[NovDen02]

Hello,

pretty new to the forum here. Just got my 200tdi 110 back from 2 years of storage. It was stored In a government facility, so naturally I doubted the care of the vehicle. I took it to a shop to get checked over and the engine came back with a low oil pressure diagnosis and some back lash in The rear diff, in which they want to switch it to a disco 1 axel with discs. They want $25000 for the engine rebuild and $16000 for each axle. Seems a little high to me. Am I wrong?

 

[erover82]

If you meant $2,500 and $1,600 for each axle, then it's within the realm of reason. Otherwise, it's insane.

 

[NovDen02]

If you meant $2,500 and $1,600 for each axle, then it's within the realm of reason. Otherwise, it's insane.

Nope, they want 60000 for 2 axles and an engine rebuild

 

[erover82]

Nope, they want 60000 for 2 axles and an engine rebuild

I’ll do it for half that and pay for your travel!

 

[NovDen02]

Haha I’m laughing but seriously interested

 

[Contractor]

That’s the most ridiculous price I’ve ever heard. I just bought two disco axles hub to hub shipped from five states away for $1200. You can buy three nice running 200TDI’s for what the price of the 2.8 costs out of the crate. You can buy five or six for what you’ve been quoted.

Find another shop quickly.

I’d just swap out the third member on the diff with a used one you can likely find on here and check the oil pressure myself with a set of gauges you can buy for about $50. If it’s indeed low, there are a dozen reputable shops that won’t take advantage of you like you are being taken advantage of now.

where are you located?

 

[JimC]

Good god, are these Hong Kong dollars? An engine rebuild can easily run 6-8k but they’re proposing literally more than 10x on what the axle work should cost. It‘s so ridiculous that it feels like we’re being trolled. Where are you?

 

[lcdck]

I would verify the diagnosis of both the oil pressure and backlash. Any shop trying to get you to spend $57k to solve those two problems is suspect. There's a sticky with recommended Rover shops on this forum. Look into finding a good shop.

 

[NovDen02]

That’s the most ridiculous price I’ve ever heard. I just bought two disco axles hub to hub shipped from five states away for $1200. You can buy three nice running 200TDI’s for what the price of the 2.8 costs out of the crate. You can buy five or six for what you’ve been quoted.

Find another shop quickly.

I’d just swap out the third member on the diff with a used one you can likely find on here and check the oil pressure myself with a set of gauges you can buy for about $50. If it’s indeed low, there are a dozen reputable shops that won’t take advantage of you like you are being taken advantage of now.

where are you located?

Thanks for the advice, I’m located in Newport News, Virginia. Any suggestions on where to go?

 

[NovDen02]

Good god, are these Hong Kong dollars? An engine rebuild can easily run 6-8k but they’re proposing literally more than 10x on what the axle work should cost. It‘s so ridiculous that it feels like we’re being trolled. Where are you?

I really wish I was. Got me thinking I’d have to sell a kidney. I haven’t dealt with shops in the states for a while. Glad I confirmed what I was thinking, by coming here

 

[KGH]

The price is insane.

Name the shop.

 

[rdavisinva]

There are many such shops around.
They have names like British 4X4 Tuning Specialists, European Performance Motor Car experts, and so on.
I made up those names, so they are not intended to represent any real shops.
These shops have waxed floors and follow the dealership mentality with management that wears a coat and tie with guys around back who detail your ride as SOP.

The wealthy cater to these places and think they are getting great value when the bill is never under something like $8K.
Most of these shops are thriving and often the people who work there never talk to the vehicle owner because his personal assistant makes all the arrangements and the shop often picks up and drops off the vehicle.

So unfortunately that's part of the Defender realm. The owners are the wealthy class who are not car enthusiasts, just following the trend and enjoying driving their Defender to their private club.
I've talked to some of these potential owners or their assistants who want a LHD automatic Defender and won't settle for anything else.

The 200TDI is a much more difficult engine to keep going over the 300TDI because of all the discontinued parts and a cylinder head prone to cracking across the bridge work.
The 300TDI is not a hard conversion, but it does require a different tunnel, floors, and seat base or at a minimum your seat base will need to be modified. The engine mounts will have to be cut off the frame and new ones welded on into the right position. The radiator, intercooler, transmission, and driveshafts are all different. The entire conversion should not cost over $12K and would be much less than half that if you do the work yourself.

You should be able to locate a rear diff from a Discovery I or RR Classic for well under $1K and if you do the work yourself will avoid breaking the bank.

Good luck and keep that $60K for your kids college fund if you can.

 

[NovDen02]

There are many such shops around.
They have names like British 4X4 Tuning Specialists, European Performance Motor Car experts, and so on.
I made up those names, so they are not intended to represent any real shops.
These shops have waxed floors and follow the dealership mentality with management that wears a coat and tie with guys around back who detail you ride as SOP.

The wealthy cater to these places and think they are getting great value when the bill is never under something like $8K.
Most of these shops are thriving and often the people who work there never talk to the vehicle owner because his personal assistant makes all the arrangements and the shop often picks up and drops off the vehicle.

So unfortunately that's part of the Defender realm. The owners are the wealthy class who are not car enthusiasts, just following the trend and enjoying driving their Defender the their private club.
I've talked to some of these potential owners or their assistants who want a LHD automatic Defender and won't settle for anything else.

The 200TDI is a much more difficult engine to keep going over the 300TDI because of all the discontinued parts and a cylinder head prone to cracking across the bridge work.
The 300TDI is not a hard conversion, but it does require a different tunnel, floors, and seat base or at a minimum your seat base will need to be modified. The engine mounts will have to be cut off the frame and new ones welded on into the right position. The radiator, intercooler, transmission, and driveshafts are all different. The entire conversion should not cost over $12K and would be much less than half that if you do the work yourself.

You should be able to locate a rear diff from a Discovery I or RR Classic for well under $1K and if you do the work yourself will avoid breaking the bank.

Good luck and keep that $60K for your kids college fund if you can.

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. And my future kids do too haha. Do you think a normal mechanic is up to the task? Id love to do it myself, but an engine swap is pretty daunting

 

[NovDen02]

The price is insane.

Name the shop.

While they may be trying to take advantage of me, I didn’t create the post to call out the shop. I will say that I’ve seen them recommended on this forum before. I was really just looking for advice on what to do, and if possible any recommendations on where I could go, on the east coast.

 

[m.michaels]

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. And my future kids do too haha. Do you think a normal mechanic is up to the task? Id love to do it myself, but an engine swap is pretty daunting

I think you might surprise yourself, every task I see that seems daunting has been done right here alot, some by total experts and some by mere mortals like me.

Even if you did the work wrong, or being optimistic mostly right, a shop could sort out the rest and you'd still have at least $45K in your pocket.

Besides HALF the fun is employing the scientific method on my rig "F**K AROUND AND FIND OUT".

 

[mgb2]

While they may be trying to take advantage of me, I didn’t create the post to call out the shop. I will say that I’ve seen them recommended on this forum before. I was really just looking for advice on what to do, and if possible any recommendations on where I could go, on the east coast.

I'm a firm believer in naming names. There are a lot of players in both the sales and repair realms who welcome praise, but can't take any criticism. So when people only see positive words, they may end up disappointed or overcharged.

 

[TechN9NETY]

Nothing wrong with naming names as long as it’s all factual.

 

[Stealthsr71]

Here is the real question - what are the intentions of the truck? I have a rebuilt 200tdi with new turbo, radiator and Intercooler ran about $8500.

R2.8 might be in the $25-30k range depending on all what needs to be done and how bad all the wiring is.

Me, I want to tow and expedition trailer and haul weight to go on longer trips. The 200tdi won’t pull up hill, and lacks some power. Therefore I wish I went the R2.8.

My 200tdi can cruise 75mph unloaded and 65 fully loaded on flat roads.

what axles do you have on the truck. These can always be modified and have discs and lockers.

 

[Davis]

While I agree with 99% of what Stealthsr71 said (and I did JUST that, and upgraded to the R2.8), I will say that if your truck needs new wiring for the R2.8, it needs new wiring for the 200TDI. There are no additional wiring requirements (other than super basic) and if one needs it, the other does too. I'll further say that anyone with a used truck should check your wiring. I’ve seen more electrical fires than any other mishap.

Even if you have owned since new, I would also check wiring near high heat sources, particularly for cracked/hardened insulation where subject to movement and/or vibration.

 

[Miket961]

You could buy a running-driving daily-driver Disco 1, swap in axles, engine, steering box, etc, buy new LHD dash parts from Rovers North, do the job yourself, and pay from $10-15,000 (but it would be sad to lose a good Disco)

Yes, you'd have to fabricate the engine mount or cut it from the Disco