XSeries-forum

When you took the plugs out a cylinder getting coolant into it will show a considerable different colour. Struggling to think where else the coolant and oil will mix unless the cam cover is leaking enough to settle and work itself in to the valley pan.

The plugs were all black with oil from the hex down so impossible to read anything from them

A big step in the right direction today, my luck was also in as a gent who lives further round my estate stopped as he walking past, turns out he had a range rover with the same engine and has the timing tools and crank locking tool I can borrow so that's a chunk of money saved

Now your problem is how much will you do while it’s out

In for penny in for a grand is probably how it's going to turn out.

Full timing chain setup
2 headsets and headgaskets
Both sump gaskets
Front and rear crank seals
Vanos seals, hopefully the units are ok
Inspect pcv
Inspect bottom end
Gearbox service

That's a basic plan, anything else will depend on what I find when it comes apart, both heads will likely need skimming to ensure there flat