New to Land Rovers and want a defender 110 s/w

[emslandy]

Hi there,

My partner and I are looking to buy a defender 110 station wagon with a budget around 10-11k to use as a car for the horses (towing, hay, etc) and also building supplies.

We have been checking autotrader, ebay and Brightwells auction and also been to LandRover Man near Taunton. By far and away the most expensive is Land Rover Man and the cheapest the auction room but as novices to defenders we don't want to pay through the nose nor do we want to buy a heap that costs us a fortune in repairs and time.

So, questions are - has anyone bought from Land Rover Man - are they any good, etc?

What should we be looking for when we check out the cars?

Should we buy from auction or will they see us coming?

What can we get for that kind of money in a fair transaction - reg, mileage, history?

Thanks in advance for all your help and advice...

[alantd]

You could write a book on this subject - in fact some people have You might want to check out this book - worth while for a tenner.

IMHO if you are new to Land Rovers then it is worth looking at a specialist Land Rover dealer rather than auction. If you knew exactly what you were doing, you'd be able to pick up something slightly cheaper at auction but the risks are higher. The main thing to look out for with a Defender is how it has been used in the past. A low mileage version doesn't necessarily mean a better vehicle - it could have lead a very heavy life of work.

Because you're going for the S/W, you will avoid most of the utility vehicles that might have suffered and arduous life but make sure what you buy was always a station wagon - it is not uncomon for people to retrofit a S/W body to a previously utility vehicle.

For that sort of money, you're looking at a reasonably good 200/300 Tdi or an early Td5. If you want to compare the relative merits of different engines, you might want to look at this month's LRO - they have a feature comparing Defenders from 1983 onwards. As I said above, there is no guarantee in absolute mileage (unlike a normal family car for which it is a good proxy for use) and most Defender engines will go several times round the clock. Look for regular maintenance schedules.

In terms of what to look out for on a specific vehicle, it will vary by engine type but body-wise, you're looking for rust (rear cross-member and on the chasis). If you get a copy of the book above, it will also help you identify worn bushes (typical wear but obvious from a test drive if you know what to look for) and transmission issues.

In reality, arm yourself with some basic knowledge but get a feel for whether you trust the dealer. Take the vehicle out for a spin and remember there are plenty out there so don't get caught up on the first one you see. Defenders are most bolted together so you can DIY replace most parts. The most costly mistakes will come from a rotten chasis or knackered engine but both of these can be remedied with either advanced DIY or a moderate amount of cash.

Where are you based? There might be a local board member who can look over a couple of candidate vehicles for you.

Good luck with your search and keep us posted.

[Mark90]

A few years back when I was looking to buy my first 90 (and was very green regarding Land Rovers) I had a look around LandRover Man's place near Taunton. I walked away with cash firmly in my pocket. I'd rather buy from an auction with my eyes closed then buy from there.

[TJ101]

Bad practice for me to mention names,, But, would second Mark90 ^^^^ advise not a good name locally

[Big_John]

Hi emslandy,

Having just spent 5 or 6 months looking for a 90 myself, I'd offer the following:

Always get underneath the vehicle and check the chassis for rust spots and repairs - you'll be surprised how many have problems but you should be able to find a nice 300 tdi without any problems for that price, possibly a good Td5 if that's what you're after - and don't take the advertisers word for it - I was lied to on a number of occasions!

Off-roading is often noticeable by looking for dents in the chassis and underside components such as exhaust and fuel tank. Obviously they are designed to go off-road, but if it's caused damage like that then it's been pretty serious and you should take care that everything is still straight (chassis, suspension, steering) and nothing's worn too badly. There will be quite a few about that haven't been off road at all.

Take as many as you can out for a test drive, even if you've already discounted it because of it's general condition - you'll soon get to feel what good steering feels like, what the suspension should feel like, how the engine should pull, how noisy it all should be, that way when you find one that looks good you will have a fair idea of how it should drive.

Always check the service history. Through asking about and reading a number of sources, I've come to the conclusion that regular servicing of the diesel engines is very important and it's amazing how many of them don't have any history at all.

For the price you're looking at, a 300Tdi should be in very good condition inside with all the switches and controls working properly, no problems with the chassis and the bodywork should be in pretty good condition as well - maybe a couple of coin sized dents and the odd spot of aluminium corrosion at most.

I would echo alantd about not going for the first one you see - the first one I saw I thought was great, fortunately a mate of mine with a great deal of experience came and had a look at it for me and put me right, I know realise that it was an absolute cash black-hole and would have taken ages to get up to scratch.

I got a 90 300 Tdi hardtop in October, chassis and body in v.good condition, 100k on the clock, full service history, cabin in generally good condition but the heater controls don't work properly and the seats are a bit tatty - nothing too bad, including some off-road kit for £5.5k - I think I was lucky though and would estimate it's worth nearer £6.5k judging from others I've seen. A genuine station wagon is going to add a couple of thousand to that, not sure about 110's - possibly slightly cheaper.

As to engine choice, personally I'd say if you're planning on DIY'ing then probably go for the 300Tdi and maybe have some cash spare fix any slight issues - replace torn seats, fit a tow bar Etc., if you're happy to take it to a garage and pay for any work then possibly spend a bit more and get the Td5 - the issue there being the electronic engine control which you need a computer to diagnose any problems.

I'm by no means an expert, just spent a few months looking...hope that helps!

[Big_John]

forgot to say...got mine from the autotrader, was also looking for local stuff on Ebay (ALWAYS view and drive before bidding) and in the local paper. Autotrader and Ebay both have email alert services which you can setup to save you having to look through every day - sometimes they do miss the odd one or two though!

[Mark90]

A genuine station wagon is going to add a couple of thousand to that, not sure about 110's - possibly slightly cheaper.

Quite the opposite. 110 station wagons fetch a premium and like for like condition/milage/etc a 110 CSW will be the most expensive defender.

[jeremy996]

My partner and I are looking to buy a defender 110 station wagon with a budget around 10-11k to use as a car for the horses (towing, hay, etc) and also building supplies.

I bought a 1989 110 CSW in March 2005 for £3500 off eBay after seeing it in advance. I went to the local "specialist" dealers, including the famous names, and was not overly impressed with most of them.

Although I appreciate that dealers need to make a profit and the consumer laws effectively require a 6 month warranty, the difference between a private sale and the poorly prepared cars I saw pushed me down the private sale route. Compared to the normal motor trade, vehicle preparation for sale was almost universally dire. Hosing the vehicle out and leaving it closed and damp is not "preparation". Beware especially of TDs described as Defenders, they aren't, but the stickers are cheap and a fool and his money is soon parted.

I spent 5 months looking for a suitable car and must have looked at 30 different CSWs, (I'd suggest that a big issue was that my budget was half yours). I can give honourable mentions to Anchor Supplies, Witham Specialist Vehicles, Nene Overland and Liveridge, all of whom had un-bodged, (but not "prepared for sale"; most were raw material for conversions), defenders available, but too rich for me.

Try not to get emotional about the purchase and take a disinterested Land Rover aware mate to talk you out of the dogs out there, both private and dealer sales. Getting a run down vehicle to a useable state is likely to be a money pit - buy the best you can find/afford.

[bush doctor]

Quite the opposite. 110 station wagons fetch a premium and like for like condition/milage/etc a 110 CSW will be the most expensive defender.

I like comments like this just at the time that I'm contemplating selling my 110 300tdi CSW

[Mark90]

I shall expect my 5% commission

[BigSi110]

A few years back when I was looking to buy my first 90 (and was very green regarding Land Rovers) I had a look around LandRover Man's place near Taunton. I walked away with cash firmly in my pocket. I'd rather buy from an auction with my eyes closed then buy from there.

I spent an entire morning there looking at his 300Tdi 110 CS(W)'s. Let's just say that I echo Mark's comments.

I bought elsewhere.

Buy with yor head and not your heart. Mileage matters far less than condition.

Hope it goes well and, as others have said, keep us posted.

[JimAttrill]

Mileage matters far less than condition.

Is that why you keep yours polished?

[JonJon]

Hi there,

My partner and I are looking to buy a defender 110 station wagon with a budget around 10-11k to use as a car for the horses (towing, hay, etc) and also building supplies.

We were in a similar position, although less of a budget (£6-7k) and bought from Liveridge 4x4 south Birmingham in the end after months of searching and agonizing (that was a hell of a lot of ££ to part with) even though we live in Somerset.

Chris there there was great, as a non-technical consumer, it is as much about trust and instinct (for people and relationships) as it is about the product in a way. I got a good feeling from them and have had no reason to question the advice and service we've had. Honest and forthright, not the cheapest possibly but then I'll stick to getting 'cheap' in a field I know I'm an expert in (which, coincidentally, is fields!)

[V8CAMEL]

We were in a similar position, although less of a budget (£6-7k) and bought from Liveridge 4x4 south Birmingham in the end after months of searching and agonizing (that was a hell of a lot of ££ to part with) even though we live in Somerset.

Chris there there was great, as a non-technical consumer, it is as much about trust and instinct (for people and relationships) as it is about the product in a way. I got a good feeling from them and have had no reason to question the advice and service we've had. Honest and forthright, not the cheapest possibly but then I'll stick to getting 'cheap' in a field I know I'm an expert in (which, coincidentally, is fields!)

my 110 will be for sale in the spring if you are interested

1998 110 CSW 4.6 V8 LPG full camel spec

paul

[lansalot]

What should we be looking for when we check out the cars?

I'll give you the advice I wish I had taken myself. Start reading NOW about what to look out for. Do a thorough test, checking everything you can - and best of all, if you know someone who is into Land Rovers, take them with you.

It's worth trying to bribe a forum member in my opinion for a couple hours of their time. I tried it, and while no-one took me up on it, I don't doubt I wouldn't have got caught with the things I never spotted had I had someone handy around.

No substitute for experience - so leech someone else's if at all possible!

[Guest diesel_jim]

The couple of times i've been to the defender center they've had all sorts of good looking vehicles there, from tidy "turn key" ones to others that might need a bit of TLC.

they seem good honest blokes there too.

[A Twig]

Being new to the LR scene when I bought my defender, I too decided to go through a dealer. However didn't my mistakes until too late...

I was happy to pay over the odds (7K for a '94 CSW 90) as the guy promised to do a full overhaul, throw in a roof rack, MOT, 6 months road tax yadda yadda. Within 3 monthis of ownership I've had to pay out nearly 2K on it. Re-wiring the stereo etc I expected to do, but I didn't expect to have to replace rear propshaft rear UJ, front brushes which were compeltely de-laminated (and incidentally should have led to an MOT fail - but turns out the dealer didn't actually MOT it, they have a working arrangement with a centre 100 or so miles away to simply write out the forms for them) and also complete replacement of most of the light electrics, as 3 out of 4 indicators, the reverse light, the brake lights and the interior light all failed within the first month.)

And funnily enough, still no sign of the promised roof rack...

Spitting thing is, had I paid out 9K in the first place I could have bought an absolutely mint one!

Still, I do absolutely love my Landy, its been brilliant for living out of on my random surfing road trips, and I'm in the process of slowly doing it up to take with me when I go to work in Africa this summer...

In conclusion, try to drag along a knowledgable friend when you go to buy! Unfortunately my knowledgable friend was serving in Afghanistan at the time!

[alantd]

A Twig,

I hope you recovered some of the money from them! That MOT issue would cost them severely if it were reported - the MOT centre would lose its license and the dealer would be charged with fraud. I would lean on them if I were you.

Sorry to hear of your trauma. Glad you love the landy though.

[JonJon]

A Twig,

I hope you recovered some of the money from them! That MOT issue would cost them severely if it were reported - the MOT centre would lose its license and the dealer would be charged with fraud. I would lean on them if I were you.

Sorry to hear of your trauma. Glad you love the landy though.

Where did you buy it from? Just so people don't make the same mistake? Was it in Bath?

Good luck, it'll all be ok in the end!

[A Twig]

I was living at my Mum and Dad's at the time (being between houses) so bought it from John Reid Land Rover just outside Horsham, Surrey.

Definitely one to avoid, their website is here:

http://www.reidlandrovers.co.uk/

The guy seems very professional, a lot of chat etc etc but its the son who's taken over the father's business and I don't think his heart is really in it to be honest!

On a secondary and way more positive note, the guy that did the work on it in Bath - couldnt have been better - labour costs possibly a bit high but excellent job, really friendly, took the time to ramp the car up and show me all the stuff that had been done, things that might need doing in the future etc etc. Was recommended to me on here actually by Chris I think it was.

Anyways, Mayborn 4x4 in Brislington - top notch!

[Pete Attryde]

When I was looking for a Disco I went into Reid landrovers as they were local to me then. As I was looking around the yard the old boy who was working on a defender in the workshop came over for a chat. He intially thought I was looking for a defender and went into a long spiel (sp) about how they only repair bulkheads properly by filling them with epoxy and glueing the repair patches over the holes . At this point I walked back to my car and left.

I have to say that I wouldn't have bought any of the vehicles in their yard as I didn't think any of them were worth the money they wanted. I also suspect that the old boy is normally kept away from Joe public as he seemed to honest about what they were doing.

Pete.

[MogLite]

I bought my first Land Rover, a SIII from them many years ago. They had to replace the front dumb-irons under warranty, as they colapsed !!

There was other really serious chassis rust. I was far from happy and ended up re-chassising it within 12 months of purchase.

A front tyre blew on the way home from the dealers, there was a spare but no tools

Things may have changed in 20 years, but of course they will never get anymore of my money.

[Gromit]

I did a bit of a buying guide for older defenders.

See post #15 and #19 in this thread:

buying guide

[Big_John]

I was living at my Mum and Dad's at the time (being between houses) so bought it from John Reid Land Rover just outside Horsham, Surrey.

Definitely one to avoid, their website is here:

I'd second that. When I was looking round last year I was told in no uncertain terms not to go anywhere near them! Shame, 'cos they always have a good selection of stock. I would definately follow up that MOT issue, maybe a bit late to take up with the authorities now, but a word in his shell-like should see a significant refund I'd of thought...

[Boot]

We've been really pleased with our 1999 110 CSW TD5. There have been a few things needing replacement, the worst of which was clutch at £460 at independent garage we bought her from, so may be worth checking out when (if ever) it was last done - this was an unwelcome repair just before Christmas.

Not wanting to kick of the alternative fuel debate, however it may be worth doing some of your own research before you buy, and decide what you might primarily be running your landy on long term? With the price of diesel at an all time high and set to carry on escalating a 300tdi could be cheaper to run than a TD5. If it doubles by the end of the year I'm sure it'll become a hot topic.

Bush Doctor - Selling point perhaps?