You would think, but I've heard bad stories about them, a friend's had to go back with an ECU problem after 3 months and also apparently the gearbox's are garbage
whats the best defender engine ? poll
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You would think, but I've heard bad stories about them, a friend's had to go back with an ECU problem after 3 months and also apparently the gearbox's are garbage
Especially with a modern engine and gearbox, nothing is built to last anymore, just crammed full of electronic crap to keep emissions down which goes wrong, often, case in point, 10 plate rangerover sport belonging to my boss, 140,000 miles, 3 engines and 4 gearboxes, diesel whatever piece of **** engine it was, no thank you.
Grebby
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When I was looking for a Landy I was told by a Landy mechanic that the best engine to go for was the 300tdi, because it's the last(so likely to be newest) type without all the electronics.
No reason to doubt this, they are a good lump. Quieter than a 200tdi and the front end is slightly easier to work on. The auto 300tdi ones do have a bit of electrics for the kick down and some later 300tdi's have a box for the fuel pump control and EGR IIRC. Have heard they are a bit less 'stable' than a 200tdi. The only problems my dad and I have heard of is overheating, which was down to human error, basically a farmer not keeping an eye on things.
To this day 'touch wood' we have never heard of a 200tdi dying, and my dad fixes quite a few land rovers in the area we live in
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Grebby
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No reason to doubt this, they are a good lump. Quieter than a 200tdi and the front end is slightly easier to work on. The auto 300tdi ones do have a bit of electrics for the kick down and some later 300tdi's have a box for the fuel pump control and EGR IIRC. Have heard they are a bit less 'stable' than a 200tdi. The only problems my dad and I have heard of is overheating, which was down to human error, basically a farmer not keeping an eye on things.
To this day 'touch wood' we have never heard of a 200tdi dying, and my dad fixes quite a few land rovers in the area we live in
It's what I ended up with anyway
I'd have been happy with either 200 or 300.
Actally I was happey just to be allowed a Landy
Barbados
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Since LR was owned by BMW and BMW had the 2.8 M52 in it, I would look at the Euro S52 inline 6, 3.2 liter petrol engine as an option. It's over 250hp and with the around the same torque. They came in the 1995 to 1997 E36 M3 and not that expensive at all.
Not sure if you will be able to mate the engine and gearbox with a bell housing adaptor or if you can find the models in the UK which carried the M52. I love BMWs too and built many of their engines, turbocharged them etc.
I am a purist and think it would be ok for a BMW engine swap. It will be a bit of a challenge to swap if the Landy was not Bimmer equipped before.
Not sure if you will be able to mate the engine and gearbox with a bell housing adaptor or if you can find the models in the UK which carried the M52. I love BMWs too and built many of their engines, turbocharged them etc.
I am a purist and think it would be ok for a BMW engine swap. It will be a bit of a challenge to swap if the Landy was not Bimmer equipped before.
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Fitting a BMW engine is relatively easy , if you are happy with a R380 gearbox, as you can use a P38 diesel bell housing assy and clutch , which will bolt up to a M57 or M51 or other BMW with same bolt pattern . You need to use the input shaft from a r380 ex p38 , or mod a R380 (P38 version) to bolt up to the r230 transfer box) . There are ecu adapters or replacement ecu to run the engine in anything available. HTSH
Barbados
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Wow that's good to know Tacr2man, I will print your reply and keep it in a file. This will be the route I will go if ever I get a Landy I am looking for which requires a new engine.
BMW 80s and 90s BMW M series engines were built really well and very reliable and powerful. Even the M30 engines were very strong too, they were called the tank engines.
Thanks for your reply and info, much appreciated.
Barbados
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Since the polls are in and the 200tdi is nipping the 300tdi, why are some choosing the 300 over the 200?
What will those who voted on the 300 say regarding the differences between the two?
What will those who voted on the 300 say regarding the differences between the two?
bobbler
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Barbados
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100
List em
Or..... Maybe I need to read page one to page 37.
maybe they were discussed through the threads.100
The main noticeable difference for me is the 300tdi is quieter but they're more mechanically unstable if pushed hard. IMO You'll break a 300tdi before a 200tdi.
Carrington224
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Bloody hell This thread has been going on for 6 years.
This thread has been going on for 6 years. 
THEengineer
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Bloody hell
and there still fighting over which ones the best,i thought it would be the one thats still running when this thread finally dies
craigmidlands
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I can't possibly read 38 pages to find out whats best!!!! decent 200s getting a little hard to find at reasonable money, is the 300 a compromise or is all this banter just splitting hairs?????
300tdi, quieter, not as strong IMO
jamesmartin
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better in many ways , front crank pulley keys are greatly improved but with rad filling and emptying on the same side over heating was an issue as rads aged ,but basically an improved 200, both share the same head gasket
SmileySteve
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Just to screw up the ongoings and the fact that I dont have a 200 or 300 TDI I throw back in the fabness of a 2.5 NA slow, noisy BUT easy to work on, cheap parts and bullet proof
jamesmartin
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Just to screw up the ongoings and the fact that I dont have a 200 or 300 TDI I throw back in the fabness of a 2.5 NA slow, noisy BUT easy to work on, cheap parts and bullet proof
not as robust or long lasting as a tdi though
