Thread: Good Mechanic - Head Gasket Change on TD5

Hi Mate
not sure where you are in Melbourne but I normally take mine to Ray at Romsey land Rover. Bit of a drive, but I know they do things correctly and are great guys. I had mine done there a while back and I think it was about $1200, although im not sure, just give them a ring and they will quote for you. As for doing the hoses, if they need it do them too.
cheers
bronson

romsey land rover
2 mitchell crt romsey
54295021

Thanks bronson but its far from my place. I live in werribee area.

Anyway, anyone knows where I can send the Head for checking close to werribee area? In case I am going to change the head gasket myself. Relative is coming soon to visit, need to get the D2 in good shape asap.

Make sure you change the head studs to metal ones, they've probably broken off being plastic, chances are the head will probably be fine unless its been overheated.

cheers bronson

Hi guys, I got the same problem, I would like to ask u a few info; hope not to bother u if I explain my problems, but I think it could be a good occasion to learn from the bad luck of someone (in this case me ).

I bought a defender 110 '2000 with 145k (not much compared with most of the lands on sale), but after a week I had to bring the car to the mechanic cause It was wobbling at 30 km/h and was the handbrake too tight + the gears didn't engage smoothly, and was the gerbox oil to be replaced cause probably the previous owner used a cheap oil.
After few weeks the bearing of the compressor of the turbine broke (on the eastern freeway of Melbourne).
After that I was able to drive twice to the great ocean road to bring my parents and my parents in law, and after that the headlights went off, so I bought from UK (it's definitly cheaper than buy in Oz) the horn/lights/indicator stick and the headlight switch (commonly on the def has to be changed after 100k as it burns), but the problem wasn't solved, so I decided to bring the car to the mechanic (the only one I know is Ritter in Burwood, it's where the previous owner brought the car), but before that I checked the fuses and I realized the relay of the headlight was burnt an so the relay holder, and the headlight fuse was 15A instead of 10A (the bloody idiot of the previous owner!), so I went to buy new fuses and when I got off the shop, the car didin't start, so on monday I brought the car to Ritter.
They spent 3 days to fix the car, they said were some wires burnt, then they changed the battery (230$, the same I bought before for 120$ from Autobarn!), then they checked the cooling system as I required (the level was dropping down without a spot on the floor) and it was ok, so the run a test of the engine, and here we are, the head gasket has to be replaced!
All for 1400$; to be highlighted that I brought the car back twice in a week cause the lights weren't working (I still waiting they call me back).

As I told u, sorry to bother u with all these things, but the point is that I would like to know how u managed for the head gasket, which mechanic u went, and the cost, as I don't know what to do and where to go.
Thank u for your patience and for your help.
David

Originally Posted by bronson

Make sure you change the head studs to metal ones, they've probably broken off being plastic, chances are the head will probably be fine unless its been overheated.

cheers bronson

I know it's an old post but Land Rover specifically cautions against fitting steel dowels to motors originally fitted with the plastic dowels (I'm assuming Bronson didn't really mean plastic head studs). There is a risk of cracking the head if this is done.

LR Tech note attached for reference.

Romsey Land Rover
Call:54295021
Not sure what it cost to get mine done, I reckon about $700.

cheers Bronson

I did mine at Romsey and they charged me around $1100 1.5 years ago.

They are very knowledgable about Land Rover.