When to get cautious about km's on a V8?

[BDASH]

I've just come back to Melbourne after being in the US for a few years; I had a 99 V8 GCL. I had to sell it before coming back but it had 57000 miles on the clock and was still (of course) fantastic.

Now I'm looking at getting another one here, however I don't know when I should start getting cautious about the number of km's on the V8? I have a post of this question in the "4 sale and wanted" forum, but I thought it would be best to put it here too, because many of you (I'm sure) would have pushed your beats to the limit and beyond).

I have found a few that are WJ Grand Cherokee Limited models with the V8, but some have 200,000km+ on the clock. I've heard from some sources that this only about half life and that there is a good 400,00km+ in that motor...can anyone confirm or deny that?

Thanks,
Mel...

PS: If it helps, the 3 I'm looking at are all 1 owner from new and have 155K, 200K, and 220K on the clock respectively, as well as having complete service history from a Jeep dealer...M

[ACJ]

Ours had a blown head gasket when we bought it and when it was stripped at jeep i went and had a look the bores still hade the hone marks in them and no lips on the top edge that was when it had 160,000

[wildturkey]

Dunno how long they go for before needing a rebuild but i'd be taking into account
- availability of parts
- the cost involved
- how the high k's we achieved (highway or city)
- other mechanicals, their condition and how many $$ to rebuild

IMO, if you plan on keeping the car for more than a few years then pay a bit extra and get a good lower k's one. It might be that you spend 5-10K more now and save yourself the expense and hassles in a couple of years time? Plus don't forget about transmission, diffs & other mechanicals' condition.

[billsta]

hmmm...
i have 136k on the clock now.

i had..
bunged battery,
bunged ball joints,
bunged control arms,
bunged Crank angle sensor,
bunged driveshafts,
bunged radiator bits,
bunged body parts.
but
the engines is holding up good..
very lucky, and im very happy.
but i am waiting for the day that it goes Kaboot...

[wildturkey]

Originally Posted by billsta

hmmm...
i have 136k on the clock now.

I won't be far behind you soon. Done 20K in the last 4 1/2 months

Originally Posted by billsta

but i am waiting for the day that it goes Kaboot...

then you can drop a 5.7 Hemi crate engine in it eh ....okay, maybe not.

[Cpage66]

Okay, I feel bad...In 4 months I've just broken 5,000K...

[BDASH]

...OK then, this all sounds good for up to 200K km, but if the suggestion is to spend an extra $5K or $10K to get a better motor, does anyone have any idea what its worth to replace the motor when it goes?

What about the 6? Does anybody have any good, bad, or indifferent things to say about the 4.0L 6? I haven't driven one but I presume that it doesn't go as hard off the line, how does it compare as far as fuel economy and life-span?

Mel...