Diesel Rangies in Oz??

[vk2icj]

I was just rewatching an old Camel Trophy film and the 1987 Trophy had Diesel Rangies as the competitors cars. AS often as I look around on fleabay and the like I've never seen a diesel Rangie for sale. Are they that good that everyone keeps them or was there some reason they are not in Oz. Reason I ask is I'm looking to "Upgrade" from my LPG GQ patrol to something I can do some long distance touring with family in. I like the Rangie but I'm afraid of the fuel bill



Thanks

Chris

[maca]

FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T DO IT.

the factory RRC diesels are a POS. They are a VM diesel which are great motors when they are kept cool, but unfortunately once they get a bit warm they are pretty much buggered.

But if you are lucky enough to find a RRC with a 300tdi or 4.182 go for it!!

P.S. the bagging of the above VM motors are based on my personal experience as I have a VM RRC and 4 spare motors none of which run right.
I am about to blow $3000 on a rebuild kit that might hopefully get a bit more life out of the old RRC.

[Rangier Rover]

Are you refering to the old VM:eek: They are or should be all dead by now I hope:p

The only diesel rangies in AUS I'd think worth a mention are 300 TDi, TD5 and 4BD1. Also few with chevs, nissans and toyotas.:mad: all converted and owners hang onto them.

The VM was a boat anchor and also now rare.

Sorry VM ownners:wasntme:


Tony

[maca]

In terms of touring, I don't think you could beat a 300tdi 110 or 130 fender.
If you can do without the space a 300tdi discovery might be an option aswell.

[BigJon]

am about to blow $3000 on a rebuild kit that might hopefully get a bit more life out of the old RRC.


Why not spend that money putting a 300Tdi in?

[Bush65]

The poor VM diesel was a factory option in early rangies.

I don't think that rangies with the Perkins or 300Tdi diesels were ever available in Australia, unless privately imported. Or the original engine was swapped out.

I'm not sure if the 6 cyl BMW diesel in later rangies was ever offered in Australia.

[BigJon]

I'm not sure if the 6 cyl BMW diesel in later rangies was ever offered in Australia.

We didn't get the P38 with the Beemer engine, but we did get the L322 with the later Beemer engine. Very nice engine it is too.

[stig0000]

iv only ever been in one old rangie with a deasil, an it was a smashing great v8 one, loud as f**k an toltly gutless:wasntme:, it was a import from the usa, an yes its now siting out the back with a blow everything, , idk what engine it was, but it was from a landrover dealer,,, ;);)

[Psimpson7]

As Maca said, I also dont think the VM's were that bad per se, but getting them hot was basically terminal.

They were more powerful than the TDI's and in reality not that bad as long as they were looked after. Well!

We had one, that from memory pedictably failed with head gasket issues! cant remember how many of the 4 heads were affected anymore...

[Rayngie]

I followed a Classic Range Rover last night through Brookvale, late 80's with a Diesel Sticker on the back, very rattly sounding but in mint condidtion, really old bloke driving it sedately....

[Grimace]

in 88 the rangie had a VM deisel donk option... i know cause I had one sitting in my front yard for a while... i fell sick thinkin about it.

[vk2icj]

Is this the same donk that was in some Jeep XJ's? Because man are they are loathed by the Jeepers for the same reasons mention in previous posts.




Chris

[PAT303]

The VM engine was a stationary donk for water pumps etc,when used in that situation they would go for ever but in a RRC where they were cycled up and down the head gaskets,there are four of them would fail.There was two versions,a 2.4 and redesigned 2.5 but neither is a patch on a Tdi.They are rare now because they would die with ease and like posted above replaced with something else.The BMW 3.0TD in the L322 is the sweetest TD this side of a TDV6-TDV8. Pat

[maca]

The poor VM diesel was a factory option in early rangies.

I don't think that rangies with the Perkins or 300Tdi diesels were ever available in Australia, unless privately imported. Or the original engine was swapped out.

I'm not sure if the 6 cyl BMW diesel in later rangies was ever offered in Australia.

Sorry I should of made my self a bit clearer, when I said 300tdi or 4.182 I meant one that had been repowered.

and yep VK2ICJ the jeep donks are almost the same donk but with fancy electronics and funky turbos.

What price range are you looking in ICJ? would a diesel disco do you?

[vk2icj]

Hi Maca,

I'm looking to purchase a service history,, attached to that History is a dependable tourer for a family of 4. Maybe towing a trailer if space becomes an issue. We are struggling with a SWB MQ Patrol for everyone though for just the 2 of us it works a treat. Must be diesel. I've been watching a few Disco's on ebay and other along with your various cruisers and trols. Everytime I start to like one there is something that spoils the deal. Usually no service history or it gets sold.

Cheers Chris

[Bush65]

The 300Tdi was factory option in rangies in UK. It is a pity we never got them in Aus, because IMHO rangie's are better vehicles than disco I's.

I have both - a 300Tdi disco, and had a 300Tdi in my rangie for a while (the 300Tdi replaced a 4.6 V8, but now a 4BD1T).

You will probably be happy with a good 300Tdi disco (98 to early 99 before the disco II) and learn about the few niggles to watch out for.