How much is it on for If you don't mind me asking?
Only I bought a Discovery a few weeks ago and a lot of Series IIIs IMO tend to encroach onto reasonable early Disco Money FWIW. The 5 doors can go for as little as £2500. I bought my K reg 5 dr 7 seater TDi (2.5l TD) for £3000 with 94K on the clock and FSH
As Cliff said, look at the out riggers where the chassis comes out to the door sills, and rearmost chassis cross member.
Have a good look at the inner wings and suspensions mounts under the bonnet and the rear of the vehicle.
The front shock absorber mountings are detachable, so if these are worse for wear, it's not the end of the world but a good bargaining point.
Have a good look at the floorpan, again, poss not an MOT failure but a good bargaining point.
Look for oil leaks in the engine, gearbox, transfer box and both axles.
Look for signs of off roading. I know that's what the vehicle is designed for, but they should be cleaned each time they've been used for this, unless they're waxoiled underneath, which I doubt it will be. I know most of them aren't
Is it a farm you're buying it from, if so, why is he selling etc etc.
You now doubt know that the outer panels will be aluminium, which never rust. But look for signs of bodged repairs.
Most importantly, check that the gearbox and transfer box work. You would be surprised how many people forget to do this, as test drives usually take place ON the road, not off! If it's like the disco,
Bottom Right - High Ratio
Top Right - Low Ratio
Bottom Left High Ratio - Diff Lock on
Bottom Left Low Ratio - Diff Lock on.
Also, I'm not sure if the Diff lock light is on the dash on that MY. I know the later Defenders have it.
In addition, look for evidence of service history. With a vehicle like that, don't just take the seller's word that it has been looked after.
Good luck!
Hugo
"Forever indebted to experience of others"
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MM is the man to answer your question but my two penneth nobly assisted by LRO's Guide:
There was a lot of III made - usual chassis/bulkhead rot warnings apply.Springs need to be in top condition and steering as ride and handling take some getting us to.
2.25 diesel said to be underpowered especially in the heavier 110.
Ramp inspection to see any off road damage underneath
Not a robust gearbox - listen for noises and it jumping out of gear.
General advice is to buy the best model you can as repais can easily outweigh the vehicles value.
DVD
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Hugo many thanks.
£3250 is the asking price from what I think is a semi-pro dealer which is a bit more than I wanted, ie I was hoping for about £2500 then spend a few hundred quid myself getting things I wanted done. So I'm approaching it with an open mind.
It's 47,000 miles two owners and hasn't been off-roaded.
It's interesintg what you say about Disco money. I'm not a huge fan of Discos and I'm tending to the view that I'd be better off with a good example of a cheaper car that's "probably" going to be easier/cheaper to repair than cheap example of a more expensive vehicle with more whistles and bells.
I think service history could the deal breaker it doesn't sound like there are a lot of receipts.
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Hi Nsar
For that sort of money it should be immaculate. Main rust points that cost serious money are the bulkhead and main chassis. At this price there should be no plating anywhere on the chassis. Don't worry too much about outriggers, easily fixed. Bulkhead on the corners and under the windscreen. At 20+ years old and only 47000 miles(less than 5000 per year) I would be suspicious.
Also is it a genuine Safari? Should be a small nameplate on the rear. One givaway is the interior lights, they should operate off a switch on the dashboard.Often forgotton by people putting a cab on a different vehicle.
Be careful it's a lot of money for a Series 111
Alyn Beattie
I'm sane, it's the rest of the world that's mad.
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Should read "less than 3000 miles per year"
Alyn Beattie
I'm sane, it's the rest of the world that's mad.
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Cheers Alyn and everyone else so far as a newbie to LRs how much is new bulkhead going to cost to fit at a decent indy w/shop?
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Think you'll find an '82 SIII will have the old yellow and red 4WD knobs, with no diff locks.... (Unless it's a pre-production SIV that they were knocking about around this time with a SIII body, but coil spring suspension etc.)
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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Nsar,
Are we in time to save you??
There are very few S.IIIs in the country worth over £3K. Usually these expensive ones are all paint and new seats. Apart from that they are the same as the rest under the skin.
Spend a bit of time with the Land Rover magazines and on the various forums to get a true idea of their worth.
All S.III diesels are slow, noisy, bumpy and crude...fine at £700 to £1500 for a bit of fun...but at £3000...never.
There is too much to tell you to look for and frankly if you are cruising about with £3K and no idea of their problems you'll get stitched.
But briefly....
Chassis rust anywhere and everywhere, all the places mentioned plus the fuel tank outriggers and the front chassis "noses". Even the main heavy chassis members on a bad one.
Wicked corrosion in the bulkhead and footwells...not if but how much needs cutting away to repair. Some right bodges already made to the footwells on many.
Play/stiffness in steering. Play in main swivels, pitting on "balls". Shot wheel bearings. Collapsing springs. Useless shock absorbers. Clonking propshaft UJs. Oil leaks - everywhere!
Worn brake drums, leaking/seized wheel cylinders, worn brake shoes, brake vacuum servo problems on diesel...very odd system. Worn master cylinder seals.
Overdrives need frequent oil changes and *never* get them...hence they are likely to explode.
Poor electrics and earth points, most need the system going right through or it will be a different light out every week.
Diesel engines will not last without real care. Often very worn, poor cold starting issues, oil and diesel smoke. *Very* slow.
Series III gearboxes more prone to trouble than older ones.
Later Series III not as sought after as very early one or a IIA due to the tax exempt issue.
Oh I bet there's loads more but time to get tea.
*Please* find someone who knows them to take with you and start looking privately around £1500-£1750 max. I've had loads over the years bought as reasonable runners for £750 or less and then much improved them to sell on eventually for no more than £2000.
As a final example a trade contact the other day was punting exactly what you're looking at (1982 diesel swb 7-seater with O/D..taxed and long MOT) and I decided not to buy....it was less than £1000!
Good luck,
M.M
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MM - wow! I had already rung to say I can't make it tonight and had my doubts anyway (see above) but now I'm a bit depressed.
Are they really this much of a dog! I suppose the answer must be yes.
DOn't fancy disco and early defender doesn't light my fire but perhaps I need to compromise on that view.
Looking for a Landy for non extreme w/end fun and to get me up my farm track in the winter and terrify other drivers on my commute when the mood takes me
MM I'd be interested to know what you think of the prices at the Land Rover centre in Huddersfield...
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Nsar
Don't be put off buying a Series 111, but paying that sort of money is not nessessary. They are a lot of fun, but they can drive you to near madness at times. You need to be able to do a lot of work on them yourself, because there is always something needs doing. Gearbox removal is a nightmare.
I have 3 Series 111's and just about to start rebuilding an early Series 1 from a pile of scrap. Well twill keep me out of the pub.
Alyn Beattie
I'm sane, it's the rest of the world that's mad.
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No as Alyn says, don't be put off a Series LR...just understand them a little more before you leap into the unknown....and pay far less to allow for improvements.
>...now I'm a bit depressed. No don't be, we've saved you at least £1500 if you take the advice on this thread.
>Are they really this much of a dog! I suppose the answer must be yes. No, it's no! They are a utility vehicle not a car. They have an unmatched ability in many areas. They are an absorbing and rewarding vehicle to be involved with.
>Don't fancy disco and early defender doesn't light my fire but perhaps I need to compromise on that view. No need to compromise at all. Your choice. But at £3000 plus either would be a better bet than sinking such an amount into a Series III that would lose £1500 the moment you drove it away.
>Looking for a Landy for non extreme w/end fun and to get me up my farm track in the winter and terrify other drivers on my commute when the mood takes me. Sound reasons and makes a £1500ish private purchase about right.
MM I'd be interested to know what you think of the prices at the Land Rover centre in Huddersfield... I can't see why you would go to a dealers at double the real value. Too much of your cash is going to their next Spanish holiday and not enough for you in actual value. Far far better to get one that someone like Alyn of myself has been through as an enthusiast and then is passing on for whatever reason.
As quickly as I can I'll give you an idea of an enthusiast evolving a Series LR. Example SWB diesel hardtop.
Buy for £200 with short MOT but blown engine due to abuse. Buy second near identical vehicle with excellent mechanics but no MOT for £200, spares source but not the engine as it's petrol. Buy aleady stripped/machined diesel engine for rebuild. Get given another diesel engine as further spares source.
Used vehicle with best chassis as basis for rebuild. Excellent central members.... rear crossmember, one outrigger, front spring hangers carefully replaced to make an A1 chassis...waxoyled. Existing springs/shocks checked and re-used. All wheel bearings replaced. Both propshafts removed and overhauled with new UJs. Steering swivels shimmed. All four half-shafts replaced from donor vehicle due to worn splines. All transmission fluids drained and replaced. Two new brake drums, all new wheel cylinders, brake linings as required, brake flexy hoses checked, old metal pipes replaced. Diesel engine budget rebuilt with various components from three old engines plus newly machined parts and new bearings etc. Various body panels substituted onto rebuild from donor vehicle as condition required. Hardtop sides with windows substituted for plain ones. Safari door substituted for old split tailgate. Wiring throughout whole vehicle checked and many connections/earth points replaced. Best set of tyres from two vehicles selected.
We put it into use over a year ago but never got round to painting it or overhauling the diesel injector pump. The three colour body (!) and smoke seem entirely in character but we do hope to complete these outstanding items before this year is out. As far as I remember we haven't had to do anything bar a couple of oil changes in that year.
Does that ramble give you anything of a feel for these old machines?
Please excuse spelling etc...bit rushed.
M.M
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I don't know how MM would view my comments but;
I still think that your money would be much better invested in a Discovery 200TDi G reg onwards, if you're going to spend your £2500
They do appear nationally for anything from £1500 - typical for G reg 200TDI or V8 carb 3dr.
As for the whistles and Bells, these haven't got many. Infact the mechanics in a well maintained one should be better than those in any Series III. Indeed I have heard several cases of TDI axles, boxes and even engines being used in Defenders and the odd series III!
In addition it's also a much more refined drive. So much so that we have now got one as our main mode of transport. The only other vehicle I have on the road is a 2.4T panel van.
I would be quite happy taking this either on or off the road. If I were into serious offroading where I would be likely to hit/slide into mudbanks on a regular basis, then the Defender/SIII would be the vehicle for me. If you simply want to trailblaze around the farm and use it for the commute and can spend up to the figure you're looking at then at least go and see some early discos at some dealers and take them for a test drive. Even if you have no intention to buy from that dealer at least you'll get an idea of what they're like. You won't be disappointed.
The only problems you are likely to have on a Discovery is the corrosion. However, no more than your Series III, just in different places perhaps, and probably more MOT friendly.
In addition the Discovery is a newer model than the series III, hence mechanics, body etc is more advanced. The new Discoveries costing upwards of £25k out of the show rooms are hardly different in construction than My K reg 200 TDi.
So to conclude, as MM says spend £700 odd on a seriesIII if you want a bit of fun, but serious money IMO should be looking at a later model Landrover. Personally I like the Discovery, but there are just as many good arguements for a Defender - you may get a G or H or even J reg in good nick for your £2,500.
It's a bit like getting exited about a Mk3 Escort for £1000 when that will get you a pretty good Mk5/6.
Hugo
"Forever indebted to experience of others"
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Hi All
Don't want to start an argument about 111's v Discovery et al, but I would much rather buy a Series 111 than a Disco for the sort of money we are talking about. Spares are cheaper they are easier to work on, and, most importatly they were built to be used and abused. The Disco is an entirely different proposition. The Disco is a more modern vehicle, far more complicated, less body parts of aluminium and not assembled like a meccano set.
I could go on but I think you get my drift.
Alyn Beattie
I'm sane, it's the rest of the world that's mad.
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Fair Point Alyn
I supposed I'll just have to think of my Discovery as an imitation Landrover!
After having posted previously I have been browsing through classifieds in Land Rover Monthly and have seen plenty of 80 to 82 SIIIs for similar to what I paid for the Discovery.
On my way back to my stone I should also admit I've never owned a Landrover before! Therefore I maybe haven't realised the advantages of a SIII or similar.
NSar
Don't take any notice of me, MM et al can provide far more reliable info!
I'm learning all the time :-)
Hugo
PS note to myself.... "Engage brain before operating keypad!"
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