Buying Land Rover Discovery

[delta9]

Hello peeps, looking for some advice from the land rover experts here

Thinking about getting a Land rover discovery 1 or 2, 2.5 diesel auto/manual

Was looking around £3-4k, can get one for around that price a 2003 model with 120,000 miles... Looked like the perfect choice until I started googling and seeing the rust pictures...

Do you think there are any out there with a tidy chassis that I could save/use for a few years without major work? Or are they all pretty much riddled with rust?

I don't mind a small project to do (tidy up), some welding here and there but I cant be doing nothing extreme (full rebuild like you lot do )

Thanks for any advice

 

[gaz1]

there a mecanno set delta a costly one at that

from what ive learnt quickly if you get a good engine its ok get a bad one and its 2,000 cost to sort it

 

[delta9]

cheers gaz, guess I need to find an alternative then, shame that, they really look good I fancied it, good specs (3.5kg tow) and 7 seats

but yeh risky buying one

 

[Kayos]

I'm leaning towards a shogun sport myself, I wanted an L200 or similar but security in the back is a concern

I'd love a disco, but I've seen a few in scrappers and the rust in hidden areas shocked me, one was on something fairly late that had been crashed, so not scrapped due to rot

 

[mm289]

Had a 2000 plate TD5 for just over 2 years, spent a lot of time finding the right one and it has been great. Its high mileage (about 170k now) but I have done ~15k in the last 2 years with no probs, pulls like a train and is a great tow car when needed.

They have some issues but the beauty is they are very well known and the parts are reasonable and in ready supply. When I bought mine it was £2.5k, and I have probably spent another £1k on standard stuff like ball joints, injector loom (as PDG mentioned), MAF/MAP, battery and then a few add ons like cruise control, heated front screen. Some of that was to get it "sorted" to how I wanted it but TBH I would expect to pay £500 p.a. or that sort of money to keep any 16 year old vehicle on the road. Since the flown through MoT's and apart from a flat battery never let me down!

I was nervous at first as it was my first Landy having had loads of Japanese and Jeeps, but I have been pleasantly surprised. So much so I have just bought an '06 plate Range Rover to replace it!!!!!!

Any vehicle of this age will have flaws, but spend your time looking for the right one and know the issues to look out for,, relatively rust free ones are around (mine is) so you don't have to buy a basket case/project. TBH I have seen more problems on the expensive ones £3-4k as it is worth the dealers tarting them up/covering up issues for that sort of money, buying a cheaper one often seems to get you something a bit more "honest".

Let me know where you are in the UK, if anywhere down south-ish happy to let you have a crawl over mine before it goes or talk you through the issues.

Cheers,

MM

 

[reb78]

I have a 2004 D2 and the chassis is ok, but thats because the previous owner and myself have looked after it (inside and out). They rot from the inside out because their design traps water between the overlapped metal pieces that make up the box section of the chassis. The TD5 engine is fine when working but a stupid design to work on in the disco - in the defender there is lots more room! (although its not as stupid a design as the later engines they squeezed into the d3 and d4!). With the TD5, the problems are well known so it is possible to fix it for the most part even if it is a fiddle with some things. So, there are some decent ones out there, but buy carfefully. Join the d2boysclub forum and have a look at the vehicles for sale over there. Always better to buy from an enthusiast in my opinion.

 

[8ob]

There is some sound advice in these posts. We were running a few of the disco commercials ( 300tdi)for a long time and they were retired off at over 300,000 miles, engines were all the originals but one or two of them had gearbox changes in that time. All in all a decent truck IMHO but would as in above posts buy with caution, if mechanically inept it will be in your best interests to take a Landy savvy fitter or enthusiast along with you.

Bob

 

[Agrismith]

I'm leaning towards a shogun sport myself, I wanted an L200 or similar but security in the back is a concern

I'd love a disco, but I've seen a few in scrappers and the rust in hidden areas shocked me, one was on something fairly late that had been crashed, so not scrapped due to rot

The shogun sport has the same engine as the l200 and everyone i know that tried them had problems i think the actual shoguns seem vetter in that department and are the same price and better tow capacity

Or a nissan pathfinder after the whole navara/pathfinder snapped chassis scandle they are very cheap and if you find a good one should be a good truck

 

[ibrooks]

Be aware of the annual Vehicle Excise Duty. When I was looking around I nearly stung myself by getting a Disco that was just new enough to be taxed based on it's emissions - two years tax would have been near to the value of the vehicle. Fortunately I spotted the "gotcha" and got myself an earlier motor that's on the older flat rate for engines over 1549cc (and since I wanted a V8 it's waaaaaay above 1549cc). From memory the post March 2001 2.5TDis I was looking at would have cost £500-ish per year whilst my '96 3.9V8 costs £235 (and on LPG might even cost less in fuel but as it's a toy I don't pay that much attention to that).

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I've had a 200TDi and 300TDI auto. The 200 had rotten rear load area floor, and rust starting elsewhere, at 6 years old. The 300TDi look fine but had severe rot hidden under the trim. Not at floor level but around inner roof rail, windscreen frame, upper seatbelt mounts, behind dash, A posts as well as all the other classic Disco rot areas - it got scrapped despite only failing MOT on sills !
I wouldn't entertain another D1 due to body rot although to be fair chassis were perfect. In fact so sick of rot, alloy corrosion and constant mechanical maintenance of Land Rovers I'll never have another - had 5 x Series, Defender, 2 x Disco & 3 x Range Rover Classic.
IMO a D2 with brand new galv chassis is probably the best option if you really want a Disco.

 

[gav0994]

Be aware of the annual Vehicle Excise Duty. When I was looking around I nearly stung myself by getting a Disco that was just new enough to be taxed based on it's emissions - two years tax would have been near to the value of the vehicle. Fortunately I spotted the "gotcha" and got myself an earlier motor that's on the older flat rate for engines over 1549cc (and since I wanted a V8 it's waaaaaay above 1549cc). From memory the post March 2001 2.5TDis I was looking at would have cost £500-ish per year whilst my '96 3.9V8 costs £235 (and on LPG might even cost less in fuel but as it's a toy I don't pay that much attention to that).

I had a 52 plate Td5 disco and it was £250 for VED. Now run a 55plate TDv6 disco 3 and it's £290 per year. The big jumps in VED happened in March 2006. All Td5 disco 2s will be under 300 a year. No idea on the gas guzzling V8s though.

 

[octo0072000]

handy .gov tool for VED
https://www.gov.uk/calculate-vehicle-tax-rates

mot history check just need reg no and make to check
https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

 

[armalites]

TD5 injector loom has been mentioned a couple of time but the reality is it's only an issue if you leave it or allow it to be. The replacement part costs less than £30 and it 30mins to swap.

The biggest issue with the Td5 is perception, everyone moaned about electronics but the reality is they have proved to be very good engines if looked after. Yes they cost more to fix than Tdi but Tdi engines had problems too and they aren't the be all that people make them out to be.

Air suspension is also reliable, all the scare stories are people who didn't replace air bags and let the compressor be over worked so instead of £140 for a couple of air bags it becomes £500 with a compressor too.

One issue on the Auto is the torque convertor lock up is around 52mph so if you do lots of A/B roads or towing then the MPG can easily be heading the same way as a V8 because it's like the vehicle is driving in 4th all the time.

 

[winchman]

I am on my second 300TDi Disco.
I have also had
Range Rover.
Vitara
Suzuki SJ.
It depends what you want? As an off road vehicle the SJ wins
The Vitara as an off road / run about is excellent, reliable and very cheap
The Discos much more comfort MPG 26 around town 31 on a run, first one I had 3 years ( Power steering box and pump only issue)
The one I have now I bought it rusty and its been a good work horse, bits are easy to get and cheap, including all the welding Two complete sills, chassis and foot well patches it owes me about £1300 but it should go forever, I purposely bought a 300 as they have very few electrics on them.
I just keep it for bad weather and a toy as its on classic insurance £169

 

[octo0072000]

have you looked at the import route still a fair few discos in japan simmonites was importing some but none on web site but his stuff is not cheap though

 

[moose]

For what its worth I agree with everything that has been said re the Disco 1 and 2, we have just had to have the timing chain done on our TD5, unlike the 200 and 300TDI's the head and sump has to come off the TD5 bill was £1700, but we tow a very large caravan and also a 3.5t plant trailer (loaded with logs), it tows very well.

The only thing I would say is try and get one with a good service history, ours we now realise has had a very had life, towing, its done 195,000 miles, we do about 15000 per year (just in this car alone), previous owner was possibly a muppet.

We have had to replace the clutch as soon as we got it, it has a fancy flywheel £350 on its own, I have done the wiring in the rocker cover it is so easy. Water pump, power steering box and pump and pipes, but ours when we got it had the coil springs instead of the air assist.

The rear end of the chassis will need to be done, a bit of a pain, but is not a very big or hard job to do.

Honestly would I buy another TD5 the answer would probably be no, not knowing what the Govt is going to do about diesels, we also live near to London so there is the congestion charge and what ever else they bring in. So I would go for petrol.

I have just converted the 6x6 range rover to v8 (3.5 inj), the disco is the only diesel we have, out of 5 land rovers.

 

[Robotstar5]

...I have just converted the 6x6 range rover to v8 (3.5 inj), the disco is the only diesel we have, out of 5 land rovers.

Sounds interesting, who did the 6x6 conversion?.

 

[delta9]

Hello guys/gals, thanks again for the posts Any more help would be great!

Well I'm still looking for a truck, I've seen a few but I think I have my mind set on getting a disco 1.

I've got my eye on one, its cheap <£500, 1998 300 tdi spares/repair and needs work, a bit neglected and smelly... no mot for the last 3-4 years, just been sitting around in a field... However I think it has been used purely offroad in this time...

Chassis looks ok just some surface rust and mud...

Engine is running, but its on 200,000 miles, nothing for these engines?

The body looks ok externally, but I know these rot from the inside.

I've looked at disco 2s.... Lovely low mileage under 70k some of them... £1500-£2500k but you check mot history most have chassis corrosion, so I fiquired it would be better to go for disco 1 with hopefully a good chassis and spend the rest on getting it restored.

Whats my question really I don't know myself

 

[gaz1]

my boss is selling one, this one



for what im aware of its been highered i think and also it has really good shockers the ones for off roading and also its drive shafts i think they are called are lengthened 3mm side sills are fitted underneath is sprayed with scholl body spray
new belts for it air filter and oil changed recently gearbox oil recently changed its in tidy condition with full mot on it

 

[indy4x]

As above, spent the best part of a week welding a mates Disco 300TDi, it needed everything apart from the boot floor. What looked like surface rust just disintegrated when you went near it with a grinder. On the plus side there are loads of repair bits for them plus lots of the rusty bits can be fabbed up quite easily

There are D2's out there with good chassis, my boss at work has just bought an 04 and the chassis is really good plus a few mates have 03 models and they haven't seen a welder, mine however is not so good and will definitely need attention this year