VM Motori engine in Defender ?
Discussion
L reg would most likely be an early 300Tdi or a late 200Tdi.
The VM engine was in the Range Rover only, earlier ones in 2.4 litres and latter ones in 2.5 litre. Until LR eventually also fitted the Tdi's to the classics.
The VM's are very very good engines. They are a marine engine and also found in Jeeps, even today.
They were smoother and more powerful than the Tdi's and easily out performed them.
It's not beyond the realm of possibility that someone fitted this engine to the Defender, but I've never heard of it myself.
The VM engine was in the Range Rover only, earlier ones in 2.4 litres and latter ones in 2.5 litre. Until LR eventually also fitted the Tdi's to the classics.
The VM's are very very good engines. They are a marine engine and also found in Jeeps, even today.
They were smoother and more powerful than the Tdi's and easily out performed them.
It's not beyond the realm of possibility that someone fitted this engine to the Defender, but I've never heard of it myself.
I know and have had those VM diesels in some Chrysler Voyagers in the noughties. They were a nightmare and needed regulary engine rebuilds, about once a year. Also prone to turbo and gearbox failures.
We kept them only as long as the 3 year warranty lasted and not one day longer.
One car was even replaced for free as it was such a mess that they couldn´t fix it any more.
We kept them only as long as the 3 year warranty lasted and not one day longer.
One car was even replaced for free as it was such a mess that they couldn´t fix it any more.
300bhp/ton said:
L reg would most likely be an early 300Tdi or a late 200Tdi.
The VM engine was in the Range Rover only, earlier ones in 2.4 litres and latter ones in 2.5 litre. Until LR eventually also fitted the Tdi's to the classics.
The VM's are very very good engines. They are a marine engine and also found in Jeeps, even today.
They were smoother and more powerful than the Tdi's and easily out performed them.
It's not beyond the realm of possibility that someone fitted this engine to the Defender, but I've never heard of it myself.
Agreed, the VM was never officially fitted to the Defender but because they were both branded as "Turbo D", the connection was probably made.The VM engine was in the Range Rover only, earlier ones in 2.4 litres and latter ones in 2.5 litre. Until LR eventually also fitted the Tdi's to the classics.
The VM's are very very good engines. They are a marine engine and also found in Jeeps, even today.
They were smoother and more powerful than the Tdi's and easily out performed them.
It's not beyond the realm of possibility that someone fitted this engine to the Defender, but I've never heard of it myself.
The 2.4 VM got a bit of a reputation for being somewhat sluggish in the RaRo, especially as the 200TDi of the same era was a little more powerful. Compared to the 300TDi, the 2.5 VM was more powerful but I think by that point the damage to the reputation was already done.
M
Griffithy said:
I know and have had those VM diesels in some Chrysler Voyagers in the noughties. They were a nightmare and needed regulary engine rebuilds, about once a year. Also prone to turbo and gearbox failures.
We kept them only as long as the 3 year warranty lasted and not one day longer.
One car was even replaced for free as it was such a mess that they couldn´t fix it any more.
Gearbox failure is nothing to do with the engine We kept them only as long as the 3 year warranty lasted and not one day longer.
One car was even replaced for free as it was such a mess that they couldn´t fix it any more.
If memory serves these VM engines had four individual cylinder heads and there for four individual head gaskets. If that really is the case, then it deserved to be an unpopular option.
Think they were fitted as a standard diesel offering in the RR Classic but only for a short period of time. I know LR did offer factory retro fit of the 200tdi for a while.
Either way, I wouldn't go anywhere near them as a classic LR engine option. Just too obscure. I have been into LRs for years I don't think I have ever seen a single RR with that VM engine installed. I'd imagine the Rover V8 will be first choice for anything RRC.
bakerstreet said:
Gearbox failure is nothing to do with the engine
If memory serves these VM engines had four individual cylinder heads and there for four individual head gaskets. If that really is the case, then it deserved to be an unpopular option.
Think they were fitted as a standard diesel offering in the RR Classic but only for a short period of time. I know LR did offer factory retro fit of the 200tdi for a while.
Either way, I wouldn't go anywhere near them as a classic LR engine option. Just too obscure. I have been into LRs for years I don't think I have ever seen a single RR with that VM engine installed. I'd imagine the Rover V8 will be first choice for anything RRC.
They do indeed have individual cylinder heads, a bit like a flat 4 might. They were fitted for a good number of years and sold loads in Europe. For instance the 3 door body was available in France and like for many years, late 80's and early 90's. Almost all of them are VM powered.If memory serves these VM engines had four individual cylinder heads and there for four individual head gaskets. If that really is the case, then it deserved to be an unpopular option.
Think they were fitted as a standard diesel offering in the RR Classic but only for a short period of time. I know LR did offer factory retro fit of the 200tdi for a while.
Either way, I wouldn't go anywhere near them as a classic LR engine option. Just too obscure. I have been into LRs for years I don't think I have ever seen a single RR with that VM engine installed. I'd imagine the Rover V8 will be first choice for anything RRC.
The engine was also used in the Rover 800, some Citroen's and I think a few others. As well as a good number of Jeeps. I think the CRD in the JK Wrangler hails from this engine too.
British Leyland had tried to adapt the petrol V8 to diesel in conjunction with Perkins as 'Project Iceberg' with a view to using it in the Range Rover & Rover SD1 but that came to nothing.
The 2.4VM was the first offering as a factory diesel in the Range Rover for the 1986 MY.
Replaced by the 2.5VM for the 1990 MY
The 200TDi introduced in the Discovery 1 was offered in the RR for the 1993 MY
A factory kit was available at the same time to convert the VM engined cars to use the 200TDi.
The 200TDi in its turn was replaced by the 300TDi for the 1994/5 MY which was the last diesel offered in the RRC.
The two VMs were also used in a lot of cars. Wikipedia lists a number under the HR492 (which also includes the 2.5 shown as 425)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_VM_Motori_en...
The 2.4VM was the first offering as a factory diesel in the Range Rover for the 1986 MY.
Replaced by the 2.5VM for the 1990 MY
The 200TDi introduced in the Discovery 1 was offered in the RR for the 1993 MY
A factory kit was available at the same time to convert the VM engined cars to use the 200TDi.
The 200TDi in its turn was replaced by the 300TDi for the 1994/5 MY which was the last diesel offered in the RRC.
The two VMs were also used in a lot of cars. Wikipedia lists a number under the HR492 (which also includes the 2.5 shown as 425)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_VM_Motori_en...
300bhp/ton said:
They do indeed have individual cylinder heads, a bit like a flat 4 might. They were fitted for a good number of years and sold loads in Europe. For instance the 3 door body was available in France and like for many years, late 80's and early 90's. Almost all of them are VM powered.
The engine was also used in the Rover 800, some Citroen's and I think a few others. As well as a good number of Jeeps. I think the CRD in the JK Wrangler hails from this engine too.
Slightly larger adoption than I thought, but I do remember that they were used in Jeeps. Maybe the Cherokee and not the Wrangler? I'd still avoid it though even in the Jeeps, especially considering that IL6 Petrol engine as the alternative. I've driven a Cherokee with that IL6 engine. Very nice lump The engine was also used in the Rover 800, some Citroen's and I think a few others. As well as a good number of Jeeps. I think the CRD in the JK Wrangler hails from this engine too.
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