Member Since: 21 Nov 2009
Location: Lithoijen
Posts: 23
V8 experience?
Hi,
Am the happy owner of a 06 HSE 2.7 with 178k km on the clock. Think I need to spend €5k to make it fit for another 150k km.
But today I was offered to pay around €10k and trade in for a 07 HSE 4.4 V8 with 75k km on the clock.
What's the experience on this forum? V8 more fun and worth the extra fuel costs? More/less reliable than the diesel?
Advice welcome!
Mies
25th Nov 2014 11:23 pm
Alphamale
Member Since: 28 May 2014
Location: Belfast
Posts: 496
V8 definitely fewer problems with engine, no turbo, no fuel filter or other Diesel engine associated problems, but fuel consumption is high. If I wasn't on LPG not sure I could hack it, though having said that my old D2 was a v8 returning 12mpg around town so not much change except the D2 was cheaper to maintain.
The thought of a rear diff @ 655+ VAT needed in near future. Started saving.
Personally I'll always go for a petrol engined car because they tend to have fewer engine related problems, are easier for the home mechanic to work on and are more fun to drive, unless you do any wading then the diesel is the way to go as they are not so badly affected by water.
Just my opinion and I'm sure many would disagree.
26th Nov 2014 12:20 pm
Dusty
Member Since: 23 Sep 2013
Location: London
Posts: 1022
If I didn't live close to London and had more open roads as opposed to grid lock I'd go for the V8 every time. Just a much nicer drive IMHO. But stop start journeys just kill the MPG to the point of single figure returns. Used to go the LPG route but we use the 7 seats enough to make that a non starter. Just have to stick with the oil burner for now Discovery 4 HSE
SDV6
2015
26th Nov 2014 5:44 pm
TheOneAndOnlyNikolaus
Member Since: 13 Jul 2008
Location: Vienna
Posts: 140
The V8 engine is rock solid as all the issues have been ironed out in the earlier years when it was powering Jags. Fuel consumption is higher but the fun is higher as well. Only recommendation from my side is to change the 8 spark plugs ahead of schedule as I am afraid they are seized solid if you really leave them in the car till the indicated interval.
In addition the V8 has larger brakes although it is not really faster or heavier than the diesel version.
So as long as you don't run the car without oil or water you should not see any issue and do not need to be concerned about the engine.
26th Nov 2014 5:50 pm
Landybandy
Member Since: 10 Jul 2013
Location: Neath
Posts: 178
Lol....not faster, it'd bloody salaughter the the diesel. Believe me.
But I will say there is absolutely nothing wrong with the performance with the diesel, it is more than adequate.
7th Jun 2015 8:14 pm
Mogwyth
Member Since: 03 Oct 2014
Location: Pwllheli
Posts: 3976
Always V8 for me, had a DII with a 4.6 and now the D3. Mine does around 16 mpg on Petrol and 14.5 on LPG, but that said it had a problem with the cat on one side which has now been dealt with so would expect the mpg to rise.
Only issues have been related to the LPG. These engines suffer from VSR on LPG and the previous owner let it get that bad it not only needed new heads but also blew the cat one side. I have the full history on mine and apart from servicing and the LPG issue it has had no engine related work done in 130,000 miles.
Dusty, my LPG tank is where the spare wheel should be so still have 7 seats just no spare!
Factory figures for the V8 are 0-60 8.5secs vs 11secs for the 2.7 and about 10mph faster flat out, D4 diesel is much closer 0-60.
So more reliable, from my perspective it seems so, more fun most definitely and even if you remap a diesel it can never sound like a V8.==================================
05 D3 HSE V8 4.4
04 MG TF 135
03 MG TF 115 Cool Blue Edition
02 MG TF 160
00 Hymer B564 Lionheart
1971 Series III 109
7th Jun 2015 8:44 pm
Alphamale
Member Since: 28 May 2014
Location: Belfast
Posts: 496
Just like the government to start to alienate the diesel car after they did all in their power to convince very one that the diesel was cleaner and the way to go. Bullsh1t!!! now they want every one to move away from the dirty diesel.
All that aside the V8 is a great motor and more fun. Not to everyones taste, especially those who do and serious off roading and deep wading. As you're in London who needs a diesel.
7th Jun 2015 11:45 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
TheOneAndOnlyNikolaus wrote:
The V8 engine is rock solid as all the issues have been ironed out in the earlier years when it was powering Jags. Fuel consumption is higher but the fun is higher as well. Only recommendation from my side is to change the 8 spark plugs ahead of schedule as I am afraid they are seized solid if you really leave them in the car till the indicated interval.
In addition the V8 has larger brakes although it is not really faster or heavier than the diesel version.
So as long as you don't run the car without oil or water you should not see any issue and do not need to be concerned about the engine.
So jags had the bmw engine fitted?
8th Jun 2015 1:09 am
Red Merle
Member Since: 30 Aug 2014
Location: Liskeard
Posts: 7438
Not sure where BMW came into this. When was the last time that a BMW petrol engine was fitted to a Disco?2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
2015 - 2017: 2 x D4
2017 to date: FFRR SDV8
2023 to date: FL2 as a second car
2021 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200
2022 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200 & sidecar!
(One of only two known to exist in the world!)
8th Jun 2015 5:51 am
Mogwyth
Member Since: 03 Oct 2014
Location: Pwllheli
Posts: 3976
The 4.4 V8 used in the D3 is a version of the jaguar developed AJ V8 engine which first appeared as a 4.0 in 96 and was a development of previous Jaguar engines, it was built at the ford Brigdend plant on a separate line from ford engines and has nothing to do with BMW. Indeed the D3 itself was developed under Ford ownership (2000-08).==================================
05 D3 HSE V8 4.4
04 MG TF 135
03 MG TF 115 Cool Blue Edition
02 MG TF 160
00 Hymer B564 Lionheart
1971 Series III 109
8th Jun 2015 7:07 am
Dusty
Member Since: 23 Sep 2013
Location: London
Posts: 1022
When we have 7 on board it's normally the grand kids, SWMBO wouldn't entertain not having a spare to use. Understandable but do miss the V8.
If D 3's didn't need constant fettling I'd get a V8 as a run around. But until very recently having been a 2 Land Rover family for many years, I can tell you there is a lot less anguish only having 1 Discovery 4 HSE
SDV6
2015
8th Jun 2015 4:03 pm
wvlenthe
Member Since: 07 Jan 2009
Location: Arnhem
Posts: 1967
Hi Mies,
I have been driving a V8 for 7 years now. I'm getting 19.6 mpg on average over 160.000 kms (almost 7 kms to the liter) when not towing the caravan and 15.7 mpg when towing (5,5 km/liter). I must say I don't have a heavy foot.
The experience is great and problems are rare. I have never had an engine problem, knock on wood. I cannot really compare to the diesel experience as the only diesels I have driven are loaners from the dealer. I'm usually pleasantly surprised by the accelerating power of the diesels at lower speeds but the sound level seems to be a bit higher.
As my D3 is aging a bit I was actually thinking of changing to a D4 diesel version, as the 5.0 SC V8 is a bit over the top and also hard to come by.
Just ask if you want more info.
WiljoD3 V8 HSE Auto in Zermatt silver - driveway version gone but not forgotten, only the living room cupboard version remains
8th Jun 2015 8:25 pm
Pacoryan
Member Since: 18 Apr 2015
Location: Dorset
Posts: 11
We've had our 05 V8 for about 3 months and it's great. A bit juicy (16 on local runs) but it will only do around 5-8k a year as a family bus and to take us all to Spain in the summer. As for V8 vs Diesel I've not driven a diesel but I can imagine the lack of poke is palpable, the V8 is no rocket but has enough grunt to overtake in comfort and I think if I had a TDV6 I'd be wanting to tune it to get at least similar performance. The reduction in borkable items is reassuring, plus the mega mileages this engine frequently runs up in the US is reassuring.
I do find the throttle response off the line to be very sensitive - it can be easy to leap forwards rather than take off smoothly, but perhaps I just need more practice!
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