I'm considering buying a "collectable" 4.2 S/C and while I am aware of most of the problems with used diesels I'm not sure what to look for on the V8 S/C with regards to mechanicals. I haven't owned a petrol engined car since 1994 either. So has anyone any tips as to what to look for with 4.2 V8 engine? I assume that frequent oil changes are one area that needs to be queried but are there any other problems with a V8 S/C lump? The current owner is a Land Rover enthusiast so hopefully he is a careful owner too..... 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

Hello Tim
I had the 4.2 for seven years. Can not believe I swapped it for a diesel😭 Great engine no issues. The only thing to look out for are the back spark plugs, a diyer could damage the threads as they can be difficult to access, they are iridium so should have been changed once. Vertually all the sc coolant pumps were wired incorrectly, but a relatively cheap easy fix. MY12 RRS HSE
Gone 4.2 supercharged RRS
Gone 90
Gone s2000

Exactly shepp just changed mine what a the back two are is also have a slight misfire on mine(electrical/coils as its intermittent) it is gas converted but has no vsr if you buy one with lpg make sure it has a valve lub system and no misfire's other than that it is just the normal electrics you should check and mechanical s but as you have a range you know what you need to check and make sure the supercharger does not rattle

Thanks guys, useful info and will check when I go to look at it. As the car will not be a daily runner or even a weekend toy I am unlikely to rack up huge miles in it - the car I'm interested in is a pre-production car that escaped the LR crusher. 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

4.4 SC ?

Yes there were 4 or 5 preproduction developement mule 4.4 S/C's made and run, supposed to have been crushed after longevity issues with the engine was revealed and it was canned in favour of the 4.2 before launch. The owner of the old LRE at Dunkeld had one of them for a while, it was Giverny Green like my 2.7SE 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

The 4.4 is the same engine as the 4.2 but with thicker bore liners. They found that with the increased compression it was stressing the liners too much, hence dropping in thicker liners and causing the lower cubic capacity to 4.2.

It'll be a nice car to keep somewhere safe, if you do get it due to the previously mentioned issues with the liners I would avoid being rough with it..