Does fitting another engine affect value?

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 · Sep 23, 2016

Hi all.

The engine in my 300tdi defender has always been very poor and noisy. So little power etc.

So I was thinking about buying a 300tdi discovery engine and rebuilding it, and swapping the engine in the defender.

Would this affect the value of the land rover?
If the replacement engine wasn't rebuilt and swapped with a disco enine would this have a negative effect on value?

Sorry if this is a daft question. Cheers

Marmaduke · Sep 23, 2016

Nobody would tell the difference unless you told them or they checked the engine number

Marmaduke · Sep 23, 2016

What have you investigated regarding your current 300tdi engine

ashleywood.ash · Sep 23, 2016

What's mileage on your engine.
No ladder frame on 300 so you can pretty much rebuild it in the vehicle.

Parts are quite cheap also. So if you rebuild the one you have you will save yourself £400 on buying another engine if you planned to rebuild one anyway.
Only expensive bits are conrods and Pistons (if required) at about £600 for all. Everything else it virtually pocket money

Disco1BFG · Sep 23, 2016

Marmaduke said:
What have you investigated regarding your current 300tdi engine

+1 - tell us a bit more lets see if we can "save" the original.

IamRobbie · Sep 23, 2016

Stick a 6bt in it. That will help it go up in value

Disco1BFG · Sep 23, 2016

IamRobbie said:
Stick a 6bt in it. That will help it go up in value

OM606 would be my choice, but either will sure make it go.... brum brum

mojo247 · Sep 23, 2016

IMO, it shouldn't change the value, and certainly shouldn't decrease it! A defender is a defender is a defender!

Unless you are really lucky (or careful

), most older ones will have had the engine swapped, replaced or upgraded at some point.

I've just swapped my defender 300tdi (which was very tired!) for a disco 300tdi and the difference is unreal!

I think if you were going to sell it (for some reason

) I'd be surprised if the value was affected.

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 · Sep 23, 2016

Thanks guys for your replies.

To be honest, I fancy a bit of project in the garage over the winter. Hense thinking of a donor engine. Plus I think this one is due for a clutch fairly soon.

Me and my dad have both got 300tdi defenders. Mine has 130 on the clock, doesn't burn a drop of oil, and his has 180. His is a world apart from mine, much more power, and torque. And far quieter. To be anywhere near my dad's tdi, my fuel pump has had to be tweaked.

Mine is very noisy, it's knocks terribly in comparison, which does reduce slightly when warm. 2 stroke oil seems to reduce it more again, but nothing like other 300tdi I've heard. I just think its a knackered one. It spits a little oil out the dips tick when running, again dad's doesn't.

I've checked/replaced timing belt
Serviced
Cleaned intercooler and inlet manifold
New lift pump
Checked boost diaphragm
Valve clearances
Checked waste gate
Replaced turbo/intercooler pipes
Inlet manifold gasket
Cleaned cylone breather

If anyone knows of a good 300tdi engine going spare, let me know.

Thanks all

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 · Sep 23, 2016

Marmaduke said:
Nobody would tell the difference unless you told them or they checked the engine number

Disco1BFG said:
+1 - tell us a bit more lets see if we can "save" the original.

Sorry chaps, forgot to quote. Reply above. Thanks

lynall · Sep 23, 2016

I think the def and disco 300 engines are one and the same unlike the 200 which are very different in comparison.

Disco1BFG · Sep 23, 2016

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 said:
2 stroke oil seems to reduce it

Interesting ( we run TSO in ours ) - what % are you using please? ( I found much of the clatter in mine @110K was pump related - but the pump is off another 300 which had done 180K)

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 said:
good 300tdi engine

So.... I have a 300 Tdi "spare", but good isn't a word I'd associated with it "blown" might be more accurate

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 · Sep 23, 2016

Disco1BFG said:
Interesting ( we run TSO in ours ) - what % are you using please? ( I found much of the clatter in mine @110K was pump related - but the pump is off another 300 which had done 180K)

So.... I have a 300 Tdi "spare", but good isn't a word I'd associated with it "blown" might be more accurate

Haha thanks mate.

I run just under a litre to a full tank. It seems to quieten it down a little when warm. And has a little more power, I only do it for my own sanity haha.

To tell the truth, I'd say my 300tdi is twice as noisy as my dad's.

Forgot to add I've had the injectors refurbished too. Also tried to advance/retard the timing with no luck. I just think it's a duff engine.

Cheers chaps

Turboman · Sep 23, 2016

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 said:
Hi all.

The engine in my 300tdi defender has always been very poor and noisy. So little power etc.

So I was thinking about buying a 300tdi discovery engine and rebuilding it, and swapping the engine in the defender.

Would this affect the value of the land rover?
If the replacement engine wasn't rebuilt and swapped with a disco enine would this have a negative effect on value?

Sorry if this is a daft question. Cheers

It will make no difference at all, as the vehicle is fairly recent, and quite a lot around.

Where it does make a difference is with vehicles that have a high classic/collectors value. With an S1 or similar you will lose value with a non standard engine.

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 · Sep 23, 2016

Just out of interest. How much should I be looking at for a decent 300tdi. Ideally I'd like one that doesn't need much more than a strip down and replace the minimum, but learn and treat it as an experience.

I've never bought/removed or rebuilt an engine before. So I'm a little weary of these breakers that have the engine out the vehicle and it can't be heard running. Is that the gamble most of you take when buying a removed engine?
Any tips?

Marmaduke · Sep 23, 2016

Look for play in the turbo and condition of the oil on dipstick and on the rockers. I recently bought one that was supposedly 130k but the oil was about 15 years old and when I stripped it the bores were like mirrors

flat · Sep 23, 2016

Marmaduke said:
Look for play in the turbo and condition of the oil on dipstick and on the rockers. I recently bought one that was supposedly 130k but the oil was about 15 years old and when I stripped it the bores were like mirrors

Bores shouldn't be mirrored TBH

Marmaduke · Sep 23, 2016

flat said:
Bores shouldn't be mirrored TBH

Rehoned em pal and new rings. Runs like a dream

Def90man · Sep 23, 2016

When you say you put a litre of two stroke to a tank of fuel, have you looked at your fuel filter? I was putting about 100mls to a tank for 6 - 8 months and when I changed filter and poured it into a jug, it was nearly half full of two stroke oil. A litre sounds a lot.

Disco1BFG · Sep 23, 2016

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 said:
Haha thanks mate.

I run just under a litre to a full tank. It seems to quieten it down a little when warm. And has a little more power, I only do it for my own sanity haha.

To tell the truth, I'd say my 300tdi is twice as noisy as my dad's.

Forgot to add I've had the injectors refurbished too. Also tried to advance/retard the timing with no luck. I just think it's a duff engine.

Cheers chaps

I run 1% TSO - it certainly quietens both ours down. we measure it as accurately as we can.

Does fitting another engine affect value?

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