Thread: 2016 'Defender'

Originally Posted by Dervish

This is one of many over the bonnet crossings we faced up at the Cape. After this, we drove the 3,500km home - that brought the vehicle's total just past 450,000km - took the gear out and I drove it to work the next day.

The thought of taking a vehicle with so many sensors and ecus up to the Cape would put me off entirely. Limping home the ~1000km from this crossing to the nearest dealer in Cairns would be a terrible experience. I personally am very reluctant to buy any overlanding vehicle with more electronics than the old faithful 300tdi, and I'm an electrical engineer.

Unfortunately that is why the new Defender doesn't interest me at all. At best, it's only fault will be a tiny, overstressed turbo-diesel covered in sensors and ECUs thanks to European emissions laws; but that alone is enough to put me off.

Amazing photos!

Yes, electronics are a real issue now...

As a matter of interest, how much water came into the cabin during that crossing? If significant, was it over the seat base level?

Originally Posted by cuppabillytea

I've had enough of this. I'm gunna build a steam defender

Please make sure you have a plan in place should the boiler over pressure valve sticks open. If that happens far from a latte place, no free wifi, no flat tops - good luck!

Originally Posted by YOLO110

Amazing photos!

Yes, electronics are a real issue now...

As a matter of interest, how much water came into the cabin during that crossing? If significant, was it over the seat base level?

Electronics ARE a real issue now...

OR

Electronics are a PERCEIVED issue now...

Almost the entire thread here is about the latter.

And all this talk about the Australian conditions being so incredibly different and challenging on a vehicle... What a load of horse ****.

Spent plenty of time working around the APY area in full electronic vehicles without issues to do with the electronics at all..

Quote: "My biggest fear is being remote and having the vehicle lock my keys inside"

If that's your biggest fear that's hysterical.... Health events, falls etc should be higher. Having to punch the window out to get in is hardly a need for fear - I wouldn't even be concerned about until IF it happened...

Its only the quality of the electrics that could be in question but i think LR electronics have improved a lot in the last 20 years.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AULRO mobile app

Originally Posted by Tombie

Electronics ARE a real issue now...

OR

Electronics are a PERCEIVED issue now...

Almost the entire thread here is about the latter.

And all this talk about the Australian conditions being so incredibly different and challenging on a vehicle... What a load of horse ****.

Spent plenty of time working around the APY area in full electronic vehicles without issues to do with the electronics at all..

Quote: "My biggest fear is being remote and having the vehicle lock my keys inside"

If that's your biggest fear that's hysterical.... Health events, falls etc should be higher. Having to punch the window out to get in is hardly a need for fear - I wouldn't even be concerned about until IF it happened...

Surely if travelling in remote areas you would have one hidden up on the rack,or somewhere else where it won't get wet.And have spare batteries,etc.Good prep would be the plan.

As Tombie has said,far more things could go wrong that can't be planned for,mechanical failures,health issues,accidents,bla,bla.

In the last 38 yrs of owning vehicles,running a fleet of vans,and having LR's for the last 16yrs,i have never had a failure due to electronics.And done a heap of remote area travel.

Knowing your vehicle and good trip prep is what is needed.

Forgive the ignorant question - I'm driving a 300Tdi so have no exposure to this, but what's an EKA?

Originally Posted by scarry

Surely if travelling in remote areas you would have one hidden up on the rack,or somewhere else where it won't get wet.And have spare batteries,etc.Good prep would be the plan.

As Tombie has said,far more things could go wrong that can't be planned for,mechanical failures,health issues,accidents,bla,bla.

In the last 38 yrs of owning vehicles,running a fleet of vans,and having LR's for the last 16yrs,i have never had a failure due to electronics.And done a heap of remote area travel.

Knowing your vehicle and good trip prep is what is needed.

You get it. Yay!

Going remote areas in a series 1 you take spare fan belts. In later models a serpentine belt. You never have all the drinking water or all the med kits in one vehicle.

A vehicle with sensors all over it and electronics coming out the wazoo.... needs appropriate spares and preparation. One of the things that sold me on the recent BAS remap group buy is that for 2.2l pumas you score a new (blank) ECU. Means I now have the original as a spare! Nice.

As I say, My concern is not about electrics per se. It is about long term durability in very harsh environments and servicing outside cities. An immobilised vehicle is a small concern in the context of the world, yes. Until it happens and Land Rover haven't given you your EKA code as a matter of course.

Love the image of John Clesse admonishing the bad Defender with a mallee branch

This thread is actually about the greater concern that is the lack of Land Rover service in general for increasingly high tech vehicles in the bush.

Hi tech is fantastic in many ways and it's just the tip of the iceberg. The next Defender, if nothing else, will behigh tech. It can also be a disaster in the bush. A friend of mine in a Toyota out of warranty, got bogged in a very remote place in WA. His electronic 4WD engagement system failed. Lucky I was there with my mechanical centre diff lock and a snatch strap. He took it to the closest Toyota service agent the next week 200km away. If it had been a Land Rover it would have been 1100 km away. It's a massive difference.