Dalai Lama

More info from Land Rover Dear Mr Scott In reference to your Land Rover Defender (SAL???MF7MA946??2) I am writing to clarify that your vehicle is in fact a station wagon for carrying passengers and not a commercial goods vehicle. I hope this helps to clarify your initial enquiry. Many thanks -- Pete Hayre Customer Relations Executive ghayre1ATjaguarlandroverDOTcom Tel - 01926 691790 Fax - 01926 691938

Response from LEZ below and Letter ATTACHED Once Land Rover have issued me the letter stating the correct body type I'll post that too Dear Mr Scott London Low Emission Zone Registration Thank you for registering vehicle L6 X with Transport for London. As part of your vehicle registration we have added this vehicle to your Account 10 53. The current details that we hold on your vehicle and your vehicle's compliance status are as follows: From To Emissions Classification Compliance Status 22/05/2010 03/10/2010 Euro1 Not Subject to LEZ 04/10/2010 02/01/2012 Eur01 Not Subject to LEZ 03/01/2012 31/12/2018 Euro1 Not Subject to LEZ Explanation of Compliance Status Please find below further information on various compliance statuses: Not Subject to LEZ: Based on the information held by Transport for London (TtL), the London Low Emission Zone does not apply to this vehicle. As long as the vehicle remains Not Subject to LEZ the daily charge does not have to be paid for this vehicle when it is used in the Zone. Compliant: Based on the information held by Transport for London, the vehicle is classified as meeting the emission standards for the London Low Emission Zone. As long as it remains compliant, the daily charge does not have to be paid for this vehicle when it is used in the Zone. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your vehicle remains compliant. Non-Compliant: Based on the information held by Transport for London, the vehicle either does not meet the required emissions standards, or there is not enough information to determine its emission standards. While the vehicle is non-compliant, if you travel in the London Low Emission Zone the charge must be paid unless you take further action (for example, you upgrade your vehicle andlor provide proof that your vehicle does meet the emissions standards by registering with Transport for London). If you register your vehicle, you must continue to pay the charge when you travel in the London Low Emission Zone until you have received confirmation from us that the vehicle has been successfully registered; otherwise a Penalty Charge Notice may be issued. Exempt: Based on the information you have entered and information held by Transport for London (TfL) , the vehicle is classified as exempt. The daily charge does not have to be paid for this vehicle when it is used in the Zone. 100% Discount: The vehicle has been successfully registered for a 100% discount and the daily charge does not have to be paid for this vehicle when it is used in the London Low Emission Zone. IMPORTANT NOTICE The vehicle compliance information shown above is based on the information held on the Low Emission Zone Compliance Register as at the date of this letter. If we subsequently receive any update from any source that changes the information given above, then your compliance status may change. If your status is showing as compliant, it is your responsibility to ensure that your vehicle remains compliant when travelling within the London Low Emission Zone. If you have any questions please visit our website at www.tfl.gov.ukllezlondon or alternatively call our contact centre on 0845 607 0009, or if calling from outside of the UK on +44 207 310 8998. Yours sincerely Jahangir Hussain Customer Service Representative CRM_BU_ Compliance letter from LEZ LR 4x4.pdf

The guy I have spoken to at Land Rover is called Pete Hare tel 01026 691 790 or main switchboard is 08705 000500 Interestingly I sent the following letter to TFL and they have just written back to me after 2 and a half months to state that my vehicle is not subject to the LEZ My original letter attached as pdf . I'll attach their response tomorrow Low Emission Zone PO BOX 4544 Coventry CV6 9DW Dear Joanne Marsh Re: Land Rover Defender Station Wagon L??? K?? Your Ref: I understand that your compliance check has stated that my Land Rover Defender (Station Wagon) is classed as a light utility 4x4, and its body type as a van. The V5 document confirms that the vehicle is a light utility 4x4, however the vehicle body type is that of a SW (Station Wagon), not a van. This is stated under model type on the attached V5 document. I have contacted the DVLA and they have confirmed the vehicle is described as Body Code 54, and defined as- a version of a car specifically designed with four-wheel drive system for on/off-road driving, having an increased ground clearance compared with a standard passenger car. A photo of the my vehicle is provided below to illustrate more clearly the model and body type for this Land Rover Defender Below illustrates the general body types associated with Land Rover Defenders (I added a ph0to from a land rover brochure showing body type configuration) The illustration (marked with an asterisk above) shows, a station wagon as a family car. Please note that the model above the station wagon is a Defender Hard Top, which is in fact the body type of Defender, which is the van. Whilst I understand that there are a number of Land Rover Defenders designed as commercial vehicle to carry goods (Vans), this particular model was manufactured by Land Rover as a family station wagon car and is registered with the DVLA as a Private Light Goods Vehicle. I understand that the LEZ will not affect cars and therefore I am requesting that that you review your decision and my vehicle be removed from your data base as one which will be affected in 2010 Whilst I appreciate that the Major of London is reviewing the third phase of the LEZ and that my vehicle may not be subject to the LEZ I would like the details on your data base updated so that my vehicle is described correctly as a station wagon( car) and not a van Yours Sincerely, Ashley Scott LEZ March 2010.pdf

Its looking hopeful Have spoken with Land Rover and they have confirmed that the vehicle is a genuine station wagon to carry passengers. Just have to wait for the letter to arrive. Will keep you posted Ashley

Just received a letter back from the DVLA They have suggested that I contact the manufacturer and ask them for a letter stating that the DVLA records should be changed Does anyone know who I could contact at Land Rover who is upto speed with the situation Many Thanks for any help Ashley

Thanks Did you contact Land Rover to confirm this ie did they send you a letter? If so can you pm me a copy as I tried speaking with them on Friday and they were not fully clear what was the issue. If you do have a letter could you PM me Thanks Ashley

Thanks I did speak with the DVLA about a year and a half ago and stated that my Station Wagon was an estate. They fed me full of it and said that Land Rover didnt establish the defender with them as having an estate configuration. Needlesss to say they wouldn't change my V5 Judging by what you guys are saying I can now get it changed so I'll give it a go Many Thanks Ashley

Body type says Light 4X4 Utility

I have a 300tdi 1994 110 Station Wagon I have been arguing with the LEZ muppets for the past 3 years, that a station wagon is as such an estate car and not a van (like a Discovery) They keep telling me it is a van despite me sending photos and a Land Rover brochure stating that my defender is a station wagon and not a van I received a letter last year to say the Mayor was potentially suspending the 3rd phase of the LEZ subject to consultation. I called the LEZ people up last week as their website still shows that my defender will be non compliant post Oct 2010. I ofcourse expressed my dissapointment in the Mayor leaving the decision so late and that if the consultation rules for the Oct 2010 deadline that it would be difficult to sell vehicles in a short space of time. 2 Questions Has anyone else managed to get their station Wagon to be compliant post 2012 ie in the same category as lets say a 300tdi Disco? If the vehicles wont be compliant what is the cost to fit the equipment to reduce emission and will this in anyway be feasible? Thanks Ashley

many thanks Thats just what I have been looking for I do have an eberspacher but also wanted something in the rear to demist the windows Cheers Ashley

Hi I recall a few years ago seeing auxillary heaters for sale in one of the magazines. The heaters plumber in to the existing water pipes and you could fit the system in the rear of the cabin. I have a 300 tdi 110 defender and can never get enough heat out of the heater. Does any one know where these are available Thanks Ashley

Thanks I'll try the anti shims and if that doesnt work then a guess a new calliper Cheers Ashley

Many thanks No I do not have anti squeal shims fitted Where would i get them for a 110 1994 defender Cheers Ashley

Hi I have a 1994 110 defender 300tdi The rear brakes squeal despite me replacing the disks and new pads. I have tried filing off the edge of the pads an adding more copper grease to the rear of the pads If i brake hard a few times the brakes stop squealing for a short while but then it returns. i find that the disks seem to squeal more when they are warm. However they do not squeal when i brake going around corners. The pads are locked in place by the usual pins with a split pin running through Anyone have any ideas Thanks Ashley

Hi I am looking to fit an EGT gauge I have seen this one from a previous post but am looking for one with a 52mm dial so i can house it in the same location as the other dial on my 300 tdi 110 defender http://www.thermoguard.com.au/index.html I have also seen these on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110469371585&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT Any help in recommending a company with the round 52mm dials would be appreciated Many Thanks Ashley

Hi My wife has purchased me a new dash kit for Xmas I now need to add 3 gauges and i was planning on 2 of the gauges being used to monitor the two batteries I have on a split charge set up What gauges are best to get, Amp guages or Volt gauges? Any thoughts would be appreciated Thanks Ashley

Hi Some years back myself a 3 mates took my 110 v8 defender down through Morocco and through from Zagora south into western Sahara. I didnt modify the vehicle and took basic spares. There are plenty of Mechanics in Morocco. I did make sure that the landy had a top service before I went. I didn't take a sat phone on this trip but I now own one and take it with the Landy on every trip. Get an iridium phone and Yes they do a payg top up cards. I had an old Kyocera phone which I bought for £250 and it worked everywhere from the middle of the Sahara to Tibet and Bhutan. Even after nearly 10 years of the phone being used the battery life was not far off when it was new. I now have a Motorola 9555 which is half the size and can even receive a signal indoors and had an internet connection facility. The benefit of the phone is that you can atleast call home to update progress when you get out of mobile phone range. As such there isn't anyone locally you can call for assistance if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, but you can atleast call home and start a recovery process if things go pear shaped. Also I once saw someone on the hubb http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/sahara-travel-forum/ who had a problem with his bike in the middle of the desert and through his phone posted a message for assistance. One thing I did make was a split charge system from a cheap relay to charge a second battery and it worked for years. I also would recommend an air jack as they are really good when the landy gets stuck and easier to use than a Hi Lift. I wouldny bother about a winch but would take a tirfor and sand ladders. I just used the old military psp cut in half length wise to save on weight. I have subsequently driven to the Gambia through the sahara in a 2CV (plymouth to Dakar rally). Got there no probs. Took the sat phone but didn't really use it. Made a split charge for a second battery to run the laptop with the mapping etc. used old bread crate bases for sand ladders As suggested read Chris Scotts book and Tom Sheppards book What I would say is plan a straight forward trip first, say down to S Morocco as this will allow you to work out what you actually need to do a big trip. Hope that helps Ashley

Hi Chris If required I can lead a group, however I'll be in my 110 with a tow bar so will need to do the more gentler routes and not the lanes from Hell See you on Friday Ashley

Hi Guys Looking through some of the landy mags some of the shops are selling wading kits containing a plate that fits on the timing cover of a 300 tdi engine. Unfortunately the kits are sold complete with tubibg etc I only need the timing cover breather plate. Does anyone know where I can buy one separately Thanks Ashley

Jen and I are booked into the hotel for Friday and Saturday See you there Ashley

Hi Chris Jen and I would love to join in North Wales. Will also look to stay at the Wild Pheasant hotel See you there Ashley

Hi I am looking at replacing the front door hinges on my defender, I have bought all the stainless steel fixings but am now looking at the hinges themselves Do the latest hinges ie td5 fit the 300tdi models, I am asking because I believe that the newer hinges have a washer between the pin and the hinge to resist the rusting that occurs? Also is any one aware of anyone that sells anodised hinges / stainless steel ones at a sensible price I have also seen on one of the forums someone who added grease nipples to the hinge to aid in resisting rust etc, does anyone have the link to this or any other info Many Thanks Ashley

Hi Guys I am looking for the inner rear window trims either side of the rear door on my 300 tdi county 1994. I dont seem to be able to find any anywhere Do any of you have a pair Thanks Ashley

Hi All Whenever I go wading I seem to have the headlamps fill up with water What do any of you do to stop it or are there any waterproff headlamps Thanks Ashley