Buying a Defender

Hi All,

I've found what looks like a nice defender from UK Custom Land Rovers. Nut and bolt rebuild, galv chassis, nice and shinny. The guy says he will not entertain an AA or RAC check as they don't really understand Landys, create long lists and block up his yard. Is this reasonable?

UK Custom Land Rovers ? Aren't they well north of chuffin expensiveville ??

What model, what engine ?
Looks can be deceptive

PeterT135 said:

Hi All,

I've found what looks like a nice defender from UK Custom Land Rovers. Nut and bolt rebuild, galv chassis, nice and shinny. The guy says he will not entertain an AA or RAC check as they don't really understand Landys, create long lists and block up his yard. Is this reasonable?

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Have you got a link to the vehicle? People who put up barriers like that are a red flag in my book

https://www.ukcustomlandrovers.co.uk/cars/landrover/defender90/station/538432/

This one right? You need to get a feel for what they mean by nut and bolt rebuild? Galv chassis = good. Respray = meh. new seats and trim = meh. If that had a recently rebuilt engine, rebuilt transmission then probably worth the money. If it doesn't have those things and has just been tied up probably not.

Yep, I know it's expensive, but it ticks the right boxes.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-de...romSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars

They were happy about a Defender mechanic coming to have a look, which is positive. I'm up in Scotland so difficult to see myself. Anyone West london fancy a few hours work?

I personally think its dear but I am out of touch with the mad current car prices, though add in the base car and all the new bits and there you have it 20k.
So if you like it buy it, tbh if it drives okay and 2nd gear dont crunch theres not really much to look at as its all new, bulkhead would be my main point to check but even there you cant really check top as they have painted it, so that just leaves the footwells.
So maybe ask them to do a video of it being driven using all the gears/brakes etc, saves paying someone else.
Reg number would eb good to check mot history, not so much for fails but for a general idea of the car and if the po looked after it.

And hes right about the aa/rac inspections they will find something really stupid like rusty jubilee clip to justify their fee, they are most likely okay for mainstream cars.

When we bought our first Disco I got the AA to do a full inspection.
They missed a dodgy rear diff.
They repaid us the fee after the problem was certified by a 4x4 garage.
There was nothing else wrong with the vehicle, which they did say so they got that right!
And the replacement diff cost us nothing as the guys who found it couldn't actually find what was making the noise, so they gave us the replacement free of charge. Secondhand but still going strong.
Guess we were lucky there.

PeterT135 said:

Yep, I know it's expensive, but it ticks the right boxes.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-de...romSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars

They were happy about a Defender mechanic coming to have a look, which is positive. I'm up in Scotland so difficult to see myself. Anyone West london fancy a few hours work?

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There's no doubt there's at least a 5K premium added that's assuming everything else is perfect. I also strongly suspect that isn't a 'nut and bolt' rebuild as they claim. I would ask for photos of the rebuild. That's not to say it isn't a nice example. I know they say 1 owner but it's not uncommon that these companies buy rotten chassis defenders from the 1 owner and stick them on a galv chassis with a new paint job, some posh seats and add 10k to the asking price.

That steering wheel shows how many miles it been driven.
i.e loads!!!
If they were going to change all the other trim stuff why not change the steering wheel too?
All that money and they haven't touched the engine?
Hmmmmm!!!!!

The two rear AT tyres look close to the limit and the spare is a MT.

Stanleysteamer said:

That steering wheel shows how many miles it been driven.
i.e loads!!!
If they were going to change all the other trim stuff why not change the steering wheel too?
All that money and they haven't touched the engine?
Hmmmmm!!!!!

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Completely agree with that, either every mile has been done in sand paper gloves, the wheels is form a different much higher mileage vehicle, or the speedo has been swapped/not working for a long time.

On a similar note they have give it a paint job but not done the interior, the interior bulkhead is still scratched and looks like rust (although it is ali) and possible shows signs of a previous repaint as it is red? I would definitely put this into the category of tarted up. new chassis maybe but looking at the obvious bits have they done the job properly with new bushes, brake lines, fuel lines, or have they just lifted the body off as a one piece and transferred everything onto the new chassis?

Don't be a "nut", "Bolt!!!!"

The interior respray is SOOOOO cr@p it proves they don't care, they never even sanded it down properly never mind anything else!!!
Look at the two shots of the back seats!!!

dag019 said:

Completely agree with that, either every mile has been done in sand paper gloves, the wheels is form a different much higher mileage vehicle, or the speedo has been swapped/not working for a long time.

On a similar note they have give it a paint job but not done the interior, the interior bulkhead is still scratched and looks like rust (although it is ali) and possible shows signs of a previous repaint as it is red? I would definitely put this into the category of tarted up. new chassis maybe but looking at the obvious bits have they done the job properly with new bushes, brake lines, fuel lines, or have they just lifted the body off as a one piece and transferred everything onto the new chassis?

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Quite and just as a very basic, the MOT history would tell any prospective owner how many miles it's actually done, or if the speedo had been changed, and when all this happened, quite apart from, as others have said, giving us an idea of how much the previous owner cared for maintenance.

And you'll note there's a primary front inner wing nut, bolt and washers missing

PS are there and engine bay and gear/txfr box + suspension + brake pics? The devil's in the detail...

From the ad..."Viewing is highly recommended as is any test drive and all inspections welcome. "

All except AA and RAC!!!!!!!!

PeterT135 said:

Hi All,

I've found what looks like a nice defender from UK Custom Land Rovers. Nut and bolt rebuild, galv chassis, nice and shinny. The guy says he will not entertain an AA or RAC check as they don't really understand Landys, create long lists and block up his yard. Is this reasonable?

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Walk away......

PeterT135 said:

Hi All,

I've found what looks like a nice defender from UK Custom Land Rovers. Nut and bolt rebuild, galv chassis, nice and shinny. The guy says he will not entertain an AA or RAC check as they don't really understand Landys, create long lists and block up his yard. Is this reasonable?

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Did you download the brochure?
Or does it just tell you the same as the ad?

Stanleysteamer said:

Don't be a "nut", "Bolt!!!!"

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Remove one nut and bolt, clean the rust off, grease the threads and put it back on the vehicle. Ain't that a nut and bolt rebuild??

Wimblowdriver said:

Remove one nut and bolt, clean the rust off, grease the threads and put it back on the vehicle. Ain't that a nut and bolt rebuild??

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I always thought it meant removing all the worn out crap bits, and then bolting them back on with new nuts and bolts!