Advertise on fullfatrr.com »

Home > General (L405) > Looking to take the plunge - L405 SDV8
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 1 of 2 12>
Print this entire topic · 
Hard-Drive



Member Since: 29 Aug 2023
Location: Rutland
Posts: 2

United Kingdom 
Looking to take the plunge - L405 SDV8

I’m seriously thinking about an L405 SDV8 as my next car, wanting a change from yet another BMW estate! I’m no stranger to Land Rover, the general incompetence of the dealerships and the vehicles themselves…my wife’s had an Evoque SD4 (excellent) a Velar D240 (utterly hopeless) and I’ve had older ones including a 1986 110 I’m rebuilding. But the L405 is just such a lurvely place to be…
Can I just check I’ve got the basics right before I go hunting, and have I missed anything?

-2017 reg date and onwards is cheaper tax (£190)

-2018 is the facelift year with styling differences and the 2 screen dash...is there anything particularly wrong with the twiddly knob heating controls?

-CarPlay could be on earlier cars if it has the high line audio, but will be wired (assuming this still works with a newer generation iPhone with USB-C port only?)

-Difference between VSE and AB is hard to pin down, mainly trim, roof, audio, however the VSE specifically won’t have massage/cooled seats unless optioned. I would like the massage seats but I’m more interested in mileage and history than all the toys!

-I live in the sticks, so no city driving, and probably at least two longer hour plus motorway journeys a week. I drive economically, is say 33s mpg achievable, more on a run sticking to 70-ish? (for reference my 520d touring gives me 46 average, up to 50 on a run)

-That weekly motorway run should keep the DPF issue at bay, what’s the cost to delete and is it a completely stealthy mod?

-Front control arms are a DIY job...correct?

-Oil changes every 6k or so, easy DIY especially with an extractor pump, correct? What's the cost of oil/flilters for the change?

-T/box and diffs should be changed around 50-60k, again is this DIY-able?

-Middle of the road (not budget!) tyres seem to be reasonably priced and less than the numerous sets of BMW runflats I’ve bought over the years

-LR are doing a free security upgrade for older cars, correct

-No cam belt to worry about

-Can be heavy on discs and pads, however parts are way cheaper than a Q7 (another option) and DIY-able

-I hear ACE pipes need careful inspection, how easy is this to do? Do all cars have it?

-Ditto leaking oil coolers

-Ditto rusty tank guards

Have I missed anything? I am going into this eyes wide open, excuse the slightly DIY approach however after years of doing my own spannering on various cars, I don't mind doing some bits such as fluids and consumables, although I do realise some things are best left to a specialist. This will be my daily, so I really do not want to be "having" to fix stuff all the time, especially when used to hundreds of thousands of miles of BMW reliability. I need to get my project 110 finished (pic below) not be constantly fixing an L405!


Post #725546 3rd Oct 2025 2:12pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
ReggieMac



Member Since: 10 Sep 2023
Location: Wolverhampton
Posts: 279

United Kingdom 2019 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Loire Blue

If you decide to look at any that have the pan roof with opening sunroof you will want to check that sunroof drains are not blocked or badly corroded. Admittedly this is not the easiest to check visually without removing the roof trims (which are easy enough to take off) but if you open the sunroof fully you should just have enough room to be able to view the drains either side to at least check if they look badly corroded and also pour some water into the tracks and see if it comes out behind the rear wheels.

Lots of info on the forum about this, this is one that I started about this

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic74149.html

and this one explains it very well

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic74581.html _______________________________________________

2019 4.4 V8 Diesel Range Rover Autobiography, Byron Blue

Post #725548 3rd Oct 2025 2:43pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Zebedee



Member Since: 09 Jun 2016
Location: Cheshire/South Manchester
Posts: 409

United Kingdom 2013 Range Rover Vogue SDV8 Santorini Black

Most of what you say is correct. As a generalisation:

1st April 2017 is the key date for the £195 road tax. Prior to that it is £345 for the V6 and £735 for the V8.

The V6 has a timing belt which needs changing at about 100k or 7 years, and the V8 has a chain.

2018 model year is the big update, though (some?) 2017 cars have CarPlay. It can be added to earlier cars with various kits and can include wireless CarPlay.

The V8 has adaptive suspension and the V6 doesn't, so watch those ACE pipes on the V8. Having owned both, I don't really notice the lack of this feature on the V6. And the V6 is lighter anyway.

The AB has rear heating/cooling, so watch corrosion in the pipes to the rear just in front of the rear driver-side wheel.

Transfer and Diff oils are very easy to DIY if you have some basic skills. As is the discs/pads which are really quite cheap to do if you do them yourself.

I'm not sure JLR are doing the security mod on the early cars, but are on the 2017 ones. The mod is basically switching off access to the Key Module via the OBD port.

Fuel economy is 27/28 for the V8, and 30/31 for the V6 in normal driving. Both are capable of much more if you want to drive like grandma.

21" wheels give a more forgiving ride than the 22"

Check roof-rail drains as per ReggieMac's comments.

Don't expect it to be problem free - they are complex cars with lots to go wrong. However, more reliable than some would suggest. Current:
- 2017 L405 3.0 V6 Autobiography
Sold:
- 2013 L405 4.4 TDV8 Vogue
- 2004 L322 4.4 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 2002 L322 4.4 HSE (having fixed timing chain guides)
- 2000 P38 4.6 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 1981 2-door In-Vogue
- 1980 Ex-Army SIII LWB
- 1976 SIII LWB
- 1968 SIIA
Stripped for parts:
- 2003 L322 4.4 Vogue

Post #725561 3rd Oct 2025 6:28pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Andy S



Member Since: 16 Jun 2013
Location: Sevenoaks
Posts: 1095

United Kingdom 2015 Range Rover Vogue SE SDV8 Aintree Green

On the tax, my old 2016 MY (65 plate) was EU6 and had low tax - £325 IIRC.

More pertinent perhaps, I had the car for 6 years, covering 40K miles and had no issues with it. Utterly reliable, so expnse was limited to replacing worn parts. That is not unusual. 2024 - >. 2021MY L405 5.0 SC Portofino Blue
2018 - 2024 2016MY L405 4.4 SDV8 VSE Aintree Green
2017 - 2018 2017MY Jaguar F Pace Portfolio 3.0 SDV6 BRG
2013 - 2017 2010MY L322 3.6TDV8 VSE Buckingham Blue
Various RR Sports and Freelanders before that!

Post #725562 3rd Oct 2025 6:50pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Dolphinboy



Member Since: 08 Dec 2009
Location: Bristol
Posts: 3273

United Kingdom 2016 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Baltic Blue

tax on a 2016 SDv8 is now £430.

Post #725563 3rd Oct 2025 8:58pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Kot



Member Since: 10 Mar 2021
Location: Broadland
Posts: 1433

United Kingdom 

Get a petrol, the sdv8 will give you a oil change every 3k if you live rural.
2018 facelift gives you ultra wide band security 2018 SE SDV8 4.4 Byron Blue

Post #725565 3rd Oct 2025 9:20pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Kot



Member Since: 10 Mar 2021
Location: Broadland
Posts: 1433

United Kingdom 

duplicate -nice red wine Rolling with laughter 2018 SE SDV8 4.4 Byron Blue

Post #725566 3rd Oct 2025 9:20pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Vogue



Member Since: 31 Jan 2008
Location: on the hill
Posts: 3817

United Kingdom 

Kot wrote:
Get a petrol, the sdv8 will give you a oil change every 3k if you live rural.
2018 facelift gives you ultra wide band security


Genuinely not in my experience - I’m very rural based, on my 3rd V8 Diesel, and never ever had any DPF or short oil change issues - honestly one service per year, average miles 10/12k and never had the service come on early on any of them.

Mix of short journeys, plus motorway miles, spirited driving and no issues whatsoever.

The common theme seems to be if you drive like Miss Daisy - buy an EV 😃👍🏻 2021 L405 Vogue SE 4.4 V8 DIESEL ~ #17

Post #725575 3rd Oct 2025 11:08pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Dandrover



Member Since: 10 Sep 2025
Location: Scotland
Posts: 15

United Kingdom 2018 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Santorini Black

Kot wrote:
Get a petrol, the sdv8 will give you a oil change every 3k if you live rural.
2018 facelift gives you ultra wide band security


I thought the advise was to change the oil regularly if you do lots of short trips, like town driving? Rural driving would normally involve longer trips at higher speeds allowing the dpf to complete regens wouldn't it?

Post #725589 4th Oct 2025 11:48am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
barbel jim



Member Since: 17 Mar 2025
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 9

Yep very regular oil changes required Laughing Laughing
In our case lucky to get 2000 miles between them……
According to landrover there was nothing wrong with it ……

Post #725624 4th Oct 2025 10:43pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Andy S



Member Since: 16 Jun 2013
Location: Sevenoaks
Posts: 1095

United Kingdom 2015 Range Rover Vogue SE SDV8 Aintree Green

Vogue wrote:
Kot wrote:
Get a petrol, the sdv8 will give you a oil change every 3k if you live rural.
2018 facelift gives you ultra wide band security


Genuinely not in my experience - I’m very rural based, on my 3rd V8 Diesel, and never ever had any DPF or short oil change issues - honestly one service per year, average miles 10/12k and never had the service come on early on any of them.

Mix of short journeys, plus motorway miles, spirited driving and no issues whatsoever.

The common theme seems to be if you drive like Miss Daisy - buy an EV 😃👍🏻


Exactly my experience with both my L322 TDV8 and L405 SDV8, the first kept for 4 years, the latter 6 years. C 10K miles pa and just the one oil change in accordance with LR service schedule. 2024 - >. 2021MY L405 5.0 SC Portofino Blue
2018 - 2024 2016MY L405 4.4 SDV8 VSE Aintree Green
2017 - 2018 2017MY Jaguar F Pace Portfolio 3.0 SDV6 BRG
2013 - 2017 2010MY L322 3.6TDV8 VSE Buckingham Blue
Various RR Sports and Freelanders before that!

Post #725625 4th Oct 2025 11:00pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Kot



Member Since: 10 Mar 2021
Location: Broadland
Posts: 1433

United Kingdom 

I guess your rural has no tractors and winding roads Rolling with laughter 2018 SE SDV8 4.4 Byron Blue

Post #725634 5th Oct 2025 6:53am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
D3Jon



Member Since: 15 Aug 2020
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 559

United Kingdom 
Re: Looking to take the plunge - L405 SDV8

Hard-Drive wrote:


-Difference between VSE and AB is hard to pin down, mainly trim, roof, audio, however the VSE specifically won’t have massage/cooled seats unless optioned. I would like the massage seats but I’m more interested in mileage and history than all the toys!


One of the key differences (for me anyway) is Adaptive Cruise became an option on the VSE from 2016, whereas it's standard on the AB.

So unless someone ticked that particular option box when they ordered their VSE, it won't have it.

Jon 1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
2014 Disco 4 HSE
===================
Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)

Post #725637 5th Oct 2025 10:24am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
northernmonkeyjones



Member Since: 24 Mar 2012
Location: derby
Posts: 8785

United Kingdom 2016 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Santorini Black

Id say I'm semi rural in South Derbyshire, never had an issue with eh DPF or short oil changes and I mostly use it to drive to Aldi and back.....

I wouldn't get too hung up on the exact year, so long as it's euro 6 onwards. the overall differences are small fry. You get the updated Nav in the 17-> but you can fit aftermarket CarPlay to the earlier screens. and it works fine. Buy on condition and history as always, regular oil changes, proper maintenance not just an oil swap at Halfords every 18 months is definitely required. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

Post #725662 5th Oct 2025 7:08pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Richie N



Member Since: 29 Dec 2023
Location: Kent
Posts: 392

United Kingdom 2013 Range Rover Vogue SE SDV8 Baltic Blue

IMHO you’ll get well into the 30’s mpg on the m/way. I live in the Kent countryside and do not have dpf issues. I have been keeping to 3k oil changes but I don’t think it’s strictly necessary unless you have high oil dilution.

I believe the ACE pipes suffer corrosion and it’s a £2k job I believe 🤷‍♂️ I might be wrong. As others mentioned really important to check sunroof drain holes and carpets for dampness. I just found one of mine is corroded to hell.

Oh and my 2013 has adaptive cruise - which I love.

Post #725669 5th Oct 2025 8:49pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Post Reply  Back to top
Page 1 of 2 12>
All times are GMT + 1 Hour

Jump to  
Previous Topic | Next Topic >
Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Site Copyright © 2006-2025 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
fullfatrr.com RSS Feed - All Forums


Switch to Mobile site