How much oil does the gearbox hold. Why not just refit the drain plug, take the selector top off and pour in the required amount of oil. Then see how you go. The gearbox might be okay, as above, but if not you've only lost the price of a couple litres of gearbox oil.

lf you weren't so far away l would have a look at it and make you an offer, it would definitely be a keeper. But you're nearly 300 miles round trip from here.

Prices for genuinely good 300tdi's are definitely rising, probably because there are so few good ones around and many see them as the best of all the Defenders.

The mileage isn't stated. l've sent a message asking for the registration number. lt can't be worth £5,000 Prices have fallen and you can get a presentable TD5 110 for £10,000

A farming college? Even farm trucks usually fare better than that. How would you actually get the doors into that state for instance unless you set about them with a lump hammer, or deliberately set out to damage the vehicle. And l know the crossmember can need replacement after 15 years on a...

Yes l can see why the reg number would be a secret on that Land Rover. l imagine the MOT failure sheet is pretty damming if the crossmember is that bad....l bet it's been classed as in a dangerous condition Listing says the chassis needs "work" l doubt you'd even need to cut it up, it would...

This has to be the worst condition late model TD5 l have ever seen. As it has the one piece rear door and later dash l am guessing it's a post 2002. Look at the state of the crossmember! And the bodywork looked like its been used as target practice on a firing range. Under the bonnet looks like...

Probably due a full clutch kit including DMF. You'll never need to do it again.

How many miles has it done? The DMF should be good for 100,000

lt would have been nice to know the outcome though, after all the advice given. l came across the thread while looking up Agreed Value lnsurance and how it works in the real world. l thought that once the value was agreed that's what the insurance had to pay in the event of a claim.

Another silence. Wonder why? l hope he got his money in the end.

Has anyone actually had this happen? l've never seen it reported on any forums. l guess it must have happened to someone

Look what Land Rover are charging for their restored S1's And the restoration Defender V8 And they seem to have a waiting list. At these prices a fully restored TDi (arguably the best of all Defenders) at £40,000 is a relative bargain

What part of the suspension is deemed by LR to be at risk of failure? l've never heard anybody complaining that their TDCi suspension has "failed"

On here is a good start. It will take a while to sell but it will eventually. Also list it on the other Land Rover forums. At that price it's a collector's or investment piece. You could try "Car and Classic" or "Classic Cars for Sale" l would love to be able to afford it, but sadly it's out...

The O/P has never been back since his original post.

Yes you don't want it classed as a write off. Glad you managed to get them to change their viewpoint. I think a lot of "Classic" car policies offer the option to "buy the salvage" and also the fact that it may be necessary to fit alternative or used parts. l once went to see a nice TD5 90 XS...

Don't be too hard on the insurance assessor. l never looked at your photos at the time, but having looked now your Land Rover was quite badly damaged by the fire. l know about Defenders but looking at that, l might have also considered it beyond economic repair. Don't forget the insurance...

Yes the "Classic" policies are a lot cheaper but it can't be your primary vehicle and you can't have business use on it. Also you are generally restricted on mileage. lf the renewal on my new Defender is anywhere near the £3,000 my customer has been quoted l'm afraid it's being sold and back to...

There's a lot of insurance renewal scare stories with Land Rover products at the moment. One of my customers just had to sell her new Defender as the renewal quote had gone from £1200 to £3000. Range Rovers are currently almost uninsurable in some parts of London. Has anyone renewed their...