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Jungleboy



Member Since: 08 Dec 2016
Location: Ontario
Posts: 1

Canada 
Buying a used Defender
Hi There ,
I'm recently looking at buying a used 2003 defender TD5 pickup . The truck is in Costa Rica which is where I live 6 months out of the year . I took the truck for a drive and it was awesome and well maintained by the original owner . My only concern is that the truck has 280,000 kms . Should this be a concern ? Thx !!
Post #583397 8th Dec 2016 3:26am
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xcentric



Member Since: 17 Jan 2016
Location: Midlands
Posts: 247

depends on whether it's been well serviced and looked after, and what the price is..... no reason a maintained diesel engine can't easily cope with that mileage, and by now much of the suspension should have been replaced or be due for it, so it should reflect in price depending on what's been done.

Get it checked by a good garage if you're not sure, or ask a knowledgeable Landy local to help?

good luck!
Post #583428 8th Dec 2016 8:46am
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CDN38



Member Since: 14 Nov 2014
Location: Courtenay, BC
Posts: 729

Canada 2000 Defender 110 Td5 SW Bonatti Grey
If you can get any sort of service records it would be a huge help. Knowing what issues the vehicle has had, and what kind of maintenance has been performed can be a telling story. it's a Landrover thing...

my renovation thread:
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40792.html
Post #583510 8th Dec 2016 5:00pm
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RED-DOT



Member Since: 29 Jun 2009
Location: stirling
Posts: 2363

Scotland 
Service history is immaterial if it has had one rough owner. Some people are not mechanically kind and treat a Defender like a Eurobox. If driven correctly and with sympathy they do last well, driven by an idiot they fall to bits. 2008 RS4 gone, 123d M Sport, and a Puma 90 XS..
Post #583515 8th Dec 2016 5:14pm
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CDN38



Member Since: 14 Nov 2014
Location: Courtenay, BC
Posts: 729

Canada 2000 Defender 110 Td5 SW Bonatti Grey
Sorry RED-DOT, I couldn't disagree more that "Service history is immaterial". It's extremely important.

If you are seeing a truck with constant repairs to suspension, and steering, history of overheating, frequent clutch replacements, more than typical intervals for brake replacements, you know the truck has been driven hard, and probably abused. On top of that, has the oil been changed at regular intervals, along with other fluids? How would you know? I would hesitate buying an early model Td5 (10P) with over 150,000KM that doesn't have record of the head being changed. If it doesn't, I would be looking at compensation in asking price as you know it's going to need doing.

A truck that has regular documented service intervals, fluid changes and a solid track record of being taken care of is a lower risk to purchase than the "mystery machine" that may not have had transmission oil changed in 100,000km, and is still running on the factory installed fuel filter. it's a Landrover thing...

my renovation thread:
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40792.html
Post #583518 8th Dec 2016 5:45pm
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RED-DOT



Member Since: 29 Jun 2009
Location: stirling
Posts: 2363

Scotland 
My Defender was stamped up by main dealer only during warranty, recalls and warranty repairs are not listed in the service book. All the repairs done during warranty and since have been done by myself and a well trusted local independent. So what you are saying is that unless every penny spent is documented a Defender is un-sellable? My 2007 90 gets oils and filters done annually and greased and new pads long before they are due. At 9 years old and with 40,000 genuine one driver/owner is worth less than a to the moon and back fully serviced hack? 2008 RS4 gone, 123d M Sport, and a Puma 90 XS..
Post #583527 8th Dec 2016 6:17pm
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CDN38



Member Since: 14 Nov 2014
Location: Courtenay, BC
Posts: 729

Canada 2000 Defender 110 Td5 SW Bonatti Grey
When I say "Service History" I'm not referring only to what the dealer is stamping in the book. I am also referring to any work done by the owner (with receipts for parts) and /or receipts from reputable shops that have done the repairs and maintenance. They usually have mileage down on work orders, so it's easy to see what work is being done at what stage of the vehicles life.

Any Defender is sellable in this day and age, what's debatable is what is it "worth" and I think that is different to everyone. What one person would be willing to pay, will be different to another. A well maintained and looked after vehicle is always more valuable, and paperwork of some sort to back that up is crucial.

My point is this, if you were looking to buy a Defender today, would you purchase with an overall history like yours? From an owner like you that takes care of it, and has paperwork showing what parts and repairs have been undertaken during it's service life. Or one that has no history, and you don't know who has worked on it, or what has been done to it over time? it's a Landrover thing...

my renovation thread:
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40792.html
Post #583534 8th Dec 2016 6:40pm
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RED-DOT



Member Since: 29 Jun 2009
Location: stirling
Posts: 2363

Scotland 
I understand where you are coming from but being an ex Land Rover mechanic and owner since 1974 i can spy a lemon a mile away. Paperwork proves one thing to me that the owner couldn't put nuts in a monkeys mouth. 95% of repairs done to my vehicles has been done by myself and the parts paper trail long lost in my accountants wheelie bin.
I changed the oil & filters last month, where do i write this down?
I have seen dozens of main dealer stamped up Defenders i could spend thousands on just to bring them up to decent standard condition. 2008 RS4 gone, 123d M Sport, and a Puma 90 XS..
Post #583538 8th Dec 2016 6:53pm
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Huttopia



Member Since: 23 Feb 2016
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 1972

United Kingdom 
My grandfather was an engineer. He did all of his own vehicle maintenance and just kept a log of it in a small book. Nothing fancy just dates, mileage, work carried out, cost and any notes of interest. I'd have more faith in that sort of record than a stamped up book or online record. No record however means you're just buying just with eyes and ears, and it isn't difficult to dress a lemon well enough to fool 8 out of 10 cats.
Post #583547 8th Dec 2016 7:19pm
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CDN38



Member Since: 14 Nov 2014
Location: Courtenay, BC
Posts: 729

Canada 2000 Defender 110 Td5 SW Bonatti Grey
There hasn't been a dealer stamp on a Defender over here in 20 years. With my NAS 90, the only time it saw a dealer was for warranty, and once that expired, it never went back.

The playing field is a little different over here when buying a Defender. Most of them here are bought overseas as cheap as possible, brought in and "tarted up" as cheap as possible, and sold to un-suspecting, un-informed well intentioned buyers looking to drive that rare classic "African Safari Truck" for as much profit as can be squeezed out by the importer. It's big business, with big $$ attached. A 2000 Td5 110 just sold locally for £52,000. Average condition, with a few accessories, roamer drive, new cylinerhead, and Frontrunner rack. It sold within 2 days of being advertised. The owner had all receipts from the local specialist, for everything done since he purchased it 2 years ago. Without that, he never would have fetched that price.

For the relative small number of enthusiasts here that know what they are looking at, it's pretty easy to spot the lemons (or tarts as I like to call them). For those trucks that have been here going on several years now, they are either serviced by the local Defender Specialist, or "the local garage". Servicing with the local Defender Specialist adds value here on resale, as they actually know what they are doing. The local garage doesn't have a clue, or much access to genuine parts, so it's a big red flag. With the non-availability of parts, it also makes it a struggle for one to do one's own work. (unless every time you need something you feel like waiting a few weeks for your parts to arrive, and at great expense)

None the less, for the typical average person, seeing the last photo of this advert goes towards showing how the owner cares for his vehicle. It has worth.

http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50992.html it's a Landrover thing...

my renovation thread:
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40792.html
Post #583560 8th Dec 2016 8:03pm
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