 | Home > Td5 > Early 2002 TD5 with lower mileage vs 2003 with higher? |
 
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| Setok Member Since: 16 Jan 2009 Location: Helsinki Posts: 422  
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We're currently considering the purchase of a Defender for our tech entrepreneurship touring project (a continuation of the Nordic tour I did). Looking for thoughts and experiences...
Yesterday we had a look at a 2003 one with 170K km (just over 100K miles). It was very slightly tatty on the inside, but seemed to drive well and felt solid. Rear wheel bearings changed, but was guessed to have the original clutch. Sold by a Land Rover specialist who's been in the business for long, is fairly nearby and does offroad and expedition mods and such. Well known amongst Landy owners. The other is registered right at the beginning of 2002. It's got 100K km (about 60K miles), looks in good shape in the pics. Stealer stated that it has mostly been used in the drier months as the owner was often away for the winter. Clutch repaired and rear bearings changed by stealer. I've heard that pre-2002 models can have some severe design problems, and as this was registered early 2002, would this then be a 2001 model? This one has more of the extras we'd like, such as Webasto and side steps. Sold by a generic Landy/Jag/Mazda/whatever dealer (didn't seem to know much about Defenders on the phone), and which is at least a 5 hour drive from here. It's also 2k more expensive and actually beyond our budget (so we'd need to work that out). As it's so far out, we haven't checked it for ourselves yet. Any thoughts? Especially on the year? We can't really be caught tinkering every weekend so would we potentially have less troubles with a well-known Landy specialist and enthusiastic dealer (somewhat the equivalent of Nene Overland, I guess)? |
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21st Jan 2011 12:50pm |
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| CFB Member Since: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire Posts: 803 
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I personally don't think age and mileage in the limits you are talking about are that cruicial when looking to buy a Defender, you need to see it, drive it, poke around it etc. I've seen 10 year old ones looking and driving better then 4 year old versions, its all down to how well it has been looked after and the sort of life it has led. Andy
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21st Jan 2011 1:01pm |
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| Setok Member Since: 16 Jan 2009 Location: Helsinki Posts: 422
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Except I live in Finland  110 TD5 Station Wagons are not common at all, and don't regularly change hands. The few on sale are often listed for months, unless they're being sold for a really sweet price. We could go and import one, and possibly even save some money, but for project use that could be loads more hassle, higher risk and we'd still have to invest into winter tyres and probably pre-heater, and would take longer to bring it into use — whereas we'd probably like to get moving sooner rather than later with stickers etc.Last edited by Setok on 21st Jan 2011 1:19pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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21st Jan 2011 1:14pm |
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| Setok Member Since: 16 Jan 2009 Location: Helsinki Posts: 422
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That would be my thinking as well. Any comment, though, on the possible year? Several people say LR fixed several problems with their 2002 model, and I'm guessing an early 2002 registration could be a 2001 model... |
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21st Jan 2011 1:16pm |
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| CFB Member Since: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire Posts: 803
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Not aware of any isses with <2002 cars, I know some of the early TD5 engines (1999-2000) had issues with the oil pump bolt working loose on some and the engine being wrecked if it came adrift, also had probs with oil tracking down the injector harness but I am not aware of any other big issues. Andy
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21st Jan 2011 1:25pm |
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| Zinke Member Since: 27 Jan 2009 Location: Scunthorpe Posts: 670 
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I would say that most of the problems on these 2 landys would have been found and fixed my now. Personally i would have the new one as land rover made some changes in 2002 to the defender, and some of them made things just a little better, and all of them added together makes quite a difference to me! Its the little things like central locking, electric windows and the centre console that make it a better truck to live with.
Mines got about 170k KM on the clock and is running fine, just little things the the suspension is getting tired and bits like that you will need to have looked at. Pete. |
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21st Jan 2011 2:00pm |
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| Setok Member Since: 16 Jan 2009 Location: Helsinki Posts: 422
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The older one we're looking at has a central console and leccy windows. I'm not sure about central locking, but I'm almost certain it has it (the keyring in the picture seems to have the bit that does remote locking). Would that make it a 2002 model?
Here's the one I'm looking at http://www.autokaari.fi/Vaihtoautot/Vaihto...r/Defender (Click XXL-Kuvat for larger pictures) |
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21st Jan 2011 2:34pm |
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| CFB Member Since: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire Posts: 803
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Looks like the newer model to me, has the uprated dash and elec windows
 Andy |
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21st Jan 2011 2:42pm |
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| kzycnn Member Since: 24 Apr 2009 Location: Northumberland Posts: 276 
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I'd agree with that. It has the dash that was introduced with the '02 model year.
Tony |
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21st Jan 2011 4:29pm |
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| Zinke Member Since: 27 Jan 2009 Location: Scunthorpe Posts: 670
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02 was the changeover year, by the way i read your post i thought it was a 02 but the earlier model. If they both have the same spec and are both the later TD5 spec then i would get the one in best condition, forget the mileage and more so the age and buy on condition. I would rather have mine which i know has been service to the letter rather than one a year younger with less mileage which i dont know the history of.
Pete. |
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21st Jan 2011 6:55pm |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 5013
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Apologies, didn't spot your location. I had a 2001 model and mechanically it was fine, loved the engine, had it from 48,000 to 77,000 but know a few that have done 250,000 one constant hard towing delivering boats in 3 years  . I just renewed the harness on mine as oil had krept into the ECU but it was saveable As said condition, sevice history and a reputable dealer counts for a lot. good luck |
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21st Jan 2011 8:00pm |
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| azure111s Member Since: 19 Jul 2009 Location: North Wiltshire Posts: 55 |
That's a 2002 MY. Mine was registered in May 2002 and is a 2001 MY as it has the older style dash'. That one's got the newer dash', for sure.
Only caveat is that mine's a 90 H/T, but I can't imagine that they'd have changed the dash' at different times on different models - the dash' is the dash'. |
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24th Jan 2011 5:30pm |
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| TC Member Since: 21 Nov 2010 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 715
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As Pete says above, go on condition not age.
I have an 03 with 130,000 on it. Short of a squeaky drive belt it runs sweetly. (I am sure I will regret saying that very soon  )
Go for the one in best condition, crawl all over it and make sure you have a seriously hard look at the underside, especially the back end. |
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25th Jan 2011 4:35pm |
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| Setok Member Since: 16 Jan 2009 Location: Helsinki Posts: 422
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Well, you'll be happy to know we now purchased a TD5 Defender! We bought the newer one from the reputable dealer, despite the extra miles and probably very slightly rougher cosmetic condition (we didn't see the other one in person). The dealer is well known amongst Landy folk, and their yard is full of Defenders, which to me is a good sign. Plus they chucked in some nice extras and promised to help with any problems. They're much closer by than the 2002 one.
So far it's been working great! Although I almost got stuck today. 15-20cm of new, wet, icy snow and trying to help a stuck neighbour in his van. While I tried to tow all four wheels were spinning and TC clicking (yes, diff lock was on). This led to the Landy digging down into the snow and it was no longer happy to move even without the van... Had to take a spade to dig it out a bit. Just goes to show even a Landy can get stuck quite easily if the conditions are wrong. I admit to feeling slightly embarrassed! It has a few niggly things the dealer has promised to look at. One thing I noticed today: at idle there's a kind of constant low whine of some sort. I can hear it inside and outside the vehicle. When I apply revs/movement it very quickly disapppears. Anything to be worry about or just one of those Landy noises — each one seems to have different ones. Another one: there's a clear gap between the instrument panel and the side of the dashboard (on the side of the central console). You could fit a narrow book in there! I can't remember that being on the Landy I used before, but I'm not sure. I can't really see how that could be closed up either. Normal? |
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8th Feb 2011 6:14pm |
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