The result is - not a new engine, just a new oil pump, and some bits, and everything is ok.
I must have spoken to ten people, and posted on the forum, I had lots of help and advice, especially from Jason2 and Fudge, however, today I picked the car up and drove it home - 120 miles.
I had been collected by the French emergency services in the middle of the night, towed (actually trailored) to a breakdown garage, and taxied home.
All as part of the car insurance policy, no cost.
The man who trailored me back had assured me that the LR garage he would be taking the car to was good.
Unsure, I drove there last Monday and met the workshop manager. Not a problem, he said, seen this loads of times, it won't need an engine.
With sinking heart I drove home, convinced that the ten thousand euro bill for a new engine (about 6800 pounds) was inevitable.
My trusty Disco specialist dealer in the UK who I consulted said it had to be an engine, always the case, he said.
The reality is the French LR dealer called this morning, said your car is ready, eight hundred Euros(530 pounds) for a new oil pump and bits, come and get it. Even made a point of showing me the old pump.
And it's fine.
Which poses several questions.
How honest are UK LR dealers?
I suspect not very.
And the French? The very best, in my experience
Every bloody time I've had a problem, they have been wonderful.
My recommendation for five star service is Garage Medicis in Blois, in the Loire Valley.
If he had said the engine is gone, I would have believed him, he could have but he didn't.
Vive la France.
Mind you, I hope they don't win the rugby......
By the way, I got caught on a new radar trap and got a speeding ticket about ten minutes before the oil light came on...143 kph in a 130kph limit. I didn't even know, but the fine arrived in the post on Wednesday morning, telling me where and when I had been caught exceeding the limit by 8mph.... cost about 27 quid.
Thanks Jason,
I had a happy day sitting at the computer looking up the prices of short engines and all the rest of the garbage that comes with such a problem. Even repatriation to the UK...which starts at about 800 pounds, I gather.... what I did uncover on the Land Rover solutions page was this page -
Land Rover Solutions - Oil Pump Bolt Problem
which even has a diagram of where the bolt goes, which I will be taking with me to the garagiste on Monday.
(Yes, they are called garagistes here in La Belle France........)
The site is South African, where I suspect your car is rather more important as a lifesaver than it is outside the M25, or even in rural France.
Will keep you posted.
G