Main dealer trying it on for £40k!

[C63sxb]

Hi all, looking for some advice as I’ve never been in this situation before.

My Range Rover Sport SV went into the dealer today with an engine management light on. The car actually drives fine, except it starts to feel off once you get to around 70mph.
The dealer is now claiming I’ve driven it through high water and essentially flooded the air intakes/turbos, and they’ve quoted around £40k for repairs. This doesn’t add up at all — the car hasn’t been through flood water. At most it’s seen some heavy rain.

For context, the car only just came back from a service last Friday, where they identified a wastegate issue and said the turbos were “smoke tested”. I was told everything checked out fine.

Then on Saturday morning, the engine management light came back on right at the start of a 4-hour journey to Cornwall. I tried calling the dealer but couldn’t get through to anyone. I called again on Monday and booked it in, and it went in yesterday.

Today they called saying they can see “tide marks” and that one of the filters (or a filter) is torn. My question is: could this be caused by it not being refitted correctly after the smoke test/service? If something was left loose or assembled incorrectly, could that cause water ingress (even from heavy rain) and/or a torn filter?

What would you do next in my position? Any advice on how to handle the dealer, what to ask for (evidence/report/photos), and whether this sounds plausible would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance


Kind Regards

[SmithCorona]

Because you are talking turbos and 'SV' I am assuming you are in the latest 4.4 BMW powered SV.

There is no way an old SVR with the 5.0l will have got water ingress to the point it would bork the intake through rain, pressure washing or unsealed bits.

But....the 4.4 has only previously been rated to 500mm in the X5 and X7, and not the 900mm of the L4series. Though I have never heard of the 4.4 being affected by water ingress (I have had 3) and JLR will have thought about this, given its in the fatty and the sport.

There was a Panny on here which got water ingress from a pressure washer that tore the air filters. That's probably what has happened. I assume they washed your car at the service....

[C63sxb]

Thanks, yes it is the 4.4 SV.

They did indeed wash my car!

I just cant get my head around it

[sixor8]

If you had ingested water in a ford, etc and blown the engine, you could claim off the insurance maybe? It's a sort of 'accident.'

[DavePanda]

sixor8 said:

If you had ingested water in a ford, etc and blown the engine, you could claim off the insurance maybe? It's a sort of 'accident.'

If you'd ingested water in a ford and blown the engine, the car would still be at the ford.

[SmithCorona]

C63sxb said:

Thanks, yes it is the 4.4 SV.

They did indeed wash my car!

I just cant get my head around it

Well. Seems pretty clear to me. Pressure washer into the grille, water into the intakes. A commercial one can tear the airfilters. Not suprising it will flood some of the pipework, and then once the air flow and pressure get higher, engine light.

fk knows how you will prove it. Maybe get an independent mechanic and put this hypothesis to them. Maybe put it to the MD first, and tell them that is your intent.

They may own up.

[2 GKC]

DavePanda said:

If you'd ingested water in a ford and blown the engine, the car would still be at the ford.

And not covered by insurance

[swisstoni]

Take it to an independent and tell them what you suspect has happened.
It's not worth the effort to try to persuade the dealer.
And obviously never darken their door again.

[CanAm]

2 GKC said:

DavePanda said:

If you'd ingested water in a ford and blown the engine, the car would still be at the ford.

And not covered by insurance

Yes it is.

[LightweightLouisDanvers]

What is the £40k repair they are quoting?
New engine?
What is actually wrong with the car, apart from an eml on?

[georgeyboy12345]

The jetwashing might explain the water ingress and torn air filters, would it also explain the tide marks?

I’d just take it somewhere else. Though first I’d put it to them that they caused damage by washing the car and demand all money you have given them back.

Do you have a dashcam to prove you haven’t been bombing it through Rufford Ford, etc? Though I suppose dashcams don’t save anywhere near that amount of footage. Or GPS data from the car showing where you’ve been, thus proving you haven’t been off road or through any fords.

[sjc]

I am sure there was a similar thread about this exact same scenario some time back on PH?.

[SimonTheSailor]

Surely a brand new engine would 'only' be 10-15K ??

[SmithCorona]

SimonTheSailor said:

Surely a brand new engine would 'only' be 10-15K ??

Reconditioned, yes. But there is unlikely to be any of those for the S68 and an MD wouldnt fit one.

A new in crate is gonna be nearer 30k, plus labour. They are incredibly expensive and complicated engines.

[rOB.bOb]

Was the engine light on previously and the car feeling odd above 70mph before you took the car to the garage? Why did they smoke test the turbos during a service? How long have you owned the car and did you buy it used?

Just trying to get some context.