Should be ‘lightly oiled’.

The engine will just be getting cold, that is all. At idle this time of year (or any time other than high summer generally) the Tdi will not produce enough heat to maintain proper temperature. Especially if the heater is on. Give the engine a bit of work to do and it’ll warm up. In theory you...

I lifted mine off the chassis using a cross-beam at the bulkhead connected to the footwell brackets, and then a piece of timber under the rear tub (through the wheelarches). Worked well enough.

It’s one of the ones in the fuse box yes.

Most Defenders have a headlight relay, but it’s function is to turn the lights off when the ignition is off. It doesn’t do anything to reduce load on the switch.

I had several ‘Boomslang’ looms with poor crimps (e.g. no connectivity or just fell out of the relays or fuse holder) and both were also wired wrongly, which meant that the high beam flash function didn’t work. Throw it away and either make your own loom or fit a Landreizger one. I did the...

Service schedules: Stick to those and all will be well. Depending on your mileage you may bring things forward as suggested above, but never delay beyond those intervals. My engine oil/filter needs changed every two months which is a pain, but the engine is still in good fettle after 345k...

200 and 300 make basically the same power, the latter is just a bit more refined. Mainly through better engine and gearbox mountings. Neither is better than the other by enough of a margin for that to be the deciding factor, condition is the key as with all Defenders. And neither are...

Cut the backs of the bowls off. That way bulb replacement is a 30-second job and can be done from the back, instead of having to pull the headlight out the front with all that that entails.

I think so yes. Though it is a little odd that you have the old style key.

The top one has the sleeve/spacer still on it surely?

Fitting a Land Rover Tdi engine is simple and will mean you can do 65-70mph with ease and in (relative) comfort. Might be easier for a novice to sell the vehicle you have and buy a Tdi one, but an engine swap is doable for a keen novice with a little help or assistance from others. That assumes...

Except that Marsland chassis are built by GKN in exactly the same way as Land Rover ones, in the same factory and (until recently)* on the same line. And you don’t hear of many problems with Marsland ones, certainly not compared to the more ‘home made’ ones from Richards or Shielder, for...

Any pics of your ex-FC Series III?

Just avoid using the spanner where the banjo bolt for the leak-off pipes goes in. This area needs to be flat for the washers to seal properly and levering the injector about with a spanner could damage the sealing faces if not carefully done.

There are two types of 200Tdi spill pipes, that’s the earlier one. Later ones were flexible braided fuel hose. I believe they were changed because the nylon semi-rigid lines come loose through vibration over time. Mine certainly do anyway.

Exhaust not being fully fitted won't be helping, if it's not coming out the back it will find its way into the cab a lot easier.

Driving it, what else is it there for? :) In seriousness I use it for work. Annual mileage has varied over the years but sitting at about 35k p/a at the moment.

According to the mileage app I’ve put 21,500 litres of diesel in my 90 over the past 3-1/2 years. At a cost of £26k. It all adds up!

Yes new pads always required when this happens. They soak up the oil and grease.