TD5 petrol conversion - how feasible?

Hey comrades!

The diesel situation seems to be getting worse every day. I live in Germany but I use my defender as a pure travel vehicle. Here in Germany it's already impossible to enter the city centres with an unmodified TD5 (mods will cost you 2,500 GBP). And currently they are releasing complete Diesel bans in some areas of big cities.

I've been okay with that. I thought I'd be alright as long as I only take my Landy for travel. but now regulations are getting stricter in many countries all around Europe. In France there are complete regions (Strasbourg, Alsace) that will be shut off for older Diesel vehicles on days with high emission values.

I feel like we will soon have a very hard time with a Diesel engine without Euro 6 emission standard in Europe.

Therefore I'd be interested if it is at all doable to convert a TD5 to petrol. What options exist? What are the costs? 5k? 15k?

I know none of us really wants to part with our great beloved Diesel engines. But if we want to keep our Defenders and have to at some point, what can we do?

Fit a V8 may be the only practical solution.

tottot said:

Fit a V8 may be the only practical solution.

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That would be my choice if I had to convert to petrol. I would go for one with fuel injection rather than carbs. Choosing something else from the land rover stable keeps things fairly cheap and straight froward in terms of conversions.

One may be able to go LPG but I do not know how it works with injection engines.

tottot said:

One may be able to go LPG but I do not know how it works with injection engines.

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That's not a bad idea if that is acceptable withing the restricted zones. I know HGV's are now being modified to run LPG.

dag019 said:

That's not a bad idea if that is acceptable withing the restricted zones. I know HGV's are now being modified to run LPG.

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Modded hgvs with lpg go wrong a lot!
The dedicaated factory made gas motors are meant to be pretty good.

What about the bmw straight six engine? it was a factory fit in south africa.
Anyhting has got to be better than the stone age rover v8

dag019 said:

That's not a bad idea if that is acceptable withing the restricted zones. I know HGV's are now being modified to run LPG.

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And they are crap and underpowered

DT Engine solutions do a roll in roll out Lexus 1UZ conversion for £6k. Not a bad V8 and VERY tuneable (some are pushing 600bhp+). Best part is it bolts up to the R380 with an adapter plate.

lynall said:

NOTHING is better than the stone age rover v8

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I have corrected that for you

Kitai said:

I live in Germany but I use my defender as a pure travel vehicle.

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Having the-read your original post. What do you mean by a pure travel vehicle? Is it a tourer or an overlander?

Depending on what type of travel and to where will have a large bearing on what the best conversion would be. If you are just going around Europe then you could fit nearly anything. If you venture into Africa or similar you will need to consider parts availability and servicing expertise.

dag019 said:

I have corrected that for you

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Thank you I dont know how I would manage without your stone age ideas, I assume one will be at church forcing your outdated views on anyone who will listen?

bankz5152 said:

DT Engine solutions do a roll in roll out Lexus 1UZ conversion for £6k. Not a bad V8 and VERY tuneable (some are pushing 600bhp+). Best part is it bolts up to the R380 with an adapter plate.

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I've looked around a bit. The sound is amazing and it seems to do really well off-road. But fuel consumption is so high, I'd say it's not the right engine for an overlander. Unless you're towing a fuel trailer. ;-)

I've found some videos of BMW M52 Defenders, with a 2.8 six-cylinder petrol engine. That sounds a lot more appealing to me!

Apparently there are conversion kiits available: https://m.facebook.com/groups/144267379068375?view=permalink&id=479883248840118

Does anyone know of any companies in Europe that do that conversion?

Looking legit:

Think they are about the same on fuel tbh

The numbers I've found so far were 10 to 15 litres/100km for the BMW engine and 15 to 25 L/100km for the 1UZ-FE.

Doesn't it make sense that a V6 2.8 engine is more fuel-efficient than a V8 4.0. Sure there might be variations in configuration, tuning etc. but in general?

True. Though those figures are quite close, once you add in the Defenders brick like shape and power sappjng tranny theg will probably return similar MPG.

Bigger engine can sometimes mean more efficient though!

I got those numbers from Defenders with those engnines. I agree that you won't receive the same fuel efficiency as a BMW 528i In our driving boxes though. ;-)