Disco 1 300tdi Raised Air Intake

So my nice standard and staying that way D1 now has a trimmed front bumper, various guards and some shiney new spotlights. I was definitely set on not trimming the arches but I will shortly be ordering some 245/75/16’s so that’s out of the window to!

I have two trips planned for next year, the first being a Moors and Dales one which is easy enough but the second is a 3 day Wales trip. As there is rather more water on the Wales trip by the look of it I’m thinking it may be time to go the whole hog and fit a raised intake, is there any significant difference between the ones on offer other than a wide price range? Predictably the cheapest one that is of decent enough quality is what I’m looking for.

If you intend going into water so deep that it requires your vehicle to be fitted with a snorkel I hope your new and shiney spot lights are totally waterproof.
Plus, all the other electrical/electronic items externally and internal are also protected, iffy door seals will let water in and the stuff on the side of the foot wells and under the dash won't like getting wet.

AdamD1 said:

I have two trips planned for next year, the first being a Moors and Dales one which is easy enough but the second is a 3 day Wales trip. As there is rather more water on the Wales trip by the look of it I’m thinking it may be time to go the whole hog and fit a raised intake.

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I live in Wales, and I run a Discovery 2.
I can assure you that I've never had a need for a snorkel or extra waterproofing. The rainfall levels in Wales are on average no more or less that any other part of the British Mainland.

The hella fogs have survived one dunking without filling up, we’ll see about the spots if/when it comes to it.

I’m hoping not to go that deep, I just don’t really know what to expect from strata florida and the other more technical Wales lanes as the other trips I’ve done have been fairly tame. I’ll attach a pic of the deepest it’s been at the end, it’s more me being nervous of doing the engine harm than it is having a real reason to need one, I don’t really like the look of them. Breathers are all extended but that’s all I’ve done.

I went for a Southdown, a few years ago, and it's still being used on my 90!

The Southdown is the one I like the most, less obvious than the safari style and they do it in black.

I guess do I actually need it is the question?

AdamD1 said:

I guess do I actually need it is the question?

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Are you going to be prepared to turn around on / reverse a lane and not wade through when you come to a water crossing if it is too deep?
Do you check the depth of a waterway, and KNOW the maximum depth you can safely go to?
Have you asked anyone specifically if the lanes you want to drive have deep water on them?, some Welsh lanes I have seen pictures of, have deep water.
Have you ever checked to see if any water has ingressed into your current air filter?
Are you going to fit a fully waterproof air intake, or just a cosmetic extra feature?
Do you want to risk it?
Have you checked if anything else is recommended on top of a RAI and wading kit for the D1 for deep water driving?
These are all your choices, no one can tell you if you need one.

Cheers

It’ll be part of an organised tour, I suspect I’ll have the least modified vehicle on it and don’t really want to have to turn around if the others can get through safely.

Certainly nothing has got in so far, breathers are extended to the top of the engine bay, wading plugs go in every time. I obviously have the safe depths in the manual but I’ve definitely exceeded those since doing the breathers.

It’s not for cosmetics, I have no love for the look of them, it would be a sealed waterproof intake as the whole point would be engine protection. It gets used for organised laning trips and one day I do plan to try a mild pay and play site but the intention is not to damage it if I can help it.

AdamD1 said:

It’ll be part of an organised tour, I suspect I’ll have the least modified vehicle on it and don’t really want to have to turn around if the others can get through safely.

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You've more or less answered your own question there. Why not contact the organisers and ask them what they would advise in the way of waterproofing and any other equipment that might be necessary or just nice to have?

Based on what you say, I'd suggest instead of buying a snorkel, get some recovery points (Jate rings) fitted front and rear, a decent towrope and rated shackles (minimum 24mm diameter and 4m, but 8 is better, shackles 3 1/4 ton rated are what I use)

If you already have this then a snorkel is, IMHO, a worthwhile addition, so long as it's properly sealed.

I have front and rear recovery points on the fuel tank and steering guards and a set of recovery straps so I’m sorted there, better safe than stuck! I asked on the last one and the consensus was that tyres and an intake would get me everywhere the others can go, I’d prefer not to fit one but again I’m very much a better safe than sorry sorta guy!

The Southdown looks less extreme than the safari style ones, I think it might be the answer I’m looking for.

Keep an eye out for an 'unfinished' one from Southdown themselves, saves a fair bit of money over a nicely polished one ...

I went for the South down type on mine....just bought the wing mould and top and made the rest with steel pipes.....easy to do if you are handy with metal....looks just like the real version too....

Although on my other disco I fitted a safari snorkel....just to be different

If you ever see a set of the rear roof bars come up let me know!

I’ve got nothing against the safari style, I was trying to keep the car discreet but bit by bit that’s gradually dwindling.

Yeah....that's why i did the south down style on my main one...more discreet as you say.

Sorry...I also made my rear roof bars....have metal and a welder

I know the rear bars were once an accessory, the roof rack as it is isn’t all that useful as it is. Finding a set is pretty much impossible sadly!

I found it was for d2's hence why I made my own which takes the cross bars, so a full length rack without additional weight or height

AdamD1 said:

I know the rear bars were once an accessory, the roof rack as it is isn’t all that useful as it is. Finding a set is pretty much impossible sadly!

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That's not right, I bought a new set about 8 months ago from eBay I didn't have any trouble getting hold of them

If you can help me find them I’d be really greatful, spent ages searching when I first got the car.