Newb from Essex, need td5 advice.

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Chrismac89

Chrismac89

Member
Posts
11
Location
colchester, Essex
Hi guys/girls my names Chris, I'm from Essex and looking too get my first defender. Please bare with me as there is more than likely some stupid questions coming that have been asked hundreds of times before. I'm used to modding vw's so have a lot to learn.
Am wanting to get a 90. I have some experience of fitting lift kit on my mates disco and have done a bit of laning, which is what I'm hoping to use the 90 for.
My main question is, is the td5 lump really that bad?
Hope I don't annoy anyone.
Thanks
 
If it has been properly serviced and maintained there's no real issues. Personally unless you're doing some serious laning I wouldn't bother lifting it as my bog standard height 90 runs 265's with no issues and lifting usually upsets the steering geometry and ride/handling quality
 
Hello Chrismac,

Welcome to the loonyzone.

In what way do you think the Td5 is bad? from a general daily running point of view or an off road pov?

Cheers
 
neilly said:
Hello Chrismac,

Welcome to the loonyzone.

In what way do you think the Td5 is bad? from a general daily running point of view or an off road pov?

Cheers
Click to expand...
I don't think it's bad. Have been doing quite a bit of reading up on it and I like the idea of the tune ability the td5 has.
But then for every good thing I read seems to be someone else has a bad one. Is it just pot luck or should all the kinks have been worked out by now?

Marmaduke said:
If it has been properly serviced and maintained there's no real issues. Personally unless you're doing some serious laning I wouldn't bother lifting it as my bog standard height 90 runs 265's with no issues and lifting usually upsets the steering geometry and ride/handling quality
Click to expand...

Yea Won't bother looking at one if hasn't got service history. Have noticed not many people lift the defenders. Thought it was for good reason haha.
 
As has been said, proper maintenance whether by dealer , independent or by owner is a must,

Any that are not good generally show themselves very quickly, but for off roading then a few simple points can make them more robust regarding the electrics esp. for wading.

Cheers
 
TD5s are fantastic, few things to check on them but they are powerful and tuneable.

Ideally look for a late 2002 to 2005 (past 05 the tax jumps to £500 p.a!)

Mines a late 02 Td5 which bought with partial history, never had any major electrical issues bar a couple bad earths.
 
Yea that's main reason I'm looking at td5 is being able to tune it. Just r ad your thread on your 90, is pretty much the same as I want to do with mine. Did you install your roll cage yourself?
 
Ahhh ok! Glad it was a good read.

I didnt no, came fitted. Last time i checked it was around £1200 to be fitted but you can do them yourself. The next cage I will do myself.
 
Chrismac89 said:
Hi guys/girls my names Chris, I'm from Essex and looking too get my first defender. Please bare with me as there is more than likely some stupid questions coming that have been asked hundreds of times before. I'm used to modding vw's so have a lot to learn.
Am wanting to get a 90. I have some experience of fitting lift kit on my mates disco and have done a bit of laning, which is what I'm hoping to use the 90 for.
My main question is, is the td5 lump really that bad?
Hope I don't annoy anyone.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Bad at what and why?

As in how have you come to the conclusion it is bad??

No need for a lift kit at all. And certainly not for laning. Nearly all green lanes in the UK are perfectly passable in completely standard vehicles.
 
You wont need a lift kit at all, you can fit up to I think 33" tyres before a lift is needed.

I only changed the suspension on mine as the shocks where a lil ****ty and the springs where too hard. With all the extra weight it sits just above normal height.
 
300bhp/ton said:
Bad at what and why?

As in how have you come to the conclusion it is bad??

No need for a lift kit at all. And certainly not for laning. Nearly all green lanes in the UK are perfectly passable in completely standard vehicles.
Click to expand...

I haven't come to the conclusion yet, is why I'm after advice. Just seems to be quite bit of bad press surrounding it and was wondering if any of it was true.
Thanks
 
bankz5152 said:
You wont need a lift kit at all, you can fit up to I think 33" tyres before a lift is needed.

I only changed the suspension on mine as the shocks where a lil ****ty and the springs where too hard. With all the extra weight it sits just above normal height.
Click to expand...
Ah rite ok, think I'll leave it be until something has to be changed.
 
Yeah. Youll only need decent tyres, A/Ts will do for most places, maybe some rock/tree sliders and a steering guard.

Some of the lanes round essex and a lotof them round kent are very tight, as in a Defender barely fits! So bush cables may be an idea!
 
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