Series 3 purchase

Stanleysteamer said:

Yep, I was talking about that period of time!

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Sound , how good a engine is the 200 tdi ?

Both 200tdi and 300 tdi are pretty bullet proof. There are very partisan ideas about both. You pays your money and you takes your choice! Not as powerful as a TD5 but nowhere near as complex, reliant on electronics or prone to problems, IMHO. Have both and have had loads more probs with the TD5 mostly down to design issues.

I recently rebuilt mine and running it as a 200di without turbo
It’s not a complex design and mechanically very well made. After 115000 internal wear was minimal and starts so easily they have a good reputation for huge Miles and as above no fancy sensors or electronics to go wrong save for a fuel solenoid

Ryan80 said:

Sound , how good a engine is the 200 tdi ?

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To answer your question I would refer back to the fact my 200tdi 325k miles on it and is still going strong. Had a very light top end rebuild (re-greound valves, 2 replacement cam followers) last year after timing belt failed early, but other than that has had nothing other than what I would call routine service interval maintenance.

dag019 said:

To answer your question I would refer back to the fact my 200tdi 325k miles on it and is still going strong. Had a very light top end rebuild (re-greound valves, 2 replacement cam followers) last year after timing belt failed early, but other than that has had nothing other than what I would call routine service interval maintenance.

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That’s great info guys , I’ve been told that both the 200 and the 300 tif are pretty much bullet proof , and you guys pretty much back that up ! I’ve seen a few series 3s with the 200 / 300 tdi fitted , would a 90 be worth considering too ? as they are a bit more modern and bit more smoother plus they are more widely avalible ?

Ryan80 said:

That’s great info guys , I’ve been told that both the 200 and the 300 tif are pretty much bullet proof , and you guys pretty much back that up ! I’ve seen a few series 3s with the 200 / 300 tdi fitted , would a 90 be worth considering too ? as they are a bit more modern and bit more smoother plus they are more widely avalible ?

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If you just want a landrover, a 90 will do. If you want a proper one with character only a series will do. It all started going a bit gay from the end of the series production, what with poncy power steering, ffs.

Col

Colthebrummie said:

If you just want a landrover, a 90 will do. If you want a proper one with character only a series will do. It all started going a bit gay from the end of the series production, what with poncy power steering, ffs.

Col

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I did not realise any series was fitted with power steering, even the early 90/110 did not have power steering.

Ryan80 said:

That’s great info guys , I’ve been told that both the 200 and the 300 tif are pretty much bullet proof , and you guys pretty much back that up ! I’ve seen a few series 3s with the 200 / 300 tdi fitted , would a 90 be worth considering too ? as they are a bit more modern and bit more smoother plus they are more widely avalible ?

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If you want a daily drive that is a proper land rover, but can still keep up with modern traffic and drive any distance on the motorway then I would be looking at a 200tdi or later 90/110 and fit a discovery transfer box. If you are only going to be pottering around the local country lanes with limited mileage then a series will be fine. You can use a series as a daily driver, and people do, I have when the 110 has been off the road, and fitting a tdi and an overdrive makes it more usable, as does improved seating etc, but in my opinion by doing all that you are trying to make it as close as possible to a 90/110, so just get one of them instead. A series land rover was designed in the 50's and didn't really change until the end of its production, is is meant for a slower pace of life and does this very well, that usually does not fit however with being used as a daily drive. I will also point out that the series motors that are increasing in value are the ones which are the most original, so if you get one and change the engine and modernise it you are potentially losing value, and certainly limiting potential future value growth. I love my series 3 diesel and think it is great, but I would not want to use it as a daily drive for the driving that I do. However when running errands between the villages it is perfect. My 200tdi 110, although it still has drawbacks compared to a modern car, is worlds better than the series as a daily drive, it will sit at 70mph (80 if needed), is more comfortable for long journeys, and has a radio fitted which I can hear. If you are doing 5-6k mile a year you could do that in a series, any more and I would be looking at a 90/110 and get a series as a weekend/summer vehicle for shorter distances.

I would also consider a 110 if you are going to look at the "defender" vehicles rather than series. A 90 is about the same size as a golf (external dimensions) but is very small inside, again it depends on your usage, but unlike a series vehicle the extra size and weight will not be noticed if a tdi or later engine is fitted.