Raumer

I am very, very, very lucky. My other half loves the land rover and wants a series one for herself. Given a choice between the normal everyday commute car and the landie she will always take the landie. Even better is that she likes working on it. Last night she was the one lying underneath it reconnecting wires whilst I made the tea! Then again got home monday night to find she had one of her model steam loco's spread across the living room! Ed

Footman James used to allow multiple cars on one policy. Would assume that they still do. I have the landie insured as a second car through Roadsure. Ed

The engine I always fancied trying in my series 2 was a volvo 960 one. 3ltr all aluminium straight six and the swedes get them up to over 300 hp just by chipping. Idea is helped by the fact that my parents have one rotting in the corner of the garden with a police spec engine in it. It's a lovely quite engine with no V8 roar to give the game away. If it can make a 2 ton volvo estate beat gti's etc.... then 'only' 1600kg of landie should really fly! Have only been put off the idea of fitting it to my landie as I want it to be able to wade and think it's too much hassle to waterproof it. HTH Ed

Another news report on the sale, repeats a bit of the previous report and it's a bit long! TATA BUYS JAGUAR, LAND ROVER... After months of negotiations, Ford Motor Co. yesterday finalized a deal to sell its Jaguar and Land Rover units to India’s Tata Motors Ltd. for $2.3 billion. Under terms of the agreement, Ford will pay about $600 million into the pension plans of the two British nameplates for a net gain of $1.7 billion. The sale is expected to close by the end of June. Ford is selling the two luxury brands so it can focus on its core namesake brand. It also is redoubling efforts to turn around its money-losing operations in North America, which it hopes to return to profitability next year. Following the Tata deal, Ford’s lone remaining luxury brand will be Volvo. The company sold the majority of Aston Martin to a Kuwaiti-led consortium last year. Ford paid $2.5 billion for Jaguar in 1989 and $2.7 billion for Land Rover in 2000. Including losses and product development costs, the company has spent an additional estimated $10 billion-plus on the marques. Tata Motors is part of the Tata Group conglomerate that consists of about 100 companies, ranging from transportation and steel to telecommunications and information technology. Founded in the early 1950s as Tata Engineering and Locomotive Co., Tata Motors began making trucks through a joint venture with Daimler-Benz in 1954 and launched production of Mercedes-Benz cars in 1994. It rolled out its own Indian-designed Indica small car in 1998. Some analysts say Tata would have been better served devoting its resources to the fast-growing Indian market. Tata ranks third in vehicle sales in India behind Maruti Suzuki, which has a dominant 50% share, and Hyundai. Tata’s sales likely will climb dramatically following this fall’s launch of the $2,500 Nano minicar. ...PLEDGES TO PRESERVE LUXURY IMAGES India’s Tata Group says it will focus on preserving and enhancing the luxury images of the Jaguar and Land Rover marques it bought from Ford Motor Co. this week. Tata will retain the current management and other staff, including Jaguar and Land Rover CEO Geoff Polites. In addition, Ford will continue to supply powertrains, stampings and other components and platform technology for Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. Ford also will provide Tata with engineering and R&D support, environmental-related technologies, information technology, accounting and other services. The length of the supply arrangements will differ by component but is expected to range from three to nine years or more. Tata previously has said it will not transfer vehicle or component production to India or another low-cost country. Jaguar and Land Rover currently source all their gasoline engines from a Ford plant in South Wales; diesel engines are supplied by Ford's facility in Dagenham, U.K. Earlier this week, Fiat SpA reiterated interest in providing technical support to Tata in regard to Jaguar and Land Rover. The Italian automaker already is working with Tata on the latter’s ultra-low-cost Nano, which is due to bow in India this fall. Neither Land Rover nor Jaguar had much planned next year in terms of new products. For 2010, Jaguar is working on the next-generation version of its flagship XJ sedan, and Land Rover is expected to give the LR3 SUV a facelift by then. This is expected to be followed a year later by Jaguar’s F-Type retro sports car and a production version (including a hybrid variant) of Land Rover's LRX concept. Further out, Land Rover is planning a seven-seat version of the LRX, a new Defender and a next-generation Range Rover that could top out at $200,000. Other vehicles in Jaguar’s development pipeline include an all-new XJ and an all-new XF with an aluminum body.

Latest news: FORD WILL NET $1.7 BILLION ON JAGUAR, LAND ROVER SALE TO TATA. Ford Motor Co., which originally paid a combined $5.2 billion to acquire Jaguar and Land Rover, has finally sold the two iconic product lines to India’s largest automaker, Tata Motors Ltd., for $2.3 billion. Ford will contribute $600 million to pensions for employees of the two units, thus netting $1.7 billion in the long-anticipated deal. The agreement says Ford will continue to supply engines, transmissions, stampings and various technologies to the two British brands for an undisclosed period. Also, Ford Motor Credit Co. will continue to provide financing for Jaguar and Land Rover dealers and customers for up to 12 months. The companies expect to complete the sale, which is subject to regulatory approvals, by June 30. Tata vows to “preserve and build” the two brands, which it considers as springboards to advanced technology and global luxury markets. The company previously pledged to keep the current management at both units, retain their hourly employees and keep production in the U.K. Tata figures its cost-saving expertise will help make the two units profitable. But the company’s investors worry that the deal carries too much debt and risk. Analysts point out that the luxury brands have little in common with Tata’s lineup of small, inexpensive cars. CEO Alan Mulally hopes Ford can concentrate on rebuilding its namesake brand. The sale removes a financial albatross—and a major management distraction. Since Ford bought Jaguar and Land Rover, it has plowed billions into them with little payback. Last year Ford sold its other British brand, Aston Martin, to an Anglo-Kuwaiti investor group for $931 million.

If you are after something solid and reliable then look second hand. For £200 you can pick up a bike that is say 7 or 8 years old but was probably top of the range when it was built. My collection of bikes (5 at the moment) is from when I did lots of biking and the oldest is now 15 years. But the build quality of the frame and parts is superb, new cost would have been about £3000! Most important thing is to find one you are comfortable on and suits your riding style. Some shops will have bikes that have been traded in and these are well worth a look. A 2 year old bike that was originally £500 is going to be better than a new £200. Front suspension is nice if you want to do some trail riding. Full suspension you need to pay a lot more money to get something that will last and still work as well in couple of years time. HTH Ed

Interesting snippet of related information from a different news story: Separately, Marchionne reiterated Fiat’s interest in working with India’s Tata Motors Ltd. after the latter buys the Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Ford Motor Co. Fiat said last fall it would provide technical support for the British brands, as it has done for Tata’s $2,500 Nano car. Could we end up with the santana iveco being a basis for a new defender or the two being merged together? Ed

I used to have to drive into london occasionally to visit friends and for work. The landrover was far better than a car. Speed isn't an issue, traffic never gets above 40mph! Ability to see over things, drive through potholes, speed bumps etc... One of the roads near my place of work at the time you had to pick your route down driving the range rover! With the standard of driving in london I was far happier in a landie. Final big advantage was size, the range rover was shorter than most other cars and a 90 would definitely be smaller. Easier to park and takes up less space on the road so less congestion! Ed

As Jim says the fuel rail on any EUI (TD5 style) or EUP system runs at up to about 8 bar normally. One of the big advantages of an EUI is that all of the high pressure fuel is in the injector which makes for a very small volume that is easy to compress. No pipes connecting bits together at high pressure. The forces involved in generating this pressure are very high and the head needs to be designed to cope with this. For interest the version of this system that is in production for HGV's now is running at 2500 bar. Ed

There is another possibility. If the vehicle has been used for a lot of low speed work (for example airport landrovers) the sumps will fill with fuel, we have had a couple back for this. Solution if this is the case is to change oil (assuming no engine damage done) and make sure you give it a few blasts down the motorway now and then. It's the one landrover engine that really appreciates motorway use. The fuel drillings through the head and wires inside the cam box work very well on the truck engines that have this system. Never quite sure why landrover didn't get it right in this area. Ed Delphi Development Engineer (we made all of the injectors )

Morning all, Our local canal trust has a 300tdi 110 Defender that is used for towing and general work. The rear wiper motor has failed, looking on paddocks the price ranged from £65 to £117 (+ vat!) which seems a little pricey. Does anybody know of a suitable (cheap! ) source or does anyone have a good second hand one for sale? Thanks Ed

We have used Walker Midgeley (think the spelling is right!) for insuring the workshop machines, tools & models. They were very helpful and had an easy to use system where you just picked out the bits you needed and the value. HTH Ed

Very nice, thoroughly jealous! Although a black floor would hide the oil better. What's the spec of the landie? Looks very nice, especially the framework/rollcage. Ed

Hi all, Does anyone know of an online source for 1" coolant hose. Ideally I need a roll of about 5m. Would prefer to buy a roll rather than a series of 1m lengths if possible. Or if anyone knows of a shop in the gloucester/stonehouse area that will have it stock that would be very helpful. Nearest shop I have found only does it in up to 19mm! Thanks Ed

Thanks for the info guys. It has a normal v belt so guessing that it is the 200tdi that it's supposed to be! Will find out engine number and double check. Thanks Ed

Hi all, My brother bought himself an L reg discovery at the weekend. Having not played with a tdi engine before he's not sure which version he's got under the bonnet. The water pump is on the left hand side which sounds like a 200 but the head has the large plastic cover like the 300. Could it be a 300 head on a 200 bottom end? Engine was rebuilt probably about 50,000 miles ago, disco has 150k miles on the clock. Ed

Found one via ebay. Problem was that they are listed under two descriptions - either fuel stop solenoid or fuel cut off!

Still responds perfectly to throttle so not engine oil. My guess at the moment is debris from the fuel. Rebuilding the pump isn't much of an issue as one of my work colleagues used to run a business rebuilding diesel injection pumps. Just trying to find somewhere to order one from at the moment! Neither Paddocks or Craddocks have them listed! Thanks Ed

Our defender decided yesterday that it didn't want to turn off. Could switch off the ignition but it carried on running. Had to stop it by stalling it. I'm guessing that it is the stop solenoid that has stopped working. Can anyone tell me how easy it is to change and where to get a new one from? The engine is from a discovery if that makes any difference. Thanks Ed

Last few 110 tdi's I looked at that were for sale were around £3-4k if they were in good nick. Spent a couple of months looking for the one we have now and it was hard to find good ones. We were lucky with ours as it has a new chassis as well as the disco 200tdi conversion and it cost £3200. We were quite willing to travel round the country a bit but nothing came up that went for sensible money. Although we were after a CSW or double cab, ended up with the latter. Probably a few more van backs around for less. Ed

I've found big trailers a lot easier to tow as well. My brother's motorbike trailer is too small behind the land rover, by the time you can see it's going wrong it's far too late! The car trailer is a lot easier and I can park that just about anywhere I ever need to. Although if there is nothing on it I go for the easy one and unhitch it! Seen far too many people spending ages trying to manoeuver a little trailer when it would have been far quicker to unhitch it!

Hi, Mine have arrived. Now just need a spare minute to watch it! Thanks Ed

Thanks guys. Will try and have a look this weekend and see how it all fits in. Not sure how well everything was originally fitted to the vehicle so might be missing a few bits. Used to notice on RRC 300tdi that the glow plugs make it a lot easier to start in the cold, saves load on the battery and a lot on emissions. Thanks Ed

My defender started life as a petrol and one of the previous owners converted it to a 200 tdi. I think it is a discovery engine and gearbox. There is no switch wired in for the heater plugs at the moment. What is the easiest way to wire the heater plugs in, I'm not worried about having them on a timer. A simple switch would do. Wiring is not my strong point so an idea on wire sizes etc.... would be greatly appreciated! Thanks Ed

I have a factory 300tdi range rover classic auto. The auto box has been playing up a lot. Original thought was to dismantle it and use some of the bits on my landie. However my brother is now thinking of borrowing it. First question is how big a job is it to change? Second question, what gearboxes can we use as donors, is the discovery 300tdi auto box the same, or the 200tdi autobox etc.....? I think that the V8 auto box would have the wrong kick down points for the tdi. Thanks Ed