300Tdi vs TD5

[BenandGabby]

G'day everyone,
tried searching through other posts to find similar topic but I did not see anything. So sorry if I am asking common question.

I am Keen on the 300TDi, I know it to be a solid little engine and relatively easy to fix and not to expensive to do so either. would have loved a manual, but good luck finding one of those from what i see.

So i started looking at TD5s, but am unsure as I have heard many things that go wrong, and how hard and costly they are to fix (mostly from cruiser and patrol drivers)

We do not want to do any extreme 4x4 or anything like that, just some fun 4x4 camping, maybe get a little more adventurous later when skills build, and a bit of touring to show the misses a bit of the country (she is not from here).

So some advise would be wonderful please. stick it out and find a good 300? or have a crack at a TD5?

Thanks in advance :)

[V8Ian]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/complete-engines-sale/

[ramblingboy42]

what are you wanting to drive?

a disco or a defender?

if disco look for a late D2a......can't go wrong.

if Defender take your choice from searching this forum for your answers

[PAT303]

Buy the best vehicle regardless of motor. Pat

[Roverlord off road spares]

So i started looking at TD5s, but am unsure as I have heard many things that go wrong, and how hard and costly they are to fix (mostly from cruiser and patrol drivers)

:)
Yes all those Land bruiser and Pootrol owners know this from experience as they have all owned and driven Land Rovers so they are qualified to comment.

[V8Ian]

Are you after a car or engine?

[BenandGabby]

Looking for a car V8Ian :)

[BenandGabby]

Yes all those Land bruiser and Pootrol owners know this from experience as they have all owned and driven Land Rovers so they are qualified to comment.

My thoughts exactly mate :)

[BenandGabby]

but in fairness i have also heard of the expense and difficulty sourcing parts from TD5 owners also.

[disco man]

G'day guys, Is there a reason why it HAS to be a diesel?

[BenandGabby]

G'day guys, Is there a reason why it HAS to be a diesel?

Hi Disco Man, I have a big V8 4x4 (1978 F100) already so another V8 would be a bit over kill. looking for the diesel for a bit more fuel economy, and I like the 300TDi engines, nice and simple, honest little engine, just hard to find a good one. thats why i'm now contemplating the TD5.

[disco man]

Hi Disco Man, I have a big V8 4x4 (1978 F100) already so another V8 would be a bit over kill. looking for the diesel for a bit more fuel economy, and I like the 300TDi engines, nice and simple, honest little engine, just hard to find a good one. thats why i'm now contemplating the TD5.

Cool mate, I guess i ain't that smart!!!!!! With my 2007 GT-P Falcon i am up to 4 V8's. Lucky only 2 are regested.:D

[ramblingboy42]

Once you enwrap your brain and fingers around a TD5 , there really isn't expensive or complicated about them....

No, honestly I'm wrong.....a harmonic balancer is stupidly expensive.

I've had mine over 8yrs now and with just over 300k on it , and at times some very torturous driving , it's had normal stuff overhauled or replaced....starter motor, alternator, viscous fan, cooling system repairs , harmonic balancer, fuel pressure regulator, return fuel cooler and fuel pump.

I owned a ba falcon before that and I think it had most of the same repairs in much less time without taking it on long bush trips twice a year.

long equals 5,000km plus twice a year every year.....all my mates I meet and drive with have changed their toyotas at least once in that time, because they're almost ****ed.

[Michael2]

Hi Ben & Gabby.

I've got a 300Tdi Defender 110SW manual and a TD5 HSE D2a auto, so I'll comment on both.

I trust the 300Tdi more, and it's my car of choice for remote area travel.

The TD5 isn't as problematic as I had feared when I bought it. The common known issues with the TD5 all have very cheap DIY fixes.

The Tdi returns better economy around town than the TD5 10.7 vs 12.5 litres per 100km.

The TD5 will get under 9 litres per 100 on the open road, but the Tdi still averages the same. (occasionally gets under 10)

The 110 has a roof rack and carries tools, spares, 150lit fuel, 100 litres water. The D2a is usually carrying people only.

If you're looking at getting a Disco, even though the 300Tdi will give you a higher degree of remote area confidence and robustness than the TD5, the D2 will offer significant other advantages over the D1, so you have the whole car to consider as well as the motor.

The TD5 will be faster of course.

When I bought the D2a I factored the price of a Hawkeye diagnostic tool into the purchase of the vehicle, and for any computerised car I'd recommend having something that can read & clear fault codes.

Having had the D2a for 4 years now, I would feel more comfortable taking it away than I did when I bought it. I've taken it from Melbourne to the Pilbara (even though the Defender came along too) and the only issue was having to reset a gearbox fault code once.

[BenandGabby]

Thanks Michael2, I do understand that the horror stories of the TD5 problems are most likely over blown as everyone I know "knows someone" who has had an issue. Though most of the cars in my price range are getting into mid to high 200km range, so a bit worried of problems starting to arise, but that is no different to other cars I guess.

I am a massive defender fan, but the misses to have a little more comfort so disco is the go I believe. Have you done much towing with the TD5? I have a boat just over 2t that is out as often as I can do so, so towing is a big thing for me as well.

Do you have any thoughts on the gear boxes, I am a little old school in my thinking (as much as a 30 year old can be old school) in that I like manual over auto, but I have not heard a single bad report on the Disco gear box apart from the pre 96 models are a touch noisy and a bit laggy with a load.

[Jeff]

Thanks Michael2, I do understand that the horror stories of the TD5 problems are most likely over blown as everyone I know "knows someone" who has had an issue.

Rubbish.

I have had two TD5s blow up, and I have been called all sorts of names on here by TD5 apologists. One was related to the oil cooler the previous owner had replaced just before I bought it. It had either ran low on oil or contaminated the oil, and six months later, it threw a rod. The other was due to contaminated fuel I picked up on the Nullabor.

Has it put me off TD5s? No, but it has put me off second hand cars. I have a 300 TDi Defender I have had from new, 330,000km with only a new water pump. I suppose I won't get either new now.

Jeff

:rocket:

[BenandGabby]

Thanks Jeff,
This is what i wanted to hear, I know not all 2nd handers are bad, but there is a risk of buying a used car. Sorry to hear you had a bad hand with you TD5s. I need to hear what can go wrong and what to look for as I am not in a position to buy new, and am having dramas finding a 300tdi in disco form. so I am entertaining TD5 options. would love a defender but I think they might be a bit bare bones for the misses.

[Michael2]

Hi Ben & Gabby.

In answer to your question, I haven't towed with the TD5, but have a friend who's towed massive caravans from Canberra to Melbourne with his and has been very happy with its performance. He's now gone to a D3, which he's even happier with.

When I travel (the last road trip was 20,000km), I don't like to tow, so for my family of 5, I manage to fit everything into the Defender.

I have towed locally with the Defender though, and it's handled a 2.5 ton tipper trailer with ease (even up hill), so I suspect the TD5 will be even easier.

As the family grows, I may have to use the D2a for road trips due to it's larger 2nd row seating, in which case I will need to tow, and I'm confident it will do it well.

Whatever you get, I recommend investing in a Low Coolant and Engine Temp Alarm, as any catastrophic engine issues seem to always be related to coolant loss. On one trip I had a hair line crack in a plastic T-Piece expansion tank hose. The alarm went off and I topped up the system and replaced a dodgy hose clamp, which I thought was the issue. A short while later, it went again and I found the crack. There was still plenty of coolant in the system when the alarm went and there were no symptoms. I managed to get a brass T-Piece and continue on my way. All up, it cost me $20 and perhaps an hour of my time. Otherwise I would have been stranded in QLD with a seized motor and lost half a holiday.

If you're doing a lot of towing, and aren't scared of high kms, then maybe you can extend your budget to a TDV6 D3. Cars with over 300K seem to be going near the $20K mark. That will give you more power, better economy, greater safety, and a 6 speed box that will lock in every gear, which should be better for towing.

[2stroke]

My wife drives my 130 when I am repairing her torana but even I don't think it's easy to park.