Buying Question

[SurreyZuke]

What ho guys and girls.

I'm considering upgrading my Zuke Jimny to a 300tdi disco.
however when I look on autotrader there is alot more automatics about than manuals.

So the questions are: Is the fuel consumption on auto much different to the manuals

and

Do the automatics tend to have more going wrong with them...

I would be using it mostly on road with some greenlaning thrown in when time allows. I would be leaving it stock for now.


Thanks for any help you can give.

Jon

[Saffy]

300tdi auto's are more sluggish. The flyby wire EDC models have more BHP than the standard manuals in attempt to overcome the loss in the auto drive train. The difference between non EDC and EDC auto's is very noticeable when I was going around test driving a few.

Being flybywire isn't really an issue but I guess it depends on how you view things and if it all goes wrong it isn't too much to convert to a mechanical injection pump. EDC is harder to modify for performance. My disco is EDC and I have no intention or requirement to remove it's brains. It does use more fuel and will never be as pokey as my 300tdi Defender 110. But I do like driving an auto.

[LandRoger]

So whats this EDC all about ? and how can you tell if its fitted  (apart from extra poke) ?

[Saffy]

So whats this EDC all about ? and how can you tell if its fitted  (apart from extra poke) ?

From top of my head... it's hail stoning outside!)
EDC = Electronic Diesel Control.
Most obvious difference is the non mechanical injection pump. There is no mechanical throttle linkage (but there is a mech kick down cable there).
The boost hose that usually goes from the injection pump directly to the turbo now goes to a black box (little vacuum pump that is wired to the brain). 
There's an electrical servo mounting on the timing case to advance the pump timing on cold start (that would be a purely mechanical arrangement built into the normal non EDC I/P ). There's temp sensors in the top of the head which relate to that cold start system. This part of the system I think is bugged in the brain and is the cause of many a problem with 300tdi auto cold start issues. I have rigged it so that every start is an artic climate start and it advances the timing accordingly and starts on the button now.
 
There will be an engine management brain in the passenger foot well along with the EDC, window, alarm etc brains.

It's a very simple brain. The EGR valve and associated gumpings can be all removed without any effect on the EDC system.

[LandRoger]

 So for a basic mecho like myself i look for a non mechanical injection pump and the boost hose that goes toblack box (vac pump).
Cheers M8.

[Saffy]

 So for a basic mecho like myself i look for a non mechanical injection pump and the boost hose that goes toblack box (vac pump).
Cheers M8.

Ill stick the camera under bonnet tomorrow and take pic of the pump - if I do not post back remind me.

[Saffy]

over view of injection pump...


notice that it quite different from the mechanical pump, there no throttle linkage etc and there's a flat squarish cap like affair rather than the rounded turret of the mechanical pump (where you remove to do tweaking). There is a cable mounted on top which might confuse matters but it's the kick down cable and isn't rigged to the pump itself.

closer view...

and this...

....is that brain controlled vac pump module mounted on the nearside bulkhead with its boost pipe that routed to the turbo. So if converting from EDC to mechanical pump you'd bypass this module and route the pipe from the Turbo to the mech I/P.

[LandRoger]

First class M8  i can cope with mechanical probs  (basics) lumps of metal but brain boxes of the black kind and elektrickery leave me cold, , love Haynes.

[SurreyZuke]

Well I bit the bullet and bought one anyway.

'98 Tdi S auto.

No pictures as it looks completely standard.

From the quick calculations i made so far i appear to get about 25 MPG.

[Saffy]

Well I bit the bullet and bought one anyway.

'98 Tdi S auto.

No pictures as it looks completely standard.

From the quick calculations i made so far i appear to get about 25 MPG.

Was you bored with the fuel efficiency, reliability and practicality of the Jimny then?

[SurreyZuke]

Was you bored with the fuel efficiency, reliability and practicality of the Jimny then?

No bored with the lack of boot and general size. Neither myself nor my missus had a practical car. Trying to get 4 suitcases in a jimny was an exercise in futility.... 

Plus i've wanted a Disco since i first drove one at 14. 

[Saffy]

Was you bored with the fuel efficiency, reliability and practicality of the Jimny then?

No bored with the lack of boot and general size. Neither myself nor my missus had a practical car. Trying to get 4 suitcases in a jimny was an exercise in futility.... 

Plus i've wanted a Disco since i first drove one at 14. 

fair play, long as the suitcases don't now just fall through the boot 

[bravo669]

try getting wife baby and pram etc in a jimny!! i had to borrow fathers disco for a few days!lol! seems the way forward as wifeys not to hot on me having a hilux crew cab!

[Saffy]

is there room for two big dogs?

[Saffy]

I always fancied a Jimny and no longer need the disco.... you fancy a P reg 300tdi ES that's even shod with the same tyres yours  ?

[LandRoger]

I used to get 3 Springer Spaniels in my Jimny with the rear seats down obviously, i wouldnt have another Jimny unless it was a twin cam  as the older 1328 is like driving a phone box.

[ukmudmaster]

Had my 300 Tdi Disco Auto for a year now, its been offroaded, laned, has towed RRC , diggers etc. on trailers and generally worked hard. Would not go back to a manual now. Its an EDC version, fuel use is a little heavier than a manual, but worth it,
Dave