LHD Defenders in the UK

Good afternoon all

We're starting to think about a return to the UK - we live in Switzerland and have a 2006 "Black Edition" TD5 110 that we've grown to love. We're just wondering whether to bring it back with us or sell here and buy another back home. It's a nice old bus that's been well looked after and had some money spent on it over the years.

If we brought it back and then wanted to sell at some point in the future, is there much market for LHD Defenders in the UK? I see a few advertised, at fairly strong prices, but don't want to presume they actually sell.

Also, is it fairly easy to swap metric speedo to mph, etc?

Any thoughts or views welcomed. Thanks!

I drove a LHD vehicle for three years off and on in the UK, never caused me any problems. They do seem to ask high prices for LHD but don't know if they actually get them. There does seem to be a market for them. I changed my speedo from MPH to KPH. I bought a brand new one on ebay, I paid about £50 for it. It took me about twenty minutes to change it, fairly easy job, just a bit fiddly taking out the screws that hold the dash in.

mikescuba said:

I drove a LHD vehicle for three years off and on in the UK, never caused me any problems. They do seem to ask high prices for LHD but don't know if they actually get them. There does seem to be a market for them. I changed my speedo from MPH to KPH. I bought a brand new one on ebay, I paid about £50 for it. It took me about twenty minutes to change it, fairly easy job, just a bit fiddly taking out the screws that hold the dash in.

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The reason they ask silly money in the uk for LHD motors is their aiming at folks moving to france or spain

When I bought my ex MOD LHD Defender I planned to change to RHD straight away. After driving it for an hour or two I completely changed my mind.
I really don't enjoy having my dominant arm jammed against the door in RHD. I'm much more comfortable in a left hooker.
Mine still has KPH speedo which I'm assured is legal. It's been through a couple of MOTs since. I did go for some new RHD Hella headlamps,though.

I have just been reading about KPH speedos in the UK. Opinion seems split, but I have seen the following :
Motor Vehicles (Con & Use) Regs, 1986 Reg 35:
Motor Vehicle shall be fitted with a speedometer which, if the vehicle was first used on or after 1st of April 1984 and is registered in the UK, shall be capable of indicating speed in BOTH miles per hour and kilometers per hour, either simultaneously or, by the operation of a switch separately.
Except vehicles with maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph, motor cycle not exceeding 100 cc, invalid carriage, fitted with tacho, etc

Assuming there are no other provisos associated with this - country of first registration, ex MOD etc, it may be a good idea to change.

Anyone know if the total mileage on later Defenders is stored in the vehicle's brain? Will a new electronic speedo come up with the vehicle's mileage or start from zero?

I'm thinking (herWee's me in cloud cuckoo land again- when I should be asleep dreaming), of the possibility of fitting dual LHD/RHD controls!?

But you wouldn't want a passenger interfering whilst you were driving at the other wheel!

Hammer'n'tongs said:

I'm thinking (here's me in cloud cuckoo land again- when I should be asleep dreaming), of the possibility of fitting dual controls!?

But you wouldn't want a passenger interfering whilst you were driving at the other wheel!

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Trips home from the pub could be entertaining

NinkyNonk said:

Trips home from the pub could be entertaining

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Why ? Anyone with a few gray cells gets a taxi or walks

headintheclouds said:

Anyone know if the total mileage on later Defenders is stored in the vehicle's brain? Will a new electronic speedo come up with the vehicle's mileage or start from zero?

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Good question!

As to the speedo point, I'd be wanting an mph speedo... or may be I could just get the Tipex out?!

Gruber said:

Good question!

As to the speedo point, I'd be wanting an mph speedo... or may be I could just get the Tipex out?!

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Are you sure it does not already have MPH on it. I know mine has kph in smaller font on the inside.

dag019 said:

Are you sure it does not already have MPH on it. I know mine has kph in smaller font on the inside.

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Gruber said:

[GALLERY=][/GALLERY]

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Ok very sure! I have the old analogue style and it has both with a smaller internal numbers for kph. And I am sure my friends td5 does as well. Must be differant on the European market

[QU
OTE="Gruber, post: 4202668, member: 143971"][GALLERY=][/GALLERY][/QUOTE]

My def has Km only also and is Lhd I exported it and imported it no issue . No problem with MOT ither

headintheclouds said:

Anyone know if the total mileage on later Defenders is stored in the vehicle's brain? Will a new electronic speedo come up with the vehicle's mileage or start from zero?

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The speedo stores the total mileage, not the vehicle brain. There seem to be a few people who have made pulse generators to increase new speedos to the correct mileage. Not sure how easy it is to get a second hand speedo reset to a lower mileage.