Generations Overview The Discovery 4 (L319), 2009 to 2016
The Discovery 4 is the second-generation vehicle on the L319 Integrated Body Frame platform, produced from 2009 until the Discovery 5 (L462) took over in 2017. It carries the same chassis code as the Discovery 3 (2004 to 2009) and shares the structural body-on-frame architecture, the rear air suspension layout, and several driveline components. Where parts fit both L319 generations the product listing states so; engine, electrical, and calibration-sensitive components are generally restricted to one generation.
Two distinct production phases apply. Pre-facelift cars (2009 to 2013) launched with the 2.7 TDV6 and the original 3.0 TDV6 / SDV6 variants and the 5.0-litre V8 petrol. The 2014 facelift refreshed the front end, replaced the V8 petrol with the 3.0 SCV6 supercharged petrol, introduced stop-start across the diesel range, and revised the SDV6 calibration. The ZF 8HP70 eight-speed automatic also arrived on the SDV6 from 2012, replacing the earlier ZF 6HP28 six-speed.
The Discovery 3 and the Discovery 5 are the adjacent generations. No L319 parts cross over to the L462, which is built on an entirely different aluminium-intensive platform.
Engine variants in the L319 Discovery 4
2.7 TDV6 (Ford AJD-V6, 2,720 cc, 190 PS): early production only, 2009 to the 2010 model year. Paired with the ZF 6HP26 six-speed automatic or the six-speed manual. Engine architecture is carried over from the Discovery 3, but emissions and calibration differ. Uses a timing belt at the scheduled service interval.
3.0 TDV6 (306DT, 2,993 cc, 211 PS): introduced for the 2011 model year and produced through 2013. Twin-turbo diesel, paired with the ZF 6HP28 six-speed automatic. The 306DT runs a wet belt timing system: the front camshaft drive belt and the rear high-pressure fuel pump belt are both scheduled service items and must be replaced together.
3.0 SDV6 (306DT, 2,993 cc, 245 to 256 PS): available across the full Discovery 4 production run with progressive power increases. Sequential twin-turbo architecture. From 2012 the SDV6 was paired with the ZF 8HP70 eight-speed automatic. Post-2014 facelift SDV6 vehicles received stop-start technology and revised calibration.
5.0 V8 petrol (AJ133, 375 PS): naturally aspirated, available from 2009 to 2013. Lower EU volume but supported in stock for service parts.
3.0 SCV6 petrol (AJ126, 340 PS): supercharged V6, introduced at the 2014 facelift as the replacement for the 5.0 V8. Petrol-specific cooling, intake, and ignition components are not interchangeable with the diesel range.
Kerb weight ranges from 2,396 kg to 2,583 kg across the variants, reflecting the powertrain weight spread. Confirm your engine code via VIN before ordering anything in cooling, timing, intake, or fuel system categories.
How to use this collection Use the engine variant, year, and category filters above the product grid to narrow this collection to parts that match your specific Discovery 4.
Vehicle Identification Identifying your Discovery 4 by VIN
The L319 chassis code is shared with the Discovery 3, so chassis code alone is not a reliable fitment input. The 17-digit VIN is the authoritative identifier. It is stamped on the driver-side door frame, visible through the windscreen base on a plate, and recorded on the V5C or local registration document. The 10th character identifies model year.
For the Discovery 4 specifically, the VIN model year decode resolves three things at once: which generation the vehicle belongs to (D3 or D4), which engine variant is fitted (2.7 TDV6 limited to 2009-2010, 3.0 TDV6 limited to 2011-2013, SDV6 across the full run), and which transmission specification applies (ZF 6HP28 versus ZF 8HP70 on the SDV6). Pre-facelift versus post-facelift status follows from the model year too: 2014 onward is post-facelift.
Reference Note For original-specification confirmation including engine code, transmission code, and factory trim level, the JLR Classic Parts portal Discovery 4 (2010 to 2016, L319) catalogue is the authoritative reference. Workshop diagnostic procedures and torque specifications are covered in the Land Rover Discovery 4 Workshop Manual for the applicable model year.
Parts Categories Parts categories with consistent demand for the L319
Discovery 4 stock is weighted toward the categories where age and mileage wear are now reaching the EU fleet. Air suspension components, wet belt timing kits, EGR system parts, propshaft and driveline service items, EPB hardware, cooling for the 306DT, and chassis fasteners cover the bulk of routine workshop demand. Each category link below filters results to L319 fitment.
Air suspension
EAS compressors, front and rear air springs, ride height sensors, and valve block assemblies for the L319. The highest-volume Discovery 4 category as the fleet ages past ten years.
Air suspension and steering parts Engine timing
Wet belt kits, tensioners, idlers, and seals for the 306DT engine in TDV6 and SDV6 form. Timing components for the 2.7 TDV6 follow a separate specification and are stocked alongside.
Engine timing parts Cooling and heating
Thermostat housings, thermostats, water pump components, expansion tanks, and coolant hoses for both diesel and petrol variants. Thermostat housing failure is a known 306DT fault.
Cooling and heating parts Drive mechanism
Centre bearings, universal joints, propshaft assemblies, and differential output seals for the L319 permanent four-wheel drive system.
Drive mechanism parts Brake system
Discs, pads, caliper hardware, brake lines, and EPB cable and actuator components for the L319 electronic parking brake system.
Brake system parts Engine and ancillaries
Service parts and engine components for the 2.7 TDV6, 3.0 TDV6, 3.0 SDV6, 5.0 V8, and 3.0 SCV6 variants, including EGR valves and coolers.
Engine parts Electrical and sensors
Sensors, switches, lighting, and electrical service parts for the L319 across pre and post-facelift specifications.
Electrical parts Chassis and body
Suspension arm bolts, wishbone fixing hardware, hub nuts, and body mounting hardware as individual items and complete sets.
Chassis and body parts Quality Tiers Quality tiers for the Discovery 4
The Discovery 4 is now between nine and seventeen years old, and the parts choices are driven less by warranty considerations than by service life, cost-per-mile, and supply continuity. Genuine, OEM, and aftermarket are all viable depending on the system.
Genuine is the right tier for the EAS air suspension control valves and ride height sensors, the rear differential service kit, the 8HP70 transmission rebuild components, and the wet belt timing kit on the 306DT. These are systems where calibration history, the exact JLR part number, and the original tolerance band matter for long-term reliability and warning code suppression.
For the wet belt kit specifically, Genuine and OEM-equivalent are both acceptable, but the brand-name aftermarket route is not recommended on this engine. The 306DT is unforgiving of incorrect belt tension or material grade, and the failure mode is catastrophic.
OEM covers the practical bulk of Discovery 4 service work. Pierburg supplies EGR valves and coolers. Bosch supplies the diesel high-pressure pumps, injectors, glow plugs, and most sensors. Mahle supplies cooling components. ZF supplies transmission service parts and the Lifeguard 6 / Lifeguard 8 fluids for the 6HP28 and 8HP70. Brembo, ATE, and TRW cover braking. OEM-tier supply is the most cost-effective route for routine service on the L319.
Aftermarket is appropriate for discs and pads, filters, bushings, body fasteners, exterior lighting bulbs, and air suspension service kits that are no longer in Genuine supply. Each listing names the OEM supplier where the source is verified.
EU Stock and Dispatch EU stock and dispatch for the Discovery 4
L319 parts are stocked in the Netherlands and dispatched the same working day on orders placed before 15:00 CET. Intra-EU shipments carry no customs paperwork or import VAT at the border, with typical transit of 1 to 2 working days to Germany, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, and 2 to 4 days to Scandinavia, Iberia, Italy, and central Europe. UK orders ship under standard post-Brexit customs procedures with VAT and duties applied on delivery. Workshops servicing multiple Discovery 4 vehicles can request invoiced trade terms.
Technical Guides Technical guides for the Discovery 4
The guides below cover the diagnostic and replacement decisions that come up most often on this generation. Each one identifies the parts that address the underlying fault, not just the symptom.
3.0 TDV6 timing chain or timing belt
The 306DT engine combines a wet front belt, a rear fuel pump belt, and internal timing chains. This guide explains which components are scheduled service items, the correct replacement interval, and what to inspect at the same time as the belt kit.
3.0 TDV6 timing guide Discovery 4 DPF blocked: causes and the right parts
Restricted performance and limp mode on TDV6 and SDV6 engines is often the result of upstream EGR or sensor faults rather than the DPF itself. This guide covers root cause diagnosis and identifies the correct parts for each fault type.
Discovery 4 DPF guide Discovery 4 thermostat housing failure
Thermostat housing failure is a known fault on 306DT-engined Discovery 4 vehicles. The guide explains how to confirm the housing is the fault source, what to replace alongside it, and which parts to order from this collection.
Thermostat housing guide Discovery 4 limp mode diagnosis
A systematic approach to diagnosing limp mode on the Discovery 4 before ordering parts. Covers the most common trigger codes, the upstream sensor and actuator faults that produce them, and the inspection sequence that isolates the correct component.
Discovery 4 limp mode guide Land Rover EPB failure: diagnosis and repair
Electronic parking brake faults on the L319 are frequently misdiagnosed as actuator failure when the actual cause is worn brake shoes or cable resistance. The guide covers the correct diagnostic sequence and the parts needed for a permanent fix.
EPB failure guide Discovery 4 vs Discovery Sport: ownership costs
A direct cost-of-ownership comparison between the body-on-frame Discovery 4 (L319) and the compact Discovery Sport (L550) for European owners. Useful for buyers comparing generations or workshops servicing both.
Discovery 4 vs Discovery Sport guide Do Discovery 3 and Discovery 4 parts cross over?
Partially. The Discovery 3 (2004 to 2009) and Discovery 4 (2009 to 2016) share the L319 platform, so structural components, the rear air suspension hardware, and several driveline parts are common between the two generations. Where a part fits both, the product listing states so. Engine parts, electronics, and calibration-sensitive components are generally not interchangeable, even where the engine family is the same, as in the case of the 2.7 TDV6 fitted to early Discovery 4 production. The 2.7 TDV6 in the Discovery 3 and the 2.7 TDV6 in the early Discovery 4 are not parts-equivalent on emissions, calibration, and ancillaries.
What is the difference between the 3.0 TDV6 and 3.0 SDV6 in the Discovery 4?
Both engines are 2,993 cc V6 diesels from the 306DT family, but they are different states of tune with different power outputs and different transmission pairings. The TDV6 produces 211 PS and was paired with the ZF 6HP28 six-speed automatic. The SDV6 uses sequential twin-turbo architecture, produces 245 to 256 PS depending on production year, and from 2012 was paired with the ZF 8HP70 eight-speed automatic. Both engines use the wet belt timing system and share the same scheduled belt replacement requirement. Confirm via VIN which variant your vehicle carries before ordering engine-specific parts.
Does the Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 use a timing belt or a timing chain?
Both. The 306DT engine in TDV6 and SDV6 form uses a hybrid timing system that combines belts and chains. The front camshaft drive belt and the rear high-pressure fuel pump belt are scheduled service items and must be replaced together. The internal timing chains within each cylinder head link the intake and exhaust camshafts and are not routine service items, though they may develop noise on high-mileage engines. The belts are the primary maintenance risk and the source of most timing-related engine damage on this engine. Partial servicing that replaces only one belt is a known cause of failure, which is why the correct service scope replaces both belts and the associated tensioners and seals as a single job.
Why does my Discovery 4 keep going into limp mode?
Limp mode on the Discovery 4 is a symptom rather than a fault in itself, and the trigger is usually an upstream sensor reading outside acceptable range. Common causes include EGR valve carbon buildup, MAP or MAF sensor drift, turbocharger boost actuator faults, fuel pressure sensor degradation, and intercooler-side air leaks on the SDV6. Replacing the DPF without diagnosing the upstream cause is a common mistake. The Discovery 4 limp mode diagnosis guide linked in the Technical Guides section above covers the correct diagnostic sequence, the codes most commonly involved, and the parts needed for each root cause.
What is the kerb weight of the Discovery 4 and why does it matter for parts?
Kerb weight ranges from 2,396 kg on the lightest 2.7 TDV6 variants to 2,583 kg on the heaviest fully-equipped SDV6 specifications. The weight spread matters for two parts categories in particular. Air suspension components are loaded differently across variants, so the air spring service life and replacement frequency are higher on the heavier specifications. Brake hardware sizing is also matched to weight class, so brake disc thickness, pad compound, and caliper component specifications need to match the original fitment rather than a generic L319 part.
What is the practical difference between the Discovery 4 and the Discovery Sport for an owner?
The Discovery 4 is a full-size body-on-frame SUV with permanent four-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case with low range, longitudinally-mounted engines, air suspension, and a 3,500 kg towing rating. The Discovery Sport (L550) is a compact crossover on a transverse-engine unibody platform shared with the Range Rover Evoque, with Haldex or GKN Active Driveline AWD, coil suspension, no low-range transfer case, and a lower towing rating. The two vehicles are similarly priced on the used market but serve very different use cases, and parts are not interchangeable between them. The Discovery 4 versus Discovery Sport ownership cost comparison linked above covers the practical differences in more detail.
