As the other components are mostly similar, this is down to the engine / gearbox...

TD6, pretty bulletproof engine, worst gearbox....

4.4 BMW era gearbox.... not much better....

3.6 TDV8... I skipped that as I didn’t want the one I’d have bought to eat it’s turbo...

I’d say the 4.4 TDV8 is the most reliable gearbox....

I love the 4.4 TDV8 engine, just suffers from oil cooler issues mainly.

No experience of the Supercharged units... though I know the 5.0 can have timing chain issues...

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Like nearly everyone else experience based on a sample size of 1. For me the 4.2 SC was the most reliable by some margin (literally no faults in 5 years), 5.0 OK but timing chains went in the end, 4.4 BMW was a nightmare for all 4 years that I stuck with it (in fact no engine faults but just about everything else went wrong at various times) Mike - MPx

2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged SVAutobigraphy Dynamic SVO Palette Grey (2021-...)
2012 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autoboigraphy Orkney Grey (2017-2021)
2007 4.2 V8 Supercharged Vogue SE Tonga Green (2012-2017)
2002 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonnatti Grey (2008-2012)

If we’re playing the sample of 1 games…..Post 2018 4.4SDV8, had mine for 12 months and 12,000 miles next week and no issues at all, not even an infotainment glitch. MY23 Panamera E-Hybrid
MY19 SDV8 Autobiography - Sold

mjdronfield wrote:

As the other components are mostly similar, this is down to the engine / gearbox...

TD6, pretty bulletproof engine, worst gearbox....

4.4 BMW era gearbox.... not much better....

3.6 TDV8... I skipped that as I didn’t want the one I’d have bought to eat it’s turbo...

I’d say the 4.4 TDV8 is the most reliable gearbox....

I love the 4.4 TDV8 engine, just suffers from oil cooler issues mainly.

No experience of the Supercharged units... though I know the 5.0 can have timing chain issues...

Cracked manifolds
Turbo drains
Failed hoses between manifold
Failed plastic fitting in top hose
Aux belt tensioner
Exhaust sensors on manifold
Fuel pump wiring
Rust, lots of rust everywhere including subframes, fasteners etc


Reliable Rangey = mutually exclusive  BMW i3 Electric Car
2012 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8 (now gone)
2006 VW Touareg 3.0 TDi V6

Yes, but rust is an issue on all of them, and the other bits are not major and wouldn’t make you wish you’d bought one with a different driveline.

I was gonna say that a fair few never need the drain mod, but then in fairness, a few of the 3.6s never implode....

It’s a difficult one. Far more diesels sold in the uk than petrols so I guess folk will report less issues with the Petrol cars, volume wise anyway.....

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Saw Martin2's comments, which is what I would expect from a car that age / mileage.

Important factors for reliability are also age and mileage covered, and perhaps driving styles. My 2006 is now at about 95000, which is quite low for it's age, and in three years has been pretty good, work needed for repairs not maintenance - ignition switch, rear brake calipers, rear brake hoses, and a few small items like the rear view camera replacement.

Obviously I realise that saying your FFRR is 100% reliable, is akin to tap dancing on quicksand

As an aside, to amuse the folks, there I was feeling smug about mine, when a comedian mate dropped in and he read this thread.
His quote was - 'But you can't comment on this thread as driving a TD6, is like having a Range Rover 'Lite'
He can be cruel at times

My 2002 4.4 V8 is one of the most reliable cars i've ever owned.
Now had it for 12 years, only ever required consumables items, brake discs, suspension bushes, oh and front airbag suspension last december.. Replaced the gearbox oil cooler about 6 years ago (i didn't need to, more preventive manintenance), and a cooling hose started leaking, the small section that's pushfit connection, cost £7.90 from a main dealer in 2014.

Here's to the next 10 years

I believe my 2008 (2012 build) black l322 is the most reliable Range Rover it has never once broken down, need repair or warranty or even a service, never a foot wrong. I cannot ask more of my Escala 1:24 scale L322 😇

It does beg the question if the cheapest 4.2v8 is therefore best value for money at the moment. As it’s the most reliable, lower tax pre 2006, offset by fuel costs?!? Unless you have the cash to outlay on a 4.4TDV8, or you can make a TD6 gearbox last longer!

I’m in need of a new vehicle come April next year (when my E-Class company motor goes back), as a second dog car for us, but also occasionally runs to customers and far north of Scotland so about 10-12k miles per year. Happy to spend money on maintenance (c£2k per year average) but need reliability. That’s why I asked 😀 so thanks to all of you responding. Now I need to start mulling over which direction to go!

Last edited by Slow progress on 13th Jun 2021 8:28am. Edited 1 time in total

Also Merchy I never think of the td6 as “lite” it’s for those of us not in a rush…if only the gearbox could be improved or switched out I’d have one! The engine sounds like a solid one just a bit underpowered for the weight of the vehicle.

Sonax do a kit that will sort the gearbox, involving strip down and machining to sleeve the soft aluminium that wears, but as cars reduce in value, it’s prob not economical to do. I think some gearbox rebuild specialists offered boxes with the kit fitted if I remember right.

I loved my TD6, but you can’t really compare it to the 4.4 TDV8... I know that’s not what you were doing, but it really shows how things advance. The M57 BMW engine was cracking in its day, but that was towards the end of the 90s.

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

I’m only a year into ownership and on my second, I only changed my 3.6 as I found a really nice low mileage 4.4 and it became apparent I was going to be doing more miles this year.

I can’t say I’ve had anything serious with either of mine so far, after around 15, 000 miles between them - replaced the rear shocks and ARB links on the 3.6 and put new discs,pads and rear calipers on the 4.4 - all fairly straightforward to do and parts were reasonable.

Fingers crossed it carries on like that, I’m happy to do a bit of preventative maintenance and you have to accept that these cars are expensive to run - but get the right one and it’s a lot of car for the money.

Right, time to order the turbo seals and book a mega flush

Interested if there are any links td6 gearbox mods in addition to Sonax, and who does the upgrades? (Not me!)

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/post277782.html

https://www.sonnax.com/units/183-5l40-e

BMW forums may have further info....

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Thanks I’ll investigate that, I think budget will be £7.5k all in, but that includes any immediate jobs!

I’d hoped the 3.6tdv8 would have been ok but a little too much risk at that price point/mileage me thinks!,
v8 petrol possibly, (not super charged as that might bankrupt me 😀)
td6 if cheap enough and then get gearbox sorted,
possibly a high mileage 4.4tdv8 if by April prices slide a bit!