New member, advice needed on first land rover

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JanBoerVoort

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Good day everyone, I'm a new member here from South Africa. I don't own a landy yet but I am planning on buying one, that's why I joined the forum. So, I know I want a Defender but I don't know yet which engine I want. I want a fuel efficient, simple engine, from what I read online the best option would be between the 300tdi and 200tdi and td5. Between the 300tdi and 200tdi the 300tdi seem to be the better choice. As far as I read the td5 unfortunately has electronics which I don't want because it will be something extra that could fail. The 300tdi seems to be non electronic engine but doesn't have so much power. So it's really between this two but I am starting to lean towards the 300tdi because it's non electronic. Isn't there maybe a way to delete all of the electronics in the td5 or is that not possible? The td5's road ability also seems to be better due to the increased power? The reason why I didn't include the more modern engine options is because they are a bit out of budget. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
 
Hi welcome to the forum.
Whichever one you chose, try to get one with good service history.
200/300 tdi have pretty much the same power, both are easy to work on. You might want to do your homework on spares availability from where you live now them engines are getting a old now.
Td5 will need the ecu to run so can't delete the electronics.
To put into perspective, my dad still has a TD5 110 which he bought back in 2004 and has had no issues apart from the maf sensor needed replacing and a leak on the fpr. So I wouldn't call them unreliable providing they are looked after.
However on the other hand, my brother has a 200tdi 110 which I don't think he ever looked after, ran it on cooking oil mixed with diesel without ever changing the fuel filter, timing belt must be about 10 years old and never recall the oil getting changed. But it always starts first time and has never broken down.
If I were you though I would go for a 200/300tdi
Steve
 
Welcome to the asylum, and 300tdi.
I have both 300tdi and TD5 Discos. Same engines as in Defenders.
300tdis are rock solid motors easy to work on and can be tooned up a bit if you really want. More economical too.
TD5 electronix is a pain. Though if you get yourself a diagnostic like a Foxwell and come here for help it is possible. (That is how I have been forced to fix mine!)
Best of luck anyway!
:):):)
 
Thanks everyone for the advice, so it seem to me that the 300tdi would be a better option for me. How is the road capability on it? Can you do some performance upgrades to increase the driveability or does that just shorten the engine's life? Speaking of engine life, I read that a well maintained engine goes about 500,000kms? Thanks again.
 
Jan Spoeg said:
Thanks everyone for the advice, so it seem to me that the 300tdi would be a better option for me. How is the road capability on it? Can you do some performance upgrades to increase the driveability or does that just shorten the engine's life? Speaking of engine life, I read that a well maintained engine goes about 500,000kms? Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Get one and drive it offroad, you'll be anmazed what it can do with nowt spent on it.


AND!!!!!!!!
No blasted dual mass flywheel to worry about.
Don't worry if the centre diff lock lever doesn't seem to function, unless the previous owner used it regularly they almost all seize up. Nothing that a bit of work won't fix easily. And we can help you with it. Can all be done from inside the cab plus taking a bit out and putting it in a vice. Judicious application of a hammer and easing fluid, then return to place and start the pop rivetting, which i find the biggest pain of the whole job!
I only own Discos which drive lovely on the road, but there is no reason why a Defender can't be made to be reasonable.
Remember everything you do to make it perform like a car on the road will do the opposite for its off road capabilities. Like stronger ARBs.
 
Stanleysteamer said:
Get one and drive it offroad, you'll be anmazed what it can do with nowt spent on it.


AND!!!!!!!!
No blasted dual mass flywheel to worry about.
Don't worry if the centre diff lock lever doesn't seem to function, unless the previous owner used it regularly they almost all seize up. Nothing that a bit of work won't fix easily. And we can help you with it. Can all be done from inside the cab plus taking a bit out and putting it in a vice. Judicious application of a hammer and easing fluid, then return to place and start the pop rivetting, which i find the biggest pain of the whole job!
I only own Discos which drive lovely on the road, but there is no reason why a Defender can't be made to be reasonable.
Remember everything you do to make it perform like a car on the road will do the opposite for its off road capabilities. Like stronger ARBs.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice, if the car is fitted with standard ARBs would it still perform well off road too?
 
Agree with Stanleysteamer about the tyres, too big will make it feel like the engine is underpowered.
You can tweek the fuel pump to give it more fuel (lots of info on this site about this) and get a larger intercooler but depends how much money you want to throw at it.
I removed the arb's on my 90 as the axles had no flex when off road
 
steve24v said:
Agree with Stanleysteamer about the tyres, too big will make it feel like the engine is underpowered.
You can tweek the fuel pump to give it more fuel (lots of info on this site about this) and get a larger intercooler but depends how much money you want to throw at it.
I removed the arb's on my 90 as the axles had no flex when off road
Click to expand...
Thanks, the terrain I wil be doing isn't so much slow off road stuff its more like dune riding. The roads are also very corrugated so better suspension may be a good upgrade? I have done some research on the intercoolers you get for the 300tdi and it seems to me you get a smaller one which is almost like the original and then you get a large one which sits in front of the radiator, can anyone recommend which one is better and if you notice a power gain. I also saw that you can put a different turbo on but that looks to be quite expensive. Can a different exhaust also make a difference?
 
If you leave it as standard it will perform as it should both on and off road. It will roll a bit on the road but not overmuch and you can make that a lot better by adding gas shocks.
But you cannot expect to win trials events off road then fly round the Nurburgring in standard set up as it isn't designed to do eithr out of the box. It is a farmer's allrounder ,as it should be. And it'll tow like a good un.
The mani reason I bought my Disco was for towing and it managed a huge box trailer down to southern France and back time after time.
And in between it went all over the Yorkshire Dales in the snow, all in standard set up with All Terrains on. The only difference twenn that and a Defender is that a Def is a bit more agricultural and noisy. It also is lower geared than a Disco if memory serves.
Apparently only in "hi range" in low range they are botht the same.
Gearbox swaps can get complex!
https://www.google.com/search?q=dif...me..69i57.19180j1j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
 
Jan Spoeg said:
Thanks, the terrain I wil be doing isn't so much slow off road stuff its more like dune riding. The roads are also very corrugated so better suspension may be a good upgrade? I have done some research on the intercoolers you get for the 300tdi and it seems to me you get a smaller one which is almost like the original and then you get a large one which sits in front of the radiator, can anyone recommend which one is better and if you notice a power gain. I also saw that you can put a different turbo on but that looks to be quite expensive. Can a different exhaust also make a difference?
Click to expand...
oops, sorry forgot to mention that the sports exhaust on my Disco 300 made a massive difference to driveabiltiy with no change, if anything an improvement, on consumption. You might have to modify one or get a different one for a Defender.
No experience of different intercoolers, you'll need to wait until someone pops on who has this.
 
Stanleysteamer said:
oops, sorry forgot to mention that the sports exhaust on my Disco 300 made a massive difference to driveabiltiy with no change, if anything an improvement, on consumption. You might have to modify one or get a different one for a Defender.
No experience of different intercoolers, you'll need to wait until someone pops on who has this.
Click to expand...
So a sport's exhaust system is definitely worth the upgrade. Did you put in a whole new system or did you just modify the existing one? If you did a new system can you recommend a brand? Thanks
 
Jan Spoeg said:
Good day everyone, I'm a new member here from South Africa. I don't own a landy yet but I am planning on buying one, that's why I joined the forum. So, I know I want a Defender but I don't know yet which engine I want. I want a fuel efficient, simple engine, from what I read online the best option would be between the 300tdi and 200tdi and td5. Between the 300tdi and 200tdi the 300tdi seem to be the better choice. As far as I read the td5 unfortunately has electronics which I don't want because it will be something extra that could fail. The 300tdi seems to be non electronic engine but doesn't have so much power. So it's really between this two but I am starting to lean towards the 300tdi because it's non electronic. Isn't there maybe a way to delete all of the electronics in the td5 or is that not possible? The td5's road ability also seems to be better due to the increased power? The reason why I didn't include the more modern engine options is because they are a bit out of budget. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
Click to expand...

What an amazing country to own a defender in. The honest answer is that the pros and cons of the 200 or 300tdi balance out. Make your choice entirely on condition and mechanical integrity. Get a good one and whether it's a 200 or 300 you're in for a good time - although you will need to learn to maintain and fix it. These vehicles are classic cars now and will be between 20 and 30yrs old. Bon chance.
 
Don't write off the 200tdi which is a fantastic engine, also don't be afraid of the TD5 which has proven reliability. You need to pick the best vehicle available to you on condition rather than purely engine choice. Start off by looking at as many as you can noting the condition of each before picking engine choice.
 
Jan Spoeg said:
Good day everyone, I'm a new member here from South Africa. I don't own a landy yet but I am planning on buying one, that's why I joined the forum. So, I know I want a Defender but I don't know yet which engine I want. I want a fuel efficient, simple engine, from what I read online the best option would be between the 300tdi and 200tdi and td5. Between the 300tdi and 200tdi the 300tdi seem to be the better choice. As far as I read the td5 unfortunately has electronics which I don't want because it will be something extra that could fail. The 300tdi seems to be non electronic engine but doesn't have so much power. So it's really between this two but I am starting to lean towards the 300tdi because it's non electronic. Isn't there maybe a way to delete all of the electronics in the td5 or is that not possible? The td5's road ability also seems to be better due to the increased power? The reason why I didn't include the more modern engine options is because they are a bit out of budget. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
Click to expand...
Tdi are simpler and cheaper to run. Td5 are a good engine, but need a bit more looking after.

I haven't driven one, there are only a couple in the UK, but from memory Defenders were also sold in South Africa with a 6 cylinder BMW petrol engine, and they are supposed to be an excellent drive, and very reliable.
Probably burn a bit more fuel than a diesel, but you pay your money and take your choice.
 
Jan Spoeg said:
Good day everyone, I'm a new member here from South Africa. I don't own a landy yet but I am planning on buying one, that's why I joined the forum. So, I know I want a Defender but I don't know yet which engine I want. I want a fuel efficient, simple engine, from what I read online the best option would be between the 300tdi and 200tdi and td5. Between the 300tdi and 200tdi the 300tdi seem to be the better choice. As far as I read the td5 unfortunately has electronics which I don't want because it will be something extra that could fail. The 300tdi seems to be non electronic engine but doesn't have so much power. So it's really between this two but I am starting to lean towards the 300tdi because it's non electronic. Isn't there maybe a way to delete all of the electronics in the td5 or is that not possible? The td5's road ability also seems to be better due to the increased power? The reason why I didn't include the more modern engine options is because they are a bit out of budget. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
Click to expand...
IMHO

200TDI simplicity at its best
300TDI beginning of electrical but not dependant ECU exists
TD5 normal electrical dependency

200TDI would by my choice not sure why you would ever need more power than a 200 would give tbh.
 
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