Buying a 105 Series Landcrusier

Hello Alex,

You could consider a multi valve diesel 80 series Auto with low km's about the same year as the one you have. Could take some time to find the right one but they are a nice vehicle and fit the bill.

Cheers,
Dave

You will do well in finding a diesel auto, that isn't IFS ,Factory turboed only IFS.
I don't know the exact numbers but around 160kw/375nm for the 4.5, compared to my '05's 95kw/285nm , leaves no doubt about "performance", as for doing 100k with out any trouble with 1.5 ton behind it,HAHAHA.
It is 3.5 ton rated, and I have had around 3 t behind it, it towed alright,got heaps of gear changing practice, just don't stop halfway up a steep hill!
Some people hurl them selves out of planes for a thrill, all I have to do is try and overtake a triple roadtrain in a headwind, then you'll know your ALIVE
I have. . . . Adjusted. . . to my 105's limitations, It has got me across the simpson, The red center and thru the Vic high country, albeit at MY pace,
I have considered spending $4/5K on getting it to go hard, but some here have recently posted cooling problems when pushed, then theres that tinny gearbox, some have had dramas ,others haven't.
In regards running costs I think you will find that they aren't THAT much cheaper to run, Diesel is around 15 c p/liter dearer than petrol and need oil changes (1HZ anyway)at 5K intervals, dearer filters, and heavan forbid, expensive to rebuild.
The 1hz is the same motor that powered the 80 series back in the early '90's, so was designed in the '80's, hence thier simplicity, and modest power.

Shane

Alex


I drive a 105 cruiser at work. They are not the quickest vehicle out but ample power for towing.

Cruises well and will sit on 130 km/h all day without a problem.

The seats are poorly designed and have no lumbar support.

There is a grab handle above the drivers door. Because it is a work vehicle I cannot remove it. It keeps hitting me in the side of the head. Driving the 105 is like being in a boxing ring. Suggest if you buy one remove the handle.

I would not consider purchasing a 105 landcruiser.


Tjilpi

Hi Alex,

I like your choice, IMO you wont be disappointed.

Yes they are slow compared to the petrol, especially in auto, I put a DTS turbo on at 20k which made a huge difference but you pay for it with fuel consumption. Mine used around 17lt per hundred km around town, it gets a bit better on the open roads but not much, to be fair having Mud tyres, roof rack, winches etc doesn't help.

Towing is no problem, I can sit on 100kms and have plenty left if needed, this wasn't the case pre turbo.

Off road it goes every where I want it too, I would call it a great weekend warrior, as long as you have the appropriate rubber.

Good luck with the search,

Scott

if you want your 105 to go hard, then do as i did and install a turbo, intercooler and 3" exhaust system on it. my little 13 ft poptop caravan only weighs around the 1 tonne mark and i could sit on 130klm / hr no problems at all towing the van if i wanted to. like already said, good luck at finding an auto 105, i've never seen or heard of one (but that dosen't mean they don't exist). also mentioned was the zero lumbar support in the seats, they are shocking for long trips. up the cape i resorted to rolling a towel up and placing behind my lower back, mate even commented on how sore his back was after a 2hour drive the other week, and i hadn't said anything prior to him about the seats.
as for klms on engine, i have only just clocked up 100 000 klms on my 105. the turbo and intercooler and exhaust has only been on for about 10 000 klms.

I have had a standard 105 for the past year or so. Things I have learnt about it in that time:

The diffs are not prado diffs, they are for the 105. The weakness comes from a special cut in the front diff that makes it stronger going forwards, but weaker in reverse under load. If you try to snatch recover in reverse you're asking for problems, if you are gently reversing a trailer it should be fine.

The manual gearbox and transfer case are the same as the prado... can't comment on the auto. I know this made it a PITA changing the front output seal on the transfer case, the whole front needs to come off rather than just the pinion.

Basically comes down to how you drive, if you abuse anything enough it will break.

Never had problems with the grab handle, but I'm only 5'8". :)

Did replace the driver's seat, but only because I was given some seats with adjustable lumbar and the originals were ripped. Still I found the original comfortable enough for 3-4 hour drives down south.

There were some early 105s (98/99?) in GXL trim that were factory turbo and hence had stronger gearboxes. If I was looking again, I would probably look for one of them.

Speaking to the guys at a few turbo shops, they don't really care about how many kms the car has done, they will do a compression test and maybe a dyno, and see what condition it is in. The also insist on new injectors. Apparently if you injectors are old they don't atomise the fuel properly and burn holes in the pistons.

My 105 has now done about 240000, blows no smoke, returns about 12-13L/100kms (up to 14-15 in soft sand). I would like to turbo but just don't have the cash laying around atm, so it IS slow, but you do get used to it. Remember you're driving a 3.5T vehicle which IS a light truck and you don't feel so bad... until a turbo patrol pulls up next to you at the lights. :)

Oh and just in case you aren't aware, the 105 has 5 stud rims with a different offset to the IFS model. I *think* the solid axle rims will fit on the IFS, but I KNOW the IFS rims won't fit on the front of a solid axle. So if you're looking for spare rims, there are plenty of splits available, but very few standard or dress rims. If this is what you are after, you will probably have to buy new.

Offroad capability - I have standard skinny tyres, I haven't got stuck yet (I know, not trying) but I have managed to follow a mate in his lifted 75 with muds everywhere we wanted to go.

Just in reply to the question about how many km's is too many to turbo.
I am looking at getting an 80 series cruiser at the moment and I spoke to a respected diesel mechanic about putting a turbo on a naturally aspirated engine. They say that they don't even do compression tests on the 80 series until they have over 300000km on them! So I imagine the 105 that you would be looking at would be less than that so you should be sweet.

Mick

Hi Alex, We have a 105, its a GXL 4.2, at the time I wanted to buy a turbo but price was out of the question. Now in hindsight not bothered at all, we love the 1hz. We tow a horse float with 2 horses so the float would be well over 2t, it slows down on big hills but then I am used to driving trucks and so it seems natural to me that you are on the gearstick on the hills, on the flat it will run at 100km no probs. Just gotta keep the revs over 2k and its fine. I think a lot of people that winge about it have been spoilt driving petrol cars and very modern powerful diesels.Mine is a manual I think the auto would be a different story

I cant say I have noticed the problems previous posts mentioned about lumbar support etc, I love touring in ours and find it very comfy, as for people saying what a slug they are I suggest they come for a drive with my other half, it certainly doesnt seem slow when she is behind the wheel.

Only mods we have is a lift and larger tyres. Just clicked over 180000km and Love the vehicle and would happily buy another

The RV's and up have better seats (2 buckets) rather than the 3 seats across the front of the lower spec models.
Up to 2004 you can get the rigid front axle in the GXL but non turbo.
Regards
Dave

When I went on my journey, I did approx 11000 k's starting in Brisbane going to Birdsville, across the Simpson, up to Alice springs, Kings canyon, Uluru, Great Central road to Kalgoolie, then back to Brisbane Via Port Lincoln, Bairnsdale, Mt Hotham, Merimbula ,Canberra.
My average fuel consumption was close to 15l/ 100k, I had my second spare tyre, Big Oztent, hilift jack, shovel, camp table and nothing else on the Roof rack (photo in rig pics), I was travelling alone,so I took 100 litres spare fuel (same weight as a passenger and cloths) putting my cruiser's gross weight at 3.48 ton (on a weigh bridge).
I didn't seem to matter how it was driven, The worst economy I got was crossing the simmo, 110 liters/ 610ks (18/100), best I got was from Curtin springs (NT) to Kalgoorlie 225liters, because of the open mainly flat dirt road , and travelling mostly at 85- 90kph, all other times travelling at posted limit (including NT).
I had to get a service done at Ceduna (100000) as well as a Quick oil and filter at my Uncles (5k) .
Running around to and fro work, no added weight apart from stuff that is bolted on, get 13-14/100.
I also own a petrol/gas MWB cruiser (3f) which uses 25/100 on gas doing the same task, so, a typical week is around 300k for me.
I owned a 80 series T/D and there is no doubt that they used a lot less fuel and went well.
The Middi is far more drivable from a stop/start point of view, and while I'll only save less than $10 in fuel It also needs 6 liters of oil per service (10K) oppposed to 9 every 5K.
Whats wrong with the 80 you have got? There is no real avantage having a 100, they are mechanically very similar 300 kgs lighter, able to put 200kg on roof (100s are only 150).
Better the Devil you know, Have you considered gas, I know the 1FZ's aren't user freindly at the pump, but there are plenty that get around happily on LPG.
I know the service book says same service intervals for petrol/diesel but any motor that has a swirl chamber (non direct injection) should have its oil done every 5K.
A regular contributor to this forum has both a Petrol (4.8) and a diesel Patrol (4.2T)(I know you don't want to go there) and has tracked closly the expenditure of both vehicles and claimed that overall, they compared close to each other, including servicing.
Shane

couple of other things you may want to know about the 105 before you buy it.
the handbrakes are crap and constantly need adjusting, especially if you go near mud and water. every one i know with a cruiser complains about their handbrakes.
the LSD's are usually good for nothing after about 80 000klms, nothing a rear locker won't fix though.
other then that, they are great.

G'day Alex,

Think you will like this vehicle. Will need a turbo if you want some sort of 'performance'. I think the auto was in the early GXL's. I have changed the front seats on mine.

Treat it right and you won't have problems with diffs or gearboxes (I run 35in muds and twin diff locks... it's not a comp truck, I drive accordingly!).

You are right re. touring range, with twin tanks (270litres) I can get 1500km with 50/50 tarmac, heavy 4WDing.

Live axle is great for "weekend warrior" use. Some lift does wonders for articulation.

Over-all km's don't seem to be a problem when fitting a turbo, if serviced correctly. Doesn't hurt to have boost and EGT gauges to keep an eye on things.

A factory 1HDFTE 105 series RV would have been my pick, pity...

Regards,

Ross.

Alex,

Sorry mate, think that there is no such cruiser, hence the pity...

Ross.