So i recently up/downgraded to a diesel SDV8 4.4 L494, less miles, better economy on the roads I drive, etc. Its been fine and no problems until I took it into the local stealers for its 16k service.

Apparently, what I have is actually a TDV8 and not a SDV8 (despite the V5 saying SDV8), so I queried this with JLR who confirmed it's a TDV8.

So, I've got a TDV8 instead, the question is in the absence of any information that I can find anywhere, what is the difference?

JLR can't be arsed to find out and tell me to speak to the stealer, the stealer kinda knows but doesn't want to tell me. When I press them on it, their arse starts to twitch and from that point onwards I know they are bullshitting me.

As I see it I've now got two options, keep the vehicle, update the V5, the finance company, the insurance, and anyone else who cares, or hand it back.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

if the car is 100 % I would get compensation in readies as you will have over paid for the TDV8 for sure. This is also false selling and therefore the dealer knows you're entitled to some money back.

get some VOSA inspection and find a good LR customer service person, this is the hardest thing to find to aid recourse None currently




Gone
rejected RRS autobi Dynamic MY14.5 (Peter Vardy 👎)
D3 XXV full conversion
4.2 SC FFRR
4.4 FFRR
Freelander 1

Thanks Robbo, the car seems fine. I suspect I'll lay this at the stealers door in writing and see what they come up with.

What I really do need to know though to be informed is;

1. What's the difference between the TDV8 and SDV8?

2. How much more would the SDV8 be? i.e. How much should I settle for? (and how much should I tell the finance company they have been shafted for - should their leverage be required).

As for LR customer services, getting nowhere. Its the stealer and nothing to do with us is the short answer. I can some way understand that, but what is the point of customer services if as a customer no one cares.

Thanks
Rich

I don't think there is a TDV8 model in the new RRS. As far as I know they are all SDV8s, certainly here in Aus. RRS P460e
1983 2 door Range Rover ARB Bar X9000 winch ARB Rear Bar now semi retired.
Many big trips done in this one.
1982 Rangerover nearly restored.
22 Defender D250 with lots of stuff for outback touring
Nice 2013 Freelander TD4 manual (for daughter to learn on) with much better stereo compared with previous SD4 SE with Meridian which sounded bad!
2013 Land Rover Defender ute.

I wonder if a key difference is power output? We know full fat 4.4 tdv8 308 bhp / 516 lb ft, but the sdv8 is 334 bhp / 516 lb ft?

Link to Autocar's RRS SDV8 first drive in 2013:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/land-r...ive-review

Link to Autocar's review of FFRR TDV8 in 2010:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/land-r...r-4.4-tdv8

So being down on power would be the main thing. If it was sold as SDV8 then it is misrepresentation. I don't know what level of compensation you could expect but thus smells very fishy to me.  L405 P400e Autobiography (MY2020)... Silicon Silver / Espresso
RRS TDV6 HSE Lux (MY2011)... Nara Bronze / Arabica - now gone!

Big Daddy,
Just to confirm is your car is Sport or a Vogue? Almost sure the Sport only comes with the SDV8. RRS P460e
1983 2 door Range Rover ARB Bar X9000 winch ARB Rear Bar now semi retired.
Many big trips done in this one.
1982 Rangerover nearly restored.
22 Defender D250 with lots of stuff for outback touring
Nice 2013 Freelander TD4 manual (for daughter to learn on) with much better stereo compared with previous SD4 SE with Meridian which sounded bad!
2013 Land Rover Defender ute.

The only 4.4 TDV8 was in the L322 for 11MY and 12MY N

The SDV8 was introduced for the L405 and L494 with a higher power output.

What you may be referring to is that at 15MY the torque was enhanced from 700nM to 740nM but the engine is the same.

He says it is a RRS.

Your observations about how the L494 4.4 was launched are exactly why we are all perplexed that despite being badged and V5'd as an SDV8 Big-Daddy has been told by a main stealer that his power unit is TDV8. L405 P400e Autobiography (MY2020)... Silicon Silver / Espresso
RRS TDV6 HSE Lux (MY2011)... Nara Bronze / Arabica - now gone!

It's the same engine. The dealer is probably just using other (wrong) terminology. There was never a TDV8 in the L494. LR just simply badge the unit SDV8 to differentiate it from the slightly lower powered version which was in the L322.

Sounds like the dealer doesn't know his stuff! RRS P460e
1983 2 door Range Rover ARB Bar X9000 winch ARB Rear Bar now semi retired.
Many big trips done in this one.
1982 Rangerover nearly restored.
22 Defender D250 with lots of stuff for outback touring
Nice 2013 Freelander TD4 manual (for daughter to learn on) with much better stereo compared with previous SD4 SE with Meridian which sounded bad!
2013 Land Rover Defender ute.

Ok, I have a little more information here.

From JLR directly I have today received a print out showing....

===========================

VIN: (I don't think I should paste this here)
Model: Range Rover Sport / L494
Model year: 2014
Build Date: 15-Jan-2014
Warranty Date: 23-Jan-2014
WVTA: e11*2007/46*0909
Engine: 4.4L DOHC DITC V8 DIESEL 260PS
CAB Style: 4 DOOR ESTATE
Drive: RHD
Series: 4.4L TDV8 DIESEL
Transmission: 8 SPD AUTO TRANS ZF 8HP70 AWD
Trim: GRAND BLACK VEENEER W/ GRAPHIC

===========================

So this under 'Series' Shows TDV8, which is what the dealer highlighted. Further the email with this info from JLR says (pasted here)...

===========================

*Range Rover Sport 4.4L*

Thank you for your email received 23rd June 2015.

As requested, I have accessed our internal system and I can confirm that
the above vehicle is a Range Rover Sport TDV8 and not SDV8 as shown on the
current V5. Please forward a copy of this email to the DVLA Swansea, as
confirmation from Jaguar Land Rover Limited of the correct specification of
your vehicle.

===========================

At which point I started this process to try and figure out if I've been screwed.

I wonder why it says 260PS. That would equate to less than 260 BHP, which is clearly wrong.

I think I would ask JLR one simple question at this stage: What power output and what CO2 output is the factory specification for this engine? You can then compare those figures with those published for SDV8.

I would definitely not be getting in touch with DVLA or insurers at this stage, it will throw them into a massive state of confusion!

Secondly, it would be very useful to see what the print out / TOPIX report for a slightly later RRS SDV8 is... if any L494 owners happen to have that. Perhaps they all say 4.4L TDV8 DIESEL?  L405 P400e Autobiography (MY2020)... Silicon Silver / Espresso
RRS TDV6 HSE Lux (MY2011)... Nara Bronze / Arabica - now gone!

I asked, and the first response was "There is no information on L494 TDV8 because this is not available in the
UK." which is nice. So I've asked again and after the third of fourth time of asking I may have the info

It may be that the car is an export car for a market where there is a RHD 4.4 TDv8 version (some Asian and African Markets come to mind). Is the dealer by any chance Marshalls of Peterborough as they specialise in sales to armed forces and diplomatic personnel working overseas and it could be a cancelled order although it will cause quite a lot of confusion for any servicing dealership to have a version in the UK that is not normally sold here........... I wanted to buy a rather special Disco3 V8 when they were launched but LR declined to sell it and crushed it. It was a pre-production car that had "escaped" and had all sorts of optional extras on it that never made it to the UK market - the reason given that I couldn't buy was because it had all the options that no dealer would know how to service. It had things like adaptive cruise control and toys that still are not offered as options on D4's 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Going back to the original question, I'd be handing it back and demanding they provide the vehicle you wanted i.e. SDV8. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed