Hi
I’m off to view a late 2010 3.6 TDV8 with FLSH with 95k, one owner, and looks in excellent cosmetic order. It’s about £13k which seem about right. Best I’ve found so I am hopeful to purchase but, that said, I have two questions that you might help me with:

1. I would need to retrofit a tow bar. Any advice on best options and companies that fit in NE England?
2. I need to tow a twin axle 1700KG caravan from time to time. I know the RR can tow twice that but I do have a concern that the turbos may fail whilst towing due to age and the extra weigh being pulled behind. Are there any preventative steps or actions I should consider before towing. For example would it be wise to have the RR evaluated by an indi to see if there are any signs that actuators may need cleaning or EGR valves checked?

Wife thinks perhaps better to buy a 2012 4.4 TDV8, again with FLSH, with say 70-80k on the clock. But the outlay is likely to be £17k-£19k. I can push my budget to buy one but the money tin would be empty in year one so if I’m unlucky and get a big bill then that would be a bit problematic.

Appreciate your thoughts.

G

3.6 vs 4.4.

that has been answered several times over. If you can stretch to the 4.4 then there are definite benefits. The engine is strong and doesn't suffer from turbo problems in the same way as the 3.6 does. that said there are may 3.6's on decent milages without issue.

the 4.4 also has a better gearbox. the ZF 8 speed is just smoother. The main issues on the 4.4 are the oil cooler gaskets and the oring seals on the back of the oil feed to one of the turbos. Personally I would stretch your budget and go for the 4.4. Ive had both and its a stronger package. Drive both back to back if possible and you should be able to tell the difference! One thing to check is if a 4.4 has had a turbo drain mod done. this is not always required and the only noticeable symptom is smoke on lockdown as the residual oil in the secondary turbo is burned off. some cars never need it and a good boot full now and then seems all that is needed to keep it from smoking. My 12MY 4.4 never had it done and never smoked.

That said if you are disinclined to part with the extra cash, then the 3.6 is a good tow car. The best option for a tow bar is to get a local fitter to put a wastfalia tow bar on the car with genuine electrics, or if you are handy with spanners to have a go yourself, plenty on here have. PF jones is a great website to source the bar from and the westfalia bar is the original fitment and the same as would be found on a factory fitted car. same goes for the 4.4.

in terms of preventative things to stop the turbos going pop..... you can blank and map out the EGR valves. this may help, but there sometimes seems no rhyme nor reason why they fail, a good history with the car and evidence of frequent oil changes will give some piece of mind, and checking that all the intercooler and turbo hoses are in order will help. By all means get it checked over by someone you trust, but many of the problems will be masked and there is no real way of knowing if the EGRs are coked up without taking them off! There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6

Thanks for the guidance. The 3.6 although listed with FLSH had a glaring hole in the book as no service was carried out last year due to lockdown impacting the owner in some way. It also missed its MOT last year which I established once the true reg plate was confirmed. Given the missing service is the all important 10 year service with all the additional trans/diff/axle/coolant items, and that the dealer selling it now only did a basic oil service, I’ve walked away. Therefore I think I’ll press on to find a 4.4.

Thanks for the recommendation on where to source the tow bar from.

👍🏻

If it helps I have had my 3.6tdv8 for two years, I purchased it on 70k with full service history

It tows like an absolute dream and I wouldn't consider anything else

My advice would be to go for it, especially if that is all budget will allow. When I was looking I was limited by budget too and couldn't find a decent 4.4 in the condition I was after

Hope that helps in some way

For everyones information, whatever PF Jones website says, Westfalia towbars are no longer available for the L322 from anywhere unless you can find one 'old stock' somewhere. Ask me how I know! I have a Witter unit read to fit when the weather warms up a bit. Drives:
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue - Stornoway Grey
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue SE - Zermatt Silver
1998 BMW E36 M3 GTII

Thanks for the additional feedback. Very nice set up you have there.

Thanks for tow bar intel too. Which model tow bar are you installing?

Its increasingly difficult to find a good example at the right price. The RR I walked away from did have full history to year 9 but then missed the 10 year service due to lockdown (or so it seems). Perhaps I’m being to hasty and could try to negotiate a reduction to cover the 10 year service items. What is the guide price for a 10 year service on the 3.6? £1000 maybe?.

Thanks

I did the 10th Annual Service and full Transmission Service myself (Although I am lucky I work for a Ford Dealership so have access to a workshop) and I used all genuine parts and fluids. It still cost me a lot of money, but considerably less than retail

£1000 may be about right at a trusted specialist, but it would be more through a LR dealer I would guess 2010 MY Range Rover 3.6 TDV8 Vogue SE - Stornoway Grey with Semi-Aniline Ivory Leather and Piano Black Trim

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic58777.html

The Westfalia is the best towbar to get if you can source one. I have just bought my first L322 which never had a towbar fitted and found a new old stock Westfalia at Chester towbars but he wanted £870 fitted with 13 pin electrics. I found a good second hand one off flea bay bought the 13 pin electrics from P F Jones for £54 fitted it myself all in with 4 brand new bolts from Duckworths it owes me £280 failing that the Steinhof detachable is not a bad looking towbar and a forum member has fitted one and looks good. I have a very high mileage 4.4 both turbos were done at 160k so I think it’s a lottery but they are beautiful cars I have had P38’s and classics in the past you can’t beat them for towing I think a good 3.6 tdv8 remapped will give you similar performance to a 4.4 but you have made the first step by joining the forum the wealth of knowledge these guy’s have is unbelievable and good luck with which ever one you choose.

I agree with N.M Jones on this, I’ve had both and the 4.4 is in a league of its own, the 3.6 will not disappoint and I had one with 165K on it trouble free on the turbo front, but once I upgraded I never looked back, also the gearbox is a dream with the 8 speed ZF. Hope you find what you’re looking for

Disappointing about the Westfalia no longer being available. Personally I would just look for a car with a tow bar on it. Even if it is just the main armature, then the farmers or detachable could be more easily sourced. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6

I fitted the PCT flange bar from P F Jones with the wiring kit, not that difficult and cost about £200, seems solid enough to drag a cattle trailer all around the countryside.

when i had my td6 i retrofitted the whole lot..... probably took me about 6 hours.... taking my time and not working too hard, i seem to remember using a trolley jack to get the new cross brace in place as i was working with my 75 year old dad....im no spanner wizard but i do know one end of a spanner from another is you get my gist.....

all the parts were second hand think i payed about £500 for everything

I loved the 3.6, we had the Westfalia tow bar and while It didn’t tow very often, when it did it was superb!

I am not even sure i would say the 4.4 L405 is any better if I’m being honest. Sold - Bell a 2015 MY16 Loire Blue Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Previously George a 2007 MY07 Java Black VSE 3.6 TDV8
Previously a 04 MY04 Defender 90

Hi, I did the write up on the Steinhof bar, it’s still going strong. Happy to answer any questions if you have them, but just search for steinhof and you should find it easily enough. Cheers! FFRR 4.2SC/KTM 990SMT Current and cherished.
Honda Accord 2.4 Vtec touring. (Yeah, I know, think: Kids)
Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution Nut-wagon. and a Buell XB12R
TVR Griffith 5.0 (backed up with Vauxhall Carlton road barge for the weekly shop.)
Honda Integra Type R DC2 Possibly the best drivers car. Ever.
Mitshibishi FTO GPX MIVEC.
Honda CRX Vtec Mk2 -NO, Not the del sol!!!
Volkswagen Scirocco GT
Mini 1275GT
MG Midget (Heavily modified)
I'm going to stop now.....

I agree with the above, I personally don't think that the 405 is as stable a tow car as the 322. Both of the 322's I had felt more planted than the 405 when towing. Maybe its a personal thing, or something to do with the aluminium shell, I don't know, but the 405 just felt a little less stable when pressing on with the journey on back roads.... That said they are both outstanding tow cars and neither is exactly "unstable"...  There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6