XJ or KJ

ivanidea · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:29 am

Seriously looking to get another Jeep.

Having previously owned an XJ TD before, I am familiar with them, and I already have the service manuals. I did regret getting rid of it.

I am also considering a KJ (hence the reason for my membership to this forum), and one which has caught my eye is a 2003 2.5crd.

The KJ I am interested in also has the advantage of having a Skyjacker lift and 31" AT tyres, compared to the standard XJ with road tyres (approx 28"), which means less money to be spent on upgrades, although I do have a modified TJ for playing in.

Not knowing anything about the KJ, I would appreciate hearing about owners experiences, especially in terms of problems or reliability. Since Jeep no longer fit the 2.5 engine, does that mean it is not as good as the 2.8?

I look forward to hearing your experiences and advice.

Ivan

tonycrd · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:46 am

Hello Ivan, welcome to LOST and specialy EURO LOST

I have a 2.5 and I gotta tell you I love it. It has nothing to do with the old VM 2.5 diesel in the XJ or Voyager.

You get: Common rail injection ( so no need to wait for it to glow at start up ), double camshafts +16 valves, distribution belt ( finally gotten rid of those gears and chains ) 1 cylinderhead instead of 4, drive by wire, better turbo, better overal preformance. Much more reliable, mine now on 118K Km and no problem whatsoever.

It's still a VM engine, ( rumour goes it's a Mercedes engine but that's not true, the Grand's 2.7crd was ) but now without the trouble of the old ones.

Why don't they fit the 2.5 anymore: in '03 DC (daimler-chrysler) came out with the 2.8 which has more power. But it's the same engine. Just bigger pistons and turbo.

Hope this helps...only thingy I had was the serpentine belt idler bearings going out on me and the alternator decoupler pulley.
Seems a common thing.

Uffe · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:47 am

A little extra.

The 2.8 develops max torque at 1800 rpm instead of 2000 rpm of the 2.5. The 2.8 delivers 360Nm (or 400Nm if 05 and later model) where the 2.5 delivers ~340Nm.

In power there is not much difference between early 2.8 and the 2.5. The later 2.8s has a variable vane turbo and develops 400Nm as opposed to 360Nm.

The 2.8 has water cooled EGR where the 2.5 doesn't. Then there is also the transmission difference - IIRC the 2.5 didn't come with an auto box, only manual, where the early 2.8 only came with auto and the later 2.8 comes in both.

Early 2.8s has 4.1 diff ratio and late 2.8s has 3.73 diff ratio.

Consumption of late 2.8s is lower than early 2.8s (longer distance travelled per liter).

tonycrd · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:38 am

You're abslolutely right, no auto for the 2.5 and so no select trac either.

5 speed manual and command trac only.

Later models 2.8 got a 6 speed manual.

ivanidea · **Posted:** Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:55 am

Thanks for the replies.

Hopefully I will be looking at a 2003 Sport model with 2.5crd engine on Sunday. Anything I need to pay attention to?

One of the attractions of this particular one is it has a Skyjacker suspension lift and 31" at's, which should be fine for greenlaning and mild off-roading (I still have my modded TJ for serious offroading).

If I get time, I might also look at bog standard 2005 Ltd 2.8crd auto as well.

Ivan

kelticknight · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:39 pm

have 2.5 crd chiiped to bring up power ansd so have 119,000 miles and still going strong
its comfy on road as well as off road,great climbing power,have pulled out few pajeros

that there stuck

only other jeep i would get is
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Jeep/Wr ... rt/765832/
till then im happy with my cherokee crd 2.5

XJ or KJ

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