Defender 110 300TDi

[cpas]

Good evening gentle folks.

I may have convinced the wife that she needs a 110 and we think a CSW would be best suited

Just a quick question on specs. Do any of the later 300 TDi models have such luxuries as central locking and electric windows, or were these introduced with the TD5? I'm not sure on the specs of these!!

Many thanks.

[culminator]

I don't think the 300tdi came with central locking etc. I have a 1998 300tdi 90 and its manual everything, which is why I love it!

These versions are the best in my view as they drive very well but have none of the complications and expensive things that can go wrong with the later models.

[Essel]

I have a very late 300tdi defender. Its all manual, but was supplied as a commercial. I have known people retrofit electric windows and central locking. Windows are easy (apparantly) and central locking can be put in by an alarm engineer - or you if you're handy I suspect.

[Bill]

Given the nature of Land Rovers I'd have thought retrofit would be straightforward. Are you set on a Tdi? The Td5 is a much better engine IMO.

[Sarge 4x4]

300 TDI for 365 days of the year......if it breaks anyone can fix it.

Would not give you house room for a TD5.

[Bill]

The Td5 is basically sound, no? Albeit more complicated.

[cpas]

It's to be used as the wife's everyday car and she does really low mileage, so in my mind the 300 would probably cope with this better than the TD5, and is also easier to fix when things go wrong. We're not too worried about the extra power etc of the TD5. I'm not too worried about electric windows but central locking would be handy when she's taking the kids anywhere, to save having to open all the doors manually, but I'm not worried about the rear door. I did keep all the servos from a Disco I recently scrapped so I might have a play with these . It's interesting that there's a divide between 300 and TD5, and also I've heard that the later (post 2002, facelift Disco) TD5 engine are better than the earlier ones.

[astroarcadia]

Have owned both, a TD5 with electric everything and a 300TDI with manual everything.

I would walk up to the TD5, open it with the remote central locking, get in, start her up, turn on the heating, heated windscreen or air-con, you get the idea. Then as you drive off and remember you are in a Defender as the whole thing rattles and shakes down the road. Central locking, heated seats, electric windows etc are little compensation for the driving position, noise, suspension and brakes.

The manual controls of the 300TDI make it feel more honest and more of an experience. It's by no means perfect but somehow greater than the sum of its parts.