8th Year of D2 Ownership

**Rok_Dr** · 28th May 2020, 10:16 PM

Well FB has reminded me that I've had Charlie for 8 years now so it's time for another annual report.

Thanks to the virus and no longer being in full time employment, we've only traveled not quite 9,000km, this year for a grand total of almost 220K. Still plenty of life in him and touch wood he's running well.

On the maintenance front there hasn't been anything too untoward; things outside of normal include:

The power steering pump got replaced as the old one developed a solid leak dumping approximately approx 3/4 cup of fluid on the drive each week. I'm used to automotive incontinence but this was too much.
I finally fitted Discovery 1 front wiper arms and replaced the rear wiper arm. Fitting D1 wipers is well recommended as I can now use generic blades. Wiper arms (DKB102720) came from Mario and Helen, plastic spindle covers (PRC8253) from ebay, low profile M8 nuts (NH108041L) from Barbagellos and blades from Supercheap. Replacing the rear wiper arm wasn't so successful and the wiper is still only cleaning 2/3 of the rear window. Need to do a bit of head scratching on this one.

Looking forward the gutter trims are showing more cracking and I managed to acquire a new set with corners for the spares box. I suspect I'll get another couple of years out of the existing gutters, but as plastic trim bits for the D2 are rapidly becoming NLA I bit the bullet early. I'm also seeing oxidation of the clear coat on the bonnet so there will be a respray there as well down the track.

With the cold weather appearing I'm also starting to get the odd sluggish start in the morning. The battery is the one that was fitted when I bought him so I reckon 8+ years is not bad for a battery in this day and age.

I'll also look at replacing the tyres in the next year as well. Charlie is wearing a set of Cooper AT3s which have done 87k (I do a 5 Tyre rotation every 10-15k) and they still have good tread depth with even wear, but are getting old, so time for trailer duty. I have had no complaints what so ever with the Coopers but to save a few coins I'll probably try Toyos in the same 245/70 R16LT size as currently fitted.

But... the new defender does look tempting.........

So onto another year

Cheers

Steve

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 29th May 2020, 06:04 AM

Thanks Steve,, I have always liked the Yearly reports..

**TerrorFirma** · 29th May 2020, 06:49 AM

Great idea on the yearly reports

Terror

**Bohica** · 29th May 2020, 07:35 AM

Great report.

I had a similar 2/3 wipe problem on the rear window. I replaced with a genuine arm.

**ramblingboy42** · 29th May 2020, 08:21 AM

I had an 8yr relationship with my D2 as well.

I was at a point where so much needed to be done on the vehicle.

It had a new engine top end, o/h cooling system, needed all the stuff you mentioned , complete brake o/h needed, every bush except dampers and engine mounts needed replacing , ACE leaking, power steer leaking, 3 amigos needed attention, internal plastic trim was starting to crack/fatigue(just too many corrugations over the years , I think), the panoramic window areas were looking suspect...plus other smallstuff.

Grumble had done just on 350,000kms at this point.

I got an amazing opportunity to buy a new Ford Ranger single cab 4x4 mine spec ute (failed order) at an equally amazing price and did.

Grumble was going to cost around $10k to bring back to top spec, so I put him on the market as is for $5k. He was snapped up by an enthusiastic buyer within a few days.....it had all the fruit fitted.

Just to end the story , he cost me $168/wk plus fuel/tyres/rego during that time , not cheap seeing the Ranger which is same spec as a Fender 130, in 5yrs has now cost me around two sets of tyres and a battery plus fuel/rego etc equating to approx $4.50/wk

**Rok_Dr** · 29th May 2020, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

I had an 8yr relationship with my D2 as well.

I was at a point where so much needed to be done on the vehicle.

It had a new engine top end, o/h cooling system, needed all the stuff you mentioned , complete brake o/h needed, every bush except dampers and engine mounts needed replacing , ACE leaking, power steer leaking, 3 amigos needed attention, internal plastic trim was starting to crack/fatigue(just too many corrugations over the years , I think), the panoramic window areas were looking suspect...plus other smallstuff.

Grumble had done just on 350,000kms at this point.

I got an amazing opportunity to buy a new Ford Ranger single cab 4x4 mine spec ute (failed order) at an equally amazing price and did.

Grumble was going to cost around $10k to bring back to top spec, so I put him on the market as is for $5k. He was snapped up by an enthusiastic buyer within a few days.....it had all the fruit fitted.

Just to end the story , he cost me $168/wk plus fuel/tyres/rego during that time , not cheap seeing the Ranger which is same spec as a Fender 130, in 5yrs has now cost me around two sets of tyres and a battery plus fuel/rego etc equating to approx $4.50/wk

Ouch! I'm currently running at $70.38/week or $0.38/km for maintenance, which includes fitting accessories and upgrades. I probably haven't done the kms you did, which may explain the lower weekly rate.

Originally Posted by Bohica

Great report.

I had a similar 2/3 wipe problem on the rear window. I replaced with a genuine arm.

Thanks! I reckon I might just get a genuine one too. The replacement i fitted was a Bearmach item from memory.

Cheers
Steve

**Bohica** · 29th May 2020, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by Rok_Dr

Thanks! I reckon I might just get a genuine one too. The replacement i fitted was a Bearmach item from memory.

Cheers
Steve

I too had one of those, or some other OEM.

Years a go I was told that the window bulged out, so I left it alone. Asking for info on how to change the windows resulted in a comment to change the wiper arm and get a genuine one. It worked.

**AK83** · 29th May 2020, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

....

Just to end the story , he cost me $168/wk plus fuel/tyres/rego during that time , not cheap seeing the Ranger which is same spec as a Fender 130, in 5yrs has now cost me around two sets of tyres and a battery plus fuel/rego etc equating to approx $4.50/wk

I'd never thought to calculate the cost of vehicle as a per weekly basis.
Just did it, and not too bad considering my stuff ups and need for accessories I don't really need.
But my 'slo mo' D1 Tdi has cost me $81.73/wk over 208 weeks so far.
But this includes the $4500 purchase price (plus finance costs .. ie. zero!

) and about $2K in accessories I didn't really need, but I though had to have. Radio, Cruise Control, turbo controller, and 1Gauge gauge system.
Has been my daily for those 4 yrs, I've done just shy of 100K klms myself and she's done just over 400K herself.

**Eevo** · 29th May 2020, 05:08 PM

ive haad mine 7 or 8 years. if i knew how much it has cost me i would probably commit suicide.

**Kaaaiju** · 29th May 2020, 07:44 PM

Had my d2a for 9months and 2 head gaskets and an new AMC head plus $15k of mods I am broke!

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