LR 3/4 weak points

markwemple

Banned
Sep 9, 2019
301
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Maryland
Looking at possibly buying one. So, I'm familiar with the 5.0 timing chain issue. Is the 4.4 the BMW engine? DO all of them suffer from suspension bushing issues? All of them have water pump and plastic coolant fitting issues? How about the air compressor? I'm not seeing any issues on the rest of the drivetrain. TIA
 

pdogg

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Jul 18, 2005
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Phoenix, AZ
4.4 is also a Jag engine, considered to be the best of them... BMW made a 4.4 engine for the Full size Range Rover from 2003 to 2005 I believe.. they all suffer lower control arm bushing wear, especially if you off-road them alot.. you can upgrade the bushings to poly. I believe they all have a lot of plastic cooling bits, but I'm not a long time owner..
 
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ERover82

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Nov 26, 2011
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Great engine, but mine experienced all the issues you mentioned. Get them all addressed and it should last a long time. Also, make sure the transmission shifts well through all gears and has no error codes. I recommend having it flushed based on ZFs feedback on LR's "lifetime" fill.
 

markwemple

Banned
Sep 9, 2019
301
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Maryland
If a LR4 has had the timing chain, tensioners, rails, water pump, plastic fittings, compressor, control arm bushings done, would you consider it bullet proof, at least as a land rover can be, lol.
 

Swedjen2

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Sep 12, 2018
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California
I've heard it's mostly the control arms, then compressor, then the tranny because of the ridiculously long service interval. The 4.4 engine with proper care should easily last 200K-300K. I know of a couple that are beyong 350K. Pretty good for a JLR product.
 

Howski

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Oct 19, 2009
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Alabama
Yes to all your initial questions. Besides those, which are pretty easily addressed, they’re pretty damn reliable. Had my control arms done prior to purchase and had my compressor crap out at 130k
 

markwemple

Banned
Sep 9, 2019
301
17
Maryland
Primarily street. For my wife. I was thinking of using it on seasonal roads, but that would be it. My D2 or RRC would do the heavy lifting.
 

p m

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Apr 19, 2004
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There was never a BMW 4.4 on an L319/L320 (AFAIK, mandatory disclaimer).

5-liter in an LR4 is awesome. With many caveats.
One rarely mentioned - but since I know of two instances of that, I should bring it up:
Like on several Ford vehicles of the same time frame, there's no return fuel line back to the tank. To avoid overpressurizing the fuel rail, JLR installed a pressure sensor and Ford-sourced PWM controller for the fuel pump.
It is a hundred-dollar part made in Czech Republic that once resulted in a thousand-dollar tow bill for me (+$700 at LR Scottsdale +multiple phone calls to assure the service manager that his mechanic was lying to him).
 

jymmiejamz

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Dec 5, 2004
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Los Angeles, Ca
There was never a BMW 4.4 on an L319/L320 (AFAIK, mandatory disclaimer).

5-liter in an LR4 is awesome. With many caveats.
One rarely mentioned - but since I know of two instances of that, I should bring it up:
Like on several Ford vehicles of the same time frame, there's no return fuel line back to the tank. To avoid overpressurizing the fuel rail, JLR installed a pressure sensor and Ford-sourced PWM controller for the fuel pump.
It is a hundred-dollar part made in Czech Republic that once resulted in a thousand-dollar tow bill for me (+$700 at LR Scottsdale +multiple phone calls to assure the service manager that his mechanic was lying to him).

Aside from yours, I've only seen one fail. The one I had may have been the fuel pump itself ( 3 phase pump) and it was an intermittent problem. Ben's wasn't the FPDM.
 

ERover82

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Nov 26, 2011
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It’s the same Jag V8 minus two cylinders with a supercharger in their place. It’s barely more efficient, has the same problems, and less power. Those models do have trim and tech advances though.
 

pdogg

Well-known member
Jul 18, 2005
1,216
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Phoenix, AZ
Primarily street. For my wife. I was thinking of using it on seasonal roads, but that would be it. My D2 or RRC would do the heavy lifting.

Have the same setup, LR4 for the wife and road trips, built up D2 for trails.. LR4 is a sweet machine..
 

ERover82

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Nov 26, 2011
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LR4 is just as great off-road, if not better, than the LR3, but at a cost. The purchase price will be higher, depreciation will be higher, and the cost to equip it with 18" wheels will also be higher.

The main drawback to both are their size and weight. My double-cab F150 weighs 700lbs less. Think about that.