Defender for the wife

[derekchace]

Hey Guys,
Im looking at getting a 110 five door from the UK and shipping it over. I found this one and I am going to have one of my mates check it out. I wanted to see what you guys thought. I have owned series Rovers and imported them before but this will be my first defender. So what should I look for that is Defender specific? Also what do you guys think about 7,000 pound sterling for it? It has about 100,000 miles on it. Any help would be great thanks guys
Derek

1985 LAND ROVER 110 200TDI REFURBISHED EXPORTABLE

This 1985 defender has been refurbished and up graded with a 1992 Defender 200tdi (car refurb pics available).

The car runs and drives very well, having a low millage engine and PAS

Fitted with pvc seats throughout the vehicle is well presented and is clean inside

The outter original grey colour has been updated to the range rover sport Bonneti Grey this colour is also carried on into the door inners and inner frame work.

The doors are push button types with solid rust free frames.

The bulk head, chassis & axles are the original 1985 they are very solid and are in excellent condition, the same goes for the foot wells and floor pans! Chassis number is ORIGINAL and is visable see pic vin on break boost un tampered with see pic!

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg298/steeltiger22/fe22fdf1.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg298/steeltiger22/008c32a4.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg298/steeltiger22/43dd2597.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg298/steeltiger22/45336321.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg298/steeltiger22/d54c747e.jpg

[derekchace]

I cant seem to make the pictures any bigger sorry guys.

[derekchace]

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg298/steeltiger22/bbe7714f.jpg

[VTBKRDS]

Pretty much the same rust/corrosion issues as the Series, except with a power steering that can have leaking issues.
Is the 200 TDI a Defender unit or a Disco conversion? Have them check it over to make sure it isn't a bodge job. Find out if there's a service history available on the vehicle. A timimg belt change may be due if not.
When was it's last MOT inspection, as this would pick up on a lot of issues that could cause it to not pass and get it pulled from service?
Also have them get the VIN verified as Defender thefts are a problem over there. You don't want to send money to end up having the vehicle confiscated at Customs.
I'm sure others will pipe in with other areas of concern they've come across.

ps: Nice looking rig by the pics though.

[derekchace]

Thanks for the help. My wife is looking at the following 2 defenders and having a hard time picking one. Let me know what you guys think

a blue 1983 110
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390289710028&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1527wt_1141

and the gray 1985 110
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=250777387101&si=VW4tz61ALQ5Xp%252BHlWqSxWAsQ%252Fas%253D

any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

[ducttape]

LOL, reading the headline in a RSS I thought you were looking to trade your wife for a Defender. Thinking to myself of the old joke about looking for a woman who can clean, scrub, cook fish, walk the dog, raise the kids and has a boat, send picture of boat.

[derekchace]

Im just lucky she really wants a Defender. We already have a 1975 Lightweight, a 1982 ex MOD 109 (that she bought for me:D), and now she wants a 5 door for the new baby! So please guys check out those two links and let me know what you think.

[USLandy]

Derekchace,

I recently just got my defender 90 over from England, I'm originally from the UK and grew up with my Dads Series and Defenders. We went through a company called Liveridge, absolutely fantastic! It's a big problem not being over there in the UK because there are many rust areas which can not been seen without taking some stuff apart, unless you have a really good friend over there who will do it for you I wouldn't trust the seller.

I highly recommend going through a company like liveridge. Leveridge does a variety of work from complete restorations to any work you would ever want. Here is a link: http://www.liveridge4x4.com/home/default.asp (http://www.liveridge4x4.com/home/default.asp) The guy who owns it, Chris helped develop the legendary Haynes manual. He does a lot of international work so he knows exactly what forms and other good stuff you need. I can send you pics of my 90 and the fantastic job they did on it if you want.

[AU_88]

Derekchace,

I recently just got my defender 90 over from England, I'm originally from the UK and grew up with my Dads Series and Defenders. We went through a company called Liveridge, absolutely fantastic! It's a big problem not being over there in the UK because there are many rust areas which can not been seen without taking some stuff apart, unless you have a really good friend over there who will do it for you I wouldn't trust the seller.

I highly recommend going through a company like liveridge. Liveridge does a variety of work from complete restorations to any work you would ever want. Here is a link: http://www.liveridge4x4.com/home/default.asp (http://www.liveridge4x4.com/home/default.asp) The guy who owns it, Chris helped develop the legendary Haynes manual. He does a lot of international work so he knows exactly what forms and other good stuff you need. I can send you pics of my 90 and the fantastic job they did on it if you want.

I've been debating importing a Defender later this year over the last few month's and they look like a great place to start. I would love to see yours and get some details about it.

[derekchace]

Thanks USlandy.
I am very lucky in the fact my wife is a Brit with her family still living over there. I am currently dealing with this company www.countyanddefendercentre.co.uk . They have a 1983 110 that my Wife'ss step father will be looking at on monday. I will also give that other company a call. Thank you very much for the link. If you would please take a look at the below link to the 83 im looking at please let me know what you think about it and the price. Also if you have any suggestions for questions to ask them. Mark at county and defenders had been great to deal with any really seems to know his stuff. Thanks for all the help please keep it coming.



http://cgi.ebay.com/Land-Rover-Defender-25-year-USA-Exportable-71k_W0QQitemZ390289710028QQcategoryZ29748QQcmdZVie wItemQQ_trksidZp5197.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26it u%3DUCI%26otn%3D2%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7 437867760822362199#ht_1516wt_986

[USLandy]

Derek

The one thing you have to check is when you bring it in as a Vintage car, 25 years or older (im guessing thats what your doing b/c thats how we got ours here) you have to be carefull with the upgrades on the vehicle. It has a 300tdi by the looks of it and that is not standard for the year. They could have thrown a disco 300tdi and r380 gear box in, they fit with modification. It sits further back in relation to the defender ones, not too big of a deal. But you want to make sure that they did a good job on that.

Now here is the bad part, if the lads at customs wants to be a pain in the arse they can impound it for not being proper of the time period and that means your out of a landy. We chatted with the chicago customs guys and they told us they didn't really mind if there were a few simple modifications if it were being imported privately, (simple being NO LIFT KITS and other off roading gear). They are mainly trying to nail people who are bringing a few of them in to sell. So be prepared that if you bring it over customs could impound it, and thats going to cost you.

Checking for rust you want to make sure the bulkhead is all good. Behind the heater box usually is a pretty rusty spot. Tell your family to take a screw driver and check the whole frame, stab at any rust on the frame with the screwdriver because if they did something to cover it the screwdriver will tell the truth. Also if the guys says you cant poke around with the screw driver probably means that its got some good rust on it.

Looks like it will be a fun project once you get it in the U.S!

[derekchace]

Thanks for thr help. I will ask him about what type of engine and gearbox. I know it's been convered to a 200tdi with power steering and fitted a 200tdi Spec 5 speed gearbox and transfer. I will also have them check the frame I would do the same with any Rover. That is the first I heard about problems with import with it just having a tdi engine. I did hear they are cracking down on people that bring in more then 1 or 2 a year. I also they where really after thr completely rebuilt and brought up to current spec ones I have seen going for over 25,000 sterling! I have imported a Series before a 82 mod 109. I tend to go thru Newark as I am an airline pilot and that is my current base. Makes it easy to drive it back up to VT when ever customs releases it. It took them three weeks to get around to looking at my 109 last year. No problems just tool forever. I also use a customs broker to speed up the process. Thanks for all thr help. My wife is really looking forward to having a Rover of her own. I am looking forward to only having Land Rovers in the drive way. Thr only problem is going to be I'm one driver short for takeing all 3 to thr British invasion!

[USLandy]

You sound in good shape, I hope it comes over with no problems! I wish I was a little closer to the east coast for the British Invasion. I'd seen it online and it would be a blast to go to. Maybe I can convince my dad to come with me! Now that my dad seen my 90 and been driving it around he is looking to bring over a 110 so maybe we'll get a few more land rovers in the drive, mine is kind lonely.

Once you get it over here dont forget to post some pics of her!

[derekchace]

It really is a great car show. Over 800 british Cars! I will defiantly keep this thread updated as the search and hopefully the import progresses.