New Defender reliability?

n plus one · 5th September 2012, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by uninformed

The bigger items are sad really, JC may be able to yes or no this comment: T/Case failer is probably mostly due to oil level, ie to low on delivery. It is a proven T/case. Also, front Propshaft could be dodgy and the T/case gets blaimed

Rear diff: while it sint the best design, the Factory set up (ie back lash) is poor and inconsistant. Unfortunatly, the dealers are just swapping out the 3rd members for another off the shelf, set up from the same factory

Now you should not have to check oil levels on your brand new can, and certainly not the diff set up

I personally would check all oil levels on delivery and keep a close ear on the rear diff...

Yep, I think oil was ultimately the issue with my T/C.

Having my time again I would do the following:

1. Have all service work performed by an independent LR specialist.

2. Only fit LR accessories during warranty period.

3. Get a thorough pre-end-of-warranty inspection done 3-6 months out.

I'd still buy another one though. Hope this is of some use to the OP.

**akelly** · 5th September 2012, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by newhue

Sorry Adam I'm a knocker, no you cant drive it from the show room floor without issues. 90% chance it will fail large or small unfortunately. I guess most failings aren't show stoppers though some of mine where.

90% chance you will love the truck, but there will always be 10% hanging over your head something stupid will fail on it. I know that is for any vehicle, but we are talking Land Rover here.

I love my truck, but get frustrated with the large ticket items that need replacing, often with the same stock as the first failed part. Why else do people have several diffs, g boxes, tranferes' replaced. LR are doing something wrong and warranty doesn't last past 3 years.
If you're old girl is going well but has a few km on it so what. It will leak like a puma and not go as spritely, but I'd say repair it don't replace it.

The $80K mine coats me sure would have got a nice Tdi sorted, even with replaced panels.

Thanks Jason - great to get some perspective from the other camp, so to speak.

The main thing with the current beast is... well, I don't really know! It does the job, needs a few little things sorted like getting cruise fitted, better insulation in the roof (heat) and floor (noise)... But I guess they are Defender issues, so what am I on about?

Honestly, I think I just want a new car... Although with the way things are going at the moment I might stick with this one (owes me nothing) and see what plays out with the mines over the next 12 months. There are better/other things to drop cash into right now...

Hmmm. You've all given me food for thought. As always, what a bloody great asset this forum is!

Cheers,

Adam

**Loubrey** · 5th September 2012, 02:35 PM

Touch wood as always when you make bold statements but...

My April 2010 Defender 90 has on 6 occasions done the 1500km trip between Perth and Karratha (all in one go with SWMBO sharing the driving), spent 14 months working and playing in the Pilbara and have been used as SWMBO's daily drive without fail.

In all this time I had a seal replaced and the high level brakelight was replaced, all on waranty and the immobiliser's spade terminal adjusted... and that's it.

It's never leaked other than a bit off the jetwash on the rear sliding window and all the drive components are functioning perfectly.

I've followed advice off the forum and addressed and prevented a few minor issues, including minor adjustments and extra cable ties around hoses and wiring in the engine bay. I always do a proper "pre-start" before long trips or a day's playing and I always keep an eye on oil and fluid levels myself and I replace those with the recommended grades if it looks a bit "used".

Maybe I've just been lucky with my car, but my Puma 90 is by a country mile the best Defender I've owned and or driven and that says a lot because it was always a long hard decision to sell any one of my previous 5!

Big thumbs up from me, especially if you're already a Defender owner and you know how to take care of them!

**PAT303** · 5th September 2012, 04:11 PM

Mines the same,I went from a 14 year old Tdi which I still have to the TDCi and have never regretted it,the TDCi is better in every way and while I'm a Tdi fan,my children grew up in mine life goes on and so do vehicles.Mine will be doing the Gibb river again before Xmas and then to Adelaide in Jan through the centre via the Talawana to windy corner and then to Warburton and across to the stuart and I don't have any worries about reliability.If a new defender is what you want buy a new defender. Pat

**newhue** · 5th September 2012, 04:36 PM

Adam,
don't let just my run put you off. I'm not good at sugar coating things and believe this forum is very good at saying how it is. There are others on here who have had issues, but there are also many who haven't.
Overall I like the 130 and its the only option in the market that fills my needs. It's just recently I have sat back and looked at what Defender owners sometimes consider normal crap from ownership, and concluded it just doesn't or shouldn't stack up.
Needless to say I'm not selling, just having a hate part of my relationship with my fender.
To be honest I'd keep the bucks in the bank and wait and see what's becoming of our economy in the next couple years. And as Pat has said, if the itch needs scratching, may as well.

**Scallops** · 6th September 2012, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by newhue

Adam,
don't let just my run put you off. I'm not good at sugar coating things and believe this forum is very good at saying how it is. There are others on here who have had issues, but there are also many who haven't.
Overall I like the 130 and its the only option in the market that fills my needs. It's just recently I have sat back and looked at what Defender owners sometimes consider normal crap from ownership, and concluded it just doesn't or shouldn't stack up.
Needless to say I'm not selling, just having a hate part of my relationship with my fender.
To be honest I'd keep the bucks in the bank and wait and see what's becoming of our economy in the next couple years. And as Pat has said, if the itch needs scratching, may as well.

Don't say I didn't warn you, Jason!

My Puma is now smack on 5 years old and has done 90,000km. My experience was lots of little items needing warranty work initially....then the common issues such as brake vacuum pump leaks etc....but for the last few years, Grover has been almost completely trouble free.....

I managed to get good Allianze extended warranty and have never paid a cent for any repair, and I had a rear main seal failure early this year (a minute leak that most folks wouldn't have even noticed). This, and my EGR valve failing (fixed with a Bruce Davis Performance flash upgrade) have been Grove's only recent issues....he has never broken down or left me stranded...ever. And I pretty much did drive mine out bush straight away...across the Simpson, Gunbarrel, through the Savannah and the Kimberleys.

Would I head off into the bush in the vehicle? Absolutely. I have a GPS EPIRB and an Iridium sat phone!

**newhue** · 6th September 2012, 10:10 AM

Yes I know I didn't listen, blinded by love.

Time will tell if it was the worst $3k I didn't spend when I placed the order for the 130. Already having spent 60k I was feeling scabby. Perhaps no surprise they don't offer extended warranty anymore though.

Just as a side note, a client of mine paid $10k to extend the warranty on his $500k Bentley. I still say LR are doing it wrong and arnt that good a value for what you get.

**PAT303** · 6th September 2012, 10:43 AM

Defenders are good value compared to the competition,on paper the lighter utes that have flooded the market sound like great value and have powerfull engines but they cannot do what they are designed to do,the triton chassis snaps are just one example. Pat

**justinc** · 6th September 2012, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by PAT303

Defenders are good value compared to the competition,on paper the lighter utes that have flooded the market sound like great value and have powerfull engines but they cannot do what they are designed to do,the triton chassis snaps are just one example. Pat

here! here! agree 100%, there is not one 'ute' on the market to rival the 130/ 110 cc at present, they are all just rubbish in the strength dept.

and what's more, none with any character, either.

jc

**newhue** · 6th September 2012, 08:04 PM

I'm more so saying LR need a good kick in the bum. For a 130 60K and 3yr 100K km warranty. Triton half the price 5yr engine, and 10 year drive line and body warranty. And yes you can break a Defenders back if you overload it as well. I don't believe a Defender needs more power, the motor is suited to the drive line and had been the same largely since conception. But the price they charge for a body that's the same since 83, and how long have they known the p38 diff is not good, but keep chucking them in and asking top dollars.
I know the defender is superior in many ways and has sole, and a good family; but I think LR make us pay dearly for that. They use the fact that they sell there 20 000 Defenders as a good thing, they would sell more if they could make them, but prefer to manipulate the idea if you want a defender you just buy one, there is no bargaining, no run outs, no end of year sales. And with scarce dealers you have to largely get what you get, or wait, after all YOU want the Defender why should we stock them.
Then after you own it you finnish the dam thing off over the next 3 years. Honestly if we weren't so passionate, LR would fail regarding Defenders and I think they know that as well.

My new transfer case has been ordered, and will be fitted along with the egr valve, and a new water washer jet thingy. Go beyond they say.

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