Well I reckon its got to be in the top 5 worst jobs on the Defender jobs list. Ahead......perhaps.... Nope its No 1 Bitch job in my book. I am obviously not including chassis/bulkhead swaps as they are not really maintenance/repairs and more improvements. Go on tell me what you dislike...

Seriously - taking the box out 'a bit involved'? £450 to someone else or £450 of hard work and equipment/skill to yourself. It still adds up to £450 whoever does it in my book.

Yep the AP I have now is totally silent and as light as a regular car. Amazing transformation from the HD version, you have to do a lot of cog swapping in a Defender! But what was the cheap quick fix? The only fix I can see is taking the box out and replacing the clutch and that's neither...

What is the 'cheap quick fix' for a heavy clutch? Mine was to install a AP one when the uber heavy and frankly crap ****part example gave up without warning despite having travelled less than 25,000 miles. Did I mention I hate ****part.

It always makes me smile when I see poor photos or pointless photos in car adverts. The £10 collection of ****part boxes in the second advert take the biscuit though. I would not waste the time to view the grey vehicle, a few years ago it would have struggled to sell at £2750.

Well at a casual glance the red one makes a better case for spending £6k. As ever take a checklist and a biro and just go through every thing. If its had an attentive owner you will probably not turn up much.

OP from your detailed description my advice would be to buy a Toyota. Defenders are fine if you have lots of cash and can happily pay others for the endless repairs or you have the skills/time/inclination to fix yourself. Anyone else will tire of the Defender/Landrover experience very quickly.

My preference (and Landrover BTW) is 235/85 MT Goodyear Wrangler. Excellent in wet and dry conditions, looks the part too. Was discontinued by Goodyear due to noise regulations but last year reconfigured and passed. Now factory option.

OP you were not thinking straight when you ignored the head tightening procedure. With heads it is critical and re writing the procedure is always a recipe for disaster. I might well be tempted to drive her with the snapped head bolt - as you say you have little to lose and a head skim would...

Feel for you. I have just completed a head refurb as Daisy (110 200tdi) is also breathing like a young train. Hoping it was the HG it turns out bore three is pretty well goosed and allowing compression past and as a 200tdi does not allow access to the crankshaft/con rods to remove number...

AP from Island seemed well made. Silent and light compared to the ****part HD I fitted. Heavy as fook, rattled like nothing else and disintegrated after 20,000 miles. Total crap. When examined you could see where they had skimped on the design and I am guessing the quality of the steel...

Seconded Paddocks are fine if all is well but rubbish when its not. Island seem good on both counts and the free delivery arrives the next day every time. They get my money now.

I like CP as well - colour coded. I would seal all bar the bottom edge on the bonnet and wings. Reason - mine collects water beneath the plate and even on a bone dry day if it has been raining I get a constant stream of splashes onto the screen from the leading edge. When I repaint her I...

Modding was essentially the electric fan and then hang the water rad off the old rad frame. The pictures pretty much tell the tale. The IC was off the bay for around £90 IIRC - it was 6-7 years ago. The silicone hoses added at least another £60 and the jubilee clips etc probably...

The one I fitted (above pics) is the very biggest you can fit in the front IMV. It made no discernible difference to performance btw, neither faster or slower.

The 2012 I get to drive is fine also but the mech is noisy and the wipers distinctly wipe at different speeds dependent on how much water is on the screen. Essentially the system is inadequate but functioning, knowing how cheaply made the whole rotten collection of parts is I guarantee it...

The OP is reporting what I have found in all Defenders of a certain age, erratic wipers. Fine for a while they then over and under sweep. Basically the whole mechanism is crap, the materials and actuation crap. The Britpart replacement system is also crap. Its just another item on the...

Seconded on the spigot. Mine was worn and from what I have been told was the reason my Valeo clutch plate failed. Please tell me the HD clutch fork is better than the one I have thrown away..... Even I thought ****part could not F' that kind of component. I examined it before fitting and I...

Seriously?