Thread: Members Opinion - Leaks in my new 110

Originally Posted by BilboBoggles

Agreed the shell is very similar to previous 110's but I'd argue that there were some cost cutting done on the PUMA, for example my TD5 has large amounts of seam sealer applied to the seams throughout the body, including the seat box. This sealer is under the paint so was done as part of the manufacture process.

The PUMA has none at all. And daylight visible in places through the seams.

The TD5 has black underseal applied underneath the body, PUMA has none.

Congratulations on the leak free Defender - just goes to show there is hope!

I don't mean to be oppositional however my Puma has plenty of seam sealer so much so that there is a big blob of it on the seatbox where the skilled factory worker dropped a dollop...it was then sprayed over by an equally caring worker in the paint section.

You are right about the underseal.

That's very interesting - what year is your's? Mine is a MY09 made in aug 2008, I'd heard they improved the sealing on the later ones, so perhaps they reinstated the seam sealing guy on the production line. (Or perhaps he was taking a smoko when they did mine!)

Mine's MY09 built just before yours (May).

Maybe that dollop in mine was the seam sealer meant for yours. They ration it: a bit like loktite.

I've had mine looked at twice from new over two services. Dealer thinks is bulkhead bolts but is most definitely the 'spongey' seal between windscreen and bulkhead. Worst is the soft drizzly rain over a period, it soaks in as its drips off the windscreen channel. Lucky I have the ruber floor mats and I collect them and throw the water out; concerns over rusting behind the dash though.
Dealer tests by blasting with a high-pressure hose and says no leak found, but this test is useless as it doesn't replicate sitting in the rain. The 'seal' has gaps and seems to absorb the water. I am going in this service armed with photos and demand a fix. I am convinced the material used for the seal is wrong - should be some kind of silicon or solid rubber. What do you think?

Just got mine back after being off the road for about three weeks (again) for water ingress problems fixed under warranty. One week later after rain I find I now have more leaks than it had before it went in. Not only did it come back with more leaks, it came back with a scratched roof, paint drip lines on the roof from overspray, lumpy paint caused by spraying over excess putty that was not removed, the feet of my roof rack embedded into the roof gutter putty (caused by putting the rack back on before the putty could dry), a rear seat that no longer locks into upright seating position, a cargo barrier that was reinstalled with only one loosely fastened bolt, a quick release fire blanket torn from the cargo barrier (now useless), and a torn rear cargo mat. In total there has been about 7 or 8 stabs at getting the water ingress problem right since I have owned this car.

With hope fading that I have spent my hard earned money wisely, I remain astounded and disappointed with my LR experience.

I think the secret to happy and dry Defender ownership, is either pure luck that you get one that does not leak, or to invest in a car port to keep it out of the rain.

I have had a new TDi 110, a new Td5 110 and a once owned Td5 130....all have leaked or still leak like a governments promise.

The only Land Rover I have owned, that was dry as a bone (handy as I was in UK), was a 1981 Series III SWB, after I had fitted a canvas roof kit. No condensation either! Even helped with sound proofing...a bit.

So the solution is there, go canvas!!

aew849

Originally Posted by aew849

I have had a new TDi 110, a new Td5 110 and a once owned Td5 130....all have leaked or still leak like a governments promise.

The only Land Rover I have owned, that was dry as a bone (handy as I was in UK), was a 1981 Series III SWB, after I had fitted a canvas roof kit. No condensation either! Even helped with sound proofing...a bit.

So the solution is there, go canvas!!

aew849

No disagree here my '78 SIII leaks all over my foot when in heavy rain, it has a canvas roof, roof doesn't leak though as does our 130 Td5, something with the right hand side windscreen I suspect


Orrr perhaps it is just a series/defender thing that will never be fixed

Mrs hh