Hello - My First LR

After years admiring Defenders and the admitting to myself that I can't afford one I chose to enter the LR scene on the cheap - a D2 ! Bought it directly from it's one owner from new who had just retired and treatimg himself to a much newer D4. August 2004 so one of the last, Epsom Green Landmark Auto, with a not insignificant 178k miles which almost put me off until I test drove it some ten miles or so. A lovely drive and no expense spared servicing and repairs with fully stamped book and all invoices to support. No towbar, never towed, never been off the tarmac and chassis sound with just minor surface rust - he had it waxoiled every year.

I have learnt fast, very much internet reading, then serviced it myself and then took it on a thousand mile roadtrip to France the week after I bought it focusing on the temperature gauge and warning lights closely all the way! It drives lovely and after a clay bar, mop and detail it looks as good as it drives too. I am very happy and enjoying this new world of LR ownership.

Welcome to the forum

Have you got the EKA code for it?

The what?!!

Emergency Key Access

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/recommendation-for-d2-owners.184078/

and this one

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/handy-buying-alarm-info.311291/

I'll research that topic! Thanks.

Jon

Very nice, was just about to mention the plates and then saw you're in Bangor, top man, good find and the waxoyling every year will have prevented some of the terrible chassis rot that the D2 is renowned for

I know that images go down well so a few more here illustrating my LR Journey so far. Each wheel came off for a diy refurb due to original flakey paint so i rust converted, etch primed and top coated each corner while the wheels were off before I thin did the remining central and rear chassis rail sections, as well as inside the rails using the fiant straws/lances available good job jobbed.

An image off the front sunroof motor being removed for strip down and clean and reasembly and refir, result a working sunroof☺

I like the image of Big Larry parked at the services in Ireland heading to the ferry to france the week after i bought him, opposite the Tesla elec charge points... and the britpart bike carrier is brilliant by the way.

Happy days. 1000 mile round trip next week to the IOW from my home in NI with my young family to visit my Mum but apart from these fun trips it sits in my garage as a pampered garage princess hobby vehicle if I'm honest.

Jon

Hello and welcome. Your motor looks fantastic for the age. Dare I ask how much you paid for it? You did well to find such a good one.

Col

£2250 . The one owner was offered a mere £1800 from a dealer px against an expensive Disco Sport, he thought he would try his luck on gumtree at 2800 feeling that it was worth more amd i was the first viewing and as i said the high milesge almost put me off untill i spent time in it and driving it. Most of the milesge was acheived on the motorway commuting him to work at Belfast airport and two trips over to england each year so it has just chug chug chugged along unstrained and it certianly shows in the drive. All of the usual D2 achilies heel know weaknesses have been replaced or resolved already and invoices to support that. A good buy, me and my family love it and i think its a keeper

Big-Larry said:

£2250 . The one owner was offered a mere £1800 from a dealer px against an expensive Disco Sport, he thought he would try his luck on gumtree at 2800 feeling that it was worth more amd i was the first viewing and as i said the high milesge almost put me off untill i spent time in it and driving it. Most of the milesge was acheived on the motorway commuting him to work at Belfast airport and two trips over to england each year so it has just chug chug chugged along unstrained and it certianly shows in the drive. All of the usual D2 achilies heel know weaknesses have been replaced or resolved already and invoices to support that. A good buy, me and my family love it and i think its a keeper

Click to expand...

Good price, well done. I hope you have many trouble free miles with it.

Col

Looks great! I recently joined the LR crew with a 90 cheaper than you think but not in as good a condition lol
Welcome to the forum!

Many thanks gents.

Nice example, hope you enjoy it

welcome to the forum

Really pleased for you. Looks great.

Thank you very much for the encouraging comments. Forgive my daft image of the roof but I was so chuffed to have repaired the front sunroof, ie got the motor motoring again that I felt compelled to take a photo of both roofs in operation...... why I then felt compelled to share it with you I have yet to fathom!!

Jon

There is just something so right about the Disco 2.

That looks like a mint example, looks like its done 17k not 178k,,

Very nice..

Yes Henry although I have chased Defenders for years one day hoping to own one, the D2's then began to appeal almost as much despite all of the horror stories and bad press one can read online. When I bought this one last month I wasnt't 100% sure it would be kept or flipped for a small profit but during the servicing and detailing works he got under my skin and my young sons named him ' Big Larry ' and that was that - a keeper he has become! Still a lot to learn and getting to know it mechanicallya but most of the immediate little jobs have been done now . Looking forward to some good camping roadtrips with the family.

Cheers.. Jon

Very nice, welcome to LZ.

Welcome to the forum, cracking looking d2, enjoy.