Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2016 i Land Rover Monthly

PRICE: £279.99 SMART SAT NAV They are already building autonomous cars and now Garmin have released a 5in sat nav that will assist you with your driving. It will alert you when you’re tailgating, veering into other lanes, the car in front has moved off from the traffic lights and if you’re driving too quickly and there’s a red light ahead. It can also tell you if there are any safety cameras ahead or if you’re driving the wrong way up a one-way street. The Garmin DriveAssist, not only is it a sat nav, it will assist you when driving and record it all via the built-in dash cam. garmin.com PRICE: £219.45 PRO SOCKET SET So you think you’re a pro in the workshop? Maybe then the time has come…

“You wouldn’t believe how difficult it is to find Maestro van parts” LAST MONTH I wrote about some of the more modern Land Rover ‘mules’ that we have in the Dunsfold Collection, and the problems that they can throw up. In the last few weeks we’ve had to deal with another stubborn mule – but one from a previous generation. It’s also one of the few vehicles we have that isn’t recognisably a Land Rover. Mules are often disguised, of course, because they are prototypes that the company doesn’t want the public to know about, but you can usually tell that there’s a Land Rover in there, somewhere. This particular mule looks like an Austin van – which is why it’s so interesting to enthusiasts. When Land Rover was developing…

"Land Rover gave us all a treat with the five-cylinder Td5 turbodiesel" The Discovery 1 was so successful that it was a full nine years before it was replaced by the Discovery 2. You can't blame Land Rover: after all, why try to fix something that's not broken? But in the real world, where other manufacturers, mainly from Japan, had been busy adding their own models to the mid-sized 4x4 sector established by the Discovery, an update was definitely required. Land Rover knew to its cost that allowing sales to stagnate would see plenty of eager rivals take advantage of the situation. It had happened in the 1970s and 80s when Toyota stole the African and Australian markets that Land Rover had previously dominated. Solihull wasn't going to allow history…

"The Disco 4 helped cement Land Rover's place as the leading premium off-road vehicle maker" If the Discovery 1 helped to save Land Rover then the Discovery 4 helped cement its place as the leading premium off-road vehicle maker in the world. The Discovery 4 was launched in 2009 and while some might beg to differ, it was definitely more than just a facelift Discovery 3, despite the fact that the early examples still had the old 2.7 engine. A year later this engine was replaced with the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine featuring a twin-turbo set-up and an extra 34 bhp. The difference is massively noticeable and probably help contribute to the many Tow Car of Year accolades that the Discovery 4 has won over the years. The Discovery 4…

"For overseas visitors it has attained near mythical status" The Billing Show is like an old Land Rover: it just keeps going. Many have predicted its demise over the years, but the original and most famous Land Rover event of the lot just keeps on going – and in the case of this year’s event, just keeps getting better. Tens of thousands flocked to the pleasant riverside meadows near Northampton for Billing 2016 and were treated to a wealth of everything Land Rover. Exciting arena action, brilliant club displays, a wealth of trade stands and the best off-road course in the business made sure this was an event to remember. The word 'Billing' has entered the Land Rover language as the ultimate meeting place for disciples of the green oval.…

A few months ago, I told you about the various Rover factories that operated in the 1950s and 1960s. When describing Acocks Green, I failed to mention the two engines built there, but I guess you would have known them. The Meteor was a V12 while the Meteorite was the V8. Rovers P6 engines were machined and assembled at Acocks Green in the 1960s. Possibly 1963. Some years later the V8 engine was machined and assembled at Acocks Green. The V8 engine assembly was later moved to the North Works at Solihull. I also said that Acocks Green had no input to the Land Rover, but that isn’t strictly true. There were no production components, but Doug Sutton was the engineer involved in producing a diesel version of the Meteorite…

"The Fest offered plenty to keep both young and old entertained" There are clubs galore for most Land Rover models and tastes. The Freelander Owners Club started out as a Facebook group for Freelander enthusiasts and has grown from strength to strength, to the extent that it now has over 4800 members from around the world. The club recently stepped out of the online world and hosted not only their inaugural club event, but also the first-ever show dedicated to just Freelanders, aptly called Freelander Fest. The Freelander Fest was held over the weekend of June 25 and 26 at the Sissons Farm Equestrian Centre in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Over 135 Freelanders assembled here, making it the biggest-ever gathering of Freelanders in one place. They had everything there, from early pre-production…

TREVOR CUTHBERT CONTRIBUTOR DEFENDER 110 YEAR: 1993 MILEAGE: 115,000 MPG: £30 of diesel lasts for ages POWER: 107 bhp TORQUE 190 lb-ft The past year or so has been fairly settled with regards to my own Land Rovers. By this I mean that nothing dramatic has really changed, in terms with the trucks that I own and drive – or their general make up. Yes, there have been a few minor modifications along the way, and routine servicing, but nothing very much has changed in how they look. My Defender 90 was treated to a thorough cleaning and I fitted an excellent Patriot Products roof rack. Also at the request (or was that a demand?) from my daughter, Emma, another bench seat and belts was fitted to the back, making…

DAVE BARKER • Jack and axle stands; hub nut socket (52 mm); 13, 14 and 17 mm double hex spanners; 8, 17, 19, 27 mm spanners and sockets; circlip pliers; pry bar and general workshop tools TIME 5 HOURS COST £110 DIFFICULTY RATING The swivel assembly on a Defender can require overhauling or replacing due to wear that can be caused by a number of reasons. The exposed part of the swivel assembly (the ball) can wear, corrode and pit with age, damaging its oil seal. That allows swivel grease (or oil) to leak out, or water and dirt to get in, all of which damages the upper and lower swivel bearings, ultimately wearing the swivel pins. This often results in vague steering, vibrations, steering wobble at speed, and excessive…

ENTHUSIASTS ARE getting a final chance to snap up a brand-new Defender. The iconic model ceased production early this year, but machinery manufacturers JCB are selling off five pristine examples from their own fleet that have never been driven. The five Defenders are among the last ever made. Each have delivery mileage only and are to be sold off at a unique auction in Staffordshire in September. They will be the star attractions at the sale, in which a variety of JCB’s surplus vehicles are going under the hammer. The Land Rovers at the sale include a Defender 110 Limited Edition Adventure; Defender 110 Station Wagon; Defender 110 County Double Cab; Defender 90 County Station Wagon and Defender 90 Station Wagon. All have 2.2 TDCi diesel engines and come with…

WHY DO WE LOVE DEFENDERS SO MUCH? I READ with a wry smile Richard Lofthouse’s letter in the September issue (‘Defender Perfection? What a load of old twaddle!’) and found myself nodding in agreement. After running four different models of the Discovery since it was first launched, I decided to get a Defender four years ago mainly because I’d always wanted this iconic vehicle and when it was announced that production was ending the decision was made. I purchased a Defender 110 XS Utility in 2012 and upon delivery it went directly to Twisted Automotive for a substantial upgrade – costing close to £25,000 but resulting in a huge transformation in handling, drivability and comfort. It is used daily and almost wholly for on road commuting with occasional heavy towing,…

The world changed in 1989 when the original Land Rover Discovery was launched. Suddenly, the 4x4 had gone mainstream. For nearly 20 years, Land Rover buyers had the choice of workhorse (Series/Ninety/One Ten) or luxury (Range Rover). With the Disco, and at a stroke, Land Rover changed all that. True, the Discovery was built on the same platform as the Range Rover Classic. It also shared the Morris Marina door handles and various bits from the old BL parts bins, but to dwell on that is missing the point. What was brand-spanking-new was the Discovery's raison d'etre: this was the People's 4x4. From the outset, the versatile Discovery was the perfect family vehicle, with seating for up to seven, a huge amount of luggage space, and excellent off-road performance. Throughout…

So what does the future hold for the Discovery? The night before the 2014 New York Motor Show Land Rover unveiled its Discovery Vision Concept SUV aboard the USS Intrepid on the Hudson River. It was a glamorous affair and this was our first proper glimpse into the future of the Discovery. Last month one of our sister titles Auto Express published several locally-snapped spy shots of what they call the new Discovery and we have to say that it definitely does look a lot like the Discovery Vision Concept SUV we saw in New York. Auto Express also recently spotted a test version of the new Discovery at the Nürburgring. When you look at the front third of these new Discoverys only a blind man will argue that it…

"I am now looking at one of the most spectacular and deserted beaches in all of Scotland" Before departing from the Kylesku Hotel for the second stage of our North Coast 500 adventure, we first consult with our hosts Sonia Virechauveix and Tanja Lister. “Did you know that you can drive on the beach and over the dunes near Durness?” proclaims Tanja. I get out my battered North Coast 500 map. She shows me the exact spot and I mark it, she also mentions a few other must-stop offs, places that guides book fail to mention but the locals are only too keen to share with the discerning traveller. To get out of Kylesku we have to drive across the impressive curving bridge which was opened by the Queen back…

"I'm not sure you can have everything but this setup is for our specific trip" My wife Me-An and I got engaged in January 2014 and that was when the idea first came to us to make an overland expedition our honeymoon. We were 100 per cent committed from the word go. I think that it is important to be committed, setting a date and sticking to it. The rest should just fall into place. As problems and challenges arise, you find a solution to overcome them. With that in mind, the date of departure was set for June 1, 2016. As I write this, the final the stages of the preparation are falling into place. After two years in the planning my wife and I are on our way…

AUGUST 19 – 21 France – La Bal Des Series’ Series Land Rover Gathering Meneac, Brittany www.le-temps-des-series.com. AUGUST 19 – SEPT 6 India – The Trans Himalaya 4x4 Challenge to Kashmir Delhi, India www.bespokerallies.com AUGUST 20 – 27 Europe – The Great European Rally 2016 Brussels to Budapest www.thegreatrally.com AUGUST 20 – 30 Series 3 & 90/110 Owners Club 25th Anniversary Event Pwllheli, North Wales www.thelandroverclub.co.uk AUGUST 20 UK Landrover Events Durham Dales Tour, Durham www.uklandroverevents.com AUGUST 20 – 21 Leicestershire & Rutland LRC Camping & CCV Trial Uppingham, Corby www.lrlrc.co.uk AUGUST 20 – 21 Northern Off Road Club Comp Safari Sweet Lamb, Mid-Wales www.norc.org.uk AUGUST 20 – 21 Scottish Rover Owners Club Comp Safari www.slroc2.co.uk AUGUST 20 – 21 Torbay 4x4 Club Trial, Bush Farm, Saltash www.torbay4x4club.co.uk AUGUST…

CHARLIE THORN CONTRIBUTOR DISCOVERY 1 YEAR: 1996 MILEAGE: Unknown ENGINE: 3.9 Efi POWER: 181 bhp TORQUE: 230 lb-ft MPG: 19 Well I hope those of you that rocked up enjoyed the Billing Show. Hazel and I got there on the Sunday before, and set up our caravan on the marshals camp site. When we woke up Monday morning and peeped out the window, Willie Henderson, one of the crew had turned up next to us. Willie was first to arrive and he had driven down from his home in Newcastle overnight so we tried to keep quiet until he surfaced later in the morning. We had a quick drive round the course and noted areas that would need attention to make it ready for the Friday morning, and when we…

THE SUSPENSION arms are held to the chassis by cam bolts. The bolts incorporate a fixed eccentric cam washer as part of the bolt head, and another cam washer at the opposite end positioned under the nut. This second, loose, cam washer is keyed to grooves on the bolt shaft so that it rotates (with the cam washer at the bolt head) when the bolt is turned. Each cam washer contacts raised sections on the chassis plate so that, when the bolt head is turned, the cams force the bolt (and thus the suspension arm) inward or outward to adjust the suspension geometry. It is essential to get this adjustment correct, otherwise handling and tyre wear will be adversely affected. Ideally, a four-wheel alignment check should be carried out after…

TREVOR CUTHBERT • General workshop tools, riviting tool TIME 4 HOURS COST £92 DIFFICULTY RATING The under seat battery compartment – or battery box, as it is often referred to – is one of those exposed steel parts of a Land Rover that can become seriously rusty over the years to the point of being unsafe. Holes can form in the structure so that the battery can be seen from underneath, and corrosion around the clamp location can mean battery clamp becomes ineffective without good steel to hold onto. When this happens, remedial action needs to be taken to keep the battery safe and secure, or there is a risk of spilling dangerous battery acid or creating an electrical short and possible fire. Battery containment and secure fixing is also…

Tell us your story My fiancé Leanne and I decided that we would like something a bit different for our wedding car. Knowing of my love for Land Rovers she suggested a classic. We spent six months trying to hire one but just couldn't find what we were looking for. Then, when visiting a local garage I saw this Series IIA, it was not in the greatest condition and so I asked the owner if it was for sale. You can probably guess what happened next. Does it have a solid engine? The engine fires first time, every time and it runs, as one would expect from a 1971 Series IIA. With only 23k on the clock I’m inclined to believe it is the original engine. As it works well…

INEOS, one of the largest independent chemical companies in the world, announced in July that it was to launch a feasibility study into the possibility to resurrect the Land Rover Defender. The press release also stated that the model would be a limited edition retaining the fabled Defender’s iconic looks, superior reliability and unrivalled off-road credentials, and meet the latest global safety and emission standards. Even in its infancy, the plan, as you can imagine, attracted a huge amount of support from third parties across the globe, and as a passionate advocate of UK manufacturing and a great admirer of the Land Rover Defender, INEOS chairman, Jim Ratcliffe ,was keen to breathe new life into it and make it even better than before. Having supposedly already held exploratory talks with…

1. Belgian Kris Haeseldonc fording at Malmsmead village in Exmoor. Kris and friend enjoyed exploring Cornwall, Somerset and Exmoor, in their Defenders. 2. Joe Andrews getting high while visiting the Picos de Europa region of Spain in his Defender 90. 3. Each year the Old Trucks of South Africa have a meeting where they drive the roughest tracks they can find. This year it was held in Eshowe, which included the infamous Dahl’s Drift pictured here. 4. According to its Aussie owner Sean DeBruler, his 1972 Series III is the perfect Porsche safety vehicle when off-roading. 5. Spencer Williamson feeling, quite literally, on top of the world in the Italian/French Alps. 6. Shane Farrar got the best wedding present on his big day: a cake that looks like his Land…

“I put it all back together again and... it still rattled. Grrrr” RATTLY DISCO Richard ends up being third in line to get a Disco 300Tdi running properly From time to time I have a vehicle inflicted on me which someone else has already tried to repair, and failed. In the case of a Discovery 300Tdi automatic which turned up on the back of a low-loader, two garages had attempted to get it running properly. It was dropped off in front of the workshop door over the weekend, so my first task on Monday morning was to get it started so that I could get access to the premises. Inevitably the battery was flat and my jump leads were at home, so I pulled the battery out of my own…

"It is hard to imagine Land Rover was fighting for its existence in 1989" Looking back on the launch year from a 2016 perspective, it is hard to imagine that Land Rover was fighting for its very existence back in 1989. Yet that is the grim truth about the backdrop to the advent of the Discovery. The British motor industry was in a bad old way, and although Land Rover had fared much better than some other famous marques that had already disappeared (or were about to) it wasn't in a very pretty place. Land Rover only produced two models: the Land Rover (Ninety and One Ten) and the Range Rover, which had been around since 1970. Japanese 4x4s had replaced the Land Rover as the world's best-selling workshorse and…

"Discovery 3 saw the debut of Land Rover's electronic Terrain Response" Land Rover has a habit of surprising us all when it comes to important model launches. And never was the shock of a new model more, well, shocking than in April 2004 when the Discovery 3 was unveiled. It was loaded with an astonishing array of new technology, while the new body style retained the stepped roofline yet still looked startlingly new. Oh yes, and a bigger and more powerful diesel engine. For the D3 Land Rover developed a new body construction method, which it called Integrated Body Frame (IBF), in which the engine bay and passenger compartment are built as a monocoque, that in turn is mated to a ladder-frame chassis bearing the transmission and suspension components. Although…

"The Defender needed to be self-sufficient as any expedition vehicle should" What is an icon? The Oxford dictionary defines it as “a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration”. For those (like me) who have no idea what veneration means, according to the Oxford dictionary, to venerate is to “regard with great respect or revere”. This explains why the word icon and the no-longer-produced Land Rover Defender are often used in the same sentence. In 2015 ARB 4x4 Accessories, Australia’s biggest 4x4 accessories manufacturer, celebrated 40 years in the business. Part of this celebration included putting together a convoy of four of the most iconic four-wheel drives from the preceding four decades. When I first got wind of this pretty unique celebration, I got…

The Land Rover movement is a very broad church. Everybody from HM the Queen down to humble enthusiasts like you and I love our Landies. But nobody loves them more than the Rev Jonathan Boston – except, perhaps, his son James. At the last count, the Boston pair owned at least two Series Is, a Series IIA, a 101 Forward Control, a Defender 90, a Discovery 3 and a Classic-based off-roader. I say “at least” because there are various bits and pieces of other example of Solihull’s finest in various states of disrepair to be found, if you go rummaging through the treasure trove that is the Bostons’ backyard in Litcham, Norfolk. But to get to understand the Bostons’ love of Land Rovers, you need to start at the beginning.…

“VFX 346 has led a varied life since its restoration” Make no mistake. Shetland is very different from other parts of Britain. The islands are believed to have been inhabited since the end of the last Ice Age. They have their own distinctive landscape, dialect, and despite recent hiccups, a prosperous oil-based economy and thriving fishing industry. There are plenty of Land Rovers on the island, too, and the majority have low mileages. Mike was born and raised in Shetland, and has lived there all his life. “I am an electrical engineer employed by the Shetland Islands Council,” he explained. “I work at the ferry services Port Administration Building at Sullom Voe next to the oil terminal.” Ferries are an essential part of island life, and are an important link…

DAVE PHILLIPS EDITOR DISCOVERY 1 YEAR: 1996 MILEAGE: 152,000 ENGINE: 300Tdi POWER: 111 bhp TORQUE 195 lb-ft MPG: 25 NINETY YEAR: 1984 MILEAGE: 163,000 ENGINE: 2.5 diesel POWER: 68 bhp TORQUE 113 lb-ft MPG: 30 You don’t get much opportunity to overtake anything in a naturally-aspirated Ninety, but a slow-moving tractor and a long, straight, empty road presented me with a rare chance. Foot to the floor and with the 12J engine roaring, I had just got past the tractor when I suddenly lost all drive. Desperately I shuffled the gearbox, but nothing doing, so I put on the left indicator and coasted to a halt. Had it slipped out of gear? No. Would it make any difference if I tried low box or engaged diff lock? Nope. I…

PATRICK CRUYWAGEN DEPUTY EDITOR DISCOVERY 2 GS YEAR: 2001 MILEAGE: 120 000 ENGINE: Td5 POWER: 136 bhp TORQUE: 232 lb-ft MPG: 28 Like it or not, Jaguar Land Rover are currently developing fully and semi-autonomous car technologies. This is being done to offer the driver more options and data, but also to prevent accidents, increase traffic flow and decrease congestion. I recently spent a day at Land Rover’s Gaydon site where I was shown the latest products and technologies they are working on. Gaydon currently resembles a building site, operations there have doubled in size over the last five years and it’s home to 9000 engineers. All the technologies we got to experience are still in the development phase and once they move into production, Land Rovers will be even…

• Tools: Multimeter, timing gun, additional wiring, spanners, screwdrivers, drill TIME 1 HOUR COST FROM £26 DIFFICULTY RATING Electronic ignition does away with the need for checking and adjusting the points gap regularly, and eradicates all issues concerning the condenser. Plus, there’s no need to agonise over dwell angles either. These three ‘fit and forget’ kits offer zero maintenance and are available from £26 to £220. I have personal experience of these systems, having fitted them to my various classic cars over the past 20 years. None has ever failed me in use. When compared against the price of a quality set of points and condenser, or indeed a new distributor, the economics of the Powerspark systems is hard to ignore. Likewise, the Lumenition Optronic system with infra-red beam has…

ED EVANS • Tools: general workshop tools, two-post lift, transmission jack, circlip pliers, special tools as mentioned in captions and panels TIME 2 HOURS COST £160 PER SIDE DIFFICULTY RATING Original suspension bushes are long-lasting on the Discovery 3 and Range Rover Sport, assuming the vehicle is driven normally, on normal roads. Hard driving and off-roading will shorten their life. The same applies to the ball joints which locate the front lower suspension arms to the wheel hub assembly. After 95,000 miles, the two front ball joints on my Sport were just beginning to show some looseness, so replacements were needed to pass the next MoT test, and also because it’s important to maintain accurate suspension geometry for the sake of tyre wear and handling. In theory, replacing the ball…

ALISDAIR CUSICK • Tools: 8 mm spanner, flat screwdriver, EAS software and PC, EAS cable, vice, tyre levers, jack and axle stand TIME 2 HOURS COST £70.00 DIFFICULTY RATING Last month we looked at changing a height sensor on an electronic air suspension (EAS) equipped Range Rover. This month, we look at probably the most likely item to cause a failure of the system, namely an air spring. For anyone not familiar with EAS, a rubber bag pressurised with air replaces the steel coil springs between the axles and chassis. Air from the compressor, via the air tank, is regulated via the valve block supplying the air spring at each wheel, all controlled via measurements taken by the height sensor at each corner, and signalled to the ECU. The air…