Recommended Landrover Mechanics in Morrocco
 

Hi All,

Having just decided to re route to Morrocco instead of Libya, we have now reached Spain having tanked up lots of miles on our lovely 300 Tdi. I've tinkered around but am not a mechanic and thus want your recommendations for good landy mechanics in Morrocco to do a 6,000 mile service and general provision of Landy TLC.

Please advise.

Paul

Paul,

I wouldn't worry too much about servicing the LR after driving on road from the UK to Spain (unless you had a better idea than driving on tarmac all the way ;-). Assuming your LR had a full service job done before you left home, all you may want to do is changing engine oil (unless it's one of those expensive brands advertised to last twice as long), greasing the propshafts, checking there are no loose bolts, hose clips, dodgy suspension bushing, excessive oil leaks, etc. Any garage that looks respectable enough should be able to do it. You can tell them you want to watch to learn and if they agree you will make sure they are not going to fake the job.


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Roman (UK)
www.overlandcruiser.info

Land Rover in Casablanca aren't anywhere as expensive as an official dealership in the UK - see landrover.com for details.

Or this guy in Marrakech will do a good job for a fair price - no trying to rip you off etc:
http://www.roamingyak.org/morocco/di..._mechanic.html

Note: Always best to take your own oils (ie; buy from a Shell station) and bits along if possible

If you have something to weld, they do it everywhere, but for the spare parts it's only Casablanca.

I agree with Roman, just do the minor stuff when you're away. And dj is right in saying take your own oils.

That said, you may *need* a mech. In most towns you can easily find somewhere that looks ok, I usually keep a close eye on them though.

Specifically, in Zagora, where our trucks tend to need some TLC, there is a good place in the centre. There's a good guy called, er, I think it's Mohammed (!) who wears green LR overalls and does stuff for an ok price. They brazed one of my brake lines when I was last there and it's still on the 110...

Rgds,
Nick.

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Nick Taylor
www.exerro.com
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1996 BMW F650
1996 300 TDi 90
1997 NAS D90 ST #685
1998 Camel Trophy 110 CT47

Thanks everyone for this, I'll let you know how we get on,

Paul

The Land Rover garage located outside Rabat had impressive facilities but was run by a fairly dozy bunch who were not interested in doing anything without an appointment.

Re service intervals Tom Shep. advises you to check and re-grease your wheel bearings after 10,000 miles.

Echoing Roman's comments I would not recommend this. Providing you regreased them before you left i would leave them alone. You'll also have difficullty finding lithium based grease (high melting point) and a clean work area neccesary for the task.

Erraji Nourdine in Erfoud is a good guy. There is a good parts supplier there too.

I got an '85 110 2.5d recently that is very smokey & low on power and possibly needs proper testing of the injection pump timing, could even be in for a head job or more, although on the plus side it could simply be clearing the nozzles; plus has got seriously dodgy transmission.

Trouble is, being in the Alps there isn't much in the way of economical high quality repairs sufficiently local, and most of the tasks need a garage. As it looks as though I'll be driving it to Morocco later in the year, and I'd rather be there waiting for repairs than Spain, is say the official Land Rover place in Casablanca — or others in Morocco — good quality, economical, and has the technical testing equipment? Would the potential cost of shipping spares offset the lower labour cost? Should I try to sort everything in Spain on the way, assuming there are good Landy mechanics there?

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Hey Markie, where are you?
There's a good independant repair place in Grenoble, called Happy 4x4, St Martin d'Hères. If you need a fix to get you to Sète for the ferry to Tangiers they'll sort you out.
I'll dig out their number if you're interested.
cheers
Luke

Hi Luke,

I'm in les Menuires; Grenoble would be alright although a bit of a hike; for the time being the car is kind of being left to itself, as a new starter motor seems to have gone when it was really cold, and it doesn't seem particularly worth working on it until the weather improves.

The engine and transmission stuff isn't all that urgent so could wait for Morocco, although I may feel differently when the snow melts and it's possible to work on the Landy without getting hypothermia http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

Really it's a question of whether I would save a bunch or even, all else being equal, quality/price/technical, could justify a journey to Morocco to myself, and enjoying the warmth and the change of scene while getting the Landy repaired. Plus once I've got it in good working order, I may head on as far as West Africa.

I found a web directory for Happy 4x4, thanks for that, they could well be a good idea at various times, and maybe I'll give them a chance at the timing and nozzles.

Albertville Rover, I checked the price of a starter motor from them when I got the one that seems to have gone, €450+, compared to what £130 inc shipping & VAT from Craddocks. I hope the one I got has only gone temporarily and'll revive when the weather improves.

What I'm thinking though is that serious engine and transmission stuff involves the technical equipment for the timing, the cranes for the transmission, and above all the time involved at a garage, so in just 8-10 hours' labour, €40+ plus VAT per hour compared to, what, maybe 40-100 dirhams per hour, basically saves the cost of travel to Morocco.

www.grenoble.cci.fr/FichierConsulaire/FC_Fiche2/motcle/CCI/40542/CPTENT/35672

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Mark