Amazed by differences between defenders!

George1994 · Apr 27, 2015

Hi all, I have an ex-mod 110 with a 200tdi as my landy(made 1986), love her to bits but she is soo noisy, tried to reduce this a bit with front and rear acoustic matting. Spent the weekend being driven around in a 2/3year old 110 with a tdci and couldn`t get over how different it was

-it was as quiet as a normal car!! no rattles, no humming. It also drove a lot better than mine-I noticed it had anti-roll bars as standard, I also think my one needs new springs and shocks-the tdci felt like a normal car but mine bounces all over the place on the smallest of bumps.

Are the differences between the two down to age and loads of sound deadening/headlining/door cards in the tdci? Felt like going from a tractor to a new car lol

chris mcc · Apr 27, 2015

Bit unfair to compare vehicles that have quarter of a century between them

George1994 · Apr 27, 2015

Haha very true

, also noticed a few things about the design that weren`t ideal-the fuse box was pretty low down in the footwell so not great for wading, and the anti roll bars looked like they would get bashed a lot when offroading. It does make me wonder why people feel the need to buy range rovers/evoques etc when the new defenders are so refined

aaronmorris · Apr 27, 2015

chris mcc said:
Bit unfair to compare vehicles that have quarter of a century between them

Exactly my thoughts.

bluedog333 · Apr 27, 2015

George1994 said:
Felt like going from a tractor to a new car lol

That's about right! Maybe I'm just jealous because I can't afford a new one, but I love my '87 One Ten to bits and love the fact I can tinker with her (oo err) myself, she's got more character and I think she'll outlast the TDCis!

George1994 · Apr 27, 2015

I`m spending most of my free time `tinkering` and it`s satisfying that its getting there as I keep saying...is there any way of telling when you need new springs and shocks?

Turboman · Apr 27, 2015

George1994 said:
I`m spending most of my free time `tinkering` and it`s satisfying that its getting there as I keep saying...is there any way of telling when you need new springs and shocks?

Fluid running down the shockers isn't usually a good sign!

Or try the bounce test.

Springs can be checked by measuring bump stop clearances, or remove and measure free lengths.

bluedog333 · Apr 27, 2015

If you're not happy with the ride then you should look at changing shocks. Mine are original and still pass the MOT bounce test, but I know I need replacements for a comfier ride and for what's coming next... I'll recommend original LR springs and shocks !

lightning · Apr 28, 2015

I've got a 110 TD5 CSW and my missus has a 300tdi 90 CSW

Both are great but the TD5 is MUCH more refined, and quieter. The 300 tdi seems to have plenty of sound proofing, even on the bonnet where the TD5 has none, so l don't know how they made the TD5 so much better.

SpaceDawg · Apr 28, 2015

I have a Disco 1 and a 90 200TDI, the Disco is like a Rolls Royce compaired to the 90. But the 90 will not go red and fall apart.

D90mitch · Apr 28, 2015

My 200tdi is fairly refined for... a 200tdi lol but yes It would be awesome to have a Defender as quiet and refined as the new ones. But I just take comfort in the fact that mine doesn't rely on any ECUs to make the engine run, it's all mechanical.

300bhp/ton · Apr 28, 2015

bluedog333 said:
Mine are original and still pass the MOT bounce test

WTF is a bounce test :fish: certainly not part of the MoT.

300bhp/ton · Apr 28, 2015

George1994 said:
Hi all, I have an ex-mod 110 with a 200tdi as my landy(made 1986), love her to bits but she is soo noisy, tried to reduce this a bit with front and rear acoustic matting. Spent the weekend being driven around in a 2/3year old 110 with a tdci and couldn`t get over how different it was -it was as quiet as a normal car!! no rattles, no humming. It also drove a lot better than mine-I noticed it had anti-roll bars as standard, I also think my one needs new springs and shocks-the tdci felt like a normal car but mine bounces all over the place on the smallest of bumps.

Are the differences between the two down to age and loads of sound deadening/headlining/door cards in the tdci? Felt like going from a tractor to a new car lol

Tdi will never be as refined, it just isn't a smooth engine.

But the rest. Well it's only really down to new vs old parts. There is a lot more sound proofing on a new Tdci than your MoD one. If you went to the effort to fit all of this, plus headlining, interior, carpets, etc. And revamped anything that can cause noise/vibration such as bushes, drivetrain components, etc.

Then it's be a lot closer.

New seals and the Td5 style door top structure all help too.

Turboman · Apr 28, 2015

300bhp/ton said:
WTF is a bounce test :fish: certainly not part of the MoT.

Sit on/push down one corner of the vehicle, release, and see how many times it bounces!

Time honoured way to test shocks, no idea if it is official part of test, but I have certainly seen testers do it.

bluedog333 · Apr 28, 2015

300bhp/ton said:
WTF is a bounce test :fish: certainly not part of the MoT.

Push down on corner and release, if it returns to position with no bouncing the shock absorber is fine, if it bounces then the absorber is probably fooked! How d'ya think they test them?

bluedog333 · Apr 28, 2015

I stand corrected! Having just double-checked, it was removed as a method of inspection last year!

Litch · Apr 28, 2015

"I also think my one needs new springs and shocks-the tdci felt like a normal car but mine bounces all over the place on the smallest of bumps."

Apart from agreeing with the comments on comparing vehicles that were manufactured so far apart from each other, have you considered that your ex-MOD 110 will be running HD springs and if unladen it will be practically rigid?
The MOD spec their vehicles for full performance at all-up weights (and then some), not for comfort. My old 101 FC would lift wheels all the time when off-road but stick a few sacks of ballast in the back and the springs were much more flexible.

George1994 · Apr 28, 2015

Thanks for all the advice

I will try the bump test tomorrow, planning on fitting terra firma +2 inch medium springs and shocks in the summer. To make it a little quieter going to order a large engine blanket, under bonnet sound deadening and some stick on dynamat for the roof (and maybe the rest but will see how far it stretches) . Hoping the stick on stuff will add a bit of insulation too for the winter. Changed both front door seals and going to do the rear ones too. Any other recommendations?

George1994 · Apr 28, 2015

Also going to try adding 400ml of 2-stroke oil when I next fill up, heard so many things about it making old diesel engines quiete-something to do with new diesel having less sulphur so less lubrication. So it should increase lubrication and reduce noise a bit. Some people also claim more mpg

lightning · Apr 28, 2015

Don't put it in a TD5 though!

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