How important is mileage when buying?

Hello

I'm looking to buy my first Defender 110, and looking at 2002-2004 models (they seem to be about my budget). Lower mileage is usually better but what is an optimum mileage? 120,000+ miles seems to me to be asking for trouble but I don't know Defenders very well yet.

Cheers!

:welcome2:

From my point of view the last thing you need to be worrying about is mileage.

Landys aren't broken in till they've done at least 170,000

condition and lack of rust would be top of my list

I bought my first one with 220,000 on the clock. I have spent many happy hours fixing it, but not many of those on the engine

My list would be condition of the chassis,then mileage, then proof of proper maintenance/or lack of. If from a dealer get a warranty. If from a private seller then lower the asking price, as they are not offering a warranty.

+1 i would go on condition over mileage seen some low mile cars that have had next to nothing done to them. yet seen high milers with every last pound spent on them. You need to see if any service history receipts etc. When i bought mine it had 2 big bulging envelopes full of receipts. Just to add i never buy a car with different tyres on each corner unless it is very cheap. Can't afford right tyres what else they scrimped on

I know of a 110 with 600000 miles on it been used every day by its original owner think its had a new engine at some point but apart from that its well looked after and will go forever

Service history and structure..

Condition over mileage.

+1

My 1991 Defender was bought as a rebuild, but it's still on the original engine, which has done 210,000 miles and runs perfectly well. If it's been well maintained running gear, brakes etc should be fine too. Chassis & bulkhead need a good going over to check for rust. The problems a lot of older Defenders have is with the "quality" of the plastics, switches & wiring!

Edit - Oh, and remember the seats may have been sat on by a succession of fat B'Stards over the years. Paddock sell a refurbishing kit (by Britpart, but is actually very good!) with foam & covers.

My list would be, chassis rot, condition of gearbox/transfer box, bulk heads. Bought my with 130,000 on it and the engine runs like a dream

i read an article the other day saying how in fairness millage is something that the majority of motorists worry about but actually make very little difference. engines nowadays are allot better built with better finnish levels than they have in the past. the author said he would rather buy a cared for car that had done 100,000+ motorway miles than a high revving, clutch dropping, non-caring owner with 30,000- miles.