Ninety 1988 modified with 200tdi disco

Maël · Sep 30, 2015

hello everyone,
I am a newbie, small cousin from Brittany, owner of a ninety from 1988 which was modified by the previous owner, he replaced the 2.5TD by a 200tdi from a disco. I did not pay attention until recently, and I realised that the silly frog law and admin make my Landy not fit for public roads in the hexagon... I am looking my options, and I wanted to ask advice to my great cousins on how it works in the UK, can I find a 2.5TD and fit for a reasonable budget? Advice on a garage in the UK?
Cheers,
Cedric

nesponge · Oct 1, 2015

They are both 2.5 turbo diesels and look very similar in appearance.

Who's to know the difference?

Turboman · Oct 1, 2015

Maël said:
hello everyone,
I am a newbie, small cousin from Brittany, owner of a ninety from 1988 which was modified by the previous owner, he replaced the 2.5TD by a 200tdi from a disco. I did not pay attention until recently, and I realised that the silly frog law and admin make my Landy not fit for public roads in the hexagon... I am looking my options, and I wanted to ask advice to my great cousins on how it works in the UK, can I find a 2.5TD and fit for a reasonable budget? Advice on a garage in the UK?
Cheers,
Cedric

Seems like a lot of work to replace the engine, and the Tdi is generally thought to be a better engine than 2.5td.
If you register the vehicle in France, will anyone physically inspect the vehicle, or do you just submit all the numbers and so on to get a document?
Can you give us any info on the French laws that forbid re-engining?

nesponge said:
They are both 2.5 turbo diesels and look very similar in appearance.

Who's to know the difference?

To be fair, they aren't that similar in appearance, anyone with half an idea would know immediately they opened the bonnet. In fact, they don't even need to do that, intercooler will be clearly visible through the grille!

jai_landrover · Oct 1, 2015

Haha look the same, said Stevie Wonder

Maël · Oct 1, 2015

Thanks guys for your replies. Nesponge: you are right, practically speaking if we were not trying to kill classic car jobs in the hexagon following silly Bruxelles directives, both could be looked at as similar. But indeed, turboman, the French regulation calls for a re-certification or "homologation" in our admin motor depts (DREALs) in case of modification: engine, etc. (not too sure about the battery limits though...) And these guys ask for a conformance certificate from the manufacturer, which LR France refuses to give... And, in this case, the disco 200TDI is what, 111Hp, which makes a fair difference with the 86Hp for the 2.5TD. I have not contacted LR France myself and the DREAL, but the first LR specialised mechanics that I asked were pessimistic... And, fact is that today landy is not in accordance with my "carte grise" (registration), this is illegal; the police has specilised guys, but they never stop you, but the main issue is the expert in case of severe accident will check the engine and tell you: "hahaha... well, your insurance does not follow you"... that's about it. Most guys I spoke with have their modified 4x4 near a playground and only drive the few miles on public roads. That is a solution, but cannot go to buy my baguette in the morning anymore

Turboman · Oct 1, 2015

Maël said:
Thanks guys for your replies. Nesponge: you are right, practically speaking if we were not trying to kill classic car jobs in the hexagon following silly Bruxelles directives, both could be looked at as similar. But indeed, turboman, the French regulation calls for a re-certification or "homologation" in our admin motor depts (DREALs) in case of modification: engine, etc. (not too sure about the battery limits though...) And these guys ask for a conformance certificate from the manufacturer, which LR France refuses to give... And, in this case, the disco 200TDI is what, 111Hp, which makes a fair difference with the 86Hp for the 2.5TD. I have not contacted LR France myself and the DREAL, but the first LR specialised mechanics that I asked were pessimistic... And, fact is that today landy is not in accordance with my "carte grise" (registration), this is illegal; the police has specilised guys, but they never stop you, but the main issue is the expert in case of severe accident will check the engine and tell you: "hahaha... well, your insurance does not follow you"... that's about it. Most guys I spoke with have their modified 4x4 near a playground and only drive the few miles on public roads. That is a solution, but cannot go to buy my baguette in the morning anymore

Probably a good idea to disclose to your insurers, as you say, could be issues if there was an accident.
Is it UK registered at the moment?
How long can you run it in France with UK plates, there are many EU registered cars on the roads over here?
And would it make any difference if you registered it in someone elses name, maybe someone resident in Britain, or a British national living in France?

Maël · Oct 1, 2015

No it has been France registered for a while, and yes I would believe that with UK registration papers/plates and a UK insurance it would be fine on frog public roads... Not easy to negociate; but finding British Nationals living in France and interested in buying it and doing that would be the best. Then, I can buy another one ok with French laws.

Turboman · Oct 1, 2015

Maël said:
No it has been France registered for a while, and yes I would believe that with UK registration papers/plates and a UK insurance it would be fine on frog public roads... Not easy to negociate; but finding British Nationals living in France and interested in buying it and doing that would be the best. Then, I can buy another one ok with French laws.

Might not be a bad idea, or get someone to take it over and re-register and sell over here.
Seems a shame to go to the expense and trouble of removing a decent Tdi. And then you will have the issue of finding a decent 19j, tthey are old now, and many blown up or not looked after. I would guess a 19j full recon engine is over £3k now.
Might be best to try and sell it and get an early 200 Defender, then no issues with the authorities. Shame, but few ways round it from what you have said.

Ninety 1988 modified with 200tdi disco

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