First post, first question. 300tdi Defender noise.

Hello to all, I have been searching and reading things on this website for months now and it really is very useful!
After joing a few months ago I feel I am ready to ask my first question, which is a basic one and merely out of curiosity.

I currently have a 1998 300tdi Defender 130 and was just wondering how noisy it should be. My previous vehicle was a 1984 110 pickup which I fully expected to be deafeningly loud but I am unsure with this one as I have no benchmark.

At speeds of around 40mph plus, it is difficult to hold a conversation without talking really rather loud and at 60mph, it is almost impossible without a real shout! There's so much engine noise.
I read in this month's LRM that one of the editors has just installed bluetooth in his Defender, should I expect that I should be able to hold a phone conversation in my Defender too?

Any input would be great. Thanks!

shouldn't need to shout.

my 86 was amazingly loud when i first got it... now i am deaf so it's ok

i'd first have a look for any holes in the bulkhead (grommets etc) and cover them over.

check exhaust/manifold isn't blowing, check tappets and all that stuff.

do you have any sound proofing?

i also stuck roof flashing all over the lower bulkhead, seatboxes and tunnel and it helped a fair bit.

That's what I thought! Oh I'm sorry to hear that, I fear I'm heading the same way at this rate!
The advice about the holes is a good point. I'll have a look when I can. It doesn't have sound proofing per se, just rubber mats that cover the footwells and transmission tunnel.
I have read about the flashing stuff, how much of a difference do you think it made? I take it was pretty noticeable?
Also, what did you mean by exhaust 'blowing'?
Thanks very much!

AJJackson1 said:

That's what I thought! Oh I'm sorry to hear that, I fear I'm heading the same way at this rate!
The advice about the holes is a good point. I'll have a look when I can. It doesn't have sound proofing per se, just rubber mats that cover the footwells and transmission tunnel.
I have read about the flashing stuff, how much of a difference do you think it made? I take it was pretty noticeable?
Also, what did you mean by exhaust 'blowing'?
Thanks very much!

Click to expand...

the flashing made a little bit of a difference.

exhaust blowing, i mean a hole or leak around the joints.

atm, my 300 hasn't got any mats in and i have a few holes i need to fix around the floor. i can still hold a convo without shouting.

i think i would start with going over the engine, inlet and exhaust system first.

Ok thanks, I will look in to doing that in the next few days. It does seem to be a bit on the loud side in comparison with yours and se if I can find the cause.
Thanks again.