2.5 or 2.8 ?

[BoxCleva]

Hi folks,
Just a quickie.

Which diesel engine should I go for ? I've got a max of £1500 and want either a 2.5 or 2.8td LWB. I take it the 2.5 td is not the BMW motor they put in the Omega's ?

Cheers

Box

(North Wales)

[jontera]

2.8..it's the way forward (from someone with a pityful 2ltr petrol)





I wanna 2.8....!

[gregster]

Soz mate, sadly the 2.5 is a VM, not the BMW diesel....

I would say the 2.8 having owned both...and now having 3x 2.8's

They are agricultural and not quite as quick as a 2.5tds, but loads more reliable and easy to fix...

[Drift]

Hi Box, the 2.5 is the flyby wire VM engine used in the Range Rover and Jeeps, they are good engines if looked after as are the 2.8 which is a bit less complicated and doesnt rely on the electrics.

You should get a very good one of both for less than £900, the money you have could take you into 2.2tdi territory.

[BoxCleva]

[gregster]

2.2dti is a different species all together, very refined, quick and complicated...and love to eat a fuel pump if you let em run out of diesel!

Gareth, one of the SE members has done over 1/2 million miles in his on its orig engine (not like Triggers broomstick)...

[Drift]

It depends what you want to do with the car, as an off roader the 2.8 will be best in my opinion as is about the simplest to fix and most reliable (bomb proof) but its unrefined.

The 2.5 is a lot more complex but has a tad more power than the 2.8 (not that the 2.8 is lacking power) and is a bit more refined.

The 2.2 is a newer model design and a lot more refined but inevitable it is more complex but powerful only for off road more though needs to go into modifying it due to the later model upgrades making it more car like handling.

[BoxCleva]

Hmmmm, I may do the very odd bit of gentle greenlaning in the fronty, so 2.2 isnt really suitable. I may well do some pretty heavy towing occasionally. Perhaps as late a 2.8 as possible? What is the most desirable LWB 2.8, and will it cruise happily just above our legal motorway speed limit ?

[Rich]

[BoxCleva]

[gregster]

Personally I would prefer a 2.8 for towing, as a more torquey engine at low revs off boost, no substitute for CC's and all that, the 2.2 is more turbo dependant and needs to rev to produce its grunt...which can result in a toasted clutch (ask our Bobbinsjob!)...

[BoxCleva]

[Drift]

The LR guys like to retro fit the 2.8 4jb1 into their cars if possible so thats a recommendation in itself

[jontera]

well I want a 2.8 because i'm a pikey at heart really, and there are drives to be tarmaced all over the place/ cars to be towed.....no really i'm always amazed by the way the 2.8 seems so effortless both laning and on the M-ways. plus I like that "tractor" sound when they start up, unlike the tappety racket that goes on with mine (need a little head work me thinks, maybe a couple of valve guides / tappets)

Edit * put a word in that didn't make any sense...even to me....Never

[Road Hog]

What is your intended primary use of the car ?

[Drift]

Pop over one night Jon you can have a go of my 2.8

[BoxCleva]

Primary use would just be day to day driving, but occasional heavy towing and very very occasional light greenlaning. I've got an SIII 88'' landrover that would need occasional trailering and the Fronty would pull it.

[Rifleman]

I would say that most 2.5 owners would disagree.
The 2.5 is more refined as Ste says, if serviced regularly and looked after, they are great engines.
The timing has no belt to rip or snap, and no chain to wear and rattle. Its all gear driven making it stronger and quieter.
Like all engine types, they have their common faults. The 2.5 seems to fail on the number 1 injector as it has a sensor in it.
But they are powerful and economic as far as a fronty goes.
The VM engine is a reliable lump, used in other makes too, although modded to fit them.
Even the Mondeo uses it.
I supose everyone has their preferences, and you will have to take all the comments on board before making your final choice.
Good luck.

[BoxCleva]

Arghhh, just mentioned me thinking about a Frontera on another forum. Immediate repsonses were 'expensive to fix and gearbox's made of cheese' . You guys know best , is that true ?

[Krusher]

What forum would that be then, Green oval brigade???