1998 Land Rover Defender, with a twist
Discussion
SVX said:
@The Wookie -
If, out of interest, I wanted to buy a 2.8i in the UK - is there anyone that you could recommend that could source me one?
Not a clue unfortunately, we bought ours from a friend who was a trader who coincidentally had a batch of two or three brought in when the old man tasked him to find a Land Rover that was 'a bit different'. I know there are a few knocking about (probably at least 20 or 30), but sadly not enough for a specialist to appear that I'm aware ofIf, out of interest, I wanted to buy a 2.8i in the UK - is there anyone that you could recommend that could source me one?
I would also be interested to know if anyone does know of a place that specialises in them!!
Hi guys,
I too remember Rogers of Bedford bringing in a few when they were being built.
IIRC the development was done jointly with LR here but they were only ever built at the Rosslyn Plant near Pretoria and sold in South Africa.
The engine used is the M52 unit found in the 328i 528i & 728i cars. AFAIK the Defenders used were TD5 based as LR had stopped production of a petrol option.
It is feasible to put one together here, I am currently trying to find out if the M52 petrol engine will fit in place of an M51 diesel (fitted to P38 RR). This would mean that for fitment into RRC/Disco/Def all that would be needed is a P38 Diesel manual gearbox and bellhousing, engine mount swap and the motor should fit in fairly easily.
reason that i'm so interested in fitting one is that the 3.0 M3 and 3.2 M3 Evo engines are a direct swap for the 2.8i unit - Hello 300+ Hp!!!!!
I want to stage rally my RRC and under the MSA rules i can't use the Standard 3.9 V8. by fitting a BMW unit i comply with the rules and can enter the Wales Rally GB next year. Bring on Project M Power!
I too remember Rogers of Bedford bringing in a few when they were being built.
IIRC the development was done jointly with LR here but they were only ever built at the Rosslyn Plant near Pretoria and sold in South Africa.
The engine used is the M52 unit found in the 328i 528i & 728i cars. AFAIK the Defenders used were TD5 based as LR had stopped production of a petrol option.
It is feasible to put one together here, I am currently trying to find out if the M52 petrol engine will fit in place of an M51 diesel (fitted to P38 RR). This would mean that for fitment into RRC/Disco/Def all that would be needed is a P38 Diesel manual gearbox and bellhousing, engine mount swap and the motor should fit in fairly easily.
reason that i'm so interested in fitting one is that the 3.0 M3 and 3.2 M3 Evo engines are a direct swap for the 2.8i unit - Hello 300+ Hp!!!!!
I want to stage rally my RRC and under the MSA rules i can't use the Standard 3.9 V8. by fitting a BMW unit i comply with the rules and can enter the Wales Rally GB next year. Bring on Project M Power!
E-B said:
Hi guys,
I too remember Rogers of Bedford bringing in a few when they were being built.
IIRC the development was done jointly with LR here but they were only ever built at the Rosslyn Plant near Pretoria and sold in South Africa.
The engine used is the M52 unit found in the 328i 528i & 728i cars. AFAIK the Defenders used were TD5 based as LR had stopped production of a petrol option.
It is feasible to put one together here, I am currently trying to find out if the M52 petrol engine will fit in place of an M51 diesel (fitted to P38 RR). This would mean that for fitment into RRC/Disco/Def all that would be needed is a P38 Diesel manual gearbox and bellhousing, engine mount swap and the motor should fit in fairly easily.
reason that i'm so interested in fitting one is that the 3.0 M3 and 3.2 M3 Evo engines are a direct swap for the 2.8i unit - Hello 300+ Hp!!!!!
I want to stage rally my RRC and under the MSA rules i can't use the Standard 3.9 V8. by fitting a BMW unit i comply with the rules and can enter the Wales Rally GB next year. Bring on Project M Power!
Hi mate, I too remember Rogers of Bedford bringing in a few when they were being built.
IIRC the development was done jointly with LR here but they were only ever built at the Rosslyn Plant near Pretoria and sold in South Africa.
The engine used is the M52 unit found in the 328i 528i & 728i cars. AFAIK the Defenders used were TD5 based as LR had stopped production of a petrol option.
It is feasible to put one together here, I am currently trying to find out if the M52 petrol engine will fit in place of an M51 diesel (fitted to P38 RR). This would mean that for fitment into RRC/Disco/Def all that would be needed is a P38 Diesel manual gearbox and bellhousing, engine mount swap and the motor should fit in fairly easily.
reason that i'm so interested in fitting one is that the 3.0 M3 and 3.2 M3 Evo engines are a direct swap for the 2.8i unit - Hello 300+ Hp!!!!!
I want to stage rally my RRC and under the MSA rules i can't use the Standard 3.9 V8. by fitting a BMW unit i comply with the rules and can enter the Wales Rally GB next year. Bring on Project M Power!
Presuming that the m51 diesels in Landies use the same bellhousing bolt pattern as BMW applications -
The M52 will bolt up to a diesel box but the petrol engines are canted 20 or so degrees where as the diesel engine is vertical. Probably enough room in the LR bay to use the m52 mounted vertically but you'd need a custom sump.
notallowedmyname said:
Hi mate,
Presuming that the m51 diesels in Landies use the same bellhousing bolt pattern as BMW applications -
The M52 will bolt up to a diesel box but the petrol engines are canted 20 or so degrees where as the diesel engine is vertical. Probably enough room in the LR bay to use the m52 mounted vertically but you'd need a custom sump.
Worth noting that the bell housing in a 2.8 defender is actually a slightly odd two piece arrangement. Not sure if that rings any bells with the Range Rover Diesel item!Presuming that the m51 diesels in Landies use the same bellhousing bolt pattern as BMW applications -
The M52 will bolt up to a diesel box but the petrol engines are canted 20 or so degrees where as the diesel engine is vertical. Probably enough room in the LR bay to use the m52 mounted vertically but you'd need a custom sump.
Sorry to resurrect this topic after so long but I've just returned from South Africa where I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to do the Baviaankloof pass in a Land Rover Defender 110 with the original SA factory-fitted BMW 2.8i engine. I am good friends with the owner and, as we are already discussing shipping a container to the UK, we were wondering if it would be cost-effective to try and ship the Landy too. I know they're rare here in the UK but does anyone have any idea of the current value?
old thread but this gives a bit of useful background, and explains the R-R parts in common w the P38 in the time of BMW ownership.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/car-acces...
"Every bit that was used came from the Land Rover parts bin. Obviously, the motor and everything up until the end of the crankshaft was BMW but the fly wheel, clutch mechanism, pressure plate, release bearing, bell housing and gearbox all came from the Range Rover P38 DSE, which had the 2.5 BMW diesel engine in. ... "
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/car-acces...
"Every bit that was used came from the Land Rover parts bin. Obviously, the motor and everything up until the end of the crankshaft was BMW but the fly wheel, clutch mechanism, pressure plate, release bearing, bell housing and gearbox all came from the Range Rover P38 DSE, which had the 2.5 BMW diesel engine in. ... "
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