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Moo

Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1368

I love the tales of woe re the D3 / 4. I've owned and run three of them. My first D3 I bought new in 2005 and I sold it 14 years later with 231,000 miles on the clock. It was the most reliable car ever - its still going strong and I would buy it back instantly if I could find it

.
My others all did well over 140,000 miles each with no major problems.

All cars have issues, my new Defender included. As for working on them, they are no easier or worse than a Defender or D2 and with the right diagnostic tool you can deal with most electrical issues etc. Also, parts aren't that expensive.

I bought my daughter a 2008 D3 in January for when she finished her A levels in readiness for her road trip around Scandinavia and Iceland. She originally wanted a Defender, which was the plan, until she drove one! If I was worried about the D3, I wouldn't have bought her one.

Anyway, we've started moding it which is fun. This was her first accessory

Click image to enlarge Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.

18th Jul 2023 5:19pm

BrickBox

Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 818

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver

2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.

18th Jul 2023 5:24pm

lohr500

Member Since: 14 Sep 2014
Location: Skipton
Posts: 1316

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

I was thinking about a D2 a couple of years ago and found this firm near York.

https://www.specialistcars.net/

They specialise in Jap imports and have a few Disco 2s showing on their website. No idea if the prices are crazy or not, but I suspect the vehicles will be very clean and tidy, like most Jap imports appear to be.

I have no affiliation with them and I never went to see them. Just chucking the idea of a Jap import into the ring.

18th Jul 2023 5:25pm

NickMc

Member Since: 01 Oct 2014
Location: Norn Iron
Posts: 1624

I haven’t bought anything off Specialist Cars, but they’ve bought some parts off me and they were very professional to deal with

Last edited by NickMc on 18th Jul 2023 6:24pm. Edited 1 time in total

18th Jul 2023 5:47pm

MartinK

Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey

Chicken Drumstick wrote:
MartinK wrote:
Just a wee spanner regards ACE. On an air-sprung vehicle, ACE is more beneficial. On a coil sprung (which I had) the ACE plays less of a roll (no pun intended )

I suspect physics would disagree. The EAS and ACE are not linked as far as I know and apart from the spring rate, the EAS offers no additional anti roll benefits.

I was just meaning the coil sprung (with ARB) handles OK without ACE. My ACE stopped working at 186000 miles (I bought the Disco2 new in 2002) so I had it removed. Mine had coil springs. It was OK with the ACE removed and ARB installed. Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

18th Jul 2023 6:00pm

Chicken Drumstick

Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 721

Have a watch here. It really shows how remarkable ACE is:
&list=WL&index=35&ab_channel=ROVR

Of course no ACE and a regular metal ARB is 'fine'. Land Rover sold this configuration. And fundamentally is no different to an RRC, D1 or p38 bar the Watts linkage. But in non ACE guise the D2 would probably lean more than all of the other vehicles in that test.

I really wish LR had added ACE to the p38, but sadly it wasn't to be.

18th Jul 2023 7:49pm

mini Anaconda

Member Since: 23 Aug 2016
Location: Thames Valley
Posts: 783

I have a 2004 Discovery 2 Td5, ES Premium so it has all the toys.
I use it as my daily driver and love it - agree with everything that has already been written so nothing more to add. Be prepared to spend money on it but the majority of things can be sorted yourself if you are reasonably competent with spanners.

Buy the best you can afford but no necessarily the most expensive! BORG - Bucks & Oxon 4x4 Response Group

18th Jul 2023 9:01pm

edward

Member Since: 08 Jan 2023
Location: Lincs
Posts: 151

NickMc wrote:
I haven’t bought anything off Specialist Cars, but they’ve bought some parts off me and they were very professional to deal with

Good to know thanks. They have been on my radar so will explore what they have. Thanks.

18th Jul 2023 9:06pm

seriesonenut

Member Since: 19 Nov 2014
Location: Essex
Posts: 1211

I had one a few years back, that made me nostalgic ! We filled it to the brim with bikes dogs and kids and it went everywhere with no drama.A good car. 2010 XS USW
1957 Series One 88 diesel
1958 Series One 88 4x2

18th Jul 2023 9:11pm

NickMc

Member Since: 01 Oct 2014
Location: Norn Iron
Posts: 1624

You can get a td5 engine on a pallet in the boot too which is another plus I forgot about

18th Jul 2023 9:16pm

derbywill

Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 557

We bought a Japanese import 4.0 V8 D2 a little over 4 years ago. The condition of them is amazing, no corrosion what so ever. and they are low mileage and well specced, the only thing to look out for is the external plastics can fade and be brittle.
We did also have to put a new block in as the liners slipped (a common problem) We got the new unit from Turners with the uprated camshaft and worked cylinders heads, also had the ECU upgraded from Tornado motorsport and running the larger P38 MAF.
Overall fuel isn't great (you don't buy one for that) but still brings a smile every time we drive it, it also has a Griffin performance exhaust so sounds lovely !

Cheers

Will 2005 90 XS
1954 86'' Series 1 tilt
1968 88” 2A 200tdi
2002 110 Hardtop

19th Jul 2023 2:56pm

edward

Member Since: 08 Jan 2023
Location: Lincs
Posts: 151

Sounds lovely. Where did you get yours from if you don’t mind me asking?
(I bought a perfect bmw 5 series japanese import a few years back that was 19 years old and had done less than 20,000 miles… it’s an amazing car)
Ed.

19th Jul 2023 2:59pm

derbywill

Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 557

We got ours from Goodmayes Motors at Dartford, they are Japanese importers, with all the weird and wonderful Japanese vehicles they have over there.
Another couple of things to remember with a Japanese import is the Radio is the wrong frequency and will need replacing, also the central locking keys and receiver are a different frequency as well.
Both of these are easily replaced with UK spec parts.
Ours had done 60,000mi but the condition is just amazing. Definitely get some rust proofing done.

Cheers

Will 2005 90 XS
1954 86'' Series 1 tilt
1968 88” 2A 200tdi
2002 110 Hardtop

19th Jul 2023 7:37pm

edward

Member Since: 08 Jan 2023
Location: Lincs
Posts: 151

Thanks will Check them out. - and yes my bmw radio only picks up bbc radio2!

19th Jul 2023 8:02pm

Mean Green

Member Since: 15 Sep 2011
Location: South Ayrshire
Posts: 280

I had a D2 a good few years ago and regretted selling it as soon as it drove off my drive.

So much so I have recently got another one - 2000 X reg, TD5ES 7 seat (top spec at the time)- with a whopping 20,000 (Yes TWENTY THOUSAND miles! with MOT history to confirm. I even have the original bill of sale, dealer key rings etc). It belonged to a friend of a friend who bought it new, had it for a couple of years then took ill and could not drive. Sat on his drive ever since. Sadly he recently passed away and I got the chance of it.

It is in 1st class condition, I don't think anyone has ever sat in the rear seats, and I don't think seats 6 and 7 had ever been folded down!

Only a couple of minor issues - mostly due to lack of use. Rear ACE pipes had corroded. These have now been replaced with hydraulic pipes.

Aircon is not working - I assume it just needs gassed and is on the to do list.

Saggy headliner is out and will be re-covered as soon as I get back from hols.

I have had a hankering for a D2 for a while and this is as close to perfect as I could expect and I love it... BUT, I think I will be looking to move it on. I have a company car as a daily driver and my Defender is my baby. So either the 90 or D2 will just end up sitting around and not getting used - and probably deteriorating as a result. So much as I know I will regret it and would be unlikely to even get another one anything like it again, it will probably need to go.

19th Jul 2023 9:13pm

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