Land Rover Defender which engine is best?

[99Chimaera]

LooneyTunes said:

I’d add visible and invisible marking to that list. If you make all of the easily removable or high value bits traceable it won’t stop someone nicking it to go overseas but must make other vehicles more attractive for anyone wanting to steal to strip.

Retainagroup do a Land Rover specific kit, that includes enough to etch all of your glass, for about £40-50 (one time cost, no subscription) if you call them directly.

Thanks that's useful to know

[99Chimaera]

Newarch said:

I own a really old Landrover and am very fond of it, the main issue stopping me wanting a 90/110/Defender is the theft issue, even the bodywork is valuable, easy to remove and thus highly nickable.

Hmmm. Perhaps a Series landrover would be best:scratchchin

[bakerstreet]

Griffithy said:

Can you recommend a decent exhaust or mod for a very good exhaust note, please?

Alive or Empire Tuning for the remap.

Exhaust. Dunno, Start at someone like powerflow. Its not a complex system tbh.

[Ranger 6]

99Chimaera said:

Ranger 6 said:

V8 of course.....

Gratuitous pic

That's a really nice Landy, is it the 3.5 or 3.9 ? What the fuel consumption like?

It's a factory 3.5, with a 3.9 being (slowly) built to replace it.
Haven't measured mpg realistically - best tank range was 160miles with just under a quarter of a tank left.

[Griffithy]

bakerstreet said:

Griffithy said:

Can you recommend a decent exhaust or mod for a very good exhaust note, please?

Alive or Empire Tuning for the remap.

Exhaust. Dunno, Start at someone like powerflow. Its not a complex system tbh.

Thanks very much !

[99Chimaera]

Ranger 6 said:

It's a factory 3.5, with a 3.9 being (slowly) built to replace it.
Haven't measured mpg realistically - best tank range was 160miles with just under a quarter of a tank left.

I knew someone years ago who owned one, he converted it to automatic. It sounded good.

[240Cup]

ALIVE stage 2 tune (map, egr blank, air filter, hoses, intercooler etc) on TD5 via CSK Automotive in Buntingford. 122bhp to 185bhp and 300nm to 400nm. Mid range is massive.

Absolutely superb. They do an aftermarket exhaust too - can't remember the name of it, and a really comprehensive Dinitrol chassis treatment.

Chris is a top top bloke. Also if you are looking for one, Terry Elliot LandRover in Chelmsford.

[100SRV]

99Chimaera said:

That's a really nice Landy, is it the 3.5 or 3.9 ? What the fuel consumption like?

I can easily get 22mpg when motorway cruising in my 3.9 engined "Rover", 1.2:1 transfer ratio, LT77 and 235/85R16 mud terrain tyres.

[anonymous-user]

240Cup said:

ALIVE stage 2 tune (map, egr blank, air filter, hoses, intercooler etc) on TD5 via CSK Automotive in Buntingford. 122bhp to 185bhp and 300nm to 400nm. Mid range is massive.

Absolutely superb. They do an aftermarket exhaust too - can't remember the name of it, and a really comprehensive Dinitrol chassis treatment.

Chris is a top top bloke. Also if you are looking for one, Terry Elliot LandRover in Chelmsford.

Any idea what that costs? If I ever bought a Defender I’d probably want a ropey Td5 and rebuild it on a new chassis and bulkhead.

[240Cup]

£1,300 for the ALIVE stage 2.

anywhere from £20K to £40K for a decent TD5 ....!!

[anonymous-user]

240Cup said:

£1,300 for the ALIVE stage 2.

anywhere from £20K to £40K for a decent TD5 ....!!

That’s very reasonable.

I don’t believe in a decent td5 all the ones I’ve seen are pretty ropey so I’d buy a crap one and replace all the dodgy bits.

[JustGREENI]

That is the ultimate, which i fitted at work with Dan.

Other than that, go for a 300tdi or td5 (post 2002)… i’ve owned lots of Defenders, with all the standard engine options, including some ‘swaps’, OM606 Mercedes, 6.2 GMC diesel (hummer lump), 3.5, 3.9/4.0 v8

Here’s mine though:

Running a GEMS 4.6 plus Auto.


Land Rovers are terrible, but you can’t help loving them.

[240Cup]

The ALIVE stage 2 transforms the car.

If you've only ever seen ropey TD5s then you haven't been to Bob and Terry at Terry Eliott LandRovers in Chelmsford although even they would admit that there are fewer and fewer TD5s left in the right condition for them to retail. To me the TD5 is one of the last 'proper' Defenders,

A good example is the low mileage Tonga Green 90TD5 XS they have just taken a deposit on / someone has reserved - have a look at their site. I've seen it in the flesh and it was almost like a new car. They also had a black one recently that I believe found a new home in the IOW. I almost bought the Tonga one but that would have just been greedy.

You will pay good money for it mind, but worth every penny. Their service is brilliant.

Don't be fooled by only a dozen or so Landys on their site, they have loads more.

No connection, just one of the few dealers I would buy from unseen.

[99Chimaera]

JustGREENI said:

That is the ultimate, which i fitted at work with Dan.

Other than that, go for a 300tdi or td5 (post 2002)… i’ve owned lots of Defenders, with all the standard engine options, including some ‘swaps’, OM606 Mercedes, 6.2 GMC diesel (hummer lump), 3.5, 3.9/4.0 v8

Here’s mine though:

Running a GEMS 4.6 plus Auto.


Land Rovers are terrible, but you can’t help loving them.

That's a really nice land rover with the best engine;) a corvette engine isn't it? I know what land rovers are like, appalling to drive but they get under your skin. I sold my last land rover, it was very hard to let it go. My boss has three defenders and a Lightweight.

[A.J.M]

Unless I’ve missed it.

You haven’t stated a budget for this car?

Which is likely the largest factor in all of this, from seeing 300tdi examples going for 12k to rotten Td5s going for less than 7k.

Is it a daily driver or a weekend car for fun?

[99Chimaera]

A.J.M said:

Unless I’ve missed it.

You haven’t stated a budget for this car?

Which is likely the largest factor in all of this, from seeing 300tdi examples going for 12k to rotten Td5s going for less than 7k.

Is it a daily driver or a weekend car for fun?

No I didn't state a budget, but I would probably pay about £15kish for either a 90 hard top or a station wagon or 110 hard top. My previous land rovers were hard tops. It would be used as a daily driver and it would used on our farm from time to time and occasionally pull a twin axle trailer. I wouldn't want to buy an immaculate one, as it will be parked up outside in all weathers.

[Sisu9]

I went for a post-2002 TD5 for the all the aforesaid reasons.

Craddocks & Auto Express seem to agree:

https://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/magazine/what-is...
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/land-rover/defender/...

TD5's here in the Nordics seem to be commanding a higher price than TDCi's. Not sure if this is a trend, but if you want one at decent price might be wise to not hang around.

Pic, naturally:

Edited by Sisu9 on Thursday 16th June 19:19

[99Chimaera]

Sisu9 said:

I went for a TD5 for the all the aforesaid reasons.

Craddocks & Auto Express seem to agree:

https://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/magazine/what-is...
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/land-rover/defender/...

TD5's here in the Nordics seem to be commanding a higher price than TDCi's. Not sure if this is a trend, but if you want one at decent price might be wise to not hang around.

Pic, naturally:

Thanks for articles, very interesting reading. I've owned Defenders with 2.5 na and 200tdi and had driven 300 tdi but never experienced the TD5.
Very nice Defender, I like the colour, is the interior brown?

[Sisu9]

Thanks. The colour is called Oxford Tan, but yes a sort of brown:

[eltax91]

Rebuilt this last year onto a galvanised GKN chassis. 300TDi. Agricultural but bombproof and fixable with very basic tools.

Itch has begun for a new project…. Might be tempted to part with it.