Thread: Which engine in Defender 130 for the big trip?

Dutchy, please buy a TDi so I have a bigger range of much newer TD5 130's to choose from.

[QUOTE=wally;834608]

Originally Posted by mcrover

I had one fail at 69000km (from new).

A former colleague who was then a senior chap at Land Rover Australia told me about three years ago to change them at 50,000 AND DON'T MISS (his emphasis).

Originally Posted by big guy

Now go drive some and buy one. More you think more you worry.
So many of us drive 20-40000 km's a year and have no probs at all bar a CD skipping when going over a bump.

Just do it.
See which one you prefer.
Should something happen, relax and get it fixed.
Take a sattelite phone and all will be well for lifes little adventure.

GO gogogogogogogogogogogo.

Oh, keep us posted.

Thanks big guy, I will get one and I will keep you posted, thanks again to all for good advice and words of encouragement

Kai

[QUOTE=wally;834608]

Originally Posted by mcrover

I had one fail at 69000km (from new).

And this is why they changed the timing cover, back plate, main tensioner and re-visited the torque setting for the belt tension.

This isnt new, just about all 300Tdis were done and if they havnt been done by now then it hasnt been driven as they just didnt last long without these mods.

99% of them were done under warrenty and the others were just lucky and not serviced by LR agents who changed them as a matter of course.

Timing belt intervals as spec'd by LR is 80'000kms I have asked their opinion and been told by Allranges (now closed), Deacons, Mornington prestige and Massaro's so I recon they would know.

Timing belt is now a non issue.

I am currently overlanding in a 300tdi disco. Chose the 300 over the td5 because of the simplicity and the engine has been great although does overheat when we have big climbes.
The problem that we have come across is that the few dealers there are only have d2 and d3 bits in, non go back as far as the d1.

I guess with the 300 you might have a wait for parts at a dealer but at least it can be fixed by many mechanics.

We have done 30 000km in 3 months without any engine problems so far (only prop, gearbox, differential and axle (snapped in Syberia) have broken).

Hope this helps,

Dave
ExcellentAdventure

[QUOTE=mcrover;835049]

Originally Posted by wally

Timing belt is now a non issue.

To me any engine with a rubber band is an engine to be avoided. The belts need to be replaced regularly, and the belts do fail.

Chains or gears don't.

Hi Kai,2004 Land Rover Defender 130 (4X4) 5 Speed M Dual Cab - eBay, Passenger Vehicles, Cars, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 31-Oct-08 12:42:39 AEDST)

This looks like beter value than the $28,000 one with a bit of rust!!

[QUOTE=Brian Hjelm;835610]

Originally Posted by mcrover

To me any engine with a rubber band is an engine to be avoided. The belts need to be replaced regularly, and the belts do fail.

Chains or gears don't.

Well then any aussie delivered 130 is going to be out of the question then isnt it Brian.

Funny thing about timing belts, they are pretty much in 90% of all cars on the road these days but some people just dont like having to do a little maintenance.

Timing belt is a non issue it is a serviceable item and you change it at the required interval and set it up correctly there is no reason you will have a problem.

Gear train conversions were crap apparently in the 300Tdi and timing chains fail nearly as commonly as timing belts as well as they are noisy.

Theres negatives to everything, and not everyone want to drive a sidevalve V8.