Limited edition/SVX/etc bling bits- practical?

[Clark]

Hi guys,

Looking at buying a new 110, and I have to admit that I like the look of the new "Limited edition" models that have just arrived in-country. They've a grill, tail lights like SVX edition deefers, different colour headlight surrounds, painted guards, etc. Here's an example:

Land Rover Launches Exciting (http://www.automobilesreview.com/auto-news/land-rover-fire-and-ice-defender/14808/)

(the ones in Australia are slightly different colours, and don't have the silly names, but you get the idea!)

Question is, on the practicality side, are all those bling bits a bad idea?

I'd imagine the lovely black wheels will get pretty scratched, and also the painted guards? (anyone have body coloured guards? How do they last?)

But what about the different grill, tail lights and so on? If they break, can you get replacements? Or just substitute one of the original ones? Do the standard lights, grill, etc, just bolt in normally?

The car will be used for touring and some off road work. I want a real fourby. The bling looks great, but worries me about how practical it is. SVX owners? Anyone else?

Clark

[mools]

Personally I don't like the look of those - too fussy. I think it detracts from the look of a standard defender, but hey that's just me. It's still a defender and if you want one I don't think you'll ever regret buying one.

The side steps would concern me off road. I've seen those in action, well seen them get stuffed up really easily, rock / tree sliders they are not. From memory they also hang a little low.

Better lights (if they are better not just 'better looking') always a good idea because standard ones are only just 'adequate'. I would imagine they use the standard mounting points as I couldn't imagine LR changing much to accommodate a special edition.

You can buy all that 'bling' separately right now it just costs a little more than the standard kit so I wouldn't see any problem replacing bits and pieces. Most things are relatively hard to damage on a defender and they wear battle scars well - buy one you like and enjoy it.

Ian.

[Rick Fischer]

Everything just bolts/screws in the same. All just looks tiddly. My experience is that SVX is "head turner"

SVX has a couple of additional looms for HID and sub woofer Clarion. IMO the sub woofer, the hole in the roof and the HIDs are a total waste of weight and money.

Wouldn't pay any any "premium" for a new one.

However, the Recaros are brilliant for sitting in all day and holding one's body in place off road. :) :)

Despite all the bling and things (and extra cash), still didn't have have cruise or a bigger tank :(.................and though it looks like the oil now stays, in the dust doesn't stay out :) ....................and one's left leg still gets cooked.

Cheers

RF

[PAT303]

I have an X-Tech and it's a PITA,everywhere I go people come up and ask me about it,usually when I'm in a hurry or need to get somewhere,when it's washed and polished it looks a million bucks and all the add on bits are very good quality and well made.I have a standard 110 and the X-Tech and both are good. Pat

[PAT303]

Everything just bolts/screws in the same. All just looks tiddly. My experience is that SVX is "head turner"

SVX has a couple of additional looms for HID and sub woofer Clarion. IMO the sub woofer, the hole in the roof and the HIDs are a total waste of weight and money.

Wouldn't pay any any "premium" for a new one.

However, the Recaros are brilliant for sitting in all day and holding one's body in place off road. :) :)

Despite all the bling and things (and extra cash), still didn't have have cruise or a bigger tank :(.................and though it looks like the oil now stays, in the dust doesn't stay out :) ....................and one's left leg still gets cooked.

Cheers

RF

Mine doesn't leak oil or let dust in and all the bling was only 5k more than a standard one. Pat

[Tombie]

Yep... Pat you have one of the nicest modern 'fenders ;)

[PAT303]

If people don't like them don't buy one,whats the issue. Pat

[Clark]

Hi guys,

I'm coming from a 200tdi so pretty familiar with the laddie position, quirks, etc.

The vehicle I'm looking at doesn't have the sun roof..which is good. Does have a black roof (silver body) which I think looks great. Might be hot though..?

I agree with the side steps/rails, but strangely most of even the standard deefers coming in, at least that I've seen, have these..the bluddy dealers seem to be requesting them on anything but the white models...I've looked, and they seem easy enough to remove..

Any feedback on the painted bits? Particularly the wheels, fender (? Flares over the wheels) and grill? Does the paint last?

Thanks heaps.

[PAT303]

Mines been flogged and all the bling bits are fine,they aren't just screwed on crap added as a promotional stunt. Pat

[Tombie]

Did you mistake my post Pat?

I was being sincere...

I believe yours IS one of the nicest I've seen...

[jimr1]

Hi Clark ,when you say painted gards , do you meen painted wheel arches ? I've got two 110s an 86 County in Massai Red , and a td5 in metalic red . Both have painted wheel arches , the paint on both vehcels has stood the test of time very well . I would like to mention the painted wheel arches on the old 110 are better made , there 26 + years old , the TD5s arches have sagged a little . So unless Land Rover are using inferior paint , which I doubt you should be OK Cheers jimr1...

[PAT303]

Did you mistake my post Pat?

I was being sincere...

I believe yours IS one of the nicest I've seen...

No worries mate,the LE defenders are good,unlike other makes who just add some stickers or a set of alloys and call it special LR did add good bits and a different paint scheme to make them LE. Pat

[PAT303]

Hi Clark ,when you say painted gards , do you meen painted wheel arches ? I've got two 110s an 86 County in Massai Red , and a td5 in metalic red . Both have painted wheel arches , the paint on both vehcels has stood the test of time very well . I would like to mention the painted wheel arches on the old 110 are better made , there 26 + years old , the TD5s arches have sagged a little . So unless Land Rover are using inferior paint , which I doubt you should be OK Cheers jimr1...

The Japanese paint on the X-Tech is no where near as tough as the Dulon paint on the regular models,my only complaint,looks nice though. Pat

[manic]

To make a standard defender look like one of the fire and ice models just unscrew the plastic front grill and surrounds and stick on the SVX ones, paint your roof and bonnet black and put on some fancier alloys. There would be no problems getting parts to replace your frilly SVX bits.

Honestly it's so easy to swap bits around on a defender that if I were to buy a new one today I would buy the bog standard cheapest option only in the colour I prefer (regardless of price). Outside of the dealer the possibilities to customise the deef are much more interesting!

[danske]

Best bit by far on my svx is the Recaro's. Sooooo good on long drives and with Mulgo seat extenders ( aftermarket ) , best thing about the car. Cruise s great too, but again aftermarket.

Alloys - look good , but Im going black aftermarkets with bigger tyres anyway.

LED Lights - Look great , but no different in what they do.

Stereo - great , but you can add what you want

Carpet and Insulatioon - excellent for heat and sound deadening.


I bought as a demo model , so didnt pay full freight for the SVX , but if i had the time again, Id buy standard , add seats and extenders and cruise.

thats about it. good luck with your decision.

[chuck]

Are the additional lights on the SVX or xtech editions any good?

Are they worth specing on a new defender?

[ericvv]

From first hand experiece, yes they are a vast improvement in light output over the standard Defender lights. The standard H4s are about as mediocre light output as you can get I think. The SVX type are in the first place clear H4 lenses, and even with the standard H4 bulbs the light is more crisp, but I would suggest to replace those H4 bulbs with an upgraded version of the same 55/60W. Land Rover themselves offer such upgraded H4 bulbs, which I installed, and the light colour and output are both a real improvement. In addition to that the SVX set up includes the 9 cm diameter aux high beam lamps with 65W H7, and if those are properly lined up, the combination of H4+H7s is absolutely excellent. If anybody needs an easy way for properly adjusting these aux lamps, take a look at this thread here of defender2.net. It is interesting that not many people really know about how to adjust those.:BigThumb:
Defender2 - View topic - SVX headlights - aux high beam level adjustment (http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17370.html?highlight=aux+high+beam+adjustment )

[MuzzyDelta90]

Is the name of these vehicles, "Fire and Ice" anything to do with the GRR Martin books from the Game of Thrones Series (and HBO tv series), entitled "A Song of Fire and Ice" - some of the postings on here relating experiences with dealers and warranties sometimes sounds like a battle scene from Game of Thrones! Wouldn't it be brilliant if you could choose your Landrover options to match a character or House from Game of Thrones - don't know how a Tyrion Lannister Landrover would be optioned!