Do not be put off of the TD5 by scare mongers, most of whom have never owned one they are far superior and refined, all this about don't touch them because of the electronics is bollocks. Drive a td5 then a tdi and decide. Good luck in your search, keep some money in reserve for security as much as poss.
 
lightning said:
If you are that bothered, fit an auxiliary heater!

There are a couple on the market. Alternatively if you have access to mains you could fit an engine pre-heater.
Click to expand...

I looked into fitting an auxiliary diesel heater but they work out expensive. A Webasto one worked out about a grand and a half. Unless you know some other ones? My coat was much less.
The last winter here wasn't too bad but it can get down to -18C for several weeks.
 
mikescuba said:
I have done everything on mine to try and improve the heating. New Rad, New Heater Matrix, Removed Viscous fan and fitted a Kenlowe electric fan. Rad muff, several different thermostats, sender units.Flushed through cooling system. Cleaned out the Heater fan system, replaced all the door seals made sure no gaps around the door. Fitted an electric ceramic heater. Refitted the Viscous fan. The most effective thing I have done which has made an improvement was to buy myself a new coat, gloves, hat and scarf. Takes a 15 mile drive before the temperature moves and warm air comes through. No change with the electric fan or the viscous fan or the rad muff. Someone tell me what I am missing here.
Click to expand...

Well that lot should have fixed the problem.

My 200tdi gets toasty hot - genuinely hot after its warmed up the metal the air has to pass through beneath the dash. So they are capable of getting a good amount of heat through.

I have also ditched the viscous, have an Eberspacher, but never use. The whole van is triple heat insulated on the roof, rear door and sides, plus the rear area is fully flat - so less volume to heat. The front doors are so well sealed that with the windows closed I can open the flaps and after an initial rush of air the cabin pressurises and then its almost as if they are shut - virtually no air comes in.




Plus I have this lot of plumbing to contend with....In theory with two separate heat exchangers before the cabin heater plus all the extra pipework I should have the worst 200tdi ever.

 
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Well, didn't have anyone to go with me to look at the 2005 td5 advertised as 'mint' and 'immaculate' this morning, but i took a checklist and a 'things to look out for' list that I found on Landy forums and also my Haynes manual. I crawled all over it the best i could but a few things made me walk away:

- The engine was hot when I got there. I asked him why he'd run it and he said 'to change the number plate'???
- The chassis seemed OK but just 'ok' for a 10 year old Landy.
- The bodywork was fairly tidy (no obvious rust patches) but he had done a really bad job of filling the holes where a snorkle used to be and also paint stripped down to the metal where the fittings of a roofrack used to be.
- the rear cross member (which he said he'd just had painted -alarm bells!!) had different tones when I knocked along it with my knuckles. Sign that rust is coming through.
- The flange on the exhaust pipe was severely corroded, flaking apart in my fingers.
- the reverse lights didn't work and when he took the bulb out, it was full of mud and I mean full!
- handbrake cable was slack
- there was water in both footwells under the mats (there was rain last night and this morning so I can only assume there's some kind of leak. He said it's because he washed it this morning but there was no trace of water anywhere else and water ingress is water ingress no matter what the source!
- headlamp mountings were severely corroded
- sump was leaking oil (not sure if the amount was an 'acceptable' amount by Landy standards but not having much experience to judge, i erred on the side of caution.
- still not sure about a td5 - think I definitely want a 300tdi.

All in all, even though these things may be fairly minor, I didn't think the vehicle commanded a price tag of 10K. Maybe I was over critical and cautious? Maybe not, but my gut feeling said walk away. I actually feel quite proud of myself and it has given me confidence for next time.

Still on the look out - just read an article in Land Rover magazine about the Defender Wolf. Army are getting rid of all their 90 Wolf Defenders. They have 300tdi engines and strengthened chassis - maybe one of these could be a possibility? Think I might take a look into one!!

Anyway, back home now chilling with a nice cold beer😀Have a good week everyone! 🍺🚙
 
becstar said:
Well, didn't have anyone to go with me to look at the 2005 td5 advertised as 'mint' and 'immaculate' this morning, but i took a checklist and a 'things to look out for' list that I found on Landy forums and also my Haynes manual. I crawled all over it the best i could but a few things made me walk away:

- The engine was hot when I got there. I asked him why he'd run it and he said 'to change the number plate'???
- The chassis seemed OK but just 'ok' for a 10 year old Landy.
- The bodywork was fairly tidy (no obvious rust patches) but he had done a really bad job of filling the holes where a snorkle used to be and also paint stripped down to the metal where the fittings of a roofrack used to be.
- the rear cross member (which he said he'd just had painted -alarm bells!!) had different tones when I knocked along it with my knuckles. Sign that rust is coming through.
- The flange on the exhaust pipe was severely corroded, flaking apart in my fingers.
- the reverse lights didn't work and when he took the bulb out, it was full of mud and I mean full!
- handbrake cable was slack
- there was water in both footwells under the mats (there was rain last night and this morning so I can only assume there's some kind of leak. He said it's because he washed it this morning but there was no trace of water anywhere else and water ingress is water ingress no matter what the source!
- headlamp mountings were severely corroded
- sump was leaking oil (not sure if the amount was an 'acceptable' amount by Landy standards but not having much experience to judge, i erred on the side of caution.
- still not sure about a td5 - think I definitely want a 300tdi.

All in all, even though these things may be fairly minor, I didn't think the vehicle commanded a price tag of 10K. Maybe I was over critical and cautious? Maybe not, but my gut feeling said walk away. I actually feel quite proud of myself and it has given me confidence for next time.

Still on the look out - just read an article in Land Rover magazine about the Defender Wolf. Army are getting rid of all their 90 Wolf Defenders. They have 300tdi engines and strengthened chassis - maybe one of these could be a possibility? Think I might take a look into one!!

Anyway, back home now chilling with a nice cold beer😀Have a good week everyone! 🍺🚙
Click to expand...

Good on you for walking away if it didn't seem right, for 10k you should be able to get a decent one , rear cross members are notoriously rust prone but not a major issue to get replaced. Leaks are a way of life for all defenders.
 
I wouldn't be put off by a Td5, they're very well proven engines! If you've got the budget for a good'un then go for a look. I've a OneTen with a 200Tdi which I love to bits, but, if truth be known, I'd prefer a Td5 under the bonnet!
 
wickford90 said:
Good on you for walking away if it didn't seem right, for 10k you should be able to get a decent one , rear cross members are notoriously rust prone but not a major issue to get replaced. Leaks are a way of life for all defenders.
Click to expand...

I think I would have walked away from that. For £10,000 I would have expected those sort of jobs to have been sorted. If they can't be bothered to sort those jobs out it makes you wander what else they are hiding.
Why Had they removed the snorkel ?
Water in the foot wells is always a problem. As soon as you think you have sorted it, it comes back again. Its a constant battle.

I find you get a feeling when you look at motors and if it doesn't feel right, walking away is the best option.
The right one will come along for that sort of money.
Happy hunting.
 
Thanks for the reassurance guys😀. mikescuba - that is exactly what I thought - I felt that he was simply relying on the fact that it is increasingly a sellers market when it comes to Defenders and that he could sell anything to anyone at any price (especially as I was a girl viewing it on my own). I love Defenders and would love to have one but on the flip side I won't have the p**s taken out of me.
Love you guys - thanks for the continued comments and advice.😁👍🚙
 
It sounds like you have already become competent at spotting a ropey Land Rover!

There are a lot of people jumping on the fact that Defenders are so popular right now, and selling rough ones for top money (well, trying to) Let me have a chat with my local Indy tomorrow and see if they know of any. I'm more than happy to take a look at anything they know of around here and report back.
 
Hi wickford. I am after a 90 wirh a 300tdi, either hard top with seats or station wagon (preferably). Ideally a galvanised chassis or chassis in v. good condition. Full or lots of service history would be nice. Miles and age don't matter so long as it is mechanically and structurally sound.
I am looking within a 50 mile radius. 👍😀
 
My local lndy has a 1997 300tdi with a galvanized chassis and only 70,000 miles.

They say it will be £10,000 but will come fully prepped which means any faults or broken parts fixed, serviced, fully waxoyled and a 3 month warranty.

They also have a 2002 TD5 again 70,000 miles for the same money.

Hallam Brothers in Hayfield are really good, they specialize in Land Rovers and have done since 1949. As they are close to me, l will go and have a look at both of them today to see if they might be what you are looking for.

Neither have been prepped yet so l will see them as they really are. I will let you know what l find!

They offer delivery if you are too far away.
 
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lightning said:
l will go and have a look at both of them today to see if they might be what you are looking for.

Neither have been prepped yet so l will see them as they really are. I will let you know what l find!
Click to expand...

This is what I like about this place, everyone is so friendly and helpful.

Hope you find what you are looking for becstar.
 
You might have to expand your geographical range to get the kind of model and condition you want. 50 miles seems a bit small to me. As it is something that will be a friend for many years, it helps if you extend your search over the whole country. Compared to £10,000 a hundred or so on train fares or fuel isn't that much. Initially I looked locally but saw a few high milers with rusty cross members and a lot of white bloom on the aluminium, and then started looking further afield before buying one from 200 miles away.
 
I bought mine from a dealer near London. (Hoffman's of Henley) 200 miles from me.
l bought it on their photos/ verbal description, and it was delivered on approval.

Although a Defender is probably the last vehicle you'd want to buy "blind" lol

Their description was accurate....it's a lovely 110 CSW.

If you want to view anything local to me in Stockport, Cheshire l can collect you from the train station and will come with you to view the Land Rover. My wife loves Land Rovers (she had a 300tdi and now drives a TD5) so she will come along as well.
 
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Lightning - I am lost for words - how kind of you to go and look at possibilities for me! 😀😀😀😀 I like the sound of the 300tdi. I can take a look this weekend I think. Let me get back to you. 😉
 
becstar said:
Hi wickford. I am after a 90 wirh a 300tdi, either hard top with seats or station wagon (preferably). Ideally a galvanised chassis or chassis in v. good condition. Full or lots of service history would be nice. Miles and age don't matter so long as it is mechanically and structurally sound.
I am looking within a 50 mile radius. 👍😀
Click to expand...

You might want to widen your search area, I ended up getting mine from Manchester, and I'm in Essex. A hard top would be cheaper than a station wagon and it's not a big deal to put windows in, that's what I done with mine, do you really need the extra seats in the back? You can get them fitted later. What made you decide on a 300.
 
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