Some pointers in buying my first Land Rover 90

[bmt216a]

Hello,

Looking to buy a Land Rover 90. I have done countless hours of reading on different engines, what to buy and not to buy. I haven't got a great budget, being £3k so I can't be to fussy.

Basically found a 1988 on an F plate 2.5 td. I heard that these engines were modified in 1989 due to reliability issues with the block. The one I have found has done 105k miles, bulkhead and chassis in good condition. £3150. I thought worse case scenario if the engine failed, I could always replace with a 200tdi engine which I heard is straight forward change.

Can the experts advise me please

Cheers
Ian

[heightswitch]

bmt216a said:

Hello,

Looking to buy a Land Rover 90. I have done countless hours of reading on different engines, what to buy and not to buy. I haven't got a great budget, being £3k so I can't be to fussy.

Basically found a 1988 on an F plate 2.5 td. I heard that these engines were modified in 1989 due to reliability issues with the block. The one I have found has done 105k miles, bulkhead and chassis in good condition. £3150. I thought worse case scenario if the engine failed, I could always replace with a 200tdi engine which I heard is straight forward change.

Can the experts advise me please

Cheers
Ian

£3k won't give you much option.
for that money I would look for an early 90 and get the lowest mileage best condition body and chassis you can find. I would buy an original one everytime over a transplanted / modified one unless you know that the work has been done to a very good standard.

The oily bits are less important than chassis and panelwork. Don't be taken in by checker plate, alloys and bolt on bling.

N

N.

Edited by heightswitch on Saturday 15th January 17:29

Edited by heightswitch on Saturday 15th January 17:31

[bmt216a]

I always thought that checker plate would be and easy way out to cover up any rust/rot.

[West4x4]

Yeah it might cover it it but it doesnt make it go away! As said avoid bolt on tat find something clean and simple with a good chassis and bulkhead rather than shinny knobbly wheels and extreme this and that. Try looking for an ex MOD on they are normally in good nick but are very basic. But everything can be up graded in time if you want that.

[300bhp/ton]

bmt216a said:

Hello,

Looking to buy a Land Rover 90. I have done countless hours of reading on different engines, what to buy and not to buy. I haven't got a great budget, being £3k so I can't be to fussy.

Basically found a 1988 on an F plate 2.5 td. I heard that these engines were modified in 1989 due to reliability issues with the block. The one I have found has done 105k miles, bulkhead and chassis in good condition. £3150. I thought worse case scenario if the engine failed, I could always replace with a 200tdi engine which I heard is straight forward change.

Can the experts advise me please

Cheers
Ian

2.5TD is fine, not speedy or quiet but runs ok. My Uncle has two of them, one well over 200,000 miles on the clock and the other with about 160,000.

Make sure you know what you are buying, but remember everything can be replaced or fixed, so there is no real limit to what you can or can't do.

Check the doors, if rusted out they are pricey to replace, even 2nd hand.

And yes a 200Tdi is an easy swap.

[budrover]

Rust is the killer on any 90.

Early ones with galvanised cappings seem to have the chassis's which are more rust resistant.[B/C/D and E reg]

Walk away from any with a aluminum checker plate on the rear crossmember, it will either be covering up a rusty one or propagating electro-corrosion between the dis-similar metals.

Get the best chassis / bulkhead combination you can find ... its easier to change a 2.5 petrol to a Tdi than re-chassis one.

[Lefty]

I agree with everything that's been said. Bear in mind that a new chassis is goign to £1500 + £1000 labour. New doors £300 each.

New bulkehad £750 + heaps of labour.

All the panels can be bought fairly cheaply and both the chassis and bulkhead can generally be repaired.

I'm not really familiar with the 2.5TD but I would have thought you might find a decent tdi for that price. A few years back I bought a '93 200tdi 110SW with bad doors but good bulkhead/chassis/engine/interior for £2300. Needed new pads and a speedo cable for the MOT. Gearbox was a bit balky (LT77).

Theer are a few 200tdi 90's on ebay around £3k, you would need to have a good look underneath before parting with your hard-earned though!

[Lefty]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1990-LAND-ROVER-90-DEFENDER-...

Looks honest enough.

[bmt216a]

Thanks for your advice, very helpful. Found this one with low millage + it's only ddown the road to me.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...