Break-even point

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overdrawn

overdrawn

Member
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My 1991 200Tdi 110 five door died on the way to the garage yesterday. Apparently it felt the need to drop its engine oil all over the roads of Cambridgeshire, in addition to already having failed the MoT with about £2k of welding and other bits required. Also didn't feel the need to tell me by turning on the oil warning light.

Can any one give me any ideas regarding a break-even point for a vehicle of that age? It's got a relatively recent gearbox; in fact putting a replacement engine in would only leave the transfer box, bulkhead and the axles to go wrong, as there isn't much on it that was there when it rolled out of the factory. It may not sound like it from the above bit it has been regularly serviced and maintained, new rear cross member and so on. I just underestimated the importance of the rust in the brackets and the size of the leak in the steering box.

I love it but there isn't a bottomless pit of money to pour into it. Similarly, I know I could buy one in a private sale for c. £6k, but then where would that leave me in two years time?
 
Don't be an idiot and get rid of it..

With the "defender" the real one being out of production a good condition 110 will be sought after in the future..

As you say yourself she's mostly new, spunk a new engine in it and you'll be golden..

The only way is up if you are hell bent on getting your money back wait a few years ;)
 
overdrawn said:
My 1991 200Tdi 110 five door died on the way to the garage yesterday. Apparently it felt the need to drop its engine oil all over the roads of Cambridgeshire, in addition to already having failed the MoT with about £2k of welding and other bits required. Also didn't feel the need to tell me by turning on the oil warning light.

Can any one give me any ideas regarding a break-even point for a vehicle of that age? It's got a relatively recent gearbox; in fact putting a replacement engine in would only leave the transfer box, bulkhead and the axles to go wrong, as there isn't much on it that was there when it rolled out of the factory. It may not sound like it from the above bit it has been regularly serviced and maintained, new rear cross member and so on. I just underestimated the importance of the rust in the brackets and the size of the leak in the steering box.

I love it but there isn't a bottomless pit of money to pour into it. Similarly, I know I could buy one in a private sale for c. £6k, but then where would that leave me in two years time?
Click to expand...

Im almost finished a chassis up rebuild on my 1992 200TDI 110CSW. I’m around £7-8K into the rebuild, including the chassis cost. It’s been ongoing since April 2018. My advice would be to take the body off complete a put a galv chassis under it. Then when finances allow, rebuild the body. I would also be looking at rebuilding your current engine. Putting in 2nd hand replacement to get you going again. I would bet you could have it on the road, on a galv chassis, for less than £4.5K. What would that get in terms of a replacement? What would you do with the 110 if you were to replace it? I bet it’s not worth more £1-2K in its current state?
 
Flossie said:
So you've had the 2k repairs done and the chassis and all is now good?
What damage to the engine?
Click to expand...
I was on the way to the garage to get the repairs done when it went all black and nasty, so not much spent yet, just a few spare parts, some of which I should be able to return. Don't know what's wrong with the engine yet but I'm assuming completely knackered based on the noise it was making shortly before it stopped.
On the other hand it may just be that they cool it down, put some oil in and everything's tikety-boo, but I'm not hopeful.
 
I might be ok.
Things can look worse than they appear sometimes, a ltr of oil goes a long way if it's pumped out under pressure.
Do you know where the oil escaped from?
If you've the room, a chassis change to a nice galv one is money well spent, basically fit and forget. I haven't had to worry about welding for 16 yrs now.
 
Flossie said:
I might be ok.
Things can look worse than they appear sometimes, a ltr of oil goes a long way if it's pumped out under pressure.
Do you know where the oil escaped from?
If you've the room, a chassis change to a nice galv one is money well spent, basically fit and forget. I haven't had to worry about welding for 16 yrs now.
Click to expand...

I’m sure there is a thread in the 200tdi section about an engine that ran dry. Maybe it’s worth the OP @overdrawn having a look.
 
overdrawn said:
My 1991 200Tdi 110 five door died on the way to the garage yesterday. Apparently it felt the need to drop its engine oil all over the roads of Cambridgeshire, in addition to already having failed the MoT with about £2k of welding and other bits required. Also didn't feel the need to tell me by turning on the oil warning light.

Can any one give me any ideas regarding a break-even point for a vehicle of that age? It's got a relatively recent gearbox; in fact putting a replacement engine in would only leave the transfer box, bulkhead and the axles to go wrong, as there isn't much on it that was there when it rolled out of the factory. It may not sound like it from the above bit it has been regularly serviced and maintained, new rear cross member and so on. I just underestimated the importance of the rust in the brackets and the size of the leak in the steering box.

I love it but there isn't a bottomless pit of money to pour into it. Similarly, I know I could buy one in a private sale for c. £6k, but then where would that leave me in two years time?
Click to expand...
a defender with 2k of welding thats a galv chassis money , you just need a reasonable disco engine to convert to def spec if yours has lack of lube damage
 
I'm afraid owning a landrover is a labour of love, like having kids, alas they come with faults and costs that we have to put up with, but we grin and bare it or grit our teeth and swear a lot but we will never part with them, if you do part with them it is with instant regret and a sense of loss.
I have been lucky so far with my Defender but it is only 15 years old so I predict the stroppy lazy teenage related problems any time soon.
Stay with it buy a second hand engine if required and save up for a galanized chassis, you can keep them forever and always have something to do, they make sure of that.
I would never part with mine and intend to leave it in my will to my Son if he is prepared to take it on and keep it.
 
Last edited:
Scooby22 said:
I'm afraid owning a landrover is a labour of love, like having kids, alas they come with faults and costs that we have to put up with, but we grin and bare it or grit or teeth and swear a lot but we will never part with them, if you do part with them it is with instant regret and a sense of loss.
I have been lucky so far with my Defender but it is only 15 years old so I predict the stroppy lazy teenage related problems any time soon.
Stay with it buy a second hand engine if required and save up for a galanized chassis, you can keep them forever and always have something to do, they make sure of that.
I would never part with mine and intend to leave it in my will to my Son if he is prepared to take it on and keep it.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I'm going through the 'stroppy teenager stage', or the 'beloved labrador with rheumatism and bone cancer' stage.
 
Sell it and buy something more reliable.

A defender, especially the older ones ( series, 110 etc ) are a money pit, a labour of love. You will enjoy them more if you get involved instead of paying someone to do the work for you.

They're not a difficult vehicle to work on, the engines are straightforward, the rest is even easier once you get your head round them and you'll find all the answers to your questions on here.

If you're willing to get your hands dirty and save a few quid, then welcome aboard :D

Otherwise, go buy a freelander;)
 
Seized, apparently. Won't turn over at all.

Going to drop a second hand engine in it to tide me over . Been offered about £1200 for someone to install it; how does that sound? I have lost all confidence regarding my ability to instal an engine, so I think I'm going to stick to the smaller jobs in future.
 
overdrawn said:
Seized, apparently. Won't turn over at all.

Going to drop a second hand engine in it to tide me over . Been offered about £1200 for someone to install it; how does that sound? I have lost all confidence regarding my ability to instal an engine, so I think I'm going to stick to the smaller jobs in future.
Click to expand...
including the engine or just installing if the latter its far too dear
 
If they fit a genuine defender 200tdi then make sure you get your old lump back, there are a lot of valuable parts on it!
If they are using a disco engine then they will have to use the valuable parts off your old engine to make it fit as factory.
 
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