LR3 4.4 V8 vs LR4 5.0 V8 reliability?

[wyrover]

I have a 07' LR3 HSE with the 4.4L V8 and it has been very reliable. How does the 5.0L V8 compare to it in terms of reliability? Possible going to go look at a 2011 LR4 but not sure if that engine is going to be as reliable as the 4.4L V8. Thoughts? Should this be posted in the LR4 section instead?

 

[jim6090]

Have had both. Both are very reliable. 2012 LR4 with 83000 miles. Smooth like new.

 

[aakempvt]

Some 5.0 have had timing chain guide issues. It's not catastrophic but not cheap to fix. Water pumps are another issue. I haven't heard of any other weak spots on the 5.0.

Check out RSW solutions on YouTube. He has a two part series on the 5.0 timing chain issue.

 

[jwest]

I have a 07' LR3 HSE with the 4.4L V8 and it has been very reliable. How does the 5.0L V8 compare to it in terms of reliability? Possible going to go look at a 2011 LR4 but not sure if that engine is going to be as reliable as the 4.4L V8. Thoughts? Should this be posted in the LR4 section instead?

No offense to above but anyone with a rover under 100k basically doesn't know either way outside of uncommon issues. Ask a mechanic who's been working on rovers since at least 2007. Three I've talked to all said the lr3 engine is clearly more reliable in terms of expensive issues to deal with - like mentioned above.

Now, if I could get a better transmission into the lr3 i'd be happy as hell those of us with a lot of crap on board know how it's hard for it to hold 6th gear on the slightest grades. It's not a practical problem but it is just kind of annoying especially since at one time I also had a VW V10 tdi Touareg which had so much torque it wouldn't need to shift unless you really tried to push it.

My lr3 feels peppier now with the Magnaflow full exhaust system and rides better than new with all the suspension bushings and struts replaced so that makes up for spending 10' of $k's on an lr4. I'll be buying a Kimberly instead...

It's all about perspective and priorities though so I could totally understand someone 'wanting' a newer peppier feeling LR4.

 

[wyrover]

No offense to above but anyone with a rover under 100k basically doesn't know either way outside of uncommon issues. Ask a mechanic who's been working on rovers since at least 2007. Three I've talked to all said the lr3 engine is clearly more reliable in terms of expensive issues to deal with - like mentioned above.

Now, if I could get a better transmission into the lr3 i'd be happy as hell those of us with a lot of crap on board know how it's hard for it to hold 6th gear on the slightest grades. It's not a practical problem but it is just kind of annoying especially since at one time I also had a VW V10 tdi Touareg which had so much torque it wouldn't need to shift unless you really tried to push it.

My lr3 feels peppier now with the Magnaflow full exhaust system and rides better than new with all the suspension bushings and struts replaced so that makes up for spending 10' of $k's on an lr4. I'll be buying a Kimberly instead...

It's all about perspective and priorities though so I could totally understand someone 'wanting' a newer peppier feeling LR4.

Mine has 128k on it and we haven't had any issues with it. I was looking into a LR4 but wasn't sure on the reliability of the 5.0 engine. Maybe I'll just do the "turtle removal" exhaust mod to give mine some more growl. Probably won't give it any more power but it will sound better.I went and looked at a used 11' LR4 HSE but it didn't have as many features as my 07' LR3 HSE

 

[ktm525]

It's not a case of "peppier" feeling. It is a whole different level of performance. I put 120k miles on a 2006 LR3 before moving onto a 2010 LR4 now with 100k miles. Many problems I experienced on the LR3 (multiple LCA, compressor, height sensors, starter, brakes all the time, weird tire wear ) have not shown up on the LR4 yet. Perhaps just lucky with these specific vehicles, my LR3 may have been a lemon.

The LR3 does not need a better transmission, it needs more oomph so the transmission won't downshift. IMO the LR4 is just superior in terms of ride and handling, braking and power. LR took the shortcomings of the Lr3 to heart and addressed most of them with the LR4. That being said I still prefer the cupholder layout, slower ratio steering, front grill design and tailights of the LR3. I find the front seats in the LR4 more supportive.

The DI of the LR4 scares me a little but so far so good. Same with the timing chain guides. I will do a BG service for the intake and valves next spring before I swap the spark plugs. The timing chain guides I suspect are related to the extended OCI that LR was pushing. Now I do twice yearly changes. Knock on wood.

 

[jwest]

"braking" .... "LCA" are the same.... but ok whatever LOL

Also:

I've had a 2013 LR4 HSE loaner for a week at a time....liked it yes, but not enough to merit $30-$40k differential at the time. My new control arms have better ball joints than factory lr4, my new Bilstien 4600 series dampers are better than LR4 factory, my EBC brakes, even being smaller to fit 17" wheels, brake just as effortlessly as before so very little practical differences exist other than the engine and transmission.

And yes, it is in fact the transmission that is the issue not holding high gears, not the motor LOL The lr3 motor has plenty of torque to do so.

Enjoy the lr4 though... they are certainly nice.

 

[wyrover]

"braking" .... "LCA" are the same.... but ok whatever LOL

Also:

I've had a 2013 LR4 HSE loaner for a week at a time....liked it yes, but not enough to merit $30-$40k differential at the time. My new control arms have better ball joints than factory lr4, my new Bilstien 4600 series dampers are better than LR4 factory, my EBC brakes, even being smaller to fit 17" wheels, brake just as effortlessly as before so very little practical differences exist other than the engine and transmission.

And yes, it is in fact the transmission that is the issue not holding high gears, not the motor LOL The lr3 motor has plenty of torque to do so.

Enjoy the lr4 though... they are certainly nice.

What control arms did you use? Any options for front shocks?

 

[samnt650]

jwest... where did you get the Bilstien? do they come with the air spring (or you have converted to coil...) I've been looking for Bilstien with air springs (all 4 corners) for my D3.

 

[wthammett]

170K miles on 2011 LR4 with 5.0 - can't tell you how smooth, powerful and reliable it has been. Zero problems with the motor, I do have the clicky or tap-tap sound on cold start up n the front of the motor with the chain guides but other than that very, very impressed with the 5.0