Understand that I am thick and at the beginning of a learning curve.

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Do you know? I thought I'd downloaded every pdf checklist there was about what to look for when going to buy a defender. Granted, this landy went through some major puddles yesterday (country roads with huge ones), and the headliner isn't wet, so it can't be coming through the join in the roof. The bloke had this board in the back, a bit wet on top, but soaking underneath. So has the water come from the holes on the wheel arches or down the corners either side. Is this common? If so, I'd better get the collies swim wings!
 

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Cheers Neilly. The chinese board wasn't damp, or underneath. Just when we got home. I don't see any rust lifting front mats up, bulkhead, etc. yet there was a bit of water under pedals when I got home. Same with boot. It passed it's MOT last Thursday. Done up by a great garage. Didn't see this great buying guide ... . so if there's no holes or rust (looks like pre-drilled holes on wheel arches inside) that need rubber stoppers, I'm perplexed. I'm not gonna have any work done yet, but I'm gonna take it to our landy specialist (even main dealer) and just get it fully reported on by someone hopefully like yourself. It's the best starting point at this stage. At the end of the day, we can all fall in love with someone we don't really know. There was no checklist for my first other half :0) I wonder if caveat emptor applies when you do a deal legitimately through Ebay?
 
I'm not gonna have any work done yet, but I'm gonna take it to our landy specialist (even main dealer) and just get it fully reported on by someone hopefully like yourself.

This is a good idea - find someone local to you from LZ who'll have a look round it for Cake, Beer ... or whatever ....:)

I wouldn't take it to the main dealer unless it's for the comedy aspect - I would suspect they'll tell it's an obsolete vehicle built to a poor standard, ( or similar), and then try and sell you something "new" ... whilst offering half a Mars bar* for your Deafener :mad::confused:

* - Might actually be less :eek:

And ..... I'd only take to someone you trust. IMHO Deafeners are far better maintained DIY - There are some great people out there who do this work professionally, and some of them are on here .... but finding one local to you needs to be done by recommendation.
 
This is a good idea - find someone local to you from LZ who'll have a look round it for Cake, Beer ... or whatever ....:)

I wouldn't take it to the main dealer unless it's for the comedy aspect - I would suspect they'll tell it's an obsolete vehicle built to a poor standard, ( or similar), and then try and sell you something "new" ... whilst offering half a Mars bar* for your Deafener :mad::confused:

* - Might actually be less :eek:

And ..... I'd only take to someone you trust. IMHO Deafeners are far better maintained DIY - There are some great people out there who do this work professionally, and some of them are on here .... but finding one local to you needs to be done by recommendation.
I'm actually alright about the water if someone says it's normal for water to find its way in flying through massive 4 inch deep puddles. Anyway, I really appreciate everyone's help so far. I've been amazed at how helpful everyone on this thread has been to me as a newbie. It's great to hold the hand of newbies but I'm starting to feel like I'm over-asking. It's time to find someone I can trust and pay for a full evaluation (we do have three independents locally and I was talking to a greenlaner at the tyre shop in my other car, and he told me which one he'd stay clear of). The owner'll get a rocket if he's ripped me off. I can't change how I am. It's why I work for the NHS (Respect people first and not the money). I can't bear to acknowledge that people don't have the same values, so I just can't treat them with suspicion when I meet them. Even when I know they're lying, I become ungrounded and embarrassed/sorry for them, and I'd rather deal with the anger afterwards, get things sorted (if it's possible), then congratulate the person who ripped me off afterwards (I know, passive aggression).
 
I'm actually alright about the water if someone says it's normal for water to find its way in flying through massive 4 inch deep puddles. Anyway, I really appreciate everyone's help so far. I've been amazed at how helpful everyone on this thread has been to me as a newbie. It's great to hold the hand of newbies but I'm starting to feel like I'm over-asking. It's time to find someone I can trust and pay for a full evaluation (we do have three independents locally and I was talking to a greenlaner at the tyre shop in my other car, and he told me which one he'd stay clear of). The owner'll get a rocket if he's ripped me off. I can't change how I am. It's why I work for the NHS (Respect people first and not the money). I can't bear to acknowledge that people don't have the same values, so I just can't treat them with suspicion when I meet them. Even when I know they're lying, I become ungrounded and embarrassed/sorry for them, and I'd rather deal with the anger afterwards, get things sorted (if it's possible), then congratulate the person who ripped me off afterwards (I know, passive aggression).

Driving fast through 4 inch deep water isn't a great idea anyway. It can lead to loss of control, may fire water into the electrics or other sensitive areas, and you don't know what is under the water. Slowing down or changing lane where possible may be a better plan.
 
Small world this forum, though it could be a coincidence. Seller has sent a 'sorry, we have cancelled your order' message through Ebay. I'm not gonna edit my posts. We are one big community in one room.
 
Well I wonder why?
As he now told the bay that you didn’t buy it through them?
How did you pay for it?

I guess that mean you have no come back:oops:

J
 
Well I wonder why?
As he now told the bay that you didn’t buy it through them?
How did you pay for it?

I guess that mean you have no come back:oops:

J
I dunno Marjon? Ebay's automated message at the end of the sellers cancellation notice (probably because I marked 'payment sent' when I got home) says "Ebay would like to make sure you get your money back". I paid cash (£900 more than I was offered for a deal outside of Ebay), got a receipt for the full amount I gave, and obviously I have the car outside. I'll wait and see what the independent land rover garage near me says. I am still mostly thinking the seller was a nice genuine chap and the things that are scaring me are just landy quirks, nothing to worry about. I'll talk to the mechanics and see if it seems like I can build up a good customer/service relationship and pay for a proper report. It's gonna take me ages to read all the RAVE, posts and pdf stuff on here, and that's all I might end up doing as a member in the future (be one of the quiet ones in the library :0) I'm a long way off doing much more than checking my oil and water levels and changing spark plugs. Actually, I'm talking a load of rubbish there. I'm trying to sound like one of the lads, but the truth is, I love defenders but I'm not interested in being a mechanic. Phew, I've come out. My name's mackers and I'm a recovering mechanic pretender :0)
 
Have you checked the numbers match?

Chassis
Engine
VIN

Cheers
He said he asked the garage about saving the bit of the old chassis but they said it wasn't worth it as they'd made a record. He has loads of before and after pictures which he said he would email to me and he also agreed to tell the garage that I can have all documentation and receipts (I didn't push the garage pre-purchase for too much info because I didn't want the garage to get in trouble - Data Protection). I didn't check the engine with the VIN plate, as it's a new engine and he kept the V5 to post (I just got the slip). I just expected the vin and engine to be different as he told me it was a new engine (I know, I'm a wazzock). It's a really good reputable garage run by enthusiasts. They have all records and I can't imagine they'd knock up a stolen vehicle. I've not had the pics from the seller yet, but I'll email the garage to see if he's phoned through permission to release everything. I joined the forum too late to learn. I'm just getting stressed with all the mistakes I made, so I'm off and will return to let you know the warts and all. You'll see it time and time again. I'm one of those pilacs.
 
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Hope it all checks out ok:rolleyes::)
And you get the build info.

J
I was overly confident as I bought an RAC HPI, checked DVLA MOTs, spoke to garage ... . Everything was green and no issues on the HPI, including not stolen, etc. etc. As it said the RAC will pay upto 70k compensation if they're wrong, I went along to buy it feeling everything had checked out.
 
Of course that is if the actual numbers you stated are what you have now?
Again it is a mine field but hope you can get good info from garage.

J
 
Hope it all matches. Probably just the after deal jitters, wondering if you have been ripped off and if you've done the right thing. Best thing to do, play with it and enjoy it. Loads of clips on YouTube for you to watch at your leisure if you think your asking too much on here. Most people on here want to help with the odd few telling you to use the search function .:);)
 
Not worked out how to do quotes yet, but jitters .. done right thing .
.ripped off absolutely hits the nail on the head, into the tyre and released a load of anxiety instantly. That's exactly where I'm at. If I had my time again, I'd research this site for six months before buying one. Cheers for the insight. My posts today reflect panic which has been a waste of time cos I can't do anything about the its and buts til tomorrow.
 
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