Discovery Box in a TD5 Defender, my experience

Certainly was! Mrs is a fine photographer.

The low box is the same as before, just the hi box that has changed.

Hi All

After a good 5000 miles on this box I thought I would give my final opinions.
Day to day drivability on roads it's fantastic, it does seem to pull better and I don't seem to be going everywhere in 4th and 5th like I used to.
Cruising on the motorway at 70 is significantly quieter.

However this has come at a cost in a couple of places.
- Firstly reverse is now so long that I often throw it in low range if I'm doing any sort of manoeuvre.
- 1st is also pretty long, absolutely fine on the road but around the farm I find it a touch fast for running down rough tracks
- Pulling a heavy trailer would be pretty hard work, I haven't tried but I feel it would be.
- She is working a lot harder at 70 than she used to. Although quieter due to lower revs, it feels like she is on the limit. Put your foot down at 70 and there isn't much more to give.

Fuel economy is shocking. Where I used to be able to get 480 (500 if i pushed it) miles out of a fill, Im now getting 390/400. When I had an aluminium slimline rack on it was more like 340.
Granted I tend to sit at 65 now where I used to cruise at 60.

My concern is when she is fully equipped with a roof tent and associated gubbins for an overland tour, she is going to struggle.

I feel she would benefit from a remap, just to get her off her knees when cruising.

Does anyone else have experience with a remapped TD% on a disco box?

Thanks

That's very interesting, I bought a disco box last year and re built it with new bearings, has been sitting in the garage since while I build up the momentum to change it.
Mine is a 90 Defender so I hope it might be even better suited to the new ratios, hope I might take out the seats and do a much needed tidy up soon and while I'm at it lower the old box out and put the "new" one in.

MungoPark said:

Hi All

After a good 5000 miles on this box I thought I would give my final opinions.
Day to day drivability on roads it's fantastic, it does seem to pull better and I don't seem to be going everywhere in 4th and 5th like I used to.
Cruising on the motorway at 70 is significantly quieter.

However this has come at a cost in a couple of places.
- Firstly reverse is now so long that I often throw it in low range if I'm doing any sort of manoeuvre.
- 1st is also pretty long, absolutely fine on the road but around the farm I find it a touch fast for running down rough tracks
- Pulling a heavy trailer would be pretty hard work, I haven't tried but I feel it would be.
- She is working a lot harder at 70 than she used to. Although quieter due to lower revs, it feels like she is on the limit. Put your foot down at 70 and there isn't much more to give.

Fuel economy is shocking. Where I used to be able to get 480 (500 if i pushed it) miles out of a fill, Im now getting 390/400. When I had an aluminium slimline rack on it was more like 340.
Granted I tend to sit at 65 now where I used to cruise at 60.

My concern is when she is fully equipped with a roof tent and associated gubbins for an overland tour, she is going to struggle.

I feel she would benefit from a remap, just to get her off her knees when cruising.

Does anyone else have experience with a remapped TD% on a disco box?

Thanks

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Hi Mr MungoPark. Thanks for a very interesting insight into your gearbox update. Why is there always a big negative at the end of these good news postings. The additional fuel costs really put a downer on my enthusiasm

I have a Td5 90 and, despite towing a small horse box, most of my driving is for pleasure on Irish tarmacadum. The thought of having a less "agricultural driving experience" in a Defender would be heaven. My ideal Defender would have the body and road presence of the Defender with the comfort and refinement of a top spec Range Rover. But, as a retiree, with three children, costs come into play

I'm going to be keeping an eye on your future posting to see if you have any changes of heart in the coming months. Enjoy my beloved Country Cornwall. And, many thanks for the most enjoyable posting

@raywin With any luck the lighter running weight will make a difference in your setup. As said, i do think a light remap would change everything. Just talking to insurance as regards to those pesky 'hidden' costs.
@Alan Crossley I must say I am looking to achieve a similar result, however one does seem to come at a cost to the other (use on farm and towing capability) I do think an overdrive would solve the cruising comfort. But these are expensive and tricky to find. That doesn't fix the better road drivability of the rest of the gears found in the disco box.

It's always going to be a compromise which ever way we go. But such is life.

Looking into getting it mapped to 160 by Dynachip, just need to convince the insurance company to not charge me like a wounded rhino for the privilege.
I'll keep this posted as to progress.

On another note, does anyone have a Howling Moon Roof Tent looking for a new home ?

Ta

David_Cooper said:

Very interesting, thanks. Our 110 (with 200Tdi) is very 'busy' at 60mph. It's the noise more than anything, you can't hear yourself think
The problem is, in our case, it's regularly towing a lot of weight- maybe 2.5 tons and I'm worried it would struggle out of junctions with the trailer on the back, especially with the 7.50 tyres if I fitted a 1.2 transfer box.
The Discos are fine of course, but the tyres are smaller.. Decisions decisions

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I had a 1.19 tfer box in my 90 with 33 inch tyres and that was way over geared, so bad hill starts were a problem, 5th became pretty much redundant.
Changed back to 1.4 tfer box better but still not right, then to smaller tyres 31 inch I think and now its pretty spot on, Its actually a joy to drive again and has been a good couple of years since i last thought that.
My test hill is Blue Bell hill Kent, 33 inch tyres 1.19 tfer box 4 th gear flat out literally screaming the tits off of it, into 5th and it would pretty much bog down, now it pulls 5th reasonably happily theres none in reserve but it doesnt slow down and its a long hill.
Bare in mind the the td5 will walk all over the 200/300 power wise.

I had my 110 TD5 remapped by Dynachip and it's made a big difference, it pulls a lot better through the gears and can go up hills in 5th where l used to be in 4th.
On a local A road there's a hill where it would do about 52mph flat out in 5th, after the remap it will now easily sit at 60mph with more to come if needed.
When l called my insurance to advise them of the remap it made no difference to the premium.

lightning said:

I had my 110 TD5 remapped by Dynachip and it's made a big difference, it pulls a lot better through the gears and can go up hills in 5th where l used to be in 4th.
On a local A road there's a hill where it would do about 52mph flat out in 5th, after the remap it will now easily sit at 60mph with more to come if needed.
When l called my insurance to advise them of the remap it made no difference to the premium.

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Hello Lightening. What was the penalty from the fuel consumption view?

None.

It does 26-28mpg, the same as before it was remapped.
That's town driving with about six stops a day, at customer's houses
On the motorway l have just started maintaining 60mph rather than 70mph. l think 60mph is the natural cruising speed of a Defender 110.
Although it will happily sit at the legal limit if necessary.
At 60mph it achieves 30mpg where 70mph is around the 26mpg mark.

Same here 26-28mpg... went a fair bit lower doing 80 on the rush for the ferry coming back from France last year!
My set up: 90 TD5 10p, 1:2 Transfer box from Ashcrofts, Alive stage 1 tune, larger intercooler, electric fan, egr bypass, K&N air filter, with a tweak on the boost too... I also have a few sets of tyres, original 205's for towing, General TR 235's for tar/summer, and some 265 General AT's great in the winter.
Tried the straight through mid pipe, even the Alive cherry bomb style, but just too boomey... even with my extensive sound proofing!... sounded great outside though... and did feel as though the turbo spooled up a bit faster.

lightning said:

None.

It does 26-28mpg, the same as before it was remapped.
That's town driving with about six stops a day, at customer's houses
On the motorway l have just started maintaining 60mph rather than 70mph. l think 60mph is the natural cruising speed of a Defender 110.
Although it will happily sit at the legal limit if necessary.
At 60mph it achieves 30mpg where 70mph is around the 26mpg mark.

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MungoPark said:

Looking into getting it mapped to 160 by Dynachip, just need to convince the insurance company to not charge me like a wounded rhino for the privilege.
I'll keep this posted as to progress.

On another note, does anyone have a Howling Moon Roof Tent looking for a new home ?

Ta

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Firstly can I say what a great write up, I will definitely be doing this mod sometime this year.

When I had mine mapped by dynachip to circa 160 brake mark, it was an utter revelation to drive, its like a different vehicle altogether! I can put it into top at around 20-22mph and it will pull with no trouble whatsoever!
I would say in regards to insurance, this is up to your discretion, the map is virtually invisible, and I would think very rarely checked. Also, how are you to know if it has been mapped or not!??

Be careful!

Insurance companies are wise to remaps now. If you are in an accident they may check for a remap and if found could wriggle out of paying.

I called my insurance and they asked me how much extra bhp l told them it was 160bhp.
The premium was unchanged. I think they realise it's not a boy racer vehicle. I also told them about the ARB kit, tow bar, dog guard, rev counter, side steps and bash plate l've fitted.
Again the premium was unchanged but now the extras are covered if it's stolen or a total loss.

I have started being a little softer on the motorways and can achieve a good 27-28 sitting at 65. Beats the 21-22 before (sitting at 70) and the 18! with a frontrunner rack. Not looking forward to rack and 1.6 roof tent...

Had a chat with Admiral about getting it mapped. I have already listed the winch bumper, snorkel (an inspiring conversation), snow cowl and aftermarket raised rear brake light.
They refused to cover the vehicle if I get it mapped. Regardless of what BHP I go for. They have two brackets +15% and + 25%. However when I said I would do plus 25% (152bhp) they still said no.
Time to start looking around.
I know that items such as the snorkel and snow cowl probably wouldn't be regarded as a notifiable modification. But I do not trust insurers and try not to give them any excuse to squirm their way out of a payout.
I shall start looking elsewhere for cover and see what I can find. You would think with 6 years no claims on a ponderous old defender they would have no issues ...

No problems with Adrian Flux insuring my remapped 110 TD5.
No premium increase either.

@lightning thanks I'll give them a buzz and see what they say. They used to cover my fairly extensively modified classic mini with no complaints.

Gottschalk said:

Firstly can I say what a great write up, I will definitely be doing this mod sometime this year.

When I had mine mapped by dynachip to circa 160 brake mark, it was an utter revelation to drive, its like a different vehicle altogether! I can put it into top at around 20-22mph and it will pull with no trouble whatsoever!
I would say in regards to insurance, this is up to your discretion, the map is virtually invisible, and I would think very rarely checked. Also, how are you to know if it has been mapped or not!??

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It will pull away in 5th gear from 20mph? That is basically about 800rpm, very impressive if true.

lightning said:

It will pull away in 5th gear from 20mph? That is basically about 800rpm, very impressive if true.

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If true??

Fucck off!!

No, l won't Sir.
I was only asking if you are sure it will really pull from 800rpm in fifth gear as my remapped TD5 110 will not actually take that RPM at all in fifth gear without shaking itself (and probably the DMF) to pieces!