BMW 4 cylinder turbo diesel engine

[Alan]

I recently found a 1985 D90 for sale that had a BMW 4 cylinder turbo diesel put in it. I'm just wondering if there's anyone here that has heard of this conversion being done before with any thoughts and if this engine is a decent one? This truck also had it's original frame changed over to a 1995 frame.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rocky]

There was never a 4cyl BMW Turbo Diesel installed in a Defender. 90/Defender has seen 2.5 Diesel, 2.5 Turbo diesel, 2.5 Tdi (200 and 300 series). All LR engines.

Chances are its the 300 series engine as installed in the 1995 chassis.

If still in doubt, please post pictures of the engine bay

 

[Alan]

Thanks for the reply Chris. I think you misunderstood me. I know that LR never put an engine like that into the Defenders. This was something the owner must have done on his own as a project.

I'm just wondering if anyone has heard of this engine before in other similar LR projects with positive results. I'm essentially trying to find out if this Defender with this engine is not a bad setup or if the BMW turbo diesels have a history of poor service/performance.

 

[JSQ]

um no.
bullshit.

there definitely was a 4cyl bmw turbo diesel installed in 90s and 110s.

South Africa from the factory.

Same motor as some E28 bmw and some sort of lincoln sedan or some such. lots of info out there. real weak motor and not much demand.

definitely WAS a factory motor.

 

[rovercanus]

um no.
bullshit.

there definitely was a 4cyl bmw turbo diesel installed in 90s and 110s.

South Africa from the factory.

Same motor as some E28 bmw and some sort of lincoln sedan or some such. lots of info out there. real weak motor and not much demand.

definitely WAS a factory motor.

I'm not familiar with a BMW 4cyl. Diesel. There was a 6 cyl. that they put in the E28, E30, and the Lincoln. It displaced around 2.4 liters. and came in deisel and non-diesel variations (324d, 324td,524d,524td).
I know they do a lot of weird stuff with cars in S.A. Like the E30 330is, got anymore info on this?

 

[Alan]

I did a bit of research last night on the web and I did come across a bit of info regarding the usage of BMW diesels in Rovers. It's obviously not as common as the 200/300Tdi's but it seems to verify what Jack said. I've even come across some of it being used in the Freelanders as well as the 90's and 110's. Just wondered how these guys performed against the Rover Tdi's since this engine is supposedly a turbo diesel as well.

Here's a couple pics of this rig.

 

[Alan]

Here's a couple more shots of the engine and undercarriage.

 

[JSQ]

Walt is right it's 2.4 L but i thought it was a big four rather than a small six. definitely in the 524 in the us.

I've seen pics of the 524 motor and it doesn't look like what's in the pictures. Maybe it's just a funny plastic cover but your pics look like a two hundy.

the 2.4 is a pretty weak motor and I don't think it's all that robuts. you can go to bigger turbo and intercooler but i think there are better diesels out there.

i say go drive it and decide for yourself.

but don't worry, if it is a 2.4 bmw t/d then it is factory and not some backyard hack job.

 

[rovercanus]

There's a performance enhancer for the 2.6 eta motor that uses the 2.4 cam shaft. That's how I knew it was a 6 cyl. BMW also has/had a 6 cyl. 2.0 liter.
And they do like to use plastic covers on the 1991 and above models.

 

[Alan]

I showed these pictures to some fellows on a UK forum board and everyone there seems to think it's a 300Tdi to them. They say that's what it looks like to them.

It's kinda making me curious now if the sales guy knows what's in there or just guessing. The sales mgr said he took it out for a weekend and said the thing barely used any fuel. Drove it for 200 kms and said the needle barely moved...unless it's broken.

 

[Rocky]

Alan: Thats the 300 tdi plastic valve cover. Dealers an idiot.
The picture below is taken from East Coast Rover's website without permission.

www.eastcoastrover.com/Tdiconversions.html

 

[Alan]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for that photo. That helps a lot.

 

[Alan]

Well, it's confirmed. I sent ECR the photos you guys see here and they confirmed that it is indeed a 300Tdi but said that thing is basically a "mish-mash" of different Defenders with an early VIN# to qualify for import and from everything they could see, it was appears to be a poorly done conversion from a V8 along with other questionable work.

Suggested I walk away from this one unless it was dirt cheap so good to know.

Thanks everyone here for your comments and steering me in the right direction.

Cheers,