Buying MOD landrover defender, yes or no?

Firstly I want to introduce myself as I understand is customary. I am Mat, I am currently studying Forestry and will enter the Forestry industry after my studies. I am looking for my first Landover, a 90 preferably hard top but pick up wouldn't be all too bad with no frills just solid and willing workhorse. I have been told they are practical and also a good bit of fun.

I have kept an eye out for that illusive bargain on eBay and other sites and the local paper etc for a few months now and I still am yet to be satisfied with anything in my price range, £3-4k. I have been told and found that for this price range the MOD can offer a standard 90 that has been fully serviced, reconditioned and checked over to the standards they would happily use one at. Is this true, is there anyone out there who has purchased one and can share their experience? If not does anyone have any suggestions as to other avenues to explore?

Many Thanks

Mat

:welcome2::welcome2: Here's a good source of ex military stuff

MOD Sales, Military Vehicles & Used Ex MOD Land Rovers for Sale

Welcome.

I can say honestly that buying an mod landy is a great investment. Might not have the fastest engine in the world but most of the time they are over serviced, under worked and are immaculate. If I had the cash I would get one in a heartbeat and just chuck a 200tdi in it.

Dave.

A friend of mine bought his from Withams , a 90 hard top. I recommend getting the timing belt checked just to make sure as his went only last week after buying the rover in march but like "The Wolf" said they get a monthly functioning service and a regular service through the r.e.m.e. while in service. And all rovers released in to the public domain "unless stated by withams" are road worthy and well looked after apart from some rust .
Edit...
Just a few other places to look.
This site has a load of dealers down the right side associated with land rovers civvie and ex mod.
http://milweb.net/classifieds.php?type=14

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/clas...a=&advert_type=&price=&keyword=&S.x=44&S.y=16

Very good site and here a lot of good things about them on other forums .
https://secure.pablanchard.co.uk/default.asp

All replies brilliant so far!

Thanks everyone for the help the more opinions the better!

Welcome

This should help you avoid some of the more common pitfalls

Defender Buyers Guide

That guide is brilliant! The most comprehensive list i have see by far!!! I will definitely be using that THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

I've bought a couple of 90s from Witham SV in the last few years, along with a couple of larger 4x4s They are very helpful people to deal with, and for an extra fee will deal with the entire registration including tax and mot if you want to go down that route.

The vehicles have always been of good quality but the prices of their Land Rovers have increased massively in the last 18 months and whilst they have a good selection of tidy 90s, there are fewer ones in mint condition.

It is worth noting that unless you go for a later Wolf version, they are very basic, there is no insulation/sound deadening, seats from a series 3 and the engines are not the fastest. Some of the later 2.5na 90s have been converted to a later r380 gearbox and a disk braked back axle also but it is worth factoring the cost of a TDi conversion (and maybe PAS) into your budget.

It is also worth lining the roof with something, they really suffer with condensation due to the large amounts of exposed metal.

Hope that helps

I would buy one, one previous owner (reliable)!!!

MOD vehicles are well looked after mechanically but thats about it, they arent used for show

3-4 k should give you a nice area to look at especialy 90 wise. was looking at a 2004 ex utillity 110 last night for around that.

Bought a X-MOD 86 D90 (for just a few hundred over what he paid) from a gentleman that purchased it from Withams last year, vehicle was from Cyprus with an original 64K KM, he got it for about 3200 pounds, he then put in around 1000 pounds on parts and service.

New HD Battery 6th April 2011
Replace headlights and bowls 30th April 2011
Pre MOT work 6th May 2011
New front seats 10th May 2011 (Saab, look like Wolf, very comfortable)
New Front Door Seals 1st June 201
Fit Steering Guard 20th July 2011
Replacement steering lock and ignition switch 20th June 2011
Engine Oil Change 19th July 2011
Change windscreen upper and lower seals 10th September 2011
Change Air Filter 6th November 2011
Change Anti-Freeze 25th November 2011
Replace Speedo cable (One piece) 12th December 2011
Replace Clutch master cylinder and fluid 14th December 2011
Paint rear tub Feb-12
Replace door hinge bolts with Stainless steel ones Mar-12
replace front door locks and mechanism Jul-12
change fuel filter Jul-12
fit new door locks and striker plates Jul-12

I Just finished a 4500 KM cross country drive and only issues I had was to replace the starter in Holland (was the original) and had some oil leaks after driving all of the KM's, had to replace sump gasket, oil pump gasket and rear seal. Modified a RAD/Haz kit for the interior, which turned out great, put in a cubby box, wolf rear bench seats, cold weather radiator cover, I will do a new paint job this spring, and would like to do PAS, wolf wheels and new tyres coming up. Other then that I had no issues with the MOD 90!!

My first Landy was an ex mil 90 FFR (fitted for Radio)... It was basic in the extreme...no heater worth talking about in mine & noisy, cold, damp & hard work....

But it was pretty much completely reliable in the 18 months I had it....but the lack of power from the engine and no PAS plus no comfort for the wife and kids put paid to it....

How many vehicles can you buy, run for 18 months & go greenlaning & attend a few military shows & then sell for more than you paid !

The Army is getting rid of all the 90 wolf landys I believe at present and the price has come down dramatically.. If you can get 1 of those in your budget then you will have done very well but they may be worth adding some more to get 1....

Good luck !

Dave

Not sure if this would be of interest but I have a white 200 Tdi 110 hi-capacity project which due to another 110 and returning to sailing championships outside of work I just don't have time to finish it. It has a galvanised bulkhead and chassis and requires very little to get it finished. For your career it would be a bulletproof workhorse.

If of remote interest you could buy and finish well within your budget.

PM me or call me on 07826 040506

Michael

rugged guide do nice mod spec land rovers sometimes or just mod sales and pick your own but they have been driven by squaddies all there working life so keep that in mind

Its probably worth having a look at EMLRA - Ex-Military Land Rover Association for all things ex-mil land rover related...there is a wealth of knowledge there and good for those hard to get military items if you want to show or restore etc...

Thank you for the continued responses everyone, all experience is much appreciated! I have taken the plunge and placed a deposit on an ex military landy and pick her up on Saturday! Her name is millie

:nopics::nopics::nopics:

Good luck with the purchase