Land Rover TD5 Long Engine Replacement
Summary
The Land Rover TD5 diesel is one of the most dependable engines the company ever built, but many are now past twenty years old and starting to show their age. When a TD5 suffers crankshaft damage, bearing failure or severe oil contamination, fitting a fully reconditioned long engine is the only reliable long-term fix. At K Motors we supply and fit professionally rebuilt TD5 long engines supplied by NWS Motor Services, complete with a 12-month or 30,000-mile warranty.
A full fitted replacement costs £5980 including VAT.
Why TD5 engines fail
Despite its strong cast-iron block and simple five-cylinder design, the TD5 is vulnerable to a few known weak points.
One of the most serious is the oil pump bolt working loose, leading to sudden loss of oil pressure and catastrophic bearing failure.
Diesel dilution caused by leaking injector seals is another common cause of internal wear, while long-term coolant loss or overheating can cause liner movement or head cracking. Once a TD5 begins to knock, lose oil pressure, or show signs of severe contamination, rebuilding the bottom end alone rarely restores long-term reliability. A complete long engine replacement gives a fresh start with properly machined components, new bearings, and factory oil pressure restored.
Vehicles affected
- Discovery Series II (1998–2004)
- Defender TD5 (1998–2006)
Both early and late TD5 engines are supported. We identify and supply the correct version during the quotation process.
What the reconditioned long engine includes
Each replacement TD5 long engine is stripped, cleaned, machined and reassembled using OEM components throughout. The rebuild includes a reground or new crankshaft, new pistons, rings and liners, refurbished or new cylinder head, new oil pump, timing chain and guides, water pump, gaskets and seals. Every unit is pressure-tested and hot-run by NWS to verify oil pressure and compression before fitting.
All engines come with a 12-month or 30,000-mile warranty.
How the job is carried out
Replacing a TD5 engine takes around 12 hours of skilled labour.
The process includes engine removal, installation of the rebuilt long engine, flushing and cleaning the cooling and oil systems, refitting all ancillaries, filling with fresh fluids, and carrying out final ECU programming and road testing.
During the job, our technicians also check the turbocharger for wear, inspect the oil cooler and pipework, and test the breather and injector systems. If we find faults in supporting systems such as the turbo, cooling system or fuel injection, we’ll quote separately for repair. Fixing these issues at the same time as the engine installation is the best way to ensure long-term reliability and will be necessary to secure the NWS warranty.
Fitted cost
- Reconditioned TD5 long engine (exchange): £3600
- Labour (12 hours @ £79.50/hr): £954
- Gaskets, seals, fluids, filters: £170
- Oil cooler replacement: £200
- ECU setup, coolant bleed, road test: £60
Subtotal £4984 + VAT £996 = £5980 including VAT.
A refundable £600 exchange surcharge will apply if the old engine cannot be reconditioned due to a cracked block or missing components.
Symptoms and diagnostic clues
Typical failure signs include low oil pressure warnings, crankcase knocking, metallic debris in the oil filter, or sudden loss of power followed by engine seizure. Common fault codes logged on TD5 systems include P0340 (camshaft position), P1190–P1191 (fuel pressure monitoring) and random misfire codes (P0301–P0305). If these appear alongside oil pressure issues or noise, internal damage is likely.
Preventative maintenance
To extend engine life, change the oil every 6000–8000 miles using a high-quality 5W/30 or 5W/40 fully synthetic oil.
Replace injector seals at the first sign of fuel contamination, check the oil pump bolt periodically, and make sure the cooling and breather systems are clean. Early action on unusual noises or low oil pressure can often prevent major engine failure.
Warranty and service
All TD5 long engines supplied by NWS and fitted by K Motors carry a 12-month / 30,000-mile warranty.
The price includes fluids, road test, ECU programming and VAT.
Turnaround is typically 3–4 working days once the engine arrives with us.
Collection and re-delivery can be arranged throughout the North West of England.
