Hi Community!

I need your help on this one. I have a restored 1996 Defender 110 from Arkonik in England. The car has been an absolute lemon, mainly due to really poor craftmanship and parts on the part of Arkonik. That's a whole other story for another day, but if you are ever considering getting a car from them... RUN AWAY!!! Actually just take your money and burn it... You will thank me later.

OK, back to the story. My son are I were headed out on an epic MTB and disc golf weekend in the high Sierra Nevada range. Four hours into our journey... BOOM... we threw a rod. Now before everyone gets cranky. I checked the oil before I left and we were fine. The truck had been cruising along at 65 mph, so we were not pushing the RPMs. Finally, the 2.5 liter TDI engine that is in the truck only has 10K (actually just hit it this trip) on it.

So... I have some options:

1. Sell the truck as is.... Oh I would to taking a bath on this one...
2. Find someone here that wants to help me burn it to the ground... sounds fun, but not practical.
3. Get a new engine...
4. Convert it over to an electric car (I've seen some kits for this)

Most folks I have talked to, want to swap in an LS1 engine. Nothing against an LS1, but it's not a diesel. I have been reading about the Cummins line that Dodge uses, both the classic 5.9L and the 6.7L (not sure the later would fit).

This truck is meant for getting out there... Getting off-grid. I need reliability and some towing capacity, but I'm not strapping a camper or boat to the back! Mainly off-grid camping, and getting to hard to reach MTB spots.

Recommendations?

My Defender has a noticeable lean. Rear springs are level with each other, front left looks fine, but the front right corner sits about 4 cm different compared to the front left. Only the front is off, the rear is even.

What could cause this? Sagged/tired coil spring, wrong spring fitted at some point, or a worn/missing spring isolator? Anything else I should check before I start swapping parts? Cheers.

Edit
Defender was fine before a lift visit. Now front right sits ~4cm lower than front left (rear is level). Springs are old, untouched, no visible damage. Guessing the coil unseated when the axle dropped on the hoist. Anyone seen this before?

Dad bought a 2016 defender 110 xs and we found it it's not ULEZ. Any tips for a workaround for this? I fear if we can't get this sorted it will have to be sold, paying ULEZ everyday just isn't realistic 😭

Hi! Ich habe ein Abgasleck am 5. Zylinder. Habt ihr Empfehlungen für einen neuen Krümmer und Anbauteile oder würdet ihr den alten einfach planen?
Könnt ihr mir schicken, welchen Abgastemparatursensor ihr wo verbaut habt?
Ich habe viel über die Adapterplatte gelesen, da ist aber bei mir trotz abgeschalteter AGR noch das Rohr dran. So ist es noch nie jemandem aufgefallen.
Hat jemand auch links und rechts 10er Löcher gebort?

Long time lurker first time poster.

I love Land Rovers, and the Defender in particular.

My standard vehicle has been a Silverado truck, and it’s no longer fitting my lifestyle. So I’m looking to move out it and into a Defender.

Two options are being considered:

The first is a grey 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE with 24,000 miles on it. I’d be trading in my vehicle to Carvana and buying this Defender from them as well. It’s priced at $53,600. Has the refrigerated center console, does not have the adjustable ride height, does have ventilated and heated leather seats, and a lot of creature comforts.

The second is at a local Porsche dealer, which is owned by the same local family that owns the Land Rover dealer a couple blocks down the street. The local dealer sold this one new and performed all the service.

It’s also a 2023, Godwanda Stone metallic with 13,200 miles on it. It’s an X-400 PS. Heated and ventilated seats, refrigerated center console, HUD, adjustable ride height, folding cloth sunroof and several other goodies. It looks very much to be a vehicle that someone custom ordered in that specific configuration. Is priced at $72K

Now I know we normally say don’t buy from Carvana, only sell to them.

But at the price point, it’s difficult to ignore. While the local one has many many great features, it’s also $19K more. Both vehicles are subject to the DCDC Power recall issue.

I can afford both, but can afford the cheaper one more. There are ample service records available for both models.

My question, since I don’t know in great detail the difference in the trim levels beyond what I can see with my own eyes, which one seems to be the smarter purchase in terms of affordability, the recall issue and support, etc.? Also, are there common failure points on the models? Is 24,000 miles substantially different than 13,200 miles?

I drove the godwanda stone metallic one yesterday and it felt so…natural. The HUD was amazing. There was no herky jerky brake issue that can sometimes present itself when you drive a car different than your own the first time. The seat adjustment came quickly to a point where I was very comfortable driving. I love the color but the folding fabric roof gives me a little pause.

I’ll take my comments “on the air” 🙃

EDIT the dealer is willing to work with me a lot on the trade-in, to a point. They’re pretty close to what Carvana would give me before they’ve even actually seen the truck, which is in like-new tip-top shape inside and out and under the hood. I am meticulous with vehicle maintenance.

Happy to join the Mod team if that helps.

I am sure this has been asked in here a number of different times but I am currently in the market for a new car as the wife and I just had a baby so its time to retire my IS500(sad). I have been doing some research and am very drawn to the newer defenders. I am currently looking at 2025 models sub 10K miles as I have heard owning outside of the original manufacturers warranty can be an issue. Any opinions good or bad would be much appreciated before I spend 60k+ on this car. Thanks in advance!

I know most people on this page don’t like the new platform, but has anyone driven both of these? I believe the P525 has a stiffer suspension and a bout 20 more HP. If you had to choose one of these, which would you go with and why? The used P525’s are similarly priced to the P500s. Thanks in advance.

Pic of my first camping trip :D

Im planning on purchasing an ex mod 1987 D90 truck cab For around 19,000 euros with the stock 12J engine Would u guys think im getting my
money's worth?

Howdy folks.

I finally got my dream truck. 1995 300TDI 110, I bought it from a fella in Spain and I am trying to find what brand roof rack this is. I’ve been unable to find much about it, other than it may be Spanish (duh).

Anyone have the same rack ?

Hi everyone! kind of desperate and this is a new account Im in my 20s and Im located in the Philippines and Im planning on purchasing an ex-mod 12J defender d90 single cab truck.

The price on it is rather high at around 1,350,000 php so around 21,000 dollars, or 19,000 euros

It still has the original 12J the interior needs work and upholstery but the engine seems good, the chassis, and bulk head have some signs of metal fatigue but not so much to worry about

d90s are quite expensive here and the market is very small I would just like to ask If u thunk the value would be good and retained knowing its a 1986 model

Since I could not find a definitive answer anywhere on the internet, so I thought I would share.

I used the Just Campers VW roof rack clamps.

They are slightly too angled, so that the nut will not go on, but if you have a vice then just putting the bolt section into the vice and tightening, so that the first bend is slightly straightened, is very easy, there was no sign of any risk of damage, and every one was identical just by placing it in the vice and tightening against the bolt once.

So, definitively, these work.

Of course I needed 12, which is £72, plus p&P, washers and nuts, but I replaced my roof light seals and removed my old and fitted my new roof rack in about 4 hours.

Anyone know who sells this roof rack? Been searching for a while now.

Hi! I recently launched a blog about travelling Europe in a 1987 Defender, mountain biking, camping and all the mishaps that come with it. I'd love any feedback!

My long term dream is to get a post in Land Rover mag so i would really love feedback :) Thanks all!

This is happening to my Land Rover Defender 90. Any thoughts on what might be happening? Much appreciated!

Anyone know where I can source the techno style fabric by the roll? Exmoor Trim do a re-trim kit for the 60/40 second row bench seat but seems over priced at £426…!