Viewing a possible new Defender, what to look for?

[HoHum]

Hopefully going to see a 10yr old Defender 90 county at weekend. Its for sale privately, so I know it's buyer beware, but any tips on things to ask about or check, especially anything specific to Defenders...?
thanks

 

[moses06]

I believe rust is the main problem with landies, otherwise good solid trucks!! ask to look at the MOT make a note of the certificate number, the DVLA website offers a facility for you to check any advisories, and although it won't tell you masses about the mechanical condition, it will tell you if it's had any corrosion and an indication of work thay may be needed sooner rather than later. check VIN numbers, and HPI it - good luck!

 

[ttt]

rust, rust and more rust....................

 

[PennyJ]

leaks, especially from sunroof and the alpine lights. If it doesn't have those features, that really is a big advantage!!!

I love my Landrover, but you have to learn to live with their funny little foibles.

 

[Tilda]

My husband is the chairman of our local 4x4 club and a bit of a landrover (defender and disco) geek! He says to check the following:

Rear cross member for rust
Corrosion around bottom of windscreen
Good look at chassis for rust

Hope that helps our defender is 22 years old and although OH has had to do a bit of welding we love it

 

[Fergal0304]

Try Googling - some technical info.

This looks a simpler one to follow;

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/what-look-out-when-buying-first-landy-22823.html

The quick guide may make sense !

 

[HoHum]

Thanks all... hopefully will be a good one, but definately checking for leaks and rust..And had a read on Landrover forum now too which has helped.. didn't realise there was such a thing!

 

[3DE]

You will love it or hate it - there's no inbetween. If you love it you will never want another car!

 

[chickeninabun]

We've recently bought a 15yo Disco, for trailer towing (me!) and off-roading (hubby) and I love it! Yes, it rattly and noisy and steers like a barge and has the acceleration of a small water biscuit, but it's fab!
The kids call it "daddy's tractor" and we had to take it to Asda yesterday because my youngest loves it so much! We all prefer it to the brand new Audi A6 we have!
My one tip, although you won't have these problems on an old Defender, is always make sure there is one electrical fault. Our passenger window doesn't work but we're too scared to fix it in case some other awful electrical fault comes up!! Because it's a landy and there's always one!

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I would echo Tilda's advice : those are the areas to look at. Mostly because the main body panels are aluminium, so those will be ok, but for strength the cross members under the body and the structural bits round the windscreen have to be steel and they doooo rust. Because they are structural they arent a nice to have, if they rust they have to be
repaired to pass an MOT

Also check that all the doors etc meet the body with only a small (and the same all the way round) gap, and that the bonnet gap with the Landy body is the same. Just to check for accident damage (eg rolling) or doors having been replaced.

I love Landys, I have a 2001 110 (long wheel base). its ex utility so grubby white but was cheap because of it. When we were (properly) snowed in last winter (we are on hill overlooking Cairngorm mountains) and it was parked down the bottom of our impassable track, it was there for few nights when it got down to -20 degrees and I hadnt started it at all.Dug it out of the drift, started first time, got to love that car.

 

[3DE]

Here's a couple of pics for you - road closed sign in Perthshire, detour would have taken us 85 miles out of our way. We went over it!

We then got to this

Then to this

Yes it really is taller than the car!

A couple of nicer pics...

We have a little trailer that matches

Oh and how could I forget this one. I'd decide to take it in the field, down a gully, through the stream back up the other side - no probs. Only to realise I was on an 'island' and could only get off the way I had come. Unfortunately the slope I had come down was too steep to go up and I had to be towed by our neighbours tractor How embarrassing!