dantastic

I am a iPhone programmer and I actually work on a GPS application. Nothing to do with what we discuss here so I will leave that out of it. First of all, Satnav - there are a couple on the market. I personally use Navigon. It uses Garmin maps. I have had it for many years since it was pretty much the only one available on the appstore. It cost like €60 or so which is quite a lot but I have found it very very good. I don't currently use any GPS app which can load maps so I can't comment on that one. But the point of this contribution, working with smartphones and tablets I can offer some insight. The newer devices are much better (no big surprise really). iOS devices are significantly more accurate than Androids. This is based on a pretty large dataset but in essence, only the highest spec Android devices have any decent GPS accuracy. Only the 3G models of iPad have GPS hardware. The GPS is actually pretty good considering. Mounting is important as a car is a very hostile environment to a GPS. If the phone can see the sky it will have much better accuracy than if it's hidden somewhere in the dash. Developers can get highly accurate information from the GPS but then it will consume a lot of battery. This is where there is always going to be a trade-off in frequency of location updates and conserving battery life. From a pure hardware point of view I will recommend an iOS device every time. Especially for location services. The next thing is maps and this is where it gets tricky. The Apple platform is not as rampant with piracy as the Android platform is. This means iOS apps only import maps that are purchased or where the content rights are respected. There are less scrupulous developers who make apps for Android who don't have to follow the strict rules of the Apple appstore. This is where some people may see the benefit in some Android apps which can just import anything from anywhere. I don't think it's fair to call an app carp because it won't import pirated maps. One last thing. Make sure to have a high power USB socket in your car and have your device connected while using the GPS. The app knows you are plugged in and some apps enable higher accuracy when connected.

I think I'll go for the forgetec one. What is a "lipped or tapered front shelf" ? I have a 02MY with the newer dash

That's a nice cup holder!

Not a fan of any of the mudstuff options above. A bike holder could work though..

I have a standard cubby box with the open square compartment. (TD5) I have been looking to get a cup holder but I don't want the insert as I already keep some good carp there. So I have been looking at the bay for some after market I can bolt on to the front of the cubby box but all I've seen have just been too flimsy. How have you solved the cup holder problem without one of those plastic inserts?

34mm Just did mine recently. It's very very tight tho...

Ok so to add to this, this wasn't in my Defender it was in a shiny car. The car has since been repaired, nevermind any perceived devaluation due to a tip or anything but actually repaired and a panel resprayed etc. The yob running in to me initially claimed the incident never even happened. I'm more Mildly miffed off than anything and I'm not willing to let this go. If they would handled this differently I would have been a good sport about it but the arrogance just cannot be rewarded.

A while back we were over the border to the UK and we were in a bit of a tip. No personal injuries but the car got a couple of hundred worth of damage. A fella in a company van was going much faster than he was able for. This would be so small I didn't want to involve my insurance, they will load up my premium for next year (In Ireland anyway). As the other party was so incredibly obviously in the wrong I contacted his unsurance directly and through various hoops I was having to deal with a solicitors crowd who do the insurance for this company. Anyway, after months of just being fobbed off I need to step up my game. Not being from the UK I'm not familiar with the system. There seems to be small claims solicitors you can get for this kind of stuff? Any recommendations? I assume this is an expense I can load their insurance with? Would they be interested in something just worth a couple of 100?

Don't get me wrong, the business end of the MAF sensor is extremely fragile. In most cases all it need is to be cleaned but if you break it then... well...

Before running out and buying a new part you can try cleaning it. Spray it with brake cleaner, let dry and re fit. These get dirty over time and need cleaning on a regular basis.

I think this is beyond saving. http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/300tdi-defender/9370329?offset=12

I was tracking every drop of dielsel put in for about 6 years until I lost the spreadsheet. (TD5) I tried the cheap fuel and it was expensive in the long run. Consumption up and power down. Premium is by far the best value for money. I don't have access to premium where I live but I get it whenever I can and it makes a big difference. Data can't lie! The diesel you buy on the continent is also much better for the TD5. Even the cheaper stuff and you can expect a 2-3mpg increase. A few years back I was getting 33.5mpg out of a fully loaded 110 running on Shell premium going through Italy. At the time I was getting about 26mpg here at home.

Aaah, yea, of course! I checked the mud stuff mirrors. They have one type with a second wide angle mirror at the bottom but at £75 for the pair.... ouch...

I might try the larger mirrors so if they are good.

The standard Defender mirros aren't great for reversing a trailer. I'm looking to find a replacement. Either new heads or just a more concave mirror. There are lots of concave mirrors on ebay etc but are any one of them any better than the standard ones?

This is important stuff. I started taking better care of myself when the hearing stared going. I use a high quality set of active ear muffs. They block out all dangerous noise but still allow you to hear everything around you. Expensive but comfortable and you end up keeping them on the whole time. With glasses I haven't been as lucky yet. I try to use them but for whatever reason they keep impair my vision and I can't see properly through them. I have tried expensive lab goggles (Bolle) but they are no better. Can anyone recommend some goggles you can actually see through?

Not to mention the damn thing has already been off once when I thought I had put it on wrong...

I ended up changing the steering arm. Being a bit of a tosser I went for the OEM manufacturer arm from Paddocks. (I was ordering other stuff too from them at the same time...) And the steering wheel is now pointing 90 degrees to the left. The splines are obviously not lined up the same as the original arm. I am in two minds about whether I should send the steering arm back or if I should adjust the steering rod to straighten the steering wheel. Both pigs of jobs. Britpart strikes again. I should have known better. I was told not to... damn...

Cheers, I'm alright. After a few more calls I got an answer.

I emailed last Friday and I've lost count now how many times I've tried to phone them. What's the deal there, keep trying or?

It looks much easier to just change the joint than the full arm so that's what I'll do. Thanks tho!

Sorry, didn't realize it's been done to death. In hindsight, I probably should have.... Will probably stay with the Defender arm. I was hoping not having to buy genuine this time. But even Bearmarch come is 2 different versions.

Sorry if this has been asked already but I'm having difficulty figuring out what I should do here. I got an advisory on worn steering drop arm ball joint. I want to sort it out. The part number is RBG000010 Paddock list 2 versions RBG000010 Quality aftermarket ~£5 RBG000010G OEM Manufacturer ~£20 LRDirect have a lot more options ranging from All Makes ~£5 to Genuine LR ~£75. Including two different Britpart offerings, one Britpart branded and one 'OEM branded'. Is there a difference between the two??? This is the kind of component you a) Want to be able to fully trust. b) Only want to change once. So I'm a bit confused what to do. I didn't put this in the Defender forum as this is more of a questions to do with these OEM manufacturers in general and not necessarily only to do with this part. (But I do need help picking the right version of this part!) thanks!

Aaah, thanks! There is a channel, some spring things for under and some screws. Excellent! Still not sure exactly how to use the bits but I can worry about that after they are got.

I am fitting a canvas to my HCPU and at the front there should be some kind of channel for the canvas that bolts to the tub to fix the canvas in place. I don't know what this is or what it looks like or how it functions. Have anyone got a photo of this contraption they could share please? thanks!