Defenders - what questions should I be asking?

[paddyhasneeds]

Hoping to go look at a few specialists at the weekend where I can kick tyres without feeling too guilty, however private ads such as this keep catching my eye:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1463487.htm

Looks/sounds right to me. I know I've posted a few threads on these, and all I can put it down to is being "green" at buying cars privately, let alone a Defender, however what specific questions should I be asking? Seems a bit cheeky to email asking "Is the chassis/bulkhead in one piece and are the doors rusty and what is there by way of dents?"

[West4x4]

With a 300tdi ask about the timing belt They need changing every 60k and aslo ask if the pulley recall was done there should be yellow paint on the fan to show its done.
Other things to look out for
Headgasket
Gearbox wear and backlash there all a bit noisy and a clunky change but there shouldn't be any resistance going into gear
As you said chassis condition main hotspots are the rear cross member and the outriggers Ask if they've been replaced
Bulkhead again this is a rot spot top corners under windscreen and the footwells go first
Doors the frame is steel and can rot out aslo causes paint bubbling corrosion between it and the ally door skin rear door is the worst for this
Cappings rust not structural just untidy

Try to find out more about the previous owner ex farm motors are battered often uncared for the off road boys may well look after them and add nice goodies but off road use promotes wear to.

[Andy Sargeant]

Most important thing IMHO are the Chassis and Bulkhead, after all these are the footings of the house so to speak, give us a call if you need any advice.

Andy. www.ajs4x4.co.uk

[paddyhasneeds]

Andy Sargeant said:

Most important thing IMHO are the Chassis and Bulkhead, after all these are the footings of the house so to speak, give us a call if you need any advice.

Andy. www.ajs4x4.co.uk

Thanks Andy, might well do that - I've sent a quick email to the guy advertising the Defender in my original post, depending on the result I may go take a look if it's still hanging about.

I know "buy on condition" is the mantra with these things but it seems to tick a lot of the right boxes at a glance.

[paddyhasneeds]

This is close to a specialist that I'm going to tomorrow so I may as well take a look.

http://www.tsc-used-car-supermarket.co.uk/used_car...

What's the score with the small "gap" where the wheel arches flare out?

[budrover]

Make sure its the 2.5 tdi model... not the 2.5 turbo diesel. [they can be smokey oily engines]

[paddyhasneeds]

budrover]Make sure its the 2.5 tdi model... not the 2.5 turbo diesel. [they can be smokey oily engines said:

Right now I'd have to pinch myself to check I wasn't dreaming if I found any for sale in my area! Every specialist I emailed has replied saying "Sorry, got none, would love to have some to sell".

Thanks for the tip though - I presume this simple means make sure it's got the 200 or 300 engines?

[cpas]

paddyhasneeds said:

This is close to a specialist that I'm going to tomorrow so I may as well take a look.

http://www.tsc-used-car-supermarket.co.uk/used_car...

What's the score with the small "gap" where the wheel arches flare out?

That's not a Defender but a pre-Defender 90 so should be cheaper - and it's not a 200Tdi so has very little power. Look around G plate of later.