Battle of the titans! 300 vd td5 ....Please help to end the saga!

I'd look at the overall condition of the vehicle and then look at the motor,both ''vehicles'' are getting old and will many bits replaced to make reliable,bits that will cost money.I wouldn't listen to experts who carry the old ''electric's will leave you stranded'' line,the last 5 trips I've done,Gibb river,north coast,Anne Beadell,Broome,Nullagine all ended up with the older non computer vehicle being towed back or rescued by a modern computer driven one,one of the tow vehicles was a Td5 actually that towed an 80 series and my TDCi got my mates 80 off the Anne Beadell last week.Any vehicle you buy that vintage will cost time and money,don't listen to people who say otherwise,as I've stated I'd go for the best overall condition over best motor. Pat

I have just upgraded to a low k td5....nice upgrade from the TDI

I own 1 of each and drive them both all the time. I prefer to drive the 300tdi but every time I take out the td5 I'm reminded that it is a far superior engine. I'll leave comments in reliability etc to others.

The base engine of a TD5 is far superior to a Tdi. The TD5 was a completely new engine, the design of which was then improved using BMW parts and knowhow just before production.

The 300Tdi was a series of stopgap modifications to an engine that started life in 1958 (as a petrol - 1961 diesel). It was marginal even back then.

In practice though the TD5 does seem to have a few issues due to Land Rover quality control, and the fact that it is more highly stressed.

The TD5 has the best oil filtration system in its class.

Many Tdi's are over 300,00km's and quite a good number like mine are at 500,000km's and going strong,not bad for a marginal engine with poor oil filtration. Pat

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Originally Posted by isuzurover

The 300Tdi was a series of stopgap modifications to an engine that started life in 1958 (as a petrol - 1961 diesel). It was marginal even back then.

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I was under the impression that the 200tdi was the series of stopgap modifications and that the 300tdi was a redesign but still with the same basic principles, being a 2.5L turbocharged 4 cylinder, or am I mistaken and the 300tdi is just another continuation?

I have a 300tdi and a 2.25 diesel. You can see that one is just an updated version of the other.

Aaron

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Originally Posted by PAT303

Many Tdi's are over 300,00km's and quite a good number like mine are at 500,000km's and going strong,not bad for a marginal engine with poor oil filtration. Pat

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mine has had the head done 150,000 plus Ks ago and the radiator rodded. Not much else other than belts and regular servicing.

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Originally Posted by Plutei

I was under the impression that the 200tdi was the series of stopgap modifications and that the 300tdi was a redesign but still with the same basic principles, being a 2.5L turbocharged 4 cylinder, or am I mistaken and the 300tdi is just another continuation?

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See Aaron's comments.

The redesign was largely marketing hype. The 300 was just a minor tweak of the 200. A huge number of parts are interchangeable between 2.25s and 300s (apart from the fact that the 300 is DI whereas the 2.25 is IDI.

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Originally Posted by PAT303

I'd look at the overall condition of the vehicle and then look at the motor,both ''vehicles'' are getting old and will many bits replaced to make reliable,bits that will cost money.I wouldn't listen to experts who carry the old ''electric's will leave you stranded'' line,the last 5 trips I've done,Gibb river,north coast,Anne Beadell,Broome,Nullagine all ended up with the older non computer vehicle being towed back or rescued by a modern computer driven one,one of the tow vehicles was a Td5 actually that towed an 80 series and my TDCi got my mates 80 off the Anne Beadell last week.Any vehicle you buy that vintage will cost time and money,don't listen to people who say otherwise,as I've stated I'd go for the best overall condition over best motor. Pat

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A very wise post from Pat. All vehicles are susceptible to failure, but mostly it comes down to preventative maintenance or the lack thereof. The age of a vehicle is a big factor too. You usually get what you pay for and if a vehicle has been well maintained its usually pretty clear.

Your choice is fairly clear btw 300tdi and td5. The main difference between the two is obviously the engine and in turn the character of the vehicle. 300tdi is obviously older, it's more agricultural, noisier, simpler. Td5 is a newer quieter more powerful, more refined design. It really comes down to which one you prefer driving, followed by the condition of the vehicle.

I've owned and driven a 300 Tdi all over Australia for 15 years and it has been absolutely bullet proof because it has been well maintained by a specialist Land Rover mechanic at regular intervals, as well as by me in-between and as I have become more capable as an amateur mechanic. (It's also towed many a Toyota out of trouble, of all ages, in its time and never been towed itself, except for one flatbed with an alternator failure out of Port Augusta). I haven't owned a Td5 so not qualified to comment on reliability, but I've driven one and it was basically more refined. I also now drive a puma Tdci, which is more refined, more powerful and quieter again. But it uses 2-4l per km more diesel than my 300tdi to achieve that extra power.

It remains a difficult choice which one to drive, especially for a long trip. I would usually choose the newer quieter version, but for constant bush work I'd choose the 300tdi.

So maybe there's your answer... A Puma Tdci, or if that doesn't fit your budget, a Td5 would be more suitable for your intended 90% highway use. And as Steane says, you're probably more likely to get a good Td5 at a better price. If you were living in northern Australia, or somewhere where you'd use it 50% bush, I'd probably recommend a 300tdi, but that maybe just because of my own experience. Maybe in another 15 years I'd recommend a Tdci instead!

Best wishes with your decision, and remember any well maintained Defender will outperform anything else in the bush, and personally I would say touring the highway too...largely to do with the excellent seating position and the practical simplicity of the overall design.

Cheers, hope that helps.