I thought the Rover V8 was originally a Buick V8 that they brought under licence for the first Rangerovers circa 1970.... back to America again...
I once heard that the Buick V8 was in fact stolen from the Germans when the USA "liberated" Bavaria at the end of WW2. None were made but some enterprising Yank picked up a bundle of drawings and took them home with him.
So make that Germany again..........
Great engine. I have 11 litres of them in or around the garage.
__________________ Mark H "A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools" Douglas Adams
Personally I would have thought that yes your car would be a very good towing vehicle. Only because it has a large Diesel engine.
But Towing depends on car weight as far as the law is concerned and that is what you need to check for the road. And I mean road. I would have thought that the most powerful car in the world might have problems on a slipway.
Wet, Slippy, possibly covered in shale or sand or might even be on to sand. No car stands a chance only a 4 X 4. Thats why I say tow with caution and when launching see if you can get a 4 X 4 to help you or some kind chap in a tractor.
Its not very often I have to use 4 wheel drive with my little rig but I do on some occasions and I'm mighty glad I have it when I need it.
Most of the time 2 WD vehicles are okay but hey do have problems.
I believe BMW developed the new Rangie. And yes the TD6 diesel engine is the same as the BMW 3.0d engine as found in the 330d, 530d, 730d and X5.
However, I think the Rangies verion is in a lower state of tune - 184bhp I think whereas the Beemers now have over 200 out of the same engine.
Bloody hell, I turn on the footie for a couple of hours and all hell's been let loose on the thread! Right, back to my favourite subject.....
ADS - New RR's common-rail turbodiesel TD6 is indeed the BMW 2926cc, 24-valve straight six with 174bhp and 288lb ft torque. Peak torque developed at 2000rpm and peak power at 4000rpm.
Petrol version is BMW V8 4398cc, 32-valve, with 282bhp at 5400rpm. Torque is 325lb ft at 3600rpm. Top speed is 130mph, although I've seen 135mph 'on the clock' on a German autobahn and impressively solid as a rock.
The Range Rover BMW engines differ from those used in BMW cars by virtue of extensive revisions to the oil system (so it works on a 1:1 slope!), to the oil seals and cam-drive pulleys to avoid ingress of mud/general crap etc. and to the cooling system so it works in the desert!
V8 petrol RR uses ZF transmissions, TD6 uses GM.
Development of new RR under BMW was so far advanced when they sold Land Rover that a change in engine spec was out of the question. Part of the deal was that supply of BMW engines would be unaffected.
Can I get on with my life now please?
ps. I thought this was a RIB forum??!!
pps. DGR - were we severely robbed by that Swiss ref or what? Boycott Toblerone I say.
Whilst you chaps are all on about Land Rovers, I spent many years driving these beasts off road and on road in the 80s and 90s and they were crap.
Granted they were MK III s and petrol wagons. Their off road capabilities were good if not excellent, but they just broke down all the time. All engine problems, nothing else.
I hope the new ones have improved. I must admit I remember when the British army got the new Defender at the back of the eighties. Every single Land Rover was put off the road for months due to oil problems. Engines just kept destroying themselves.
Every Dip Stick had to be remarked, and a hell of a financial battle was thought with Land Rover.
I personally like Land Rovers because of their strong durable bodies but I think their engines suck. Maybe BMWS have sorted them.
Its worthy of note that in the Middle east and Australia the Jap 4 X 4s rule supreme.
PS.
If I won the Lottery tomorrow I would buy a top of the Range, Range Rover.
I personally like Land Rovers because of their strong durable bodies but I think their engines suck. Maybe BMWS have sorted them.
Its worthy of note that in the Middle east and Australia the Jap 4 X 4s rule supreme.
PS.
If I won the Lottery tomorrow I would buy a top of the Range, Range Rover.
I know two people who have bought new Discovery TD5's in the last three years. Both of them have had to have new engines fitted in under 10,000 miles
Yes, it's a frequently quoted case of Jap 4x4's in Australia and certain other markets where previously Land Rover dominated, but it should be remembered that in many cases Toyota and Nissan were able to flood these markets with cheap cars due to favourable Yen exchange rates. Having said that, favourable reliability records compared to LR have undoubtedly enabled them to maintain their presence.
If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would buy a Lamborghini Murcielago - Italian design flair coupled with Audi engineering
All you guys are obviously far richer than me when choosing 4X4 transport, but what would you recommend sub £3000 for a tow tug as in the market for one?
Was looking at those, but wow don't 4x4's hold their value and something inside tells me that £3000 for a 15 year old car is just too dam expensive. I was also looking at Fonterra's, Terrano's or may be a 4x4 car such as a Seirra or Cavalier.
Well I've just started out into the world of RIBing and will on the best part be launching from Solent area's (local). One slip I have used is Haslar which would be pretty favarable as there's good free parking and seems pretty quite, but it is a steep slip!
The other reason is that I can't seem to get the right handling from my 405 estate, it's better than it was as I've taken nose weight off, but it's French and has that typical soft "stodgy" ride, so I'm looking for an upgrade.
Interesting to note that Land Rover ditched leaf springs in 1984 - seems the Japs and Yanks just love such modern technology................
I won't bother trying to argue against all the other crap I have read - just been too much of it - nice to see Brits bashing this country yet again - any wonder things are the way they are?
Of course back in the 70s and 80s we turned out some problem vehicles - but then so did the rest of the world!
Ever seen the way some of the older jap stuff rusted? Ever had the misfortune of owning an early VW polo?
Speaking from a hell of a lot of experience there are very few cars without problems - of any make including the so called German quality cars.
One word people just don't understand - FUN - I am sure a Nissan Micra is more reliable than an E type Jag or a Ferrari Daytona but I know which I would rather drive!
iF Land Rovers are such crap why do they hold their money so well and why do you still see them on the road after so many years?
I have just come back from the Pyrenees - never seen so many Land Rovers in all my life - being used the way they were intended - from old Series types to modern Defenders and Discoverys etc - hardly a Jap vehicle in site! When you see the amount of snow they get you will realise the need for something pretty good - the same in the Dolomites - Landies just as popular in Italy.
I have driven one for over 250,000 miles and owned one since 1988 so i think i am able to say with some conviction that they are great. My latest one can seat twelve people, i can sleep on top of it, tow up to 3.5 tonnes, it even has air con.... it has a full lenght roofrack that doubles as a grandstand. It will pull my boat up most slips in low ratio, with the diff lock on and traction control...on tickover...does over 25 mpg....Oh and they use OTHER cars as their crumple zones.
Hightower
You should be able to pick up a 300tdi Defender 90 for under £3000.
Cheap to insure. Cheap to repair, there are several Landrover specialists in our area. Keep an eye on www.hbro.co.uk (Hants & Berks Rover Owners) and something will turn up.
If you go this route I would be quite happy to look over any that you might be interested in.
Stick to a 90 as a tug because a shorter vehicle is easier to tow with.
__________________ Mark H "A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools" Douglas Adams
Hightower
You should be able to pick up a 300tdi Defender 90 for under £3000.
...............................
Stick to a 90 as a tug because a shorter vehicle is easier to tow with.
Bloomin' 'eck! A 300TDI 90 for £3K..prices sure are cheap your way..
and from my perspective, the 110 is superior towing vehicle to the 90, because the longer wheelbase is more "stable" at speed. The 90 wins on manouverability (sp?) though.. Horses for courses...
Wholeheartedly agree with your statements and comments.....not so keen on your condescension... I don't know you and you certainly don't know me. I reserve the right to only be insulted or ridiculed by those people who have the misfortune to have met me or call me friend...
...and yes, I am feeling a little tetchy this morning, before you ask Missus..
Jono
What you say is true. 110 for distance trailering, but Hitower was loking for a cheap tug mostly for local work (I think). Therefore the 90. And it has a much smaller roof for those warm summer days when you want to go top-less. Maximum pose value.
3k is a definate for a 300, it wont be pretty, but who cares, it's a Landrover and the are not ment to be shiny after the waranty runs out.
Hope your day gets better.
__________________ Mark H "A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools" Douglas Adams
Wholeheartedly agree with your statements and comments.....not so keen on your condescension... I don't know you and you certainly don't know me. I reserve the right to only be insulted or ridiculed by those people who have the misfortune to have met me or call me friend...
...and yes, I am feeling a little tetchy this morning, before you ask Missus..
Jono,
Heartily apologise as it was not my intention to condescend to anyone whether I know them or not! Post was made later at night after half a bottle of red.
)
