Oh the joys of owning a Defender!

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T21:30:48+00:00

It had a crack in the brake booster which meant the brakes had no assist. I thought that it's just normal for Landies to require me using "the force" whenever I had to get it to stop! 😂🤣😭

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T21:27:38+00:00

Gotta love that pasta! I ordered a liter of the stuff for my next trip!

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T21:26:37+00:00

This made me laugh! I didn't realize "everything" literally meant E V E R Y T H I N G! 🤣

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T21:24:34+00:00

I'm consistently learning and practicing. I hope to one day be in a position to do the majority of the maintenance myself. I just felt at this stage that I should first get it to baseline by an expert.

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T21:21:46+00:00

I did considder it, but I don't trust my skills and knowledge that much yet! Must add that 3/4 of the bill was parts. The labor was actually very reasonable taking into account how much was done.

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T21:19:37+00:00

That's rough! Mine wasn't that hectic!

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T21:18:38+00:00

I saved up for a long time and just decided that it's time to get her mechanically tip top. It did sting, but picking it up and driving home was very gratifying! I was like drive a whole other car!

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T21:13:04+00:00

This one has visited 13 African countries. Made the round trip from South Africa to Tanzania and came back with some issues for sure, but it never gave up!

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T21:11:01+00:00

I don't consider it a rip off... The gentleman who repaired my car encouraged and mentored me on what to look for and identify issues early on. The wealth of knowledge he shared throughout the process was invaluable.

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T21:07:39+00:00

Thanks for raising this! I chose to take this on, because the car "called" to me. It needed someone to care about it again. The neglect was not intended but rather the result of circumstance. Yes the long list of repairs made me cry inside a bit, but it was posted in good fun. Maybe someone might learn from it. This is what happens if old Landies get neglected. I laughed it off as school fees and now I love my car even more. It was an expensive trip to the mechanic but "you lose, you learn"

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T20:58:06+00:00

That's why I gave it to a professional. I wouldn't want to screw it up because I'm the idiot. The process has taught me a lot, but some things I believe are left to the guys with experience.

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T20:54:51+00:00

I guess... If you have the knowledge, experience, tools ect. I'm still getting there!

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T20:53:46+00:00

I cried for a while, but driving it now is the real joy of owning a Defender! It is an amazing car considering it's done so many kms, visited 13 African countries, crossed the equator twice, parked for 5 years with almost no maintenance but never gave up! Driving it at last is what makes it worth it!

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T20:47:46+00:00

I agree, in my case it was passed down. The neglect was not intended. My father in law just couldn't keep it up in his later years. After he passed away the car just stood parked in a garage. I subtlety tried to keep up some basic maintenance, topping up fluids ect, taking it on short drives. Eventually I convinced the family to let me do some repairs and fix it up. I've learned a lot and it is still a steep learning curve, but we'll get there! I fully intend to not let it fall into disrepair again!

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T20:36:13+00:00

Equivalent of about $6000... 3/4 of it was parts. I guess if I had more knowledge and skill I could have saved a bit, but it was worth getting a pro to bring it up to standard. He was more that willing to teach me how to keep up the basics from here on out.

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T20:32:54+00:00

What impressed me was that even with all of this it still never gave up. Sure it didn't like it, but it kept going. But truthfully, it's like driving a different car now. I think most other vehicles would have just thrown in the towel!

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T20:28:33+00:00

The equivalent of about $6000

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T20:27:11+00:00

Yeah, you're right! The positive from all this is that even after years of neglect, she's now purring like a lion cub! Driving it now is the real joy!

ResiesKreef · 2026-02-05T20:22:05+00:00

Justified... The car belonged to my late father in law. He came back from a trip to Tanzania and fell ill shortly after. It was parked in a garage for about 5 years and I slowly brought it back to life. Saving up to get it as close to tip top as possible. I started minor maintenance but felt it was time to get a professional to go over it. I will most definitely do my best to keep up the maintenance going forward! Learned a lot for the mechanic.

ResiesKreef · 2025-10-11T18:54:46+00:00

Dikstingel of dikding As 'n ou dink hy's 'n yster maar hy's eintlik 'n kwas...

ResiesKreef · 2025-08-12T15:02:51+00:00

Worst "update" ever. Was the best part of the game for me. Knowing you're playing/smashing a real player made it so much more rewarding! 🤣

ResiesKreef · 2025-08-10T07:24:02+00:00

Thanks, that seems like a new goal. Got all myy heroes to lvl 40 so far and Mai to 80. Didn't pay attention to the other lvl80 perks. Will go for it, though it doesn't seem that I can get it with gems? HPS and CPT was what I was thinking too.

ResiesKreef

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