This Defender Has a BMW Engine… and It Changes Everything

Then came the Defender 2.8i, which feels like an odd detour. During BMW’s time with Land Rover, a small run in South Africa swapped the usual diesel for a gasoline inline six. That one change shifts the whole character.

The key piece is the BMW M52 engine. It is a 2.8-liter twin-cam unit with 190 hp and 213 lb-ft of torque. It revs to 6,000 rpm, which is not something you expect from a Defender. Compared to the usual low-rev diesel, this feels like a different machine.

Performance reflects that. It does 0 to 60 mph in about 9.1 seconds. Power comes in smoothly, not in one big shove. It still uses a 5-speed manual and full-time four-wheel drive, so the basics stay the same. Off-road ability is still there, but on the road, it feels more relaxed and easier to live with.

Production was small. Only 656 units were built, which is a big part of why people care about it now.

This specific 2000 model is heading to auction at Barrett-Jackson, and it is not stock. It went through a frame during restoration, and the M52 engine has been rebuilt, suggesting recent work and attention to reliability.

The build leans toward a restomod style. LED lights replace the originals, and the front end gets custom bumpers and a different grille. The gray-and-black finish keeps it understated. It sits on black wheels with wide, low-profile tires, which lean more toward road use than rough trails.

Inside, it follows the same idea. Black leather bucket seats with diamond stitching replace the basics. The rear adds four folding seats. The dashboard is wrapped in leather but keeps the original gauges with brass rings. You also get Bluetooth and tinted glass.

There is no set price yet, but a similar diesel model from the same era was listed at $87,000. This one, with its rarity and changes, could easily go beyond that.