VM or TDI ?

My mate is going to look at a 93 K plate classic tomorrow - it's a diesel but the seller doesn't know whether its a vm engine or a 200 tdi
Is there an easy way to tell the difference - I never seen a vm or a 200 tdi in a rangie so I'm not much good to him !

Should say TDI on the lower tailgate if nothing else,plus the TDI has an alloy head and the VM has 4 individual horrible heads.
If it is a VM I would walk away,there are a few odd people that like them but you need to question their sanity/intelligence.

Thanks for that - I shall pass the info on
Got to say I have to question the sanity of anyone who wants ANY kind of diesel in a rangie !

v8kenny said:

Thanks for that - I shall pass the info on
Got to say I have to question the sanity of anyone who wants ANY kind of diesel in a rangie !

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yer i hear that TDV8 is a dreadfull motor ........ ermmm not

v8kenny said:

I have to question the sanity of anyone who wants ANY kind of diesel in a rangie !

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Me neither. Range Rovers are the ultimate in off-road luxury. If you have to ask how much, then you shouldn't buy one. Rolls Royce would never put a diesel in one of their cars. What is the point in having the opulence of the RR when it sounds like a tractor.

I suppose reliability and fuel range/consumption are two good reasons.Much as I hate to admit it,even the 2.5 BMW engine in LP RR's is more reliable than the V8's.
Plus a modern turbo diesel against an auto is a very good combo,esp for towing or off road work.
Which would you rather crash in ?

eightinavee said:

I suppose reliability and fuel range/consumption are two good reasons.Much as I hate to admit it,even the 2.5 BMW engine in LP RR's is more reliable than the V8's.
Plus a modern turbo diesel against an auto is a very good combo,esp for towing or off road work.
Which would you rather crash in ?

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I think "modern" is the key word here - the bmw lump is hardly modern by today's diesel engines and is painfully slow esp. the auto
None of the diesel engines before that did the rangie any favours
I am sure the new V8 diesel is a cracker but I am talking real cars that I can afford - not pipe dreams
I would probably rather have a crash in a diesel rangie cos I would be unlikely to be doing more than 17 mph - that's about top whack aint it ?
I mean, c'mon guys - a diesel engine in a range rover - it just doesn't do it does it ?
As for towing, my brother in law has a 2.5 ton digger that he needs moving up some pretty serious hills from time to time - he has a bmw rangie, I have a 4.6 V8 - guess who he calls to shift it ?

Maybe I am being too harsh - I just don't do diesels and no-one will ever convince me otherwise
Disagree ? - next time you are out in your rangie switch the radio off and open the window, then floor it - which one would you rather listen to ?

I was quite upset that my mates 3ltr Diesel Jeep is quicker to 60 than my V8 (On paper, never actually tried it or wanted to). I comfort myself by thinking that his turbo diesel is pushing itself hard where as my V8 is taking things leisurely and ultimately would last longer. I'm probably totally wrong but it helps me sleep at nights and helps to justify my choice of engine.

Steer clear of the VM 2.4 the engine was pulled by Land rover after only a year of use, as the engine design is poor, The engine has four separate heads, the design of the block is such that the heads have very little to seal to, consequently the heads are the weak point and will leak, there is nothing you can do to combat this problem

Just a little update............................
My mate has just been round with the rangie after buying it today
It's a 300 tdi manual
Ardennes green, boost alloys
93 on a K plate
Body is very straight with none of the usual rot - tailgates look pretty new
Quick dive underneath showed no horrors
I reckon he got a bit of a bargain for £1200

If its a 300tdi on a k plate im guessing it must have had an engine conversion at some point,not that it makes it any less of a good buy if its as good as you say.

Here is a picture of my old VM, it was a little noisy, and a little rough compared to my now 300Tdi, but it did pull like a steam train....

thems the 4 little eads in the second piccy, with 4 little camshafts each held on by one bolt, feckin **** italian design

VM engines should be pilled up some where and blown up

ironhorse said:

VM engines should be pilled up some where and blown up

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Target practice on Salisbury plain,or boat anchors.

Yah must be a conversion done by the owner at some point if its got a 300tdi in it and its ok a K plate.

Also a quick look isnt as good as a good stab with a screwdriver when checking the body/chassis. mud covers all etc

As the owner of a K reg Disco can I just say For FOOKS sake take the carpet and soundproofing up before buying it as even a stab with a screwdriver won't prepare you for the horror you are likely to find once you do decide to have a "proper" look. Also check rear chassis legs where the tiedown shackles/towbar extension bolt. and both sills inners and outers. It's not a question of will you find corrosion more a case of how much will you find.

Also a 300tdi engine won't fit in a 200 chassis without changing the mounts so make sure it is a 300 as it's unlikely that it is. 200tdi has 2 narrow belts 300 has a wide single belt. rocker covrs are different and I believe the turbo is in a different position.

It's a 300 tdi alright - I have a 90 here with a 200 tdi in it and they are not the same engine
Will have a look and see if the engine mounts have been moved next time I see it

v8kenny said:

It's a 300 tdi alright - I have a 90 here with a 200 tdi in it and they are not the same engine
Will have a look and see if the engine mounts have been moved next time I see it

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It's the reason you don't get many 300tdi converted 110's & 90's in order to get em to fit you have to weld in a new engine mount. So most people stick with the 200tdi as they have the same mounts.

whatever you do don't buy it until you've taken the rear loadbay carpet and soundproofing up. I have had to remove the rear seats because the floor underneath em was so badly corroded.

Just realised I've been cruising on autopilot with my eyes closed I thought we were on about Disco's. So what I said about the engines could well be complete bollocks. but the advice about the rot still stands.