Land Rover Defender 90 Td5 - buyers guide, what should I be looking at?

[lamar latrell]

Hello,

I've done a reasonable amount of research to know either will suit my requirements so now I'm in the market for a Defender Td5 90 or 110.

It will be my first Land Rover.

I've found a 90 and have to travel some distance to check it out, I want to make the most of the trip and make a logical decision to buy it or not (as opposed to buying it to make the hassle worth while :o )

Details:

2004 model
~80,000Km
Manual, 2495cc
2 Owners - private sale


Story: "First owner a pilot, second hardly used it... Stored indoors." ... Not much more...

What questions should I be asking, and what answers would I want to hear?

What should I be looking at, listening to, feeling, sniffing ? :eek2:

Any tips appreciated.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/10/579.jpg

[alanw]

First up - have they checked the oil pump bolt? Can they prove it? If it comes undone due to someone in the factory forgetting the loctite and tension wrench then you will need another engine. If it hasn't been done then your first job will be to drop the sump and check.
Checked my 2004 td5 at 170k many years ago and undid the bolt with one finger on a short ratchet.

[frantic]

AFAIK, all the td5 90's.had the boost alloys, so if that's the picture, where are the wheels?
At 11 years old, it's done less than 7,000km a year so check it thoroughly. Low km cars are.real, but rare. My sister bought an old torana in 1996 that was around those km but it still had the country dealers 1970's sticker on the back and all the services from the book lined up as the grandma owner only used it for.church on Sunday. With not original wheels and tyres, you will need to check carefully. Maybe look for a LR specialist close to the 90 or a AULRO recommend one to pay to give it a look over either before you leave or when you get there.

[weeds]

Looks like it has inward facing rear seats.....is this standard.

[frantic]

Looks like it has inward facing rear seats.....is this standard.

Yes and no, the bench was an option, but it was a bench, not 2 Seperate backed seats each side. These look like uk imports from Exmoor trim.

[Blade74]

I've just listed my defender 90 tonight. I haven't checked where you are but I'm in Gymea south of Sydney if you want to have a look.
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Land-Rover-Defender-2003/SSE-AD-3649504

It's been very well looked after.