I always say prevention is better than cure. 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented

I'm interested in the Bilsteins as well jules, so I'm looking forward to hearing about your experiences.

I'll post when its done - plus some pics probably.
- won't be until the end of the month Jules

Another pass without advisories and yet again no mention of HiD conversion. Thats 3 passes on the trot.  MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

 2009 FL2 S now gone
2011 FL2 HSE AUTO
2012 FL2 XS AUTO
2000 Kawasaki er 5

When all said and done our FL2 has proven to be a relatively inexpensive car to run so far - when you do most of the repairs yourself - it makes a huge difference.

Its cost me £515 per year over the last 6 years - that includes:
all services and MOTs
new EGR valve
front wheel bearing
haldex pump
rear shocks
autobox flush - rear diff flush
power steering flush & reservoir
HID upgrade
large front brake upgrade+new pipes+braided hoses
cambelt+waterpump+pulleys+aux belt
battery
rear disks and pads
4 new tyres.

I think the next thing to go will be the battery - but it could be anything. Jules

£515 per year
Some people pay that to buy/lease the car per month
So when faced with large repair bill i hope people are prepared to repair and keep car rather than sell/scrap it under strange belief that it is cheaper to buy another rather than repair.
So, well done Jules for demonstrating this

A friend of mine has a lovely 18 year old BMW 520 with 170K miles. It drives beautifully. It cost him £4K to buy about 5 years. He does 10K miles a year and recently it cost him £1100 to have some work done on the engine and DPF. But he's happy - its cheap motoring. Jules

AT1963 wrote:

£515 per year
Some people pay that to buy/lease the car per month
So when faced with large repair bill i hope people are prepared to repair and keep car rather than sell/scrap it under strange belief that it is cheaper to buy another rather than repair.
So, well done Jules for demonstrating this

Ten year service and another clean MoT test pass today…

I changed the rear discs & pads myself a week or so back with no other work required - happy bunny today.

jules wrote:

AT1963 wrote:

£515 per year
Some people pay that to buy/lease the car per month
So when faced with large repair bill i hope people are prepared to repair and keep car rather than sell/scrap it under strange belief that it is cheaper to buy another rather than repair.
So, well done Jules for demonstrating this

I forgot - you've always got to take into consideration the depreciation. I calculate mine has depreciated £11500 over the last 6 years. Which is pretty good, I think. Its 9 years old now and has lost about £22000 since new.

I had a Peugeot 504 17 years (25 total) 265,000km. Seat Ibiza MY95 17 years from new also roughly 265,000 km (odometer died on both cars at 250k).

The Freelander MY13 from new to date has been the most reliable car & it has had by magnitudes the most hammering on corrugated roads in the outback. I kept the other cars as they didn't cost that much in repairs.

Paid cash for all cars, it was a bit eye watering for the Freelander. Had no intention to spend that much money.

But still to today I enjoy the car. Neighbours I have given a lift have said it it the nicest car they have travelled in.

Running tyres at 30psi & additional acoustic insulation, & not trying to drive it as a Lamborghini helps! Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

Exactly a year on from my original post.
Another MOT, another pass with no advisories !
The MOT tester said, "I'm not just saying it, this really is the cleanest one I've seen."

 2009 FL2 S now gone
2011 FL2 HSE AUTO
2012 FL2 XS AUTO
2000 Kawasaki er 5

Good stuff, especially with the testers comment

What year is yours?