Posted: 2/3/2011 7:48:25 PM EDT
| I ran across a diesel ex-MoD LR Defender 90. Not too much on details but it looks tight. If I make a move on this it’ll probably be a daily driver or a great weekend cruiser/BOV. I’m not too worried about comforts; I’m more concerned as to dependability. I’m aware of the horrors of the US spec Range Rovers and Discoverys. This is a Euro spec. How is it on reliability? |
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I had one for several months in Iraq...cute little 4-door pick up with an MG mount.
There are several running around on KAF. It was a great little truck; I liked driving it more than the'burbs and Excursions. Seemed like a pretty sound little truck and didn't give me any problems in the time I had it; remember that "deployed" vehicles pretty much get the shiite beat out of them. |
| The d90 is a legend when it comes to reliability. One thing to look for is if it has AC, a lot of defenders didnt come with AC. Otherwise its a great truck, probably not a powerhouse with the diesel but good on mileage. I would have a defender specialist shop do an inspection just to be careful. |
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They are the most desirable of the Defenders...cause it's hard to find them in the US. Some people spare no effort or expense to have one...
Hope the link works.... Club magazine w/ D90 Diesel article. First write up in side the cover. It's a pdf file scroll down format. There was a D110 in Denver C List for some decent money....if you were the seller. 
http://solihullsociety.org/pdf/RoverXchangeRally2010web.pdf Here'e another vendor.... http://rmr4x4.com/web/1178/inventory?make_id=39 |
Unfortunately, as much as I like Rovers - much of the above isn't correct. I own a '77 Ex MOD 109 CL Series III (TUV Spec). Its performance is very similar to the later 2.5 diesel. First issue is import legality. If the vehicle in-service date is less than 25 years (true age can be determined through the Project eng., Traceability, Land Rover, Block 19 Solihull, West Midlands, B29-8NW, Lode Lane, England.) and does not have a RI conformity sticker on the door jam - its not US legal. Lots of these are brought in with false paperwork or get driven over from Canada (where they have a 15 year exemption) - I know of quite a few in the US. Unlikely to be an issue - but eyes open. If you are involved in a high dollar liability incident, the fact the truck doesnt meet any of the US requirement may be an issue for your insurer.  Second, Rovers in general are not known for their reliability(Defenders are no exception). You cant keep oil in them or or water out. ex-MOD 90s have the virtue of being simple, but they are in no way paradigms of quality.They are capable, but have various common leak, electrical, gearbox, prop-shaft, half-shaft, flange and corrosion issues; anywhere the body panels come into contact with the frame, the bulkhead and the frame itself. It rots from the inside out, especially at the rear (its fully boxed and the drains get plugged or its full of mud). Least an ex-Mod won't have the power steering leaks or AC compressor failure/evap rot. The rest of the truck it pretty sound  All can be sorted and you can end up with a great truck - but it won't be especially cheap or easy.If its an ex-MOD, its motivated by a 2.5L N/A Diesel with 68 hp -117 ft/lbs. This is barely adequate in the SWB 90 - dismal in the LWB109. 0-60 in the 90 is 16-18 secs. Top speed is 65ish - if you can stand the racket. My daughters won't ride in mine w/o ear protection. 55mph is more realistic. Otherwise its a decent engine, even when abused. 2 batteries, its an FFR and 24 volts. Parts are more difficult to find and more expensive. Off road they do fine - on road, well its a military vehicle. Squaddies are not easy on these things. Much of the stuff in the US has been abused. Avoid Royal Marine (salt exposure) or ex-Para (air dropped and tweaked frames common). Best examples are low mileage RAF - they were just driven around the base (look for blue paint) or Reserve Depot reps (where mine came from). Due to the disparity of value between the UK and here, many rough trucks are prettied up and brought in. Google "Land Rover 90 Buyers Guide" and do a thorough inspection prior. GL - if you have any specific questions, happy to help. |
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Quoted:
Unfortunately, as much as I like Rovers - much of the above isn't correct. I own a '77 Ex MOD 109 CL Series III (TUV Spec). Its performance is very similar to the later 2.5 diesel. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_82LRCpo5bkc/Sr43HXs1bNI/AAAAAAAAAvA/NE8dT4fTyrk/s800/109%20Resto%20Sept%20015.jpg First issue is import legality. If the vehicle in-service date is less than 25 years (true age can be determined through the Project eng., Traceability, Land Rover, Block 19 Solihull, West Midlands, B29-8NW, Lode Lane, England.) and does not have a RI conformity sticker on the door jam - its not US legal. Lots of these are brought in with false paperwork or get driven over from Canada (where they have a 15 year exemption) - I know of quite a few in the US. Unlikely to be an issue - but eyes open. If you are involved in a high dollar liability incident, the fact the truck doesnt meet any of the US requirement may be an issue for your insurer.
Second, Rovers in general are not known for their reliability(Defenders are no exception). You cant keep oil in them or or water out. ex-MOD 90s have the virtue of being simple, but they are in no way paradigms of quality.They are capable, but have various common leak, electrical, gearbox, prop-shaft, half-shaft, flange and corrosion issues; anywhere the body panels come into contact with the frame, the bulkhead and the frame itself. It rots from the inside out, especially at the rear (its fully boxed and the drains get plugged or its full of mud). Least an ex-Mod won't have the power steering leaks or AC compressor failure/evap rot. The rest of the truck it pretty sound All can be sorted and you can end up with a great truck - but it won't be especially cheap or easy.
If its an ex-MOD, its motivated by a 2.5L N/A Diesel with 68 hp -117 ft/lbs. This is barely adequate in the SWB 90 - dismal in the LWB109. 0-60 in the 90 is 16-18 secs. Top speed is 65ish - if you can stand the racket. My daughters won't ride in mine w/o ear protection. 55mph is more realistic. Otherwise its a decent engine, even when abused. 2 batteries, its an FFR and 24 volts. Parts are more difficult to find and more expensive. Off road they do fine - on road, well its a military vehicle. Squaddies are not easy on these things. Much of the stuff in the US has been abused. Avoid Royal Marine (salt exposure) or ex-Para (air dropped and tweaked frames common). Best examples are low mileage RAF - they were just driven around the base (look for blue paint) or Reserve Depot reps (where mine came from). Due to the disparity of value between the UK and here, many rough trucks are prettied up and brought in. Google "Land Rover 90 Buyers Guide" and do a thorough inspection prior. GL - if you have any specific questions, happy to help. This sums it up perfectly. If you want to have a daily driven Land Rover, you had better be prepared to do intensive preventative repairs and have a backup vehicle. They are awesome when things are working right though. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Quoted:
Unfortunately, as much as I like Rovers - much of the above isn't correct. I own a '77 Ex MOD 109 CL Series III (TUV Spec). Its performance is very similar to the later 2.5 diesel. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_82LRCpo5bkc/Sr43HXs1bNI/AAAAAAAAAvA/NE8dT4fTyrk/s800/109%20Resto%20Sept%20015.jpg First issue is import legality. If the vehicle in-service date is less than 25 years (true age can be determined through the Project eng., Traceability, Land Rover, Block 19 Solihull, West Midlands, B29-8NW, Lode Lane, England.) and does not have a RI conformity sticker on the door jam - its not US legal. Lots of these are brought in with false paperwork or get driven over from Canada (where they have a 15 year exemption) - I know of quite a few in the US. Unlikely to be an issue - but eyes open. If you are involved in a high dollar liability incident, the fact the truck doesnt meet any of the US requirement may be an issue for your insurer.
Second, Rovers in general are not known for their reliability(Defenders are no exception). You cant keep oil in them or or water out. ex-MOD 90s have the virtue of being simple, but they are in no way paradigms of quality.They are capable, but have various common leak, electrical, gearbox, prop-shaft, half-shaft, flange and corrosion issues; anywhere the body panels come into contact with the frame, the bulkhead and the frame itself. It rots from the inside out, especially at the rear (its fully boxed and the drains get plugged or its full of mud). Least an ex-Mod won't have the power steering leaks or AC compressor failure/evap rot. The rest of the truck it pretty sound All can be sorted and you can end up with a great truck - but it won't be especially cheap or easy.
If its an ex-MOD, its motivated by a 2.5L N/A Diesel with 68 hp -117 ft/lbs. This is barely adequate in the SWB 90 - dismal in the LWB109. 0-60 in the 90 is 16-18 secs. Top speed is 65ish - if you can stand the racket. My daughters won't ride in mine w/o ear protection. 55mph is more realistic. Otherwise its a decent engine, even when abused. 2 batteries, its an FFR and 24 volts. Parts are more difficult to find and more expensive. Off road they do fine - on road, well its a military vehicle. Squaddies are not easy on these things. Much of the stuff in the US has been abused. Avoid Royal Marine (salt exposure) or ex-Para (air dropped and tweaked frames common). Best examples are low mileage RAF - they were just driven around the base (look for blue paint) or Reserve Depot reps (where mine came from). Due to the disparity of value between the UK and here, many rough trucks are prettied up and brought in. Google "Land Rover 90 Buyers Guide" and do a thorough inspection prior. GL - if you have any specific questions, happy to help. Agree 100%. Had an ex-MOD Aussie Series III diesel 109 for a bit. Drove it around Australia and most of SEA. |
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Quoted:
Unfortunately, as much as I like Rovers - much of the above isn't correct. I own a '77 Ex MOD 109 CL Series III (TUV Spec). Its performance is very similar to the later 2.5 diesel. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_82LRCpo5bkc/Sr43HXs1bNI/AAAAAAAAAvA/NE8dT4fTyrk/s800/109%20Resto%20Sept%20015.jpg First issue is import legality. If the vehicle in-service date is less than 25 years (true age can be determined through the Project eng., Traceability, Land Rover, Block 19 Solihull, West Midlands, B29-8NW, Lode Lane, England.) and does not have a RI conformity sticker on the door jam - its not US legal. Lots of these are brought in with false paperwork or get driven over from Canada (where they have a 15 year exemption) - I know of quite a few in the US. Unlikely to be an issue - but eyes open. If you are involved in a high dollar liability incident, the fact the truck doesnt meet any of the US requirement may be an issue for your insurer.
Second, Rovers in general are not known for their reliability(Defenders are no exception). You cant keep oil in them or or water out. ex-MOD 90s have the virtue of being simple, but they are in no way paradigms of quality.They are capable, but have various common leak, electrical, gearbox, prop-shaft, half-shaft, flange and corrosion issues; anywhere the body panels come into contact with the frame, the bulkhead and the frame itself. It rots from the inside out, especially at the rear (its fully boxed and the drains get plugged or its full of mud). Least an ex-Mod won't have the power steering leaks or AC compressor failure/evap rot. The rest of the truck it pretty sound All can be sorted and you can end up with a great truck - but it won't be especially cheap or easy.
If its an ex-MOD, its motivated by a 2.5L N/A Diesel with 68 hp -117 ft/lbs. This is barely adequate in the SWB 90 - dismal in the LWB109. 0-60 in the 90 is 16-18 secs. Top speed is 65ish - if you can stand the racket. My daughters won't ride in mine w/o ear protection. 55mph is more realistic. Otherwise its a decent engine, even when abused. 2 batteries, its an FFR and 24 volts. Parts are more difficult to find and more expensive. Off road they do fine - on road, well its a military vehicle. Squaddies are not easy on these things. Much of the stuff in the US has been abused. Avoid Royal Marine (salt exposure) or ex-Para (air dropped and tweaked frames common). Best examples are low mileage RAF - they were just driven around the base (look for blue paint) or Reserve Depot reps (where mine came from). Due to the disparity of value between the UK and here, many rough trucks are prettied up and brought in. Google "Land Rover 90 Buyers Guide" and do a thorough inspection prior. GL - if you have any specific questions, happy to help. Thanks for the reply. The vehicle in question is on Craigslist in somewhere in lower FL. The seller says he has a clear FL title. I'm used to owning Samurais, YJs, M1009s and such so I don't need heated turn stalks or self-leveling beverage holders. A daily driver for me would be less that 20 total commute miles in blue-collar clothes. I'd like an older Series like yours but if that were the case I'd want to swap-out the entire drive train (minus axles) for Toyota gear. |
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Much has to do with expectation - if you can live with it and.understand its shortco$mings, they can be fine. - Have a friend who had a Series I with a 240D Mercedes engine as a city DD. - No diesel Rover is my first choice on the highway - but I've done it and lived. PPI should be done like a proctologist - be very intrusive, esp the frame and bulkhead.
Unless it is cherry I wouldn't give more than 5-7 grand for it, tops Less than they bring in the market - and a likely sign of trouble or desperation if you can score it for that. But being intimately involved with Rovers not worth anymore to me. - know what's likely ahead. tjeu aren't a better choice for what you want than a Wrangler - other than the nameplate. GL BTW having it registered is no guaruntee of its status. My truck above was titled asa 73 - the importer brought it in on flawed paper to meet the 25 year exemption. When I got Traceability and MOD service records, it was built in '77 and went into BAOR in '78. By the time I got it it was exempt and I had the title ameneded. Not likely an issue but a few people have had piss poor outcomes with non-exempt trucks. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |