Hi guys,

First post here, like many, I've wanted a defender for a long time but have not had one before. I actually work for Land Rover on the corporate side and happens to also own a Land Rover parts business somewhere in the far east so it kind of makes all the sense that I should have one.. Especially when I can get parts at wholesale prices..

Ideally, I actually want a V8 since this wouldn't be my daily commuting car. The V8 would be smoother and sound nicer. They also seem to be cheaper.. (The dream would be something like a LS3 swap which could potentially go forward in a few years time if I can save up enough....) However, there aren't many of them about on sale at the moment...

Now, I am facing a dilemma, my budget is about 7000GBP which should get a TD5 on the higher mileage side, at about 100k. But ideally, I would like to get a few bits done to it, so have a 1000GBP for parts and 6000 for the car would be better.

Looking around, I just saw a 1987 90 with 300TDI swap and a galvanised chassis along with new bearings and suspension bits and bushes(a year ago as the seller claims). It's got 190k miles on it but then most of the parts would have been swaped out. So condition/mechanical-wise feels good depending on how tidy the engine swap was done. Although it will hurt the residual value if I do come to sale it in the future. Priced at 5750GBP ono

On the other hand, there is a TD5 110 SW, looks clean from pictures and at 75k only for 7000 quid...

Don't exactly know which way I should go... any advice? The LR wouldn't be used for anything extreme, just some light greenlaning and perhaps some overland trips to Europe...

I mean, at the end it would depend on actual conditions when I see the cars. But assuming the ads were representative, which would you guys choose?

I also understand that the TD5 is slightly more refined and with more electrics. Strictly on an engine basis, I think the TD5 suits me more..

At this point, I have only driven Puma defenders and have not driven any of the mentioned engines, althou I am planning on some test drives this weekend.

galv chassis would win it in my book,300 tdi reliable and easy to fix

I think I am coming to that conclusion as well if the mileage wasn't so high..

Would the 190k not deter you?

The 200 and the 300 engines can and will do real serious mileage with just frequent oil changes.
Td5 very fragile in comparison, good engine but nowheres near as tough, heads very expensive

Im not sure that's entirely fair on the Td5, there are plenty of those about with well over 200k on them. All Land Rover engines will go on for many hundreds of thousands of miles if looked after properly, though yes the Tdis certainly are the most applauded for it.

Buy whichever car is in the best condition, age and mileage are to a certain extent fairly irrelevant when it comes to Land Rovers. The galvanised chassis would certainly be a good asset so I'd leak towards that one to start with before assessing both.

I would go for the 300tdi .

Part are cheap en no worries on the chassis.
Chassis rust from inside to the outside ,
Only when you cut your chasis in half you know the reason why you should get a galv chassis ;-)

I have a 1989 90 with galvanized chassis (two months ago ), galvanized bulkhead; galvanized front cones and gearbox cross member. Also has installed is genuine 200 defender Tdi and has classic RR axles to give discs all round. Had new exhaust; very good doors, replaced gearbox and transfer box and prop-shafts etc.New h/lights and sidelights etc etc Stands me at about £9,000
Point is speedo showing 172,000 but I doubt any of the OE vehicle is actually still there !
I also support the galvanized route ( obviously ) and I have a Defender 90 that will last for many a fine year so don't worry to much about the mileage.

fumiyasu said:

I think I am coming to that conclusion as well if the mileage wasn't so high..

Would the 190k not deter you?

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no not on a tdi though check tranny box and gearbox do what they should

Galv chassis is great piece of mind, and if you can would be the way to go.
But as said it all depends on the vehicles on the day.
I find the td5 more refined, or more so than a tdi, but do you really buy an lr for refinement? probably not.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I think my point about the 190k is more to do with problems selling it in the future with the high mileage rather than worrying about it mechanically. I am sure if everything on it was done right by a careful owner then it's probably the best choice.

If the ad was accurate then most of the stuff was replaced and engine/gearbox are nearer the 100k mark. My other worry was whether the engine swap was done right but then I suppose the 300tdi has less electrics then newer engines, so less chance of messy wiring which I think is generally the problem part when it come to DIY engine swaps. There's only one way to find out I guess.

I'll be doing a 2 hour journey tomorrow up to Bradford to see that car travelling in a near new Puma 90 I managed to get from Land Rover. So it should be a nice comparison drive. I also have a couple TD5s to see in the afternoon which hopefully should give me impressions on the different engines...

I don't think I will be too bothered about the different engines, as aaronmorris said, do I really want refinement in a LR?... Even a transit feels more refined to me, compared to this puma that I borrowed...

Where about do you live?

Marmaduke said:

Where about do you live?

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In Daventry near Northampton.

Might be worth a view on the way up the M1?

Land Rover 90 Defender 300tdi with Galvanized Chassis | eBay

Engine wise, the TD5 wins hands down for me but a V8, especially a potential LS swap would be better again and your much better off with a galvanised chassis. Engines and mechanicals are easily changed for what you want

Marmaduke said:

Might be worth a view on the way up the M1?

Land Rover 90 Defender 300tdi with Galvanized Chassis | eBay

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Yeah, I saw that one on eBay too. Will probably give the person a call.

The one with the galvanised chassis I talked about turned out a bit rougher than I expected, which explains the price..the bottom of the bulkhead seems to have started rotting away so I think I am going to stay away from that for now.

Dave:

My original thought was similar to that, but having test drove both today, I was surprised how much the TD5 felt quicker and easier to drive. It might have been the particular 300TDI being a bit more tired thou. The TD5 felt quicker then the puma I am driving now as well, which I did not expect.

The problem with the v8 swap is that it is a few years down the line... so ideally I want something that would suit what I use it for in the next few years and the TD5 seems to have done it for me..

Tomorrow I am looking at a cleaner TD5 110 which might be the one. I was originally looking for only 90s but the more I look at the 110s the more I seem to like them.. Do 110s feel slower due to their weight or are they similar enough?

110 are not as nimble and they feel that way as well, conversely they are a better traveling vehicle , due extra wheelbase, and also more stable at speed . Need more room in parking bays , but much roomier inside . Its very much a case of what you want out of the vehicle .

you can hear td5 chassis rotting on a quite day, rubbish

look for a 300 tdi with one owner and history then have a chassis swap done if needed!

i found a one owner 300 tdi 95 plate with 110k on the clock mountains of history paid £4800 for her,spent 1k on her new wheels and tyres seat re trim chassis is very good just one patch been waxoyled every year!

Thanks everyone again.

I saw that 110 TD5 today and had a test drive. Totally agree as I felt it was more stable but not as nimble. It actually felt quieter than the 90 puma o was driving. I think for what I want it for, the 110 is the answer except I felt the 90 looks more youthful which I like..

But the general condition of this particular one is actually pretty good, bulkhead is solid top and bottom and the chassis is good so I paid a deposit and should be collecting it in a few days. All the panels are good except for one dent on the wing. Door bottoms are all solid. Even came with SVX wheels and new conti crosscontact tyres.

Let's hope it is as honest as it looks and have no hiden surprises...

Its looking all innocent now and have no idea what I am going to do to it...

fumiyasu said:

Thanks everyone again.

I saw that 110 TD5 today and had a test drive. Totally agree as I felt it was more stable but not as nimble. It actually felt quieter than the 90 puma o was driving. I think for what I want it for, the 110 is the answer except I felt the 90 looks more youthful which I like..

But the general condition of this particular one is actually pretty good, bulkhead is solid top and bottom and the chassis is good so I paid a deposit and should be collecting it in a few days. All the panels are good except for one dent on the wing. Door bottoms are all solid. Even came with SVX wheels and new conti crosscontact tyres.

Let's hope it is as honest as it looks and have no hiden surprises...

Its looking all innocent now and have no idea what I am going to do to it...

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Looks pretty tidy on the outside for it's age, did you prod the chassis with a hammer?
If the seller objects theirs a problem, that's my moto anyway.