Long Term Ownership and Repeat Non "Service" Items failure

So a problem which has begun to appear today has got me wondering. I've had my FL1 TD4 for ten years now and done just over 100K in it. About 70k miles ago (roughly) I had to replace the starter solenoid contacts. Today, the car has been intermittently not starting and it's the same problem. A new plunger and contacts are on order to be fitted later this week. This recent issue though has got me wondering. Who has owned their vehicle long enough to have to do "non service" item repairs more than once? So not including brake pads, oil changes, bushes and bearings etc, or even the VCU.

My list is relatively short, but I've had three HP fuel pumps, done the drivers window regulator twice (all other windows done once) and now need to do the starter contacts for a second time. The one that does worry me is that about 95k ago I had to replace all four injectors. I hope that doesn't come along again soon!

3 Alternators in my Range Rover in its 126,000 mile life.
1 one lasted till >100k

If you keep it long enough, everything is a service item !

Mine has had engine, seats, 2 VCU, diff, bearings, suspension, subframes, Sunroof, lost count of ball joints and bushes, wheels. Even replaced the underseal.
The exhaust however, is original except for the stainless sport tailbox.

andyfreelandy said:

If you keep it long enough, everything is a service item !

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Very true. Fair point!

andyfreelandy said:

Mine has had engine, seats, 2 VCU, diff, bearings, suspension, subframes, Sunroof, lost count of ball joints and bushes, wheels. Even replaced the underseal.
The exhaust however, is original except for the stainless sport tailbox.

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I don't count ball joints and bushes, but I'll probably be joining you with another sunroof (after replacing mine with a good-ish one from a scrapper a few years ago). I'm also not counting any bearings. I've had to do several VCU bearings (even after always using supposedly good quality ones). As for an engine, I hope I'm not going to have to go there!
One I have forgotten about is the crank pulley. Had that go twice!

DanClarke said:

3 Alternators in my Range Rover in its 126,000 mile life.
1 one lasted till >100k

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That's fairly short. Only had to replace mine once!

Had mine 12 years now and funnily enough just changed the starter for the 2nd time They're reasonably cheap, so just replace them - but I suppose I could rebuild the last 1 I took off for next time.

Also replace the Wabco ABS modulator twice. However, the 2nd 1 was reasonably soon after the first so that would have been on its way out when I installed it - both bought 2nd hand.

Its never had a clutch change.

andyfreelandy said:

If you keep it long enough, everything is a service item !

Mine has had engine, seats, 2 VCU, diff, bearings, suspension, subframes, Sunroof, lost count of ball joints and bushes, wheels. Even replaced the underseal.
The exhaust however, is original except for the stainless sport tailbox.

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Disagree, a service is regular maintenance, replacing a prop shaft isn't exactly regular

kernowsvenski said:

One I have forgotten about is the crank pulley. Had that go twice!

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Have you thought about a FL2? I'll have an i6 up for sale after the summer!

Hi,

I buyed my td4 5 years ago with a clutch to change. The slave genuine from LR last less 2 years, so changed twice.

For the injectors 13 years ago, the previous owner changed them all. I had to change one recently.

But I still have the original starter and the VCU on the vehicule.

Regards.

Nodge68 said:

Have you thought about a FL2? I'll have an i6 up for sale after the summer!

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Would love one, but the tax and mpg are not for me.

kernowsvenski said:

Would love one, but the tax and mpg are not for me.

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For me the MPG doesn't seem much less than the TD4, and petrol being cheaper than diesel helps with fuel costs, but the tax is pretty expensive.
I do love the super smooth straight 6 engine though, very refined and pretty powerful too.

My FL2 has had the following “non-service” items repaired or replaced over the past 218,000+ miles

Four windscreens.
Two rear wiper motors.
One front wiper motor & linkage assembly.
One throttle body.
One thermostat.
One Power steering pipe.
One power steering pump & filter.
Bracket holding the turbo boost pipe to the engine had to be welded back on.
Numerous blown fuses replaced (no reason for them blowing found. Do fuses ‘age’).
Two rear shock absorbers (front ones still original!)
One wheel bearing (front left).
Rebuild of parking break assembly.
Had a Four Wheel Drive allignment carried out after suffering uneven rear tyre wear.

In summary. Everything wears out or corrodes given time. I consider my FL2 to be very reliable. The nearest it’s come to leaving me stuck at the side of the road was when the handbrake on one side disintegrated. I simply took the wheel and drum off, emptied the bits out, put the drum and wheel back on and drove home.

P.S. The injectors have never been out. Neither have the glowplugs, despite them being open cicuit since I bought the vehicle.

This is my 9th year of running my 1.8 K series FL1. Replaced the VCU & its bearings, upgraded the coil springs as the original were getting 'tired', Drivers door latch, 2 FLH wheel bearings and a RLH wheel bearing, a fuel pump, [not sure if you'd count these: brake system: rotors & drums, wheel cylinders flexi hoses , FRH lower sus' arm], I've got a new starter ordered.

Looking at the above it's been pretty good really.