Thread: What to do to a brand new defender?

Heat-sound insulation,Mulgo seat rails,LED headlights. Pat

I have had mine for about four months now with 8000 plus kms on the clock.

At first the biggest issue the wife and family had was the stone flick noise as we drove down gravel roads. Fine on bitumen though with the continentals. In fact very quite.

I ended up putting rhino liner in rear wheel arches and then did rust protection and it made a reasonable difference to the stone noise. Anyway, it was enough that over Xmas we did a few hundred kms on gravel and the wife didn't compalin once. Though maybe we are now more used to it!

Also I have a santorini black 110 with no heat insulation and so far the family hasn't complained this summer and we have had some scorchers here in WA of over 40. In fact the AC is that good my wife keeps her water bottle down near the foot AC vent and it keeps quite cold!

However I did put in good window tinting

In hindsight, , i added too much to soon, but Traxide wiring loom to address a design defect, maybe a cargo barrier if you plan to carry lots, the rest depends on what you plan to do?
I did splurge on a set of drawers as after living out of it for a week it looked like a skip bin.

It all depends on what you plan on doing with it. If your going to take it off road straight away then maybe diff and steering protection, tree sliders, comms, recovery gear etc.

If it's mainly highway driving then I recommend sound/heat protection. It is a lot of work though. You also get to know everything about the interior of the car.

Maybe drive it around for a while and you will know what you want to add or improve on.

Adjusting the steering stop was the quickest and cheapest mod I have done.

Coming from a 2A I don't think you will need sound insulation. I have one coming in April and the first things to go on it will be a drawer in the back, a Rijidij tyre carrier and a bull bar. We drive at night a lot, and I find the drawer one of the best things I have done to my current one. When I got my last new one in 1999 one of the first things was a Kaymar tyre carrier before someone bumped the tyre on the back door.

The top of the front mudguards are a lot softer than the 2A, so you might want some protectors on them. I don't like the look but I don't like the look of dents there either. When they're new they attract dents in car parks too, so have ordered it with steps.

Jeff

First investment you should make is easy. Purchase a full tank of diesel.

Next, go for a long drive somewhere in the countryside. You will gain a large smile on your face that will linger for ages

The rest will come as your specific interest / vehicle use develops.

Originally Posted by EastFreo

I ended up putting rhino liner in rear wheel arches and then did rust protection and it made a reasonable difference to the stone noise.

Paint on or spray on? and how much did you use

Agree with the guys on your use and application completely driving your upgrades.

I would however personally keep well away from major geometry changes to the car, at least for 6 months and in most cases the 3 years of warranty.

Suspension lifts, oversized tyres and engine and exhaust upgrades appear very often in peoples early wish lists, especially those coming from Japanese brands. The Puma is so supremely capable in stock form, that comfort upgrades and body protection should IMHO be significantly higher on that wish list.

My car is now coming up to 5 years and my upgrades are limited to bar work, chassis protection, a remap for the 2.4 (after warranty though), LED lights (all but headlights at this stage) and 265/75/16 tyres which are still standard rolling diameter.

My car remains one of the most capable on the tracks with these limited "upgrades", but a few changes will be afoot for touring purposes.

In recent times I've damaged my drive train and steering a bit (not the car's fault as many would claim, but wholly me own fault) and I have some upgrades in place as replacement parts, but certainly not necessary on a new car.

Bit more info about your use and the information would flow.

Cheers,

Lou