The Defender thread

Working class heroes · 13-02-2020 03:06PM

Yawlboy wrote: »

Check the bottoms of the doors, the bulkhead, the chassis, every steel bit basically for rust.

I found the biggest cost was new doors when I was restoring mine. The frames tend to rust away on them and new ones are bloody expensive.

Cheers. He says it’s all solid and the pictures seem to confirm.
Plan to take it for a spin. Anything to watch out for in that regard?
Thanks.

Yawlboy · 13-02-2020 05:49PM

Working class heroes wrote: »

Cheers. He says it’s all solid and the pictures seem to confirm.
Plan to take it for a spin. Anything to watch out for in that regard?
Thanks.

Make sure that it goes through the gears ok, the clutch on them is very heavy and the brakes are so-so. They are a basic vehicle with heavy everything so if you are not used to driving one they can seem very agricultural. However parts are cheap and readily available for them. Rust is the biggest problem.

Suckler · 13-02-2020 06:41PM

Check the swivels on the front hubs for pitting and grease leaking from them.
Put your hand on the drive shafts and give them a shake to see if the UJ's are in good shape.
As other posters said; smooth gear changes and rust are the main ones

iwillhtfu · 13-02-2020 08:54PM

Working class heroes wrote: »

Cheers. He says it’s all solid and the pictures seem to confirm.
Plan to take it for a spin. Anything to watch out for in that regard?
Thanks.

If it's raining during the test wear wellies

As mentioned rust is your biggest issue. If he's an enthusiast he would probably have undersealed it and a serious enthusiast would have a galvanised chasis and have broken it down and built it up himself so I wouldn't mind the enthusiast bit.

Don't be afraid to prod a poke every panel including the floors.

Working class heroes · 14-02-2020 01:57PM

Lads,
The defender I’m going to look at was imported from the UK last year (no problem with that). However on the MOT site it’s only showing its last MOT(Jan ‘19, pass no advisories). Any thoughts why it’s not showing anymore?
Thanks.

Working class heroes · 16-02-2020 06:18PM

Working class heroes wrote: »

Lads,
The defender I’m going to look at was imported from the UK last year (no problem with that). However on the MOT site it’s only showing its last MOT(Jan ‘19, pass no advisories). Any thoughts why it’s not showing anymore?
Thanks.

Lads, any thoughts on the MOT issue?
He says he is not sure but it may have spent most of its life in Gernsey.

Chassis has been repaired in the past but it’s rock solid at the moment. Bulk head seems grand. The only corrosion I spotted was at the bottom of the back door frame. A small hole.
All in all it seems very sold, everything works and it drives dry well. Gears nice and smooth.
I know it’s not an easy ask but what opinions are would you all have on something like this price wise.

Thanks.

Working class heroes · 17-02-2020 10:45PM

Ah, I think I’ll be passing on this one. As I said it looks ok but just too many unanswered questions on its history.

Anyway if anyone out there is selling a pre 1990 defender 90/110, might consider an early 90’s example.
Must be solid and clean with a test. All styles considered so please drop me a PM.

Someone please take my money!!!:)

wrcarter · 27-12-2020 07:48AM

I thought I’d add to this thread to keep it alive. I’ve just picked up my first defender. A 1989 110 CSW. It’s in reasonably good shape but does need some work. A bit of rust starting on the bulkhead and could do with doors sooner rather than later. Chassis has been repaired but seems solid now. Sunroof leaks but that seems common.

I’m planning to tidy it up as opposed to a full resto. I like the patina look it has at the moment but if I put on new doors, I won’t be able to match it so going to have to respray it at some point.

Where do ye normally order your parts from. There are some good uk LR sites but I’m not sure how they are going to work with duties/Vat etc.

Nekarsulm · 27-12-2020 09:13AM

Congrats on your Landy purchase!
Its getting onfor 20 years since I was buying pars for a 90, but I dealt with these guys back then and had no complaints at all.
Dunno where you are based, but it's a 2 hour drive from me in Co. Cavan.

https://www.blrcvehiclespecialist.co.uk

emaherx · 27-12-2020 09:27AM

wrcarter wrote: »

I thought I’d add to this thread to keep it alive. I’ve just picked up my first defender. A 1989 110 CSW. It’s in reasonably good shape but does need some work. A bit of rust starting on the bulkhead and could do with doors sooner rather than later. Chassis has been repaired but seems solid now. Sunroof leaks but that seems common.

I’m planning to tidy it up as opposed to a full resto. I like the patina look it has at the moment but if I put on new doors, I won’t be able to match it so going to have to respray it at some point.

Where do ye normally order your parts from. There are some good uk LR sites but I’m not sure how they are going to work with duties/Vat etc.

I'm fairly sure the doors of an unrestored 80's defender are not ment to match the original paintwork.

wrcarter · 27-12-2020 09:31AM

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Congrats on your Landy purchase!
Its getting onfor 20 years since I was buying pars for a 90, but I dealt with these guys back then and had no complaints at all.
Dunno where you are based, but it's a 2 hour drive from me in Co. Cavan.

https://www.blrcvehiclespecialist.co.uk

Cheers, the are based in the north so could be similar issues with vat etc. I might just wait a week or two until everyone figures out what’s going on. I’m from Laois so a bit of a spin but if getting a few parts it might justify it.

leinsterdude · 27-12-2020 09:33AM

any thoughts on the new defenders ?

wrcarter · 27-12-2020 09:34AM

emaherx wrote: »

I'm fairly sure the doors of an unrestored 80's defender are not ment to match the original paintwork.

I agree. If it wasn’t for the few bits of rust I’d leave the patina. My wife doesn’t like it though. I am hoping to use it for family days out etc so I need to make it look “acceptable”. A PO used to take it across Europe for holidays.

Nekarsulm · 27-12-2020 10:01AM

wrcarter wrote: »

Cheers, the are based in the north so could be similar issues with vat etc. I might just wait a week or two until everyone figures out what’s going on. I’m from Laois so a bit of a spin but if getting a few parts it might justify it.

It's not the VAT that might be a problem ( although, it seems like there may be no tariffs between NI and Rep.Ire) it would be the import duty and the Irish Customs.....
Pretty much unavoidable if you ordered by courier, but 95% avoidable if collecting yourself.....

iwillhtfu · 27-12-2020 10:11AM

wrcarter wrote: »

I agree. If it wasn’t for the few bits of rust I’d leave the patina. My wife doesn’t like it though. I am hoping to use it for family days out etc so I need to make it look “acceptable”. A PO used to take it across Europe for holidays.

No offence OP but I couldn't imagine a worse family vehicle particularly for long road trips. The newer pumas probably wouldn't be terrible to be fair. If carrying the family I'd look seriously into a roll cage.

As for the rust and petina, there will be no shortage of either over the years and like an iceberg the rust you can see will only be the tip. You mention the chassis has been repaired which means the rot was there I'd be checking to make sure whoever repaired it hasn't just moved the problem further along the chassis.

Silicone will fix the sunroof but it could be coming in from several other places. Window seals,bulk head, front vents.

banjolin · 28-12-2020 02:18PM

leinsterdude wrote: »

any thoughts on the new defenders ?

Nope.

Nekarsulm · 28-12-2020 02:42PM

leinsterdude wrote: »

any thoughts on the new defenders ?

Run away, run very fast.

I think from running reports ( on YouTube, admittedly) that Land Rover Defenders are best avoided untill they go100% electrical....

Marlow · 28-12-2020 11:26PM

leinsterdude wrote: »

any thoughts on the new defenders ?

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Run away, run very fast.
I think from running reports ( on YouTube, admittedly) that Land Rover Defenders are best avoided untill they go100% electrical....

Just check out the TFLcar channel on their Defender issues ... https://www.youtube.com/c/TFLcar/videos

They went through 2 broken Defenders, before they got a working one. Each of them at sub 200 km. Well .. one didn't even get delivered, cause the dealers cut through a loom to install a winch just to find out, that said loom can't be replaced. At least not easily.

And even when they finally got their current one, it throws all sort of sensors faults, when offroading. Silly stuff.

/M

Nekarsulm · 29-12-2020 12:07AM

Ha! I have a 3 litre Trooper that I'd trust before I'd trust a brand new Defender at that rate of going.
Saved myself €84,000 into the bargain!
Wouldn't say "no" to a 200 tdi Disco if it was solid and most of the bits worked, though.

leinsterdude · 29-12-2020 09:17AM

thats gas, they look class, commercial hard top coming soon, about 40k for a 90 hard top.

scotchy · 30-12-2020 11:56PM

Halfords selling Castrol Magnatec 5W30 A5 half price at the moment.

https://www.halfords.ie/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/engine-oil/castrol-magnatec-5w30-a5-oil-4-litre-918672.html

.

oldsmokey · 23-01-2021 10:27PM

Didn’t much like them at the start, spent an hour nitpicking at Johnson and Perrott s cork, the gra started to grow...but pure and simple, they’re overpriced and unreliable...who the hell wants that?..

RiderOnTheStorm · 09-11-2023 03:45PM

looking to bump an old thread ....

And ...

Anyone have any success with installing a middle front seat on a 110?

Background: my son finally got the Defender of his dreams (has been looking for years) and it has 2 seats up front (not bench) and 2 side-facing benches in the back. He plans on converting back into mini-camper for weekends away with wife & kid. So he wants to put child seat up front and adding secure seating between existing seats seems like a no brainer. So I suppose my question is, if a child-seat in the back of a 'normal' car is restrained by a seatbelt, can something similar be done up front in Defender? Of does it have to be store bought Landy 3rd front seat? Any generic / compatible seats out there?

thanks in advance

staples7 · 14-08-2025 12:19PM

Hi All,

Casually looking at picking up a defender within next few years. Would love to see any views (Pros or cons) with the below model. seems reasonable? But would need someone that really knows what they are talking about to go through it…

Pickup style appeals to me, wouldn't be vintage for another few years but presume I would be able commercial tax when VRT'd down south?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/land-rover-defender-90-svx-body-kit/38467590

RiderOnTheStorm · 18-09-2025 01:01PM

lovely looking land rover … price a tad high imho , but its a pickup style so …. I notice that there are only 2 pics inside and no pics of engine etc. Also, its not taxed or MOT'd . Last MOT was a pass in April 2024 .

On the plus side, old landrovers are very plentiful here (UK) and my son has a 30 year old one and has no problem finding parts etc (there are companies in India , China etc that make new parts for old LRs) and there are great communities and help for basic repairs. The old ones are all bolted & welded together and very few electronics that can go wrong.

If you are tempted to buy then DEF take a mechanic or very knowledgeable LR guy …. they can be a money pit if you get a bad 'un …. but great head turners when you get a good one

Alfaguy · 12-10-2025 07:40PM

Johnston + Perrott had a nice customer invite only "Defender day" down in their Cork showroom today. A crisp dry day for a nice drive so I headed down from Tralee in my new defender 110 hardtop. I am loving this jeep so much that I am using any excuse to go for a long drive in it even though I am so busy at home.

So I was surprised to see so many people there in their mostly fairly new defenders but there were a few older defenders and Land rovers there too. There were an estimated over 40 defenders. We were treated to some nice light breakfast things in the showroom and I had a chance to snoop around the other customers very impressive defenders.

I think this new defender is already becoming a cult vehicle just like its older brother has such is the enthusiasm the new owners have for them.

Then around 12:30 we set off in convoy headed down to the Sheen Falls Hotel in Kenmare for a very nice buffet lunch. The convoy obviously got split up a bit leaving Cork city with the traffic lights etc but we all regrouped while on the motorway and maintained a nice sedate pace all the way down. The sight of so many defenders old and new passing through the various villages caused a bit of a stir among bystanders.

All in all a very pleasant day out. Thanks to Dan O'Neil and gang for the invite and presiding over the days event.

The customers defender all lined up and my defender pictured recently.

Alfaguy · 12-10-2025 08:25PM

I was over at the Isle of Man Classic TT races in July and at the campsite I was staying in all out on its own stood this defender 90. It seems to have been sitting there for quite a while and I just thought it was such a pity that it is just left to rust in peace. It has some very nice wheels and accessories. I made some enquiries at the time as to who might be the owner but nobody seemed to know. I had notions of rescuing it and bringing it back to Ireland.

The car reg check sites are saying vehicle not found so that does not sound too good.

Alfaguy · 13-10-2025 12:35PM

Another nicely kitted out defender I spotted at the local shopping centre car park. Even complete with a few designer dents.

Alfaguy · 14-10-2025 08:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/115715754#Comment_115715754

I am loving mine so far - a July 2025 reg 110 hardtop in all black down to the wheels. Nearly 3,000km up on it now. Supremely comfortable and luxurious compared to the 2018 Landcruiser short wheel base it replaced. But the Landcruiser was very comfortable too and had a luxury vibe about it and I loved that too in the almost 7 years I had it. I just can't stand the looks and basic feel of the new Land cruisers but I was in the mood for a change anyway having owned three Landcruiser short wheel base models since 2006.

I think (hope) land rover have ironed out all the bugs that the earlier models had given its in production largely unchanged for 5 years. Mine has not missed a beat so far. I got the last of the available D300 diesel only engines. Now all you can get is the D250 if you want a new one. Does not seem to heavy on diesel either but I have not yet done a proper calculation.

John_Rambo · 17-10-2025 07:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123900398#Comment_123900398

There's one very similar to this one in Raheny going through a home refurb. Looks lovely, has "TURBO" on that stripe up the side in a lovely old font. Hopefully that will be retained.

The Defender thread

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