Introduction and advice - buying a SWB 460/463
Hi guys, I am Connor from Folkestone in Kent, hope you're all well. I have been saving for a swb w460/early w463 for a few years now and I'm now looking to buy one, have you any advice on where to avoid? Whether to avoid Japanese imports etc also if anyone is looking to sell their baby please let me know! I'm not too fussy on transmission or engine size really, just a great example of an original! Thank you!
Welcome Connor,
We are always looking and checking on Gs coming up for sale. They often go through auction sites, and some from these sites or word of mouth.
Always happy to give a remote/unseen opinion and what to really look for, depending on the model.
You may not be too bothered about the engine but:
The 230 is the most 'economical'
The 300 petrol the smoothest
The 300 Diesel the slowest
The 280 petrol the most old school but thirsty (15 mpg ish)
The 350CDI the more refined V6
The G500 / G55 V8 the most rare
The G63 the most London and grunty
The G400 the most enigmatic!
Nothing wrong with imports if you can find one. They are all a little unique in their ways. More refined than a Defender, and less than a Shogun.
Pricing £7k to £27k for a 460. More for the V8s and the 463s 1991 onwards (or a nuts and bolts restoration).
Around 2000-2005 considered the sweet spot for G quality.
If your budget is higher, let me know for the 2010- options.
If anyone has the time I would love their opinion on this 300gd w460 I pulled the plug on, I had agreed after inspection I would pay 21k all being well but the inspection threw a few things up, mostly the state it was in on the chassis and interior, I will put some pictures of the car and inspection, was I right to pull out? A slight back story is I actually found the owner from 5 years ago and he absolutely loved the car, said it had an early mild turbo fitted and was really reliable, it could have been sat since then. They're trying to sell it as if it's got 37k miles but it's 137k thanks if anyone has the time to have a look!
Looks tidy. Body and probably chassis ok. Engine bay looks like it's sat a while and from the report it has a few minor things to be expected.
It matches your brief, and previous owner said it was good. I'd be thinking 18k is a good price (for you) given that the running gear looks a bit tired and it's not had a restoration there. So not far away to get a deal
No shots of interior - does the fan blower work and are the carpets wet (wiper spindle leak - common and a pain to resolve)
If Gav sees this he may have history on this car
Sorry these wouldn't upload earlier, I don't know what's happened to the accelerator pedal haha but it looks like it's just being mistreated by who has it now, I offered 13k in the hope they'd go for it but they said they're gonna try to continue advertising for more... so it looks like steering linkage boot, tie rod assembly, small repairs on wheel arches, and interior needs going over quite a bit, door cards falling off also. I have asked the garage that inspected to give me a quote to get the car through an mot, seller said it'll have 12 months mot by time it's bought so not sure how they thought they'd get it through !
Carpets fine in terms of moisture, previous owner said no leaks around windows or boot which is great, not sure on wiper spindle
I like it.
Tie bar is a complete component (with track rod ends) and i think about £300.
Tank looks really good and dry. All underneath looks dry (garaged, not used). Interior is unusual colour combo. I don't get how the advert is £29k though. There is a LHD import for sale for comparison.
You've made me want to go back in with an offer now ???? hopefully gav does have some history, it was nice being able to speak to the previous owner, he done long YouTube videos with it and everything! I think where they're trying to market it as 37k miles, they're hoping for good money but it's obvious through a history check it was listed at auction with 110k miles, so the 5 digit odometer reading has come up on the mot's. As it's in Birmingham I'd just need to get the bits fixed so I could pick her up
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Hi admin, thank you so much ! In an ideal world I would like a 280ge, 300ge or 300gd with a view to upgrading the injector, I don't mind spending a bit of money in the future as this hopefully will be with me forever ! W460 is my preference as I love the look of them but I do like the w463s too, not too worried about it being 300bhp plus as it'll be a daily for pottering around and maybe some adventures! Just want to make sure I get an as close to original with a good engine + bodywork within reason so I don't mind throwing some money at it in the future ! I'm looking to spend between 20k-30k do you think I can achieve it within that range?