Goodbye Lucas..Hello Bosch???

[footprint]

By any chance, would anyone know specifically when the Series 1 Disco Tdi's switched from using Lucas electrics to Bosch electrics??

I'm assuming there is a way to tell i.e VIN numbers that decipher the marking point when the switch occurred.

The search i did had ACE talking about somewhere in between 1997 and 1998.

Big Cheers

[p38arover]

I know my '86 Rangie has Bosch parts - with Lucas stickers over the Bosch part nos.

Ron

[ladas]

From the parts list it LOOKS like

LA 081991
MA 081992

Could be wrong but it seems most of the 'electricals' seemed to change around these VIN nos.

[footprint]

howdy ron, does that mean the whole 'prince of darkess' thing all started because of a sticker?

Hi Ladas, just so i understand your post correctly. Assuming your VIN numbers are correct, all disco tdi's with those numbers have the bosch electrics, or those numbers represent the last of the lucas vehicles.

Perhaps i need a lesson in "Understanding Your VIN"

[ladas]

Didn't make myself very clear did I :(

VIN Numbers before

LA 081991

Had one electrical system

VIN Numbers after

MA 081992

Had a different type

................but I have no knowledge whether Lucas was on cars up to LA 081991, or on vehicles from MA 081992

I can just see from the parts catalogue that the change took place at/around those vin nos.

[Scouse]

I was under the impression that all Series 1 Discoveries used Lucas electrics.

The P38a Range Rover changed to Bosch injection in the 1999 model but that's all I know that went to Bosch.

[footprint]

mmmm perhaps ACE was starting some kind of rumour just to confuse all of us. He made a note about Series 1 Tdi's changing from Lucas electrics to Bosch electrics somewhere between 1997 and 1998.

It appears that there was a change in tdi models in Jan 1997 when the models went from being called "Tdi" only, to model designations S, ES and SE7.

Perhaps it was around that time that the apparent change occurred.

Perhaps i should PM him.

[langy]

Being an owner of a MA Disco, I can tell you that the company that did the wiring was Rists - and they are part of Lucas. As to Bosch bits, you'll find that they provide some components, but generally not till later ( I'll presume they were favoured when BMW bought LR)

[footprint]

G'day Langy. Perhaps that "til later" part was what ACE is referring too. It may take a bit more homework but i'm sure there's a pamphlet, sticker, folder, manual or textbook out there with the goods.

Perhaps it coincided when BMW bought Land Rover...

So MA and LA are model designations....like VS and VT commodore....or NL or NM Pajero. The more i know, the more i realise how much i don't know

[ladas]

So MA and LA are model designations....like VS and VT commodore....or NL or NM Pajero. The more i know, the more i realise how much i don't know


No they are part of the VIN number - alphabetical move forward

L then M

[p38arover]

I think there's a lot of confusion over the electrics.

People complain of Lucas electrics and praise Bosch.

For example, the P38A is mostly, it appears, to be Valeo (French). The Bosch only refers to the engine management system.

As I said earlier. Bosch parts wre used in early RRs and the parts were labelled Lucas. The Bosch part nos. were still visible in some cases.

Ron

[Scouse]

It appears that there was a change in tdi models in Jan 1997 when the models went from being called "Tdi" only, to model designations S, ES and SE7.That was just a local (Autralian) feature. It's just the spec level of each car:
S = poverty pack
SE = middle of the range
ES/LS = top level (getting close to RR standards :D).

SE7 was the SE with the extra seats (making it a 7 seater SE, hence SE7)

[footprint]

G'day Scouse,

I pm'd ACE and he said he was told their was a difference. He put your name up saying that it was a possibility that the details between the Lucas and Bosch models could be looked up on a computer program.

As i'm not even sure if this is possible, it appears that someone somewhere noticed a difference between the two at some point. I guess, when it comes down to it, that i'm just trying to find out whether it's rumour or not.

Ron says that the engine management is bosch....perhaps if there was a change from Lucas engine management to Bosch engine management, then we have a place to look.

Maybe it just doesn't matter.....but the prince of darkness stuff could not have been made up for no reason.

Keep me posted if you hear of anything on the grape vine...

[Ace]

I was told that late 97 onwards had bosch electrics, mine is 98. I have never really paid that much attention but i dont seem to suffer the usual electrical niggles that earlier disco owners talk about in here so have assumed its right. I think the comments on bit and pieces being changed would make more sence. Matt