Best sellers for ex-Services Defender?

[twodoorgaz]

Hi everyone. My first post in the military section.

 

The majority of my past cars have been Series IIAs, IIIs and 300TDi Discos. For the first time, I’m looking to buy a Defender. I’m guessing at a spend of around £12k (can go up a bit if I need to) and I’m specifically looking for an ex-army/RAF/services vehicle. I’d be looking to take delivery in late June/start of July (subject to lockdown).

 

I’d be looking for one that has either seen light use (eg: the yellow ground crew ex RAF ones) or one that had been through a cherry picked refurb programme (like REMUS). I’d be looking for a late TDi or TD5 and would consider a 90 or 110 (in the case of the latter it would need to be either a station wagon or a utility that still has its rear bulkhead for a truck cab) the single most important thing to me is rust: chassis and bulkhead. I’m really looking for a vehicle that I can clean, professionally rust proof and cost the underbody... and then call it done from a structural perspective. That and the knowledge of the quality of parts used in past maintenance is the main reason that I’m not considering a civilian model.

 

could I ask a few queries?

 

1)  which of the refurb programmes are worth looking out for? (REMUS, TITHONUS, etc) any guidance on what was included in each would be very helpful.

2) are there vehicles from a particular branch that are known to have seen easier lives/better maintenance/lower miles?

3) who are the main suppliers these days - I’ve seen L Jackson &co, ex-mod.co.uk, witham specialist vehicles And Blanchard - are there any worth avoiding/any I've missed? I’ve read their ads for years but never actually been to their premises - I live in Manchester so some aren’t too far away.

4) does my price bracket need to go up or down a bit?

 

any help would be massively appreciated,

thank you.

Edited May 19, 2020 by twodoorgaz

[western]

Withams SV is the current MOD disposal agent for vehicles, most Non frontline vehicles, cars,LR station wagons are contracted from LEX IIRC.

[Arjan]

Don't be too impressed by "REMUS, TITHONUS" looking for vehicles.

These projects were to extend service live - make a few mods to comply with new regs. - but very much done to a price.

Assume the worse - budget even more and have fun !

[Gluv]

I bought a winter/waterproof wolf with 24000 miles on the clock . The chassis/ bulkhead are like new . The wolfs were dinatroled from new and it appears to have been very effective. Mine cost £16000 with the vat . There is one on eBay with 5k on the clock 😳 For about the same price .

Gluv 🇬🇧

[twodoorgaz]

Thanks guys - Gluv: now that might be a game changer: if the Wolf’s has dinitrol from new that opens up a new world of options.

 

do you know if it was in all the cavities (bulkhead, door and bonnet frames) or just the chassis? Was an outside treatment used too or just sprayed internally?

[Gluv]

5 hours ago, twodoorgaz said:

Thanks guys - Gluv: now that might be a game changer: if the Wolf’s has dinitrol from new that opens up a new world of options.

 

do you know if it was in all the cavities (bulkhead, door and bonnet frames) or just the chassis? Was an outside treatment used too or just sprayed internally?

Wolfs are dinitroled inside chassis , inside bulkhead, inside doors , bonnet and all the outside of chassis and underbody, axles etc . They are supposed to be done every two years whilst in service. I can believe it was done too, mines absolutely mint 🙂

Gluv 🇬🇧

[twodoorgaz]

Wow! Well - that’s decision made - Wolf it is. I’ll head down to Nottingham via Doncaster and that should let me hit two of the big sites for a look around: as soon as they reopen that is.

[Gluv]

6 hours ago, twodoorgaz said:

Wow! Well - that’s decision made - Wolf it is. I’ll head down to Nottingham via Doncaster and that should let me hit two of the big sites for a look around: as soon as they reopen that is.

🙂👍

Gluv🇬🇧

[Boris113]

I can recommend both Withams and Jacksons, I've purchased LRs from them personally and plant machinery/gensets for work with no complaints. Not sure what they have implemented with Covid but previously you were allowed to walk around the yard and poke/prod at vehicles to choose a specific one that you wanted. There's some really interesting kit in their respective yards/sheds.

[Snagger]

The Remus and Tithonus vehicles kept their 12J engines.  Wolf has a mildly modified 300Tdi.  No green fleet vehicles had TD5.

[Gluv]

6 minutes ago, Snagger said:

The Remus and Tithonus vehicles kept their 12J engines.  Wolf has a mildly modified 300Tdi.  No green fleet vehicles had TD5.

Do you know what the modifications are ? My Wolf has a 25 series engine 

Gluv🇬🇧

[western]

XD/Wolf were fited with 300Tdi engines, as the electronics on Td5 were deemed to be suspect from military radio signal interference  on operations, the only Td5 defenders in service are or were contracted from Lex leasing for non frontline duties -- bird control units on airfields for example.

[Snagger]

21 hours ago, Gluv said:

Do you know what the modifications are ? My Wolf has a 25 series engine 

Gluv🇬🇧

I think it was the injection pump that had the principle differences, and they were probably set up better for waterproofing.  Some would have been built for 24v for the radio vehicles.  

[greenmeanie]

Just to throw a cure ball into the mix I would consider looking for an Aussie Perentie 110. They are still decent prices, you get a galvy chassis, roll cage in the rear, built in winch in some, largely a dry climate and a much better drivetrain as standard. As a personal thing they also look much more like a proper military vehicle with a cool camo job rather than the standard worn cabbage in the UK. If you are careful you can hunt one down and still have money for the ro ro to get it home. It will take more effort but then it is more unusual.

If you go and ask on AULRO I am sure someone will point you in the right direction.

[twodoorgaz]

Hi folks. The search is on.

 

i did look at a civillian CSW today. 2010 and immaculate but a bit too rusty underneath for me. So off to view the wolf’s next week.

 

could I ask another question? Subject to removing the roll hoops is it possible to fit standard civillian roof choices to a Wolf (hardtop or truck cab)?

 

just checking to see if the sides aren’t a different profile or anything. Not a fan of the large fibreglass offering: unless they’re worth anything on the open market if I take it and resell to offset the cost of an alternative.

Edited May 30, 2020 by twodoorgaz

[Snagger]

The body dimensions are identical.  There shouldn’t be any major fitting problems, though there may be differences in fixing holes, so it’s possible that you may have to drill a few bolt holes.  I think that’s unlikely, though.

[Gluv]

8 hours ago, twodoorgaz said:

Hi folks. The search is on.

 

i did look at a civillian CSW today. 2010 and immaculate but a bit too rusty underneath for me. So off to view the wolf’s next week.

 

could I ask another question? Subject to removing the roll hoops is it possible to fit standard civillian roof choices to a Wolf (hardtop or truck cab)?

 

just checking to see if the sides aren’t a different profile or anything. Not a fan of the large fibreglass offering: unless they’re worth anything on the open market if I take it and resell to offset the cost of an alternative.

A fibreglass roof in good condition goes for quite a bit of money . There's some damaged ones on eBay and they were asking for £1000 if memory serves

Gluv🇬🇧

[twodoorgaz]

Thanks guys. This is really useful.

Can I try and shovel another question into the thread, re: 90xd axles?

I’ve just picked up James Taylor’s book to give me a bit of research into the model and it talks about these vehicles having thicker axle casings, stronger halfshafts and 4-pin diffs. It doesn’t specify 90/110/130.

Do we know if the 90” axles are indeed stronger than their civillian counterparts... or is it simply the long wheelbase models that got the all singing p38/uprated rear axle with the reinforcing rib welded to it?

[Gluv]

14 hours ago, twodoorgaz said:

Thanks guys. This is really useful.

Can I try and shovel another question into the thread, re: 90xd axles?

I’ve just picked up James Taylor’s book to give me a bit of research into the model and it talks about these vehicles having thicker axle casings, stronger halfshafts and 4-pin diffs. It doesn’t specify 90/110/130.

Do we know if the 90” axles are indeed stronger than their civillian counterparts... or is it simply the long wheelbase models that got the all singing p38/uprated rear axle with the reinforcing rib welded to it?

I think the axles on the 90 are standard . I haven't had a look inside mine yet though . According to the parts catalogue the diffs certainly in the front should be standard 2 pin p38 although on mine my front axle has all the brackets for a rear axle on it . I'm not sure if that's normal or not ! 😂 

In short , it could be anybody 's guess .i know 110 's have reinforced axle casings .Oh my 90 has the one piece half shaft/drive flanges 

Gluv🇬🇧

[twodoorgaz]

Hi guys... looks like I’ve let the side down.

 

I’ve gone and bought a civvy model: A 2010 90CSW. Pending no hiccups in the finance I’ll be collecting on Tuesday.

 

thank you ever so much for your help in the above. 

[Gazzar]

Pictures?

[Wolf 831]

Hi,

I would highly recommend Tim Hill from Marple Road Garage, he’s a first class mechanic, approved disposal agent with excellent contacts and has a bewildering array of vehicles all in top notch condition...I won’t buy anywhere else...Withams are a rip off and are merely out to make as much money as possible, no personal service. PS Buy a Wolf with the Remus upgrade, it’s the only way to go !

Wolfie 831

[David Sparkes]

We don't know the ID of Wolf 831, but for anyone intersted an interrnet search brings up an entry for a Tim Hill in a list of MOT sites. This is in Stockport, near Manchester, UK.

I don't know either of the characters referenced.

Regards.

[Bowie69]

I have to say my suspicions were arouse too, but searching in a phone is fiddly , so well done....

[Wolf 831]

On 7/11/2020 at 4:51 PM, David Sparkes said:

We don't know the ID of Wolf 831, but for anyone intersted an interrnet search brings up an entry for a Tim Hill in a list of MOT sites. This is in Stockport, near Manchester, UK.

I don't know either of the characters referenced.

Regards.

Do you need to know me? Why suspicion? I’m here just like everyone else to learn and to help - nothing more...

I too am in Derbyshire, Holmewood in fact...I have no affiliation with Tim, I am merely a user of his services...!

Wolfie 831