should i buy one?

[Rorie]

So, i have played about offroading in friends 4x4s. I had an x reg freelander until this summer (though it was a car, not a toy).

I am thinking about buying an old defender as a toy/winter run about. I am quite a practical person (currently re-building my house) and i am a structural engineer, so the ability to learn technical stuff is there.

BUT, i know nothing about cars! How difficult is it to maintain/repair defenders when they go wrong? How much info is out there to help me when something does go wrong? Any 'how to rebuild a defender' guides/books?

I also wouldnt know what to look for when buying an old defender. ANy good magazines or articles?

Finally cost - when things go wrong, is it normally cheap enough to fix defenders?

I would like to see this as a bit of a hobby/ learning experience/ fun! But if i need o buy lots of expensive parts or call in help from a garage if i cant manage then its going to be a no go!

 

[wiltshire landyman]

there just a big mecanno set

 

[Stulios]

Take a look at the rebuild threads on here. Should give you a good idea of what's required to fix/maintain them. Pretty easy to do most jobs, especially with busters guides and videos on YouTube etc

 

[suew]

Buy one , once you own it, you wont care about the rest

After years without one, I got another last year and you cant have any less knowledge than me. With the help of another LZ member even I am learning to fix stuff.

The parts seem cheaper than they are for my car and so far my 22 year old has behaved perfectly.

I bought her on my own, armed with the buyers guide, which is on here somewhere, someone will have the link to it.

 

[bankz5152]

I knew absolutely **** all 10 months ago. Since then I have learnt much, more than I thought and still learning much.

It is just a big mecanno set like mentioned above, simply unbolts and bolts back on.

 

[Rorie]

Thanks for the replies.

Does anybody have links to any useful information, such as the buying guide?

Your comments are not helping me find excuses not to purchase one haha

 

[thegavs]

Defender Buyers Guide | Repair My Landrover

 

[mlucas110]

i bought my 1st ever landy 3 months ago. its 24 years old falls apart on a daily basis if not hourly but i still smile everytime i drive it. i slowly have learnt how to fix it if you just take your time and look its normally pretty straight forward. Parts can be really cheap if you by britpart i have discovered but try and go for better brands were possible.

 

[SnowmanV8]

Buy one. Played with cars before but mainly just swapping simple parts over. Done alot to mine with help from members if you start a job and it gets too much for yours skills or it just simply wears you down, a member from here will talk you through or come round and help. But you WILL have to cope with the **** taking its all light hearted and good humor. Poke the **** out of the chassis make sure it is cleaned for viewing. Ideally start it cold and drive it asap after starting get it warmed up.

 

[timtheenchanteruk]

they are simply ace, so far pretty easy to fix, stuffs built to get to, so you don't have to dismantle 1/2 the engine to change summat.
parts are cheap, but avoid the cheapest stuff, you don't have to go as far as genuine parts, OE parts are readily avaliable, and they are the same as genuine parts, just no LR logo on the box.
example is the ball joints I just got, elcheepos could be had for £4, I paid £6 for Delphi,

 

[captain skellon]

its like owning a formula one car. sleek, sexy and six hours maintenance for every hour driven

 

[Rorie]

Thanks for that. I have had a read through the buyers guide, so good to see that sort of stuff is available. But is there a lot of things that scare me - talk of diffs etc. is there a good document or book that explains what all the bits are, what they do and what breaks?

 

[captain skellon]

Whats your location someone may help you or know of a good one nearby

 

[suew]

Thanks for that. I have had a read through the buyers guide, so good to see that sort of stuff is available. But is there a lot of things that scare me - talk of diffs etc. is there a good document or book that explains what all the bits are, what they do and what breaks?

Don't worry about diffs, I have owned mine a year now and don't know what one is, therefore it can't have broken

 

[THEengineer]

defenders are excellent,best vehicle i have owned it will go anywhere and do anything,yes they dont drive like a car,yes they can rot away in the bulkhead and chassis yes parts fail regurly ,but find a good one and you will never look on another vehicle in the same way,nothing has character like a defender you have to own one to appreciate what i am saying,when you own one you will love it

 

[Station House]

Another guide for you

Defender Buyers Guide

More than enough help and advice on here.

Don't worry about diffs - if you want to know how one works there'svideos on youtube

If it breaks you'll know about it, and you then either get it rebuilt or replace

TBH if you buy a sound Landy and maintain it, diff will be the least of your problems

 

[mrchurchill109]

I asked myself that question nearly 20 years ago now - and have never looked back.

I had spent time working on cars and such when I was much younger, but had done little since even though i had the tools and skills.. I went out and bought (in retrospect) the sorriest mobile Land-Rover on the face of the planet.

7 months later, with the chassis welded, all systems overhauled, new engine and a complete respray that 109 took its place as my daily driver - and did it for many years (till my back, not the car gave out).

In short, if you have common sense, a willingness to learn and the ability to read a manual you couldn't go far wrong buying a 90 or 110.

One important thing you've already discovered is a community to answer questions and help you work through the problems that a new (to you) Land-Rover will have. I had some of that, but had to work a lot of it through myself.

ajr