How to improve your Land Rover 300Tdi engine's performance by fitting a variable nozzle turbo (VNT)

Got a 300Tdi engine in your Defender, Discovery or Range Rover and want to get more from it? A variable nozzle turbo could be just the thing. It'll give you much smoother torque from lower down in the rev range.
Here we're fitting one of Motor and Diesel Engineering (Anglia) Ltd's Turbo Power Improvement kits (www.mdengineering.co.uk).
We featured the fitting in the Spring 2022 issue of Land Rover Owner International magazine.
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[@siulasor]

"Lado do coletor"... collector side.. beautiful. Greetings from Portugal 😉

[@soweitsobitter9288]

Legal, nao?

[@Mikeaubert]

Why wouldnt you pressure wash the engine or even just the area that you are working on before doing this? Makes me cringe to see you working on the oil feed pipe when its surrounded by nasty looking crud...

[@alfredmuhiyeh3366]

Landrover is a real machine

[@vernkingsford5329]

I added this turbo to my TDI 300 in South Africa. I can attest this mod is fantastic. Does all he says. Also fantastic service from the seller.

[@janduplooy8474]

Did you import the kit yourself or did you buy through an agent? I am also interested and in SA.

[@takudzwabadza9996]

Hie Vern where did you buy the kit, am also looking for it. If possible share contact details

[@85AndreasLH]

Lovely how to! Is this coincidentally the perfect conversion kit when you want to swap a 300 Disco engine into a One Ten?

[@hastuart9639]

Mikeaubert, I would aggree with you, plus I was always taught when working on engines was to grease all threads and gaskets with either copper slip or moly slip. Obviously training of apprentices is to the highest standards of yesteryear.

[@jonh9561]

This why I end up having to do my own maintenance and fitting, because all the 'pros' can't be bothered to grease the threads when reassembling.

[@mgomes9505]

gasket from Portugal, top quality gasket!! eheh greetings from Portugal

[@walkaboutmotors]

Very good video!!!!!🥰

[@jamiazad4750]

Coolest guy.. smooth 💪🏻

[@BernadetteBLL]

I have a 200tdi in my 1983 110 from a disco with the turbo underneath.Will this kit fit?

[@djmusk6015]

Shame the road test at the end goes blank. Exhaust note sounds good though.

[@Mikeaubert]

It seems to stall but if you skip forward there is more to see.

[@ericshayer]

Did you opened the high pressure fuel pump?

[@meganswanson5030]

hello, do you have a 300tdi automatic gearbox?

[@richardtebuseke1053]

How can I get this complete unite of this turbo upgrade. I badly want this

[@oakashthorn5714]

How much would this upgrade cost.?cheers

[@harjinderkaur2384]

Cud u pls tell me that whats the number of this mahle turbo. One more that modern VNT turbos r controlled by fancy electronics. What abt this turbo..? I see the boost pressure pipe also connects to the VNT diaphragm. Is it not controlled by vaccum..?

[@soweitsobitter9288]

Does anybody know, what turbo model that is? Thank you.

[@joncorry]

Nice how to video Martin. I just need to find a half decent Defender to have crack!

[@onkarfreshie3127]

Landcruiser buddy.

[@landroverowner]

That is a constant battle!

[@bigtrippy4970]

​@@onkarfreshie3127lol

[@oldsteamer1747]

all good stuff fella ,i have 2 discos and a 90 with 300 tdi ,standard ,300s are unbustable ,they are all getting on a bit now thou , so start uping the tubo boost and the pump pin taper ,yes more power ,yes you are going to use it ,you may have other related problems ,head gasket, big ends ect i personly prefer the lazy no electronics reliable engine and just plod along ,even towing i find them fine ,theragain i dont thrash stuff and ime not in a hurry , so ya underpowered but unstressed

[@blackhat400]

Yes Factory built for longivity, like a 2stroke, you can tune them to hell, but have to rebuilt them often,

[@HeinerStorchennest1]

What spec and brand of oil is in the 300TDi engine? Great vid anyway.

[@blackhat400]

I use Tractor M,P, oil, and its on 400,000 miles ,,no problems,

[@elardbreedt6116]

I have contacted my local turbo specialist. According to them, the VNT will not work with the 300tdi since it has no system to control the variable nozzle. How was this issue adressed in your installation?

[@Venom2U]

7:03

[@stevepickering5866]

You local turbo ‘specialist’ isn’t very special if he told you that load of old bs…

[@frenchphil189]

i would love to do this but I just haven't got 2 grand to spare....

[@andrasgergelytoth7094]

The name of the parts, article numbers, manufacturer of the parts...?

[@manusia-biasa939]

10:25 m1 garand

[@amcf2000c]

how much bigger is the turbo to the original? and what brand is the turbo thanks!

[@landroverowner]

Fairly sure it is the same size, just the variable nature gives greater low-down boost. And it's a Mahle turbo.

[@amcf2000c]

@@landroverowner is there any improvment? than the turbo tecnics one?

[@philipwhitehead1619]

How how are we doing with green lane definitive map because it has to finalised and finished by 2026

[@landroverowner]

Do you mean the reclassification? As far as we are aware, it has been curtailed: www.oss.org.uk/2026-guillotine-for-historic-ways-is-abolished/

[@blackhat400]

I hear on the forums " the vanes seize on these.. ..

[@ButchE30M3S14]

No copper grease on manifold studs? Are you sure you are a Land Rover driver? 😂

[@nickboylen6873]

Spread to mechanics or owners who fitted VNT turbos to Tdis and there are very high numbers who regret it. The vanes tend to seize and then strangle the exhaust. A lot of those owners subsequently return to standard turbos. I have no idea what proportion of VNT owners have this happen (it could be a minority), but I have read numerous cases on forums and seen several mentions of it on KZbin. I thought it was tempting until I saw this widespread issue. I think the electronically controlled VNTs have reduced susceptibility because they get exercised by the ECU in a cleaning sweep, like the Puma’s EGR valve. Who did the filming? Focusing on the face while the mechanic is attempting to show where to cut the rubber hose or exhaust and several other bits, filming the wing top when the assembly is being fitted to the head and numerous other lapses. It’s meant to be a technical instruction, not an evening chat show.

[@christopherrolfe4543]

How much for this

[@landroverowner]

The kit is £1195 inc VAT - details here: www.mdengineering.co.uk/shop/miscellaneous/turbo-power-improvement-defender-stage-1/

[@adamfelkey8451]

What’s your thoughts on this kit from MD vs Allisport upgrade for 300tdi?

[@landroverowner]

@@adamfelkey8451 We haven't done many miles on the AlliSport kit, so can't really comment on that. As far as I remember, the AlliSport one is a straight turbo replacement, so it is better if you have to retain EGR and catalytic converter for emissions rules. I have found that the engine does run cleaner (based on MoT emissions results) with the new turbo.

[@ericfore]

VNTs are great, but how are you actuating it mechanically? Often they require computers/electronics to adjust the vanes. Cheers!

[@mdjamil-wb6qc]

Engil timen ke

[@graham-martin5847]

shame about the price of the kit cheaper to put a bmw engine in lol,bought a full x5 05 plate for a grand much better idea and cheaper

[@nunonogueira7380]

Howzit bro ,the way you controlling that turbo is totally wrong and extremely bad for the engine especially on vnt ,what you need is a manual vnt/vgt boost controller from Go Fast Bits .im running on my 98 freelander 1 and works like a dream ,it works of vacuum and it basically replaces you factory solenoid for the car .You'll thank me later !

[@onkarfreshie3127]

Just buy a 25 year old LANDCRUISER 4.2 TD It will do 25 mpg, up & down a hill , towing 3 tonnes or just cruising. Also runs great on Bio Diesel no ajustment needed.£1 per litre. Driving in luxury, not a tractor. Past 8 years of ownership & 200k on the clock, dream to own. Need to stop bragging now. Enjoy life...

[@landroverowner]

To be fair, the 300Tdi isn't bad, tows 3 tons downhill easily (you just go slower in the ups!) and will run on biodiesel and straight vegetable oil without adjustment, and does about the same mpg with a trailer on the back. But in no way is a classic Defender luxurious!

[@onkarfreshie3127]

@@landroverowner So true, but the never-ending maintaining, less time to enjoy the jeep & LIFE , you just can't buy time my friend. I had mine for 2 years but just sold & got my cruiser instead. If you get a chance to drive a Landcruiser 4.2 td , please do , It's night & day. Most Rover boys end up striping the Rover to shell & chassis . Creating a different off roader, than a Land Rover. Great if you like to tinker about . Enjoy life.

[@landroverowner]

@@onkarfreshie3127 We know how good the Landcruiser is, but it doesn't have the same following (in the UK at least) as the Defender.

[@onkarfreshie3127]

@@landroverowner Only in the UK & UK alone. Lol Did I mention that silky smooth 4.2 td, Not rattling like a tin can? Also my Bum doesn't go numb & my spine is intact . Ozzys, Arabs, Asians & the Yanks can't be wrong buddy.

[@onkarfreshie3127]

I did enjoy your in depth video . Well done chaps.