1998 Land Rover Defender, with a twist

[SVX]

So this is my father-in-law's P&J.

She's a 1998 model Land Rover Defender 90 SWB, but powered by an M52 BMW motor, mated to an LT77 gearbox and an uprated transfer case and diffs.







Best thing about it, I get to drive her a couple of times a year

[frankthetank2]

Very nice engine is it the 2.8 out the old E36?

[Codswallop]

Looks great Which version of the M52 does it have?

[SVX]

Codswallop said:

Looks great Which version of the M52 does it have?

As far as I can tell these were only for the South African market, so pretty rare as they go. The M52 is straight out of an E36/E39/E38, and definitely has Vanos and the plastic intake. A 3.2 M-Power unit would bolt straight in though A stronger ZF 'box and you would be set.

[V8covin]

Why ?
Wouldn't you have been better with a V8 ?

[The Wookie]

Good choice! I have a 50th Anniversary one of these, my family has owned it since new. It's in need of a bit of cosmetic and electrical TLC, but still runs well.

If everything went wrong, it would be the last thing I'd sell. Absolutely love it.

Incidentally, are you sure it doesn't have an R380 gearbox? This was standard fit. Identifiable as Reverse being below 5th rather than to the left of 1st if you get me!

[jbi]

hang on... uprated transfer case but using an LT-77 gearbox?

the stock transfer case is way stronger than the LT-77 which is made from chocolate and utterly rubbish.

[Andy665]

Very nice, transplant looks very neat

[SVX]

Andy665 said:

Very nice, transplant looks very neat

No transplant, it came from the factory in Coventry that way.

[bakerstreet]

Fantastic! Guessing it puts out about 180-190bhp? That's probably more than a 3.9 RV8.

Where is the battery?

[The Wookie]

bakerstreet said:

Fantastic! Guessing it puts out about 180-190bhp? That's probably more than a 3.9 RV8.

Where is the battery?

Under the passenger seat... I thought most landies had this?

[rumple]

Stunning car, at last a landie with a decent engine, would love one with a s50 in.

[shalmaneser]

SVX said:

No transplant, it came from the factory in Coventry that way.

Wow, how odd! Guess it must have been built while BMW owned the company, do you know why they were produced for SA in this form?

[The Wookie]

shalmaneser said:

Wow, how odd! Guess it must have been built while BMW owned the company, do you know why they were produced for SA in this form?

<pedant mode>Actually Defenders are shipped out to a factory in SA in Knock Down Kit form (a bit like a Caterham kit) to be built. The M52 engine development was done with help of the factory in Solihull, but I'm led to believe the main thrust of the work was done in SA.

I'm also reasonably sure that the V8 wouldn't pass SA emissions or some other legal requirement, and there was demand for a petrol unit, so the 2.8 model was built.

[RB Will]

It needs more mud

[bmthnick1981]

What an interesting motor. Very nice.

[SVX]

The Wookie said:

shalmaneser said:

Wow, how odd! Guess it must have been built while BMW owned the company, do you know why they were produced for SA in this form?

<pedant mode>Actually Defenders are shipped out to a factory in SA in Knock Down Kit form (a bit like a Caterham kit) to be built. The M52 engine development was done with help of the factory in Solihull, but I'm led to believe the main thrust of the work was done in SA.

I'm also reasonably sure that the V8 wouldn't pass SA emissions or some other legal requirement, and there was demand for a petrol unit, so the 2.8 model was built.

You clearly know your Landies chap, I was only going with the manufacturers plate on the drivers seat box, which says made in Coventry, and as for the information on the t/c, gearbox and diffs I'm going with what's in the manual. I've only ever seen two others in KZN, a light blue 2.8i that had been heavily modified for bush work - snorkel, roof tent, winch and extended range fuel tank, and the aforementioned M-power beastie with a 3.2 out of an E36 M3 evo, that one was silver.

[The Wookie]

SVX said:

You clearly know your Landies chap, I was only going with the manufacturers plate on the drivers seat box, which says made in Coventry, and as for the information on the t/c, gearbox and diffs I'm going with what's in the manual. I've only ever seen two others in KZN, a light blue 2.8i that had been heavily modified for bush work - snorkel, roof tent, winch and extended range fuel tank, and the aforementioned M-power beastie with a 3.2 out of an E36 M3 evo, that one was silver.

I know my 2.8's, you sort of have to with them being so rare in the UK if you want to look after them!! Chances are there's a supplementary manual knocking about somewhere in the paperwork that goes into a bit more detail on the pecularities of the 2.8, there was with mine!

Mine's also light blue, if it's got dark blue bits and stripes on the side then chances are it's a 50th and was originally identicle to mine!

Would love to drop a 3.2 into mine, but would never be brave enough as I'm too attached to it... I might consider picking up another one from SA one day and turning that into a rag top with a NAS cage and the M3 lump!

[SVX]

@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?

[andy ted]

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?

www.rogersofbedford.co.uk - bit of a long shot but these guys might be able to help. They had a bright yellow one as a demonstrator/loan about 10+ years ago. Not sure if they sold them but my mate borrowed it when his V8 90 or disco went in for some work.