If you are rebuilding an old Range Rover, finding a suitable replacement engine is sure to be a big priority. But not all alternative options are equal, with many experts recommending some and advising that others be avoided like the plague.
Of course, several types of engine that are indelibly linked with Range Rover heritage, such as:
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- The first generation of Range Rovers had Buick V8 engines
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- The most powerful historic engine was the 1994 4.6-lirere V8 with 225 hp
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- The 4.4-litre V8 was associated with the third generation Range Rovers (2002-12) and, Autodoc notes, was a less reliable engine, being prone to defective timing chains unless it had a lot of maintenance.
So, which engines should you go for and which would be a bad idea?
What Range Rover Engines Do Experts Recommend?
Discussing suitable Range Rover engines for a revamp project, Everything Land Rover listed four to rely on and three to avoid.
Among its top recommendations were:
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- The 5-litre supercharged V8 Petrol engine (outstanding driving experience, although it is a bit of a gas guzzler)
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- The 3-litre Ingenium straight 6 petrol engine with mild- hybrid assistance (powerful and smooth performance for a luxury drive)
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- The 3-litre diesel from BMW, which offers “genuine old-fashioned toughness” and great reliability.
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- The 4.4 litre V8 petrol engine from BMW, which was recommended as the best of all, offering optimal reliability and driving experience.
Conversely, the site recommended avoiding the following engines:
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- The four cylinder Ingenium engine (too small for the workload required, causing it to wear out sooner)
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- The 4.4 litre SDV8 diesel is very powerful, but has a flaw because the timing chains are at the back of the bulkhead, not the front, which makes maintenance far more difficult and expensive.
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- The worst option of all is the original version of the 3 Litre TDV6 Diesel, because it has a high risk of crankshaft failure, which usually writes off the engine.
Not everyone will agree with the above list, but it makes sense to speak to the experts to weigh up the pros and cons of each engine and make an informed choice before you buy