A Defender is on the shortlist...

[rmp]

...for my next vehicle to replace my petrol Pajero, which is a great vehicle but I want a diesel, and more cargo room. So it'll either be a Defender or the 4.2tdi Patrol. But I've got a few questions for the Defender experts here, please. I'm looking at a brand new Defender Xtreme in 2004.

1. What are the must-do mods? Every vehicle has a few weak points, or just mods everybody does, before we branch out into personal-preference and standard stuff like snorkel, cargo barrier etc. For example, all Paj owners know the front bashplate needs reinforcing, and the 3.5L's alternator is too low and needs protecting, pretty much everyone goes up a tyre size etc etc. What do people always do with Defenders? eg, diff guards?

2. Why no footrest? I am bemused. Are there after market kits available?

3. Is the traction control any good? Can it be disabled? Can the ABS be disabled, do you need to?

4. How good is the airco? Does it need to be, can it be, upgraded?

5. I am interested in photos of how people have kitted out the interior, given the fact the Defender's interior is, ahem, somewhat different to the average Jappo 4WD. Specifically, GPS receivers, laptops, PDAs, radios etc.

6. Same for the back, I think the smallish rear door would be a problem for access?

7. The engine bay looks a little cramped. Is it easy to work on, for example replacing alternators, starter motors, oil changes, that sort of DIY home maintenance?

8. I noticed there was no soundproofing under the bonnet. Is this available, is it worth it? I'm not that fussed about the noise, but if there's an easy way to reduce it, why not.

9. Some people have commented that the TD5 lacks torque down low, and the turbo jumps in unexpectedly. On my test drive I found some waste ground and tried it, didn't seem to be a problem but I couldn't find anything really hilly, just some concrete lumps. Is this a problem?

10. Dust ingress. Have heard this to be a problem. Is there a solution, eg putting seals on the door as well as the ones on the body?

11. What are the best places for specialist servicing in Melbourne? My current 4WD shop knows nothing about Landrovers. I've seen several advertisements, but am after personal recommendations.

12. Where's a good place to look for roof consoles, door storage slots and interior storage stuff in general?

13. Is it true the revcounter is a dealer option? I know there are kits out there to replace the clock if not.

14. Has anyone fitted a cruise control, eg the Austron unit?

Well, that's what came to mind. My wife likes the Defender (considers it a *real* 4WD, whatever

that means) and it'll probably be our next vehicle. But I do need to understand what I'm getting into, so any assistance is much appreciated. And yes, I shall be visting my local LR club.

Many thanks for any help,

--
Robert

[edited to remove the additional linebreaks that somehow got in there]

[KEV0044]

...

[bigbugga]

Welcome to AULRO.

Personaly dont know a lot about the defender's.
My Disco has done me well in the time I have had it.

97 v8i discovery
I bought it in 2000
It was stock standard as if it was brand new(just some worn bit's)
Replaced the spring's and shock's
New tyres -Goodyear wrangler AT
Some side steps
Spring spacer's in the rear
and a few other bits and pecies and more on the way.

I have always liked the defender's but find them a bit cramped in the driver's seat. But I am not a little fella.

[lrdef110]

RMP, I agre with Kev. A Defender will be a bit of a culture shock at first. All the magazine writers bag the ergonomics of a Defender but they are a vehicle which 'grow' onto you. I reckon they are more comfortable on a long trip than many people give them credit for but as Kev says they are 'truck' like and do take a bit of getting used to.

I am on my 3rd Defender but have upgraded it a fair bit including Aerotech seats and Autron Cruise Control. The cruise control works wonders on the TD5 but I also have a Bruce Davis chip upgrade (about $850) which transforms the TD5 into a very driveable motor.

Forget all the crap the magazine writers say about Traction Control, unless you plan to spend most of your time on sand. My experience from some fairly difficult 4WDriving is that traction control does work in most cases and makes this one very capable vehicle. No wonder the Extreme won the low range segment of the 4WD Monthly Magazine 4WD of the year. Pity they bagged it for having the indicators on the left side for goodness sakes.

Also dont let the fullness of the under bonnet fool you. These are not any more difficult to service than other modern vehicles.

They do still have a dust problem though. Not necessarily from the door seals though, just gaps in the body work. When I bought mine home, I put it in the garage at night with a light inside and filled all the light beams with sealant from the outside. Worked wonders and am now dust free.

You will find most of the road noise comes from the rear well so as you fill this up the noise dissaptes. But I also fitted underbonnet insulation and this also helps.

Most TD5 motors have a potential electrolysis problem and I would recommend earthing the radiator to prevent this.

Best of luck with your decision.

[Phoenix]

Stop it you lot, you're making me want to go out and buy a new defender more than I already wanted to 8)

It is nice to hear something positive about the vehicle for a change however. I hope that it helps you make your choice Robert.

[KEV0044]

...

[rmp]

Thanks everyone.

I used to be concerned about reliability, but research indicated that the later models are fine, it's the earlier ones that you have to be careful of. I feel pretty safe with a 2003/4 Defender. I know there was an upgrade for 2002 with a stronger rear door, better airco etc.

I've driven Defenders before (and lightweights) in a previous life many years ago, so I'm aware of the culture shock. It's an attraction, to be honest. And I didn't miss the revcounter, I have to admit, but I'd rather have one than not!

The tyres will be replaced at the dealer for sure, probably with Cooper STs in the standard 235/75/16 size. I run Silverstone muddies on the Paj but what with the Defender's capability and traction control I think I can go ack to ATs, and the ST is a pretty aggressive AT anyway. I'll also change the wheels for steel, not keen on alloys. Also going on will be an ARB winch bar, dual battery, snorkel, cargo barrier, roofrack. That sort of thing is the standard 4WD setup. What I'm interested in is the Defender-specific mods people do.

I know the Defender is going to be very different to the Pajero, although with the mods I've done it's a bit further to "4WD" than most! Load space was a major factor, the Defender actually has more than the 100 Series.

Surfed over to http://www.highcountry4x4club.com/, checked out your vehicle. What's the chequerplate under the front? Is it a bashplate, or to help prevent dirt entering the engine bay? And the chequerplate on the sides; what's that for? Doesn't look like rock slider material, but I suspect it'd help?

Kev, I sent you a PM and also an email to your HighCountry4x4 address. PM me here if you didn't get that, I'm very interested in your reply!

Your vehicle looks very similar to how mine will, even the colour!

Cheers

--
Robert

[lrdef110]

RMP, tachos are available for the TD5 Defender as an option. I have one fitted beside the speedo, moved the fuel guage to where the original clock was and then fitted the original clock in the face of my overhead console.

Other specific mods for a Defender tend to be very personal in nature. I have fitted an aluminium checkerplate box in the well behind the left rear wheel to accomodate an air compressor and this wooks well. It is accessed from inside the vehicle and is therefore free from dust etc. See the photo under LRDEF110 in the gallery.

Also I got sick of constantly bending the rear panel so this has been faced with checker plate and incorporates a rear skid bar/step. This has stopped the damage from occuring and provides better access to the rear which is higher than standard due to a 50mm lift. It does not reduce the departure angle.

The plate Kev has on the front is to primarly protect the steering rods which are vulnerable. From 2002 the Defender came with a standard protection bar, but what Kev has done is stilll a good idea. It is also recommended to fit a diff protector plate if you are into the hard stuff. Graeme Cooper and others sell these.

I also replaced the Generals from new with 265 Cooper S/ts. They have served very well and after 57000 km's have at least another 20000 K's left. I also have 285 MTR's on a set of off set steel rims for 4WDriving and these perform excellently. 235 MTR's would be worth considering as a good all round tyre.

You should not regret your chioce.

Regards, Barry.

[rmp]

Thanks Barry. A few more questions for you, if you don't mind! I like my compressor to be portable, but where your is mounted looks like a good place for water storage, if the surrounding metalwork is strong enough?

I also note you've gone up a section width in tyres from 235 to 265 and 285. Have you found the wider tyres better off or on road?

The overhead console will be a definite, I think. Frees up some dash room. Where is yours from?

The sill protectors; can they be used as rocksliders/jacking points?

The rear panel looks neat. Is that something you made yourself or is available elsewhere?


OK, here's my list of mods for the experts to critique:

Must do
1. Front/rear diff guards
2. Steering protector
3. Cooper STs (in 235/85/16)
4. Cargo barrier
5. Roofrack (ARB's full-length jobbie, mesh floor. I like the idea of standing on it for a view)
6. Dual battery (deep cycle, extra outlets in the front for my GPS gear and the rear for the fridge etc)
7. Snorkel (have an Airtec on the Paj, that works, any recommendations?)
8. UHF radio in roof console
9. Long range tank (132L)
10. Front recovery point(s) (don't believe it comes with any?)
11. Towbar
12. Bullbar/sideprotectors/sillprotectors
13. Maximum window tint all round (love that)
14. Lightforce 240s
15. Rear recovery hooks (could use the towbar, but prefer hooks too)

Coming later
16. Revcounter
17. Cruise control
18. Suspension upgrade.

That'll take me back to where I am with the Pajero in terms of mods, even slightly beyond.

Looking forwards to getting more than 500km out of a full tank, too. What sort of range do people get out of the long range tanks?

Do people generally lift Defenders or just replace the shocks and coils? I'm typically carrying a lot of gear, eg Tirfor, major toolset, various recovery gear, and that's just the standard load before we add the stuff for trips like fridge, camping gear, extra spares etc. So I expect to need to replace the suspension in short order, although I understand it's better than the Japanese 4WDs. I'm thinking of a 50/30mm lift rear/front, so with all the gear it settles back down to the standard.

Also need to buy a repair manual to keep in the truck. What's the best ones for Defenders, is there anything better than the Haynes or Gregory's? Never really been a fan of either.

Thanks for all the help guys.

[KEV0044]

...