Am I setting my sights too high? 90 TD5

Thanks to everyone for their responses. I guess I will wait for one to pop up, I already waited 6 months for a 300tdi and saw some perfect TD5's go which I am now regretting! If I did my homework on the engine instead of reading about issues then I would be driving one by now!

don't forget a 200 or if you see a minter with a bad engine, push the price right down and rebuild/swap the engine

Worth keeping an eye on Gumtree website too (as free to advertise on there - unlike EBay). I got mine through a private seller on there. VGC - W (2000) Reg Def 90 TD5, 64k miles. Was panel back originally but previous owner did county conversion with loads of decent extras. Paid top end of your budget but was in excellent condition, had FSH and long MOT left. Insurance (limited mileage and no towing clause) via Flux for less than £250. Did pay for HPI check too - just to be on safe side - and read all the helpful advice on here about what to look for before I went looking.

I finally have a defender! A late 2002 version with the 15P engine. Its done 48,000 miles and has 2 key sets, paperwork etc. Overall a nice vehicle. Only issue is some paint flaking in areas. How much do you think it would cost to get the left hand of the tub and a little of the back resprayed?

Personally if just those bits I'd do it myself with colour matched rattle cans - about £50 in materials

If you're thinking of paying a garage, am guessing £500 - £750ish

Oh, and piccies of new toy required

Il post a piccy tomorrow to show you guys! couple questions about paint. I have a compressor, spray equipment etc and have done car body panels before so not a massive issue. Is is cellulose paint? and where can I find the paint colour code? Will it be clearcoated? Or, even easier can someone recommend a manufacturer that sells good colour matched paint?

Thanks guys!

Should be cellulose unless a previous owner has used something else

Paint codes are a pain with Landys - they rarely have the plate behind the brake servo stamped, and again owners often change

The Stephen Hull site (see link under sticky at top of Defender posts) might help. Otherwise it's a case of finding a supplier to match or using colour cards at Halfords

I buy my paint from Autopaint St Helens albeit I'm nowhere near then

proper paint place can light gun it and knock up an exact match

Going back to the earlier points about working on the engine, there's a lavishly illustrated account of some comprehensive engine repairs by Bennehboy in the Discovery section. The engine bit starts around this page http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/bennehboys-d2-adventure-254514-19.html
As you can see, it doesn't look impossible to work on. If you're getting worried about engine life you could always get a second hand one and replace all the gaskets and bearing shells at your leisure so as to have a fresh one ready to go in when it was needed.

Ok so im again a little lost. I have a whine in 5th gear. It dissapears under load and when I lift of but at cruise it whines. No other gears effected and goes in amd out of gear fine. Im going to be changing all the oils tomorrow to rule that out but any ideas? I would be surprised is the box was on its way out after 48,000 miles! The whole truck is completely standard and untinkered with. Im just hoping it needs an oil change