore with diesel as you drive along until it cant compress the fluid etc)...ive had it on a few TD5s now but not at that mileage....so my advise would be to ask exactly what the cause is and take it from there

Thanks for that, It's not just me being a bit cranky then!

just reread your thread.....'chop it in afterwards'..are you mad?! lol.....if they are rebuilding your engine(or replacing it with a new unit)then the last thing you want to do is change the car for another unknown vehicle....so id ask them to look at the costs again(in fairness to them it is now out of warrenty)and ask what kind of warrenty you get with the new engine.......so although its a cost you could without,and an engine shouldnt go at 40k.....**** happens....but at the end of the day youll have a nice XS with a shiny new lump fitted to hopefully get past the 40k mark.......and just as an 'if'....dont run it on bio or straight'veg oil'..im not saying you have done....im just saying 'dont'with a TD5 lol