Hi I got rid of a tdv8 3.6 earlier this year after shelling out on a re con engine and turbos due to my fear of something else going wrong every time I got in the car, also had to cut the handbreak cable one Sunday after it jammed on one wheel. Anyway I have since decided that Audis are not for me and I think I'm ready to take the plunge and get another RRS. So basically are the 3.0 diesels as unreliable and problematic as the tdv8.

I have just sold a 7 1/2y old TDV8 Id run from new

It needed a new alternator last year, electronic handbrake fix earlier this year and a ride height sensor a fortnight ago
No other oily bits failed in my ownership

Its on its original discs, second set of pads and third set of tyres

How many 2009 cars are as unreliable as this?

Range Rover V8 enough said !!! 2008 G4 RRSport TDV8 current
2009 TDCi 90 current
2018 Discovery 5 HSE lux current
1994 Dakar current

A 2011 RRS 3.0 V6. I have only owned from April this year but so far absolutely no issues at all. I have spent the best part of 40hrs machine polishing this beast for a Siramik coating to be applied next month by a local detailer guy, he initially wanted £800 to detail it himself and as I had the gear but never used it I thought I would give it a go.

I went into Guy Salmon Sheffield last week for its 60K/ 5 year service and told it was the best looking model in the Sumatra Black they have seen so my hard work has paid off and hopefully will help with a trade in price when I come to changing to a newer model. It currently has 42800 on the clock with FRRSH. and quite frankly I love it much to the other halves annoyance.

I finished polishing the roof and back door the other day and the neighbours must have thought I was mad as it started to rain but I was still outside snow foaming and jet washing the polish residue off the motor to stop any staining. To be honest I think they already know I am a bit OCD about her

The last of the L320's from 2012/2013 have the same tune V6 as the early L494's and it is a great engine. If you can stretch to a 2015MY onwards HSE Dynamic then it has a higher output and torque than the HSE version of the same car (HSE doesn't get the transfer case and low ratio gearbox or the enhanced handling pack and eDiff). 700NM of torque is fantastic in the lighter weight car and it also burns less tractor juice. I ran a TDv8 RRS from 2007 to 2010 and then the same engine in a FFRR for a year - never had any issues with either of them although the FFRR had feeble brakes after being used to the Brembos of the RRS with the same engine! 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

700Nm of torque, a SVR only produces around 680Nm. Although a Diesel will normally produce more torque than a Petrol Engine I guess, perhaps Only was not the best choice of words.

Cheers
Col

We purchased a 62 reg RRS HSE Luxury 3.0SDV6 in 2013 and really enjoyed the three years we had with that vehicle. We used it for towing a twin axle caravan and for leisure and in 3 years it only cost us 3 services. No problems at all. I guess that it is difficult to say all 3.0SDV6 engines are great , but this car had no problems and was joy to drive. Just changed it for a 2015 (65plate) RRS Autobiography Dynamic 3.0SDV6 with 4000 miles on the clock. Hope that this one is as good as the last one. 2015 Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic SDV6
2012 Range Rover Sport SDV6 HSE Luxury- Santori Black with Autobiography Ebony/ Ivory interior- SOLD

The 3.0 is arguably the most reliable of the diesels; the 3.6 TDV8 is arguably the least reliable. Go for it!  Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

But, the V8 sounds lovely

I'm biased, but the 3.0 SDV6 is a great engine, my car also has the Dynamic Drive program, 8 speed box, and all the extras not normally fitted to the MK1, could be because near end of this model run (2012), it has the extra packs that were also available Cold climate Pack, memory pack etc. (Can't remember the names of them all right now without the paperwork)
I get around 33mpg true on Motorway runs, do near 20k miles a year, and a very reliable smooth engine, no it doesn't have the sound of the V8 but reliability when you need it every day on and off road is most important to me.
Personally I font like the MK2, had chance to get a new one in 2013 but they are not of the same quality at all, my leather seats etc are unmarked drill yet the new models are poor quality, thin and mark when you sit on them.
You won't regret what ever model you purchase, but the V6 3.0 litre has masses of torque, cruises happily at 120mph (in Germany) will outdo many of the "fast" roadhogs if required, but the comfort you get allows you to arrive at your next job relaxed and ready to go.

Not sure what a earlier poster meant but mine has the low range gearbox, Transfer case, did etc.  John

RRS MY12 SDV6 HSE. Sumatra Black/Ebony & Walnut + Dynamic Pack, + Cold Climate Pack + Memory Pack, Digital TV/DVD, Premium Leather, Cornering Lights, Cooler/Fridge Box, & most Options.

Last edited by Johnski on Sun Sep 18 2016 9:43am. Edited 4 times in total

Lost for Words wrote:

The 3.0 is arguably the most reliable of the diesels; the 3.6 TDV8 is arguably the least reliable. Go for it!

I'm glad to say Col that mine has gone well past that now in miles with no problems to date, (it has the higher output engine as on Mk2) but as on BMWs blowing turbos, always a possible run of faulty bits could have been used possibly?. John

RRS MY12 SDV6 HSE. Sumatra Black/Ebony & Walnut + Dynamic Pack, + Cold Climate Pack + Memory Pack, Digital TV/DVD, Premium Leather, Cornering Lights, Cooler/Fridge Box, & most Options.

To be fair you are going to get good and bad ones of all of them really. Never had any trouble with my TDV8.

Cheers
Col

As you say there is always good and bad models, like the late Friday night ones.
If I had the money I'd also get a V8 for occasional use, but the mileages I do,
I'd have trouble paying for all the fuel.
If one came along at the right price, I suppose I could always do a gas conversion job on it.  John

RRS MY12 SDV6 HSE. Sumatra Black/Ebony & Walnut + Dynamic Pack, + Cold Climate Pack + Memory Pack, Digital TV/DVD, Premium Leather, Cornering Lights, Cooler/Fridge Box, & most Options.

Yeah, it's swings and roundabouts really. It's all very well having the more typically reliable engine, but it's not much consolation if it does fail.  Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver