Defender 110 TD5 upgrades

Seems like a great answer to some serious questions by a poor newbie!

Love the graphics -! seems you young Land Rover owners are barking

what year is your td5. pre 02 ecu's are non flashable. post are, which is cheaper to chip
how far do you want to take the performance or a better question how deeps ya pocket

jdandcoke said:

what year is your td5. pre 02 ecu's are non flashable. post are, which is cheaper to chip
how far do you want to take the performance or a better question how deeps ya pocket

Click to expand...

Gary at TD5Alive can modify the early ECUs to take the flashable chips.
He can also modify the ECU to take a dual mapping so you can switch between them at will.

Hi thanks, I don't want to go mad financially, but years after dumping my old 200tdi Discovery I find that I could have enjoyed it far more with a little tweeking. Land Rover have always sent out their vehicles in a detuned and croaky manner to cope with arduous conditions and severe terrains. I want a vehicle that will hold 70 on the motorway when loaded and be able to tow a caravan without using the low box. I bought a Lexus LS400 (4litre V8) as an every day car and although I love it, I do miss being uncomfortable and cold!(?). However I get bored very quickly and the only vehicle I have retained (since 1984) is a Series 1 Land Rover.
It seems the TD5 has not progressed that far from the Series vehicles and I am astounded that a 2000 model Defender should not have central locking! I guess it is possible to fit that too. I just imagine that by the time I upgrade an old TD5, I could have bought a brand new vehicle with all the gismos as standard.
I believe the TD5 engine is of BMW origin. Does this mean that in 5 years time there won't be any parts availble?
BTW this is my first post and am amazed at the expert comments back, so many thanks.

Power steering is retro fit-able as far as i know but i would have expected a 2000 to have it as well? as for the origin of the td5, im pretty sure its a Jag engine?? but cant be certain.
ultimately, its the same engine thats in both the disco and defender td5 models and with so many companies selling millions of parts, im sure in 5 years tim u will still get the parts no problem

Ok many thanks, the vehicle does have power steering as you suggest. It seems that many people like the TD5 engine, hopefully a lot better than the old TDI engines. I am very excited about this potential acquisition!

Shifty1962 said:

Gary at TD5Alive can modify the early ECUs to take the flashable chips.
He can also modify the ECU to take a dual mapping so you can switch between them at will.

Click to expand...

sorry, yes you are right. what i ment was the older ecu have to have a new chip soldered onto the board which has a surcharge of £80

-Defender110- said:

Power steering is retro fit-able as far as i know but i would have expected a 2000 to have it as well? as for the origin of the td5, im pretty sure its a Jag engine?? but cant be certain.
ultimately, its the same engine thats in both the disco and defender td5 models and with so many companies selling millions of parts, im sure in 5 years tim u will still get the parts no problem

Click to expand...

did read somewhere it's a land rover designed engine the wasnt quite finished when bmw bought the company

bedlambeds.com said:

I believe the TD5 engine is of BMW origin.

Click to expand...

Actually the td5 is land rovers own engine designed and built by themselves. its loosely based on the rover o series engine which of course was also the basis for the Prima engine designed by rover and perkins.
It was called Storm and there were originally going to be 3. a 4cyl, 5cyl and a 6cyl but only the 5cyl went ahead as the td5.