Please help

i am looking at buying my first land rover, 90 or 110 diesel, for about £3,000, could anyone tell me what is the best engine i should be looking for? i could also do with some general pointers if any one can spare the time to reply. many thanks in advance. Mik

I'd go with the 200tdi all day long!!! Mine seems to pull like a train no matter how much wieght its pulling!!!

Diesels are also more waterproof and I think more 'stronger' than petrols...

Dave

www.sadlrc.co.uk

chalkie52 said:

I'd go with the 200tdi all day long!!!
www.sadlrc.co.uk

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Fair enough - I'll agree with that.
A lot of people who off-road their Rovers also praise the diesels for their better engine-braking. The TDI was a huge improvement over the old 2.5 na (naturally asthmatic) engine, almost modern you might say

Any pointers? Well, the usual: don't buy the first one you see; check the chassis for rust/filler by getting underneath & banging it with a screwdriver; check the bulkhead for rust; make sure all the levers work etc.
When you start it up it will make smoke, but the smoke should clear after 1 or 2 seconds, if it doesn't clear you could be looking at a money-pit (run away! ).
Most LRs have dents in the bodywork - these are good bargaining points to get a few quid off, and don't really affect how the machine will run (let's face it: they don't look right without ANY dents )

Good luck!

Maybe I'm wrong but I reckon you'll be lucky to get a decent TDi for 3 grand. You're more likely to be looking for a 2.5 Td. Lots to say about them post back if you still looking.

ffs grunt you been takin sensible pills

We bought our first LR last summer, a 2.5TD 110CSW for £2,600. It needed a good number of bushes and the odd steering joint changing before it drove more like a car than a vintage tractor. It's great. What ever you get change the cam belt if there is no history. Ours broke a few months later and had to get another engine. oops. Our TD (other than the cambelt) has not let us down at all. The TD engine is more than adequate, you aren't going racing after all. We havent done any serious off roading but I expect driver ability is more important than what engine youve got.

I agree that £3k is not enough for a TDI. It may be better to get a 2.5TD with a good square body, solid chassis and clean interior. You can put a 200TDI in later if you want. If you do find a beat up and tired 200tdi for £3k the expense will just be starting...

If it looks too good to be true look harder underneath it! AndyC

ffs grunt you been takin sensible pills

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The pixies in the lightbulb were watching me, so I had to be sensible or they'd have told the elves, and they dont like me.

hi grunt

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would be interested to hear what you have to say, being a virgin to landys i want to make the right chioce. i have seen a turbo diesel 90, 70k onthe clock good chasis and bulkhead, took it for a test drive yesterday, drives nice, abit different to what i drive now (Seat Leon Cupra) but i am sure i will get used to it again (used to drive them in the Falklands thats were i got biten by the bug) i have also been advised not to buy the first one i see, but with limited places to look and knowledge went to a specilaist, i have got the price down on one to 3,800 but recon he will come down to 3,500 for cash, fingers crosed.
keep in touch and thanks.

Just found this advice I was given last October.

Basically, you will need to spend around £3,000 to £5,000 for something you wont be under all the time.

If the car has power steering, check the drop arm for leaks. A new box will cost around £180 - £200, plus the time to fit it.

Check the hubs for leaks, replacement seals are about £60-£80 per side.

Bushes are cheap to replace, but can be a b!tch to get out the old ones!

Rear chassis cross member check for rot, especially around the jacking points. Replacement would be about £150ish.

If the engine is breathing heavily, be careful.

Check for transmission whines and make sure it changes up and down OK.

Check the transfer box to ensure it engages correctly and drives OK.

Bulk head rot, expensive to replace.

Doors rot, especially the wind up window type and very expensive to replace.

Be prepared to travel to get a good one.

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Since then I've had the gearbox and transfer box out twice once to replace the output shaft bearings and seals and replace the clutch, the second time to strip the gearbox to find out why it was stuck in two gears at the same time. Put a new gasket on the exhaust manifold. Replaced the fuel tank, which involved removing the channel that goes between the front and rear bulkhead which was rusted in and had to be burnt off. Replaced the oil feed pipe to the turbo after it sprung a leak and squirted most of the just replaced engine oil on the garden. Replaced a coolant hose which looked OK the week before when I renewed the coolant, but sprung a leak and squirted all the coolant over the garden. Theres loads more stuff like the trouble I've had with the tyres, but I'd go on for ever. And I thought I'd got a bargain!

Its the only four wheeled vehicle that I've ever gone for a ride in just for the sake of going for a drive.

Hey up Mik.

Missed your post 'cos we posted at the same time.

You dont say what year it is but if its the turbo diesel without the i (intercooler) it's going to be pre '91 at a guess, so 70k seems a bit low, is it genuine? If it is and everythings solid, it sounds reasonable possibly a tad overpriced but then you can't have every thing. Who's the specialist?

Christ listen at me I've only had mine seven months and I'm talking like I invented the chuffing things!

Let us know how you get on.

grunt thats seven months longer than me, went to see one yesterday looked good on e-blag but right bag o nails. thanks to the advice you lot have given me i looked and sounded like a cuffin vehicle examiner. said no to as i couldnt see the seller through the smoke still lookin though i will not give up... made an offer to a guy in gosport hope he says no long way to go to be let down. might go for the one with the 70k on the clock at least i know its tidy, but will see if i can beat him with a big stick to lower the price. thanks again.

Mik

What might seem like a bargain will end up causing expenses in the end.

Don't buy the first one you see, tempting though it is, don't buy one for the lower end of your budget, and try to take someone who has experience in the car you are buying.

If you are looking at TD's, make sure the oil has been changed regularly and the engine is well looked after, if it hasn't then it will go bang eventually.

It may be worth considering buying a cheaper TD and then spending the extra money buying a 200 or 300 TDi engine and swapping them over.

I used to have a TD lump in mine until it went bang on the way back from a Welsh laning weekend. I managed to get a 300TDi from ebay and just swapped it over, it fits straight in.