D-90 Purchase???

[Pinarello]

hi all....I currently have an 03 Disco and am looking into a 1997 D90. I never seem to hear about reliability issues with them, nor do hear the kinds of complaints I do about the Discos. Anyone have any advice before I buy a D-90? Have my head checked?
Todd

[Series 3 guy]

Originally Posted by Pinarello

hi all....I currently have an 03 Disco and am looking into a 1997 D90. I never seem to hear about reliability issues with them, nor do hear the kinds of complaints I do about the Discos. Anyone have any advice before I buy a D-90? Have my head checked?
Todd

Hey Todd...man I dont know where to begin with summing up a Defender. I've had 5 and the only real problems I have ever had with them have been structural.Please for the love of god look very close to the condition of the Chassis and the bulkhead,footwells and outriggers. They geberaly are the first to go in my experience. Look very close at the spring mounts.I've only had 1 petrol Defender the rest have been 200 and 300 tdi's. The petrol was a 3.9 and was fantastic. Get a good look at the oil cooler lines as well,ensure they are in good condition otherwise your rig will BBQ. Ask Terry about it..he will tell ya all about it!
Other than that..they are very reliable friends that will take you in any direction you chose to point it.Ones with extensive service history should be the best ones but generaly they are pretty reliable.
I'd say ask Terry as he is the resident Defender expert on here.

[Pinarello]

Thanks HEAPS!
If you need two IT security experts to set up websites or other security related tasks, for your line of work...just ask. Cheers! Happy New Year!
Todd

[Merz-Ben]

I'm new here, but not to rovers... Anyway, a '97 NAS Defender has essentially the same drivetrain as a 96-99 disco series I, 4.0L v-8 with the GEMS engine management, ZF auto gearbox, and the axles and transfer box are very similar. Bottom line is that there aren't many differences except for the body, and a lot less electronic "goodies" (ie. power windows, locks, seats, ect). If you can live with a disco, you can live with a Defender, although the cabin noise is greater in the Defender.

Cheers,
Ben

[Pinarello]

Thanks Ben, I am just shocked at how FEW complaints I hear about D90s vs. the Disco. I guess that is all the electronic goodies. GRanted, my 03 Disco has never given me any problems either but there is always a first time I guess.
Todd
Oh yeah...Happy New Year!

[Rugbier]

Go here The D-90 Source you'll get as close to EXPERTIZE as it gets.

from stockunits to highly modded to peo to Tdi conversions.

( actually there are few guys local to you )

If you were to compare prcentage ( quantity of units on he road, specially USA ) actually the complaint ratio it is higher

Good Luck