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Nur Links



Member Since: 25 Jul 2013
Location: Sodom (or Gomorra) in the Low Countries
Posts: 35

I will also call Safety Devices on Monday when the techie responsible is back.

In the mean time, keep those ideas en experiences coming. I'm yet to see pictures of your chopped and cut Defenders!

Since I'm unable to post photo's, I've put examples of a nice conversion in my album
Post #253862 26th Jul 2013 8:27pm
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Nur Links



Member Since: 25 Jul 2013
Location: Sodom (or Gomorra) in the Low Countries
Posts: 35

For everyone who gave some pointers and tips (thanks Morea!), an interim update.

I contacted Safety Devices on the spec and homologation of the L236 cage. They were extremely helpful and forthcoming. The good news is that they sent me a spec sheet including materials used etc... Any competent person can see that this cage is much stronger than the original roof. Unfortunately however, there is no homologation for the cage, so you are still depending on individual approval by the (local) MOT service.

From what I understood from Morea, in Spain a lot is possible BUT the process is quite bureaucratic. I'll contact a local Land Rover specialist to discuss.
Post #256776 6th Aug 2013 7:04pm
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heffalump



Member Since: 15 Jul 2015
Location: llondon
Posts: 13

United Kingdom 
I have this problem exactly and have not found a solution. I have a 90 with forward facing rear seats that I put in afterwards (or a specialist did). The seats are ok, the belts are ok the roll cage is ok....all either can be passed via a 'project' (the roll cage), the belts are marked and the Exmoor trim seats have been tested at the VCA. BUT the belt anchor points have not, so its impossible to make it work....Nur links if you have a solution would be grateful!!!
Post #437904 15th Jul 2015 8:42am
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muddybaldboy



Member Since: 09 Apr 2012
Location: Ruthin
Posts: 395

Wales 1999 Defender 110 Td5 HT Chawton White
I've fitted the exmoor lock'n'fold rear seats which have the integral upper seat belt as part of the frame.
Not cheap and bloody heavy but nice kit. He who dies with the most toys...wins!
Post #437945 15th Jul 2015 11:38am
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heffalump



Member Since: 15 Jul 2015
Location: llondon
Posts: 13

United Kingdom 
Thanks, don't the lock'n'fold have seat belts that attach to the roll bar/bulkhead not just the seats?
Post #437986 15th Jul 2015 1:44pm
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Boyd



Member Since: 11 May 2014
Location: Le Saint
Posts: 172

France 2003 Defender 110 Td5 SW Zambezi Silver
Another option away from safety devices is the performance and protection conversion like on my 90, can't fault it.

Mine also has the exmoor lock and fold 3 point seats which are brilliant bits of kit.

Know nothing about type approval but will be interested in doing the same as mine will be retiring to Croatia before I do to be our holiday house truck. 2003 Zambezi Silver TD5 110 XS SW overland prepped....
2004 Santorini Black TD5 110 XS SW left hooker for sale!
2004 Alpine White TD5 110 left hooker (work in progress)
Post #437995 15th Jul 2015 2:52pm
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heffalump



Member Since: 15 Jul 2015
Location: llondon
Posts: 13

United Kingdom 
thanks, DO the seat belts on you seat attach to the body/roll bar or are they integrated in to the seat? apparently this is the issue..i..e if the seat mounting points have not been tested then they are not legal in Spain...what a pain
Post #438015 15th Jul 2015 4:07pm
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Boyd



Member Since: 11 May 2014
Location: Le Saint
Posts: 172

France 2003 Defender 110 Td5 SW Zambezi Silver
Mine all 3 points are integral to the seat 2003 Zambezi Silver TD5 110 XS SW overland prepped....
2004 Santorini Black TD5 110 XS SW left hooker for sale!
2004 Alpine White TD5 110 left hooker (work in progress)
Post #438023 15th Jul 2015 4:24pm
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heffalump



Member Since: 15 Jul 2015
Location: llondon
Posts: 13

United Kingdom 
BTW Boyd, your truck looks great, I have a 300TDI too, its a beautiful thing, this Spanish thing is driving me nuts
Post #438039 15th Jul 2015 5:03pm
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heffalump



Member Since: 15 Jul 2015
Location: llondon
Posts: 13

United Kingdom 
Boyd you may be ok, If the seat has been tested by the VCA and shown to be safe (I.e. crash tested), then they test the seat and its mounting points and presumably the belt mounts (this needs to be proven on a certificate), then you have a car that can be homologated across the EU. This is only true if you have a VCA certificate including seat, seat mounts and belts. The seats on the Exmoor website now do not have the belt integrated and the attachment points are 1 on the seat, then one the floor and one on the pillar or roll cage. If this is the case (like me!), you have a problem. The mounting points are not tested and homologated, so it will fail an ITV in Spain (the MOT equivalent). I'm now at a loss, will take the seats out and get it ITV'd and then drive it around til I figure out what to do.
Post #438049 15th Jul 2015 5:58pm
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muddybaldboy



Member Since: 09 Apr 2012
Location: Ruthin
Posts: 395

Wales 1999 Defender 110 Td5 HT Chawton White
Apparently my exmoor where the previous model which had all mounting points integral to the seat. Latest versions are different, sorry for the dead end Confused He who dies with the most toys...wins!
Post #438097 15th Jul 2015 9:44pm
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heffalump



Member Since: 15 Jul 2015
Location: llondon
Posts: 13

United Kingdom 
Out of interest, did they come wth a VCA certificate like the new ones?
Post #438115 15th Jul 2015 10:50pm
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Boyd



Member Since: 11 May 2014
Location: Le Saint
Posts: 172

France 2003 Defender 110 Td5 SW Zambezi Silver
Pretty sure I have a VCA for mine, certainly got some VCA document when I bought the truck, will look this evening. 2003 Zambezi Silver TD5 110 XS SW overland prepped....
2004 Santorini Black TD5 110 XS SW left hooker for sale!
2004 Alpine White TD5 110 left hooker (work in progress)
Post #438150 16th Jul 2015 6:04am
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heffalump



Member Since: 15 Jul 2015
Location: llondon
Posts: 13

United Kingdom 
That might really change the world! Thanks
Post #438176 16th Jul 2015 9:20am
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
Nur Links wrote:
I have not dealt with the Spanish ITV before, but I hoped that as long as the conversion looks convincingly OEM, I could convince the guy that it is a Defender hard top with the hard top removed. Do you speak from experience and are they that strict?

Have a look at the one I posted above: suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat/land-rover-defender-90-sw-soft-top-umbau-4sitze-abs-klima-ravensburg-nähe-bodensee/181603830.html

If German TuV accepts it....


Personally I would buy in Spain if you are planning to keep it there. The Spanish love Defenders, especially the more basic spec, and they tend to be far cheaper than Northern European equivalents. Here's the best Spanish site:

http://www.coches.net/coches-de-ocasion.as...r_defender

A couple of lovely examples at both ends of the spectrum:

http://www.coches.net/land-rover-defender-...-covo.aspx

http://www.coches.net/land-rover-defender-...-covo.aspx

I am not sure which part of Spain you have your home, but these are the best dealers if not too far from you. By far the widest selection, mostly low spec commercial variants, so great as a base vehicle. They also modify/upgrade vehicles in-house, so may well at the very least have answers to your questions, or even be able to do the conversion for you so it conforms:

http://automovilesmartin.carfactory.es/

Good luck, sounds like a fun project Thumbs Up Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #438192 16th Jul 2015 10:38am
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