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Bluest



Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4203

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black
M57 110
I've just had a short ride in a 110 built by 4x4 Fabs with 400-ish bhp from a BMW M57. Never been in a quick Defender before and to feel it take like a Golf R or something is both wrong and very right at the same time Twisted Evil If the the stars aligned I'd be having that done to mine in a heartbeat. It had OME BP51s fitted too and the ride was excellent too. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
Post #1048602 14th Oct 2024 9:39am
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8002

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
i have a 184 m57 90 and a 231 m57 130. the 130 bring auto. they are hard to describe. quieter, more refined and a joy to drive. economy is good, power is good. Also upgraded the brakes! Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #1048620 14th Oct 2024 12:46pm
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Bluest



Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4203

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black
Given I do a lot of touring about, the thing that lurks in the back of my mind is about the long term durability/live-abiltiy of these conversions, maybe you can comment JST...

Manufacturers spend countless hours and money ironing out all the little niggles of their OE engine installations, the tiny problems that only manifest after many miles/years, making sure the engine works seamlessly with the rest of the car, which even the most thorough engine conversion specialist couldn't hope to match in terms of resources. There's a lot of scope to laugh at LR reliability and build quality here, but I think that just serves to illustrate how hard it can be to get right.

So, I always wonder do these conversions (the quality ones) just work? Or are they always fraught with niggles and a nagging uncertainty you might be left stranded on a long trek? 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
Post #1048632 14th Oct 2024 1:56pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8002

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
i get where you are coming from.

i fitted the 184 to my 90 as a learning experience really to see what it was like and what took time to fettle. it went pretty well right from the off, had some cooling things to work through which are now sorted.

i then did my 130 in mar 24. also went Auto. lots of reservations at the time. the 2.4 worked and was reliable (less VCV now and then) it just wasnt up to what i wanted (130 at GVW) and the 2.4 drank fuel.

took the plunge and went with ticking the upgrade box on all the options when i bought the parts for it. i had already done the brakes, diffs, shafts and CVs. its done a few thousand miles not massive amounts but they have all been heavily loaded and some of them towing.

Had some gbox cooler niggles in that i just didnt have it tight enough on initial fitting, had a charging issue which turned out to be the original vehicle earth strap and not conversion related. also had some cooling work to sort through predominantly linked to the 1800rpm at 60mph that the engine sits at. so 4mths or so of fettling.

130 now runs better, is quieter and better on fuel plus much more comfortable to drive with the torque. (2.4 was mapped)

Edited to add that having fitted the engine Mar/Apr 24, we then did some rigorous towing trips soon after, 250mile ish, and took the truck to Ireland on 1600mile excursion.

a conversion is always best guess engineering based on experience, yours or the conversion experts, it will never match a vehicle manufacturers so i think you have to accept some fettling will be needed.i found the best way to reduce the amount of post fitting fettling required is to join a recovery service as then it will perform faultlessly.

do i have any regrets,


nope. Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop


Last edited by jst on 15th Oct 2024 5:49am. Edited 2 times in total
Post #1048644 14th Oct 2024 2:51pm
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tommobot



Member Since: 15 May 2018
Location: Stratford Upon Avon
Posts: 20

United Kingdom 
I put together a M57 and 8HP over last winter myself, and took it for a 2,500 mile eurotrip this year...

Niggles, yes.. but fundemental issues .. No.

My main issue was heat, and fixings on the intercooler hoses not being upto the job... Was fine spanking it in this country, but up the big big autoroute hills in 35c+ plus not so good.

Ultimatly thats where the OEM backing and testing comes in, and would have bobbed all these bits down.

Oh, and the alternator started to fail but thats not a 'conversion' issue.

As per JST, do I regret - No - Would I do it again to another Defender - YES.

FYI, this is with a 200TDI era Defender, so much of (if not all Confused ) the drivetrain electrics are separate to the "main car".. Doing the same to a Puma or TD5 would be a bit more worrying imo..

Mine has supposidly around 290hp and 600nm and feels more than enough!!!
Post #1048653 14th Oct 2024 3:29pm
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Bluest



Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4203

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black
Its good the hear this stuff. As someone who likes the idea of a more a characterful engine instead of the tdci, I often wonder what I would do if the opportunity arose. I'm reasonably good with the spanners. If I had a "spare" Defender to practise on I'd probably feel braver and give it a go, but would I do it to my pride and joy?.... I'd probably be too concerned about ending up with a non-running mess. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
Post #1048661 14th Oct 2024 4:11pm
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2215

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 BMW M57 3.0 Diesel HT Auto Pennine Grey
They're OK I suppose.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.

50 Shades of Pennine Grey
Post #1048666 14th Oct 2024 4:45pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8002

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
My 90 was a 200tdi, the 130 a 2.4 puma.

Ref getting hot, look at thermostats and coolant flow. Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #1048690 14th Oct 2024 8:09pm
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