Does mileage matter?

Guys - need help!

I'm looking for a second hand post 2002 Defender. Most of the ones in my price range seem to have mileage of 80,000+.

For what we need it for, it's not going to have to do more than 1,000 miles a year (and it will be regularly serviced) but some of that is on uber difficult track in the middle of nowhere, so reliability is key.

Should I be worried by anything with more than 80k on the clock? Or am I being paranoid?

Or, is there an upper limit (eg 150K) which I should go above?

Any advice very much appreciated!

Thank you!

Short Answer No. 80k is nothing.

Longer Answer:
All depends on servicing, regular oil changes, maintenance. etc etc
Chassis condition, drive train slack. etc

at 2002 youll be looking at TD5 im not so familiar with TD5 and my reply is based on the 300tdi.

Im sure someone with more knowledge of later Defenders will be along soon.

High mileage doesn't always mean trouble. I have a 110 V8 that has done almost 160k. It still runs as well as when it left the factory. It does help that it is an ex police vehicle, and was serviced above and beyond what is required, but I have carried on with the regular servicing, and apart from a recent case of driver error, she has never let me down.

My 90 is 27 years old and has done more miles than can be counted by the clock. If its ben looked after then it will run for ever. They are built to be abused and so are much more tolerant than standard vehicles but like anything mechanical, if it has not been looked after it will break and when it does the breakage will have knock on effects.

My 1999 TD5 has 140K on the clock.

My 200tdi 110 has 135,000 miles on the clock and I am shortly going to cross Morocco and the Sahara in it. If its been serviced with regular oil changes I would not worry to much.
You will need to check the obvious places like cross members, foot wells ball joints and bushes etc.
My wife has a 1 Litre Toyota Yaris which has 250,000 miles and its in great shape. Doesn't use any oil between servicing. We have just changed the rear wheel bearings.

1991 110 defender with 210,000 on mine and it goes like clockwork without any high useage of oil. As said before it does help if they are serviced regularly.

188 thousand on my 300 tdi an runs like a Swiss watch

Bear has nailed the answer to this one

138k on mine by the way

My old tdi had nearly 180k on the clock when I sold her, still went like a train! My new td5 has just 71k, still a baby and smoooooth to drive. Going to try and keep her like that so that means keeping on top of servicing, etc etc as planning on keeping for a while

High mileage is good? It indicates a vehicle that has been reliable. High mileage coupled with frequent maintenance is a real bonus.