I've been a member of the forum for a few years now by way of a '04 Discovery I owned for some time. I'm slowly giving more and more consideration to buying a late 80s model RHD, diesel D90. The TL/DR version is this: Can someone point me to a pros/cons type buyers guide thread on what to look for and what to avoid?
The long version is this. I loved my Discovery, but it hated running correctly and hated me having any extra cash in my wallet even more. After gaskets, UJs, leaking sunroofs, and various other mechanical expenses here and there, I had to sell her. I love Land Rovers and would really like to own a D90 as my daily driver. However, I don't know much about their overall reliability or mechanical "soundness" and am now trying to do a little research before I get my heart set on one. From your vast range of experience and expertise, are there things I should be looking for/avoiding when searching the market? Thanks for any responses and it's good to potentially be back as a member of this forum.
The long version is this. I loved my Discovery, but it hated running correctly and hated me having any extra cash in my wallet even more. After gaskets, UJs, leaking sunroofs, and various other mechanical expenses here and there, I had to sell her. I love Land Rovers and would really like to own a D90 as my daily driver. However, I don't know much about their overall reliability or mechanical "soundness" and am now trying to do a little research before I get my heart set on one. From your vast range of experience and expertise, are there things I should be looking for/avoiding when searching the market? Thanks for any responses and it's good to potentially be back as a member of this forum.
Camel Trophy
I can't offer much but encouragement. I've gotten very close to buying ex-MOD defenders (110's) but just could not reach a high enough confidence level that it wouldn't be confiscated at customs. I know there are agents in Britain who will do the work for you and guarantee results and you have to have a licensed customs broker on this end (I was told). The Defenders that are already in the US are generally, vastly, overpriced or on their last legs. I've looked at hundreds of them. The Santanas have a lot of differences and because of the way they were built, confiscation seems even more likely.
Anyway, encouragement to you. If you blaze the trail I may follow. Subscribing to your thread.
Anyway, encouragement to you. If you blaze the trail I may follow. Subscribing to your thread.
Camel Trophy
A D90 will fit a SIX BT!!!! At least, they do that in Britain. Or is it a 4bt? I hope 6. Or a 300tdi or TD5 with R380. Or a 427 Cobra engine (on my mind because I just saw one on Craigslist completely rebuilt for 4500)... just about anything. Or a simple LS1. You name it.
You can make one GO.
You can make one GO.
Super Moderator
Johan always has some VERY nice LHD posted over at Land Rover Defender Forum - Defender & Series Owners Community many in the US already.
If you want to find one yourself, Uncle Douglas has a good reputation for importing the vehicles. He will even handle having the thing inspected and all of the transportation.
There are some other guys too selling stuff for reasonable prices. 1986 Land Rover ex mod 90 RHD $14K - Defender Source
The military vehicles are going to be basic, with no interior, but that is easy to change. They will have a gutless, dangerously slow, 2.5NA engine that is pretty much bullet proof as long as you don't abuse it. There isn't too much electrical to go wrong with them, and many of the parts are the same as disco 1, so that stuff isn't too expensive. For the unique stuff, there are plenty of sources in the US and importing parts from the UK isn't too bad either, unless it is very large or heave.
UK or ROW versions of the defender don't come standard the SD cages like the NAS versions, but some of the military vehicles do, especially the 110 Tithonus. You don't want to roll a defender with just the hardtop or soft top protecting you. It's on my list of future upgrades, but isn't cheap.
If you want to find one yourself, Uncle Douglas has a good reputation for importing the vehicles. He will even handle having the thing inspected and all of the transportation.
There are some other guys too selling stuff for reasonable prices. 1986 Land Rover ex mod 90 RHD $14K - Defender Source
The military vehicles are going to be basic, with no interior, but that is easy to change. They will have a gutless, dangerously slow, 2.5NA engine that is pretty much bullet proof as long as you don't abuse it. There isn't too much electrical to go wrong with them, and many of the parts are the same as disco 1, so that stuff isn't too expensive. For the unique stuff, there are plenty of sources in the US and importing parts from the UK isn't too bad either, unless it is very large or heave.
UK or ROW versions of the defender don't come standard the SD cages like the NAS versions, but some of the military vehicles do, especially the 110 Tithonus. You don't want to roll a defender with just the hardtop or soft top protecting you. It's on my list of future upgrades, but isn't cheap.
Rock Crawling
I say go for the Defender 90 , the are less complicated .... i drive a 1997 90 county , and its not about speed , the thing is the defender never seems to get old... the disco and others always gets lost in the crowd... 18 yrs later the defender still always outshines the others ....because it maintains the original shape .... that's my opinion .....
Three Wheeling
I recently purchased a Land Rover Santana (Defender from Spain) and the only significant difference is the leaf springs which have far exceeded my expectations. The parabolic leaf springs dont perform like coils but are quite good and much better than standard type leaf springs.
The great thing about the Santana is you dont have to worry about a rusty frame. They came out of the factory with galvanized frames. They also used the beefier LT85 gearbox which behind a 2.5 NA engine does not suffer from the 5th gear problems commonly found in the V8 version. UK made V8 Defender are the only other models that received the beefy LT85.
I would not consider a 2.5 NA version a daily driver if you need to exceed 50 MPH reliably. On even modest long inclines, you will struggle to stay at 50 MPH. I purchased my Santana with the plan to make it an extra car to be kept at a mountain vacation cabin so I would not always have to leave my wife without a car and also use on the mountain / forest trails. It was made for that type of activity and love it for that. I did a nice forest trail ride with it last week and it was perfect.
If you plan to ever drive on the interstate, get a V8 or a TDI. I would recommend a Santana with a 200 TDI conversion. Or buy one that came as a TDI from the factory. My understanding is most Santanas got 2.5 NA engines as going fast there isnt a common need on their roads. Eventually, I will update to a TDI in my Santana (which having an LT85 gearbox makes simpler) but for now it is perfect. There are naysayers out there that will tell you they are significantly different than the UK production Defenders but they are not. The only real problem I have encountered was finding the right oil filter. For some reason Santana went with a much larger oil filter. You can get oil filters but have to know where. A couple places in the US have them. Combined Fluid Products in Illinois is where I last purchased a couple and I found another online retailer that had them for a less expensive price.
Search Mann w 940 / 26 and you will find the US suppliers. If I wasnt planning to swap in a TDI someday, I would probably stockpile some as one of the online retailers is selling them pretty cheap.
The Santana Defender uses a lot of Series parts as well. You just need to figure out what Series parts were used and replacement parts become cheap and easy to souce. For example, for my 88 Santana, it used a Series 2 air filter which is actually much larger than the 88 UK sourced Defender filter. If I run into a part that doesnt work, I take a look at earlier Series items and find the right one and usually inexpensively.
If you go with a Santana, go with an early 90's model or late 80's. From what I have seen they are the best. I believe 91 may be the last model year before the differences started becoming significant. My 88 is almost identical with the exception of the parabolic leaf springs. I wasnt sure I would like them but so far am pleased. Santana made a 6 cylinder version for the larger 110 version but it was only offered by them. I have heard it is a good engine that really helps but there are few of them out there. Most Santana's got a 2.5 NA like mine.
As far as price goes, I got mine for $8250 but was able to get the seller to give back $750 when I argued about some false statements in the description. It was listed as "rust free" but the door bottoms all had rust holes in them. Otherwise the truck is remarkably solid and a great runner under 50 MPH. I did have to adjust the injection pump to run at higher altitudes. Losts of black smoke at 9000 feet after it came from sea level...
On the "confiscation" worries, mine was easily registered in NM with the Florida title I received with it from the importer. All they did was compare the VIN with the title.
The great thing about the Santana is you dont have to worry about a rusty frame. They came out of the factory with galvanized frames. They also used the beefier LT85 gearbox which behind a 2.5 NA engine does not suffer from the 5th gear problems commonly found in the V8 version. UK made V8 Defender are the only other models that received the beefy LT85.
I would not consider a 2.5 NA version a daily driver if you need to exceed 50 MPH reliably. On even modest long inclines, you will struggle to stay at 50 MPH. I purchased my Santana with the plan to make it an extra car to be kept at a mountain vacation cabin so I would not always have to leave my wife without a car and also use on the mountain / forest trails. It was made for that type of activity and love it for that. I did a nice forest trail ride with it last week and it was perfect.
If you plan to ever drive on the interstate, get a V8 or a TDI. I would recommend a Santana with a 200 TDI conversion. Or buy one that came as a TDI from the factory. My understanding is most Santanas got 2.5 NA engines as going fast there isnt a common need on their roads. Eventually, I will update to a TDI in my Santana (which having an LT85 gearbox makes simpler) but for now it is perfect. There are naysayers out there that will tell you they are significantly different than the UK production Defenders but they are not. The only real problem I have encountered was finding the right oil filter. For some reason Santana went with a much larger oil filter. You can get oil filters but have to know where. A couple places in the US have them. Combined Fluid Products in Illinois is where I last purchased a couple and I found another online retailer that had them for a less expensive price.
Search Mann w 940 / 26 and you will find the US suppliers. If I wasnt planning to swap in a TDI someday, I would probably stockpile some as one of the online retailers is selling them pretty cheap.
The Santana Defender uses a lot of Series parts as well. You just need to figure out what Series parts were used and replacement parts become cheap and easy to souce. For example, for my 88 Santana, it used a Series 2 air filter which is actually much larger than the 88 UK sourced Defender filter. If I run into a part that doesnt work, I take a look at earlier Series items and find the right one and usually inexpensively.
If you go with a Santana, go with an early 90's model or late 80's. From what I have seen they are the best. I believe 91 may be the last model year before the differences started becoming significant. My 88 is almost identical with the exception of the parabolic leaf springs. I wasnt sure I would like them but so far am pleased. Santana made a 6 cylinder version for the larger 110 version but it was only offered by them. I have heard it is a good engine that really helps but there are few of them out there. Most Santana's got a 2.5 NA like mine.
As far as price goes, I got mine for $8250 but was able to get the seller to give back $750 when I argued about some false statements in the description. It was listed as "rust free" but the door bottoms all had rust holes in them. Otherwise the truck is remarkably solid and a great runner under 50 MPH. I did have to adjust the injection pump to run at higher altitudes. Losts of black smoke at 9000 feet after it came from sea level...
On the "confiscation" worries, mine was easily registered in NM with the Florida title I received with it from the importer. All they did was compare the VIN with the title.
Baja
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Jun 6, 2019
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i just read an article in LRO this month all the confiscated defenders that had good numbers were or are in the process of being returned as we speak.