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CincyRovers1

Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 102

Thoughts after four years of ownership and extended warranty

Hey all, just wanted to do a quick post briefly summing up my ownership experience over the past four years and what I'm doing going forward with my extended warranty. FYI, I am based in the US.

Today marks four years since I took delivery of my Defender. It also means that I no longer have a factory warranty. I purchased an eight-year, 120,000-mile extended warranty from my dealer for $4,511.43. I like many here prefer not to deal with extended warranties, but since I got special pricing, it was an offer I just couldn't refuse. I think they usually charge like $8k for this warranty. It is a full bumper-to-bumper warranty from ASC Warranty that covers everything except normal wear & tear items and exterior trim pieces. My car is warrantied out until January 2033 or 120,000 miles. As I write this I currently have 39,8xx miles, and plan on using my Defender as a daily for at least another 2-3 years before replacing it with a new daily and using it for off-roading, a winter beater while still driving it regularly. So the eight year mark will come before I reach 120k miles.

My Defender is a 2021MY 110 S P300. I originally was dead set on the P400, because I was coming from a V8 LR4 (D4) and also at the time had a supercharged D5. However, after driving several early vehicles, I just didn't like the throttle response. Below 2500 rpm it just felt completely dead, then you get a surge of torque all the way to redline. I then test drove a P300 and while it has noticeable turbo lag under 3000 rpm at wide open throttle from a standstill, it was very linear and in normal driving conditions, turbo lag is nearly imperceptible. I was very impressed and didn't feel slow or underpowered whatsoever. It has no issues getting up to speed and even when you're already at highways speeds, you can floor at and it still accelerates pretty well. I ended up going with the P300 and ended up saving about $15k compared to the P400 SE that I initially planned on ordering. I have driven newer P400 Defenders, and that throttle lag is no longer a thing. If I were to buy another one, I'd get a P400 or P500. Despite that, I still highly recommend the P300 as it still is a great engine and suits the Defender well. Ideally, I'd prefer that 3.0 I6 diesel that the ROW gets, but the engines we get here - P300 I4, P400 I6 and P500/P525 V8 are all excellent.

I placed my order on October 4, 2020 and took delivery on January 23, 2021. My car arrived exactly as I ordered it with the following options:

- Pangea Green metallic
- Acorn/Lunar Leather/Robust Woven Textile interior
- Light grey powder coated cross beam
- Off-Road Pack: Active electronic rear differential, off-road tires, and the 110v domestic plug socket
- Advanced Off-Road Capability Pack: Terrain Response 2, Configurable Terrain Response, and ATPC
- Comfort & Convenience Pack: Meridian sound system, center console refrigerator, and ambient lighting
- Cold Climate Pack: Heated windshield, heated washer jets, headlight power wash, and heated steering wheel
- Sliding panoramic roof
- Premium LED headlights with signature DRL
- Front fog lights
- 19" Style 6009 wheels
- Heated 12-way semi-powered front seats
- Rough-Cut walnut veneer

Some features like air suspension and the digital instrument cluster were standard equipment at the time, There are a few things I regret not adding including: ClearSight mirror, towing pack, 3-zone climate, HUD, and heated rear seats. Of course, the towing pack and ClearSight mirror can be retrofitted, and I plan on doing both in the near future.

I've also installed accessories over the past four years. The following accessories have been installed:

- Chequer plate rear bumper protector
- Rear recovery tow hooks
- Spare wheel cover
- Bright sport pedal covers
- Wheel arch protection
- Illuminated treadplates
- Roof cross bars

In terms of maintenance, I've always done oil changes/cabin filter every 5,000 miles, tire rotations every 5,000 miles, brake fluid at 21,000 miles, and I did the rear differential flush at 33,000 miles. I recommend doing this earlier than the recommended 62k intervals set my JLR. I also plan on draining and topping off the transmission fluid at 70k miles. I swapped out my OEM 19" wheels on the Wrangler Adventures for 20" wheels from an LR4 XXV Edition and Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws sized LT265/60R20.

As for warranty repairs:

- 03/2021 the ECU for the fuel pump went bad and was replaced
- 12/2021 the USB ports in the center console stopped working and were replaced
- 12/2022 the A-pillar trim was replaced per TSB# JLRTB0205NAS1
- 11/2023 the 12v battery was replaced as it couldn't keep enough charge to perform an OTA update
- 02/2024 the driver's side LED DRL went bad and headlight assembly was replaced
- 06/2024 the passenger's side LED DRL went bad and headlight assembly was replaced
- 08/2024 the center console armrest damaged and replaced, and TSB# JLRTB0276NAS2 for the keyless entry was performed
- 11/2024 the heated steering wheel quit working and was replaced
- 01/2025 the auxiliary radiator was leaking caused by damage from a rock. Radiator was replaced

Of course the Defender isn't perfect. No vehicle is. As for things I don't like:

- Cargo space in my 110 is abysmal with the second row in place. With it folded it is pretty generous. Still nowhere near as good as my old D5 and LR4 (D4).
- I don't really care that much for the swing-out tailgate. I know it has to be there because of the tire, but I miss the split tailgate on my old LR4 (D4).
- Headlights aren't that great. Low beams are perfectly acceptable, high beams are abysmal for a full LED system.
- A $70k Land Rover should have full power seats. I'm the only driver, so my seat stays in the same position, so the semi-powered seats are fine. But for the price, it should be full power, not just power backrest and 4-way power lumbar. New ones all have power seats.
- No reverse dip mirrors. This for some reason is tied to the memory seats on JLR products. Since I don't have memory seats, no reverse dip mirrors.
- It is a bit too wide for technical trails. The LR4 (D4) was the perfect width. If the Defender was 4"-6" narrower, it'd be perfect.

In all, I still absolutely love this car. It puts a smile on my face every single time I start it up. I still believe the Defender is one of the absolute best SUVs on sale at the moment. It can do just about everything. You can park it in front of the opera or fancy steakhouse on Friday night, tackle the toughest trails on Saturday and use it as a comfortable and luxurious daily the rest of the week. Mine has handled everything I've thrown at it, whether it's road trips, moderate off-road trails, hauling my friends around, or traversing 12" of snow, the Defender has always been my trusty companion allowing me to travel in style while being so confidence-inspiring. I have no intentions of selling it or trading it for a new one. This one is a keeper and here's to many more adventures!

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The day before I took delivery. How it arrived off the truck.

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Delivery day!

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Interior

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Off-roading at the Biltmore.

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Fun on the trails!

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a Pangea Green tripod.

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How it looks now after all the accessories I've installed since delivery. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone

Last edited by CincyRovers1 on 24th Jan 2025 2:02pm. Edited 3 times in total

23rd Jan 2025 7:16pm

eno

Member Since: 15 Apr 2024
Location: Qld
Posts: 38

Nice!!! (But I'm probably biased as there are a lot of similarities between our cars)
Not many Defenders with non-black wheels, and your current wheels look the part. It seems like you have had a good ownership experience too.

23rd Jan 2025 9:01pm

Moo

Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1432

Nice. If you know the car, what not keep it? Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.

23rd Jan 2025 9:39pm

WizzardPrang

Member Since: 05 Nov 2020
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 160

Nice one!

Again, I'm probably biased as it is similar to mine (ish). Mine was delivered in the same month you ordered yours.

Like you it makes me smile every time I drive it.

Current vehicle: 2020 Defender 110S
Gone: Defender 90 HT 200Tdi, Discovery Sport, Freelander 2

Insta: wizzardprang

23rd Jan 2025 10:11pm

haymeister

Member Since: 24 May 2021
Location: Saitama
Posts: 271

Thanks for the update!
That 8 year extended warranty seems like a steal.... just the DRL halo/headlight combo is around 4k USD. 22MY Defender 110 D300 S in Pangea Green and Contrast White Roof
IG defender_japan "Hulk san"

24th Jan 2025 5:49am

Eric Caterpillar

Member Since: 17 Jun 2024
Location: West of Scotland
Posts: 65

I bought my Defender with a view to keep it long term (also went for pangea green), therefore an extended warranty is something I will be getting at the end of the standard warranty. Think in the UK you can get a one-year extension each , but not sure about the cost just yet.

If you love the car and planning on keeping it, I say get the extended warranty for a peace of mind at least. The initial outlay should cover any unforeseen issues.

Thanks for the detailed ownership story, I enjoy reading post like that the most!

24th Jan 2025 8:04am

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2917

Moo wrote:
Nice. If you know the car, what not keep it?

l think he is planning to keep it.

24th Jan 2025 4:13pm

CincyRovers1

Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 102

lightning wrote:
I think he is planning to keep it.

Correct. I stated that in the last sentence of my post. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone

24th Jan 2025 6:46pm

WizzardPrang

Member Since: 05 Nov 2020
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 160

Eric Caterpillar wrote:
I bought my Defender with a view to keep it long term (also went for pangea green), therefore an extended warranty is something I will be getting at the end of the standard warranty. Think in the UK you can get a one-year extension each , but not sure about the cost just yet.

Mine was circa £1,100 this year including LR Assist. Current vehicle: 2020 Defender 110S
Gone: Defender 90 HT 200Tdi, Discovery Sport, Freelander 2

Insta: wizzardprang

24th Jan 2025 10:11pm

Hairy Dan

Member Since: 25 Apr 2013
Location: NW Durham
Posts: 1426

1998 Defender 90 V8 Petrol 50th Auto Chawton White

I also took the extended warranty out when my manufacturers warranty ran out in September and just like WizzardPrang I also took the one out with LR Assist at just under £1100

Cheers Ian
--------------------
22MY Defender 110 D200 SE, Fuji White.
Kielder 4x4 Safari
Instagram @defender_v8

24th Jan 2025 11:26pm

Retroanaconda

Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2688

I’m also on the extended warranty, for my fifth and final year as I won’t be able to extend it again beyond that. It’s expensive but it guarantees nothing will go wrong through Sod’s Law

The real test will be whether you keep it out of warranty.

25th Jan 2025 9:13am

Eric Caterpillar

Member Since: 17 Jun 2024
Location: West of Scotland
Posts: 65

Why did you say the fifth and final year? LR website states it's up to 10 years/100k miles?

Click image to enlarge

25th Jan 2025 1:12pm

Retroanaconda

Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2688

Because it’ll be at well over 100k by end of the fifth year.

25th Jan 2025 5:30pm

Eric Caterpillar

Member Since: 17 Jun 2024
Location: West of Scotland
Posts: 65

I nod my head in appreciation. That's some proper mileage in a fairly short period of time.

How would you rate your Defender given such a high mileage? Wear and tear, interior materials, suspension wise?

25th Jan 2025 9:00pm

Retroanaconda

Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2688

It’s truly excellent. Only wear and tear over 94k has been the brakes, and the only real issue I’ve had is a sooted up sensor in the exhaust manifold (caused a slight judder - fixed under warranty). Oh and I did flatten the battery by playing with CCF settings but that was my fault. Other than that it’s just been general (regular) servicing.

Interior materials are great, it’s a nice place to be regardless of what you’re doing. Ridiculously good off road, but can hammer 800 miles of motorway out no bother. No problems with the air suspension, which is remarkably good both on road and off - particularly for towing which is a dream.

The only downside is I don’t know what I will replace it with when the time comes. Like the OP it’s been ideal for me.

Day 2 of ownership:

Click image to enlarge

And a few weeks ago:

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25th Jan 2025 10:02pm

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