Electronic handbrake

Our familiarity with the Defender means we know it is the smallest thing that can make the biggest difference to the driving experience. How many of us have cursed the Defender handbrake? In order to maximise space in the driver’s footwell, we replace the awkwardly placed lever with a conveniently mounted switch which operates the standard mechanism by the press of a button. When fitted with the automatic gearbox, Handbrake operation is integrated to automatically release when driving away.

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JE Vision Safety Kit

Much of a Defender’s design is based on basic function. Standard wiper systems front and rear are typical. This JE-designed kit provides an intermittent function for the rear wiper which also wipes three times after washing and a variable speed intermittent function for the front wipers. The inadequate standard Defender single front windscreen wash nozzle is replaced by two wide-angle washer jets fitted to the bonnet.

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Noise reduction

Defender 90 Stage 1 Noise Reduction-

Stage 1 includes Noise Killer foam material applied to entire floor, seat box, transmission tunnel, rear wheel arches and rear side panels.

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Defender 90 Stage 2 Noise Reduction-

Stage 2 adds Dynamat panels placed strategically around the interior to reduce resonance in the thin metal panels. Dynaliner foam material is also added to the inside of the roof panels to reduce noise and help insulate the cabin. Soundproofing also applied to the bonnet.

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Defender 110 Stage 1 Noise Reduction-

Stage 1 includes Noise Killer foam material applied to entire floor, seat box, transmission tunnel, rear wheel arches and rear side panels.

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Defender 110 Stage 2 Noise Reduction-

Stage 2 adds Dynamat panels placed strategically around the interior to reduce resonance in the thin metal panels. Dynaliner foam material is also added to the inside of the roof panels to reduce noise and help insulate the cabin.

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Transfer box upgrades

We don’t just suppress and manage noise, we also work to eliminate it at source. The Defender transfer box is one of the sources of back-lash, and therefore clunks, in the drivetrain. Reconditioning the internal parts can greatly reduce this. Working on the transfer gearbox is also an opportunity to alter the drive ratio to make the engine performance more compatible with typical road speed. With a more torquey or more powerful engine we can reduce the engine speed when cruising by altering the drive ratio on the transfer box. Several ratios are now available, but as an example a tuned TD5 engine works much better with a 1.2 : 1 transfer box, instead of the standard 1.4 : 1 unit, reducing the engine speed at 70 mph by about 400 rpm.

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Interior trim upgrades

Perhaps the most exciting way to improve comfort is by improving the interior trim. Leather, Alcantara, and other materials can be fitted to many surfaces, and the padding of the seats and other contact points can be enhanced with the same processes. We don’t have a trim shop within JE, but we work with a number of expert specialist partners who can offer a bewildering variety of trim options.