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Buying a Disco?

 
 
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Coll455
Just got MTs


Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Odometer: 219
Location: Leyland, Lancs.



PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:54 pm    Post subject: Buying a Disco? Reply with quote

Hi all,

Im after buying a discovery as an everyday driver and gren laner. I've currently got a 1991 suzuki samurai as my offroader so its not my 1st 4x4 although it is a massive change.

To get to the point, i have a couple of queries id like opinions on. 1st: 200 or 300tdi?? 2nd: what exactly do i need to look for when i go to view them?? i.e. do they have common faults, is there a set amount of miles i should look for on the clock and where do they commonly rust?

Hope someone can help.
Thanks.
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scouse_mouse
Articulating


Joined: 14 Jul 2006
Odometer: 653
Location: In the North of Wales by the sea



PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 6:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

rust .
inner wing , inner and outer sills , boot floor , rear inner wheel arches , A and B posts , 300 the best , who cares about mileage , as long as it runs sweet your away Very Happy Very Happy
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Let Luce
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 11 Dec 2002
Odometer: 4018
Location: Derbyshire


1977 Land Rover 101

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rust, rust, they do very little but rust.
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Hooli
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Odometer: 2217
Location: Doncaster



PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't forget to check for rust.
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scouse_mouse
Articulating


Joined: 14 Jul 2006
Odometer: 653
Location: In the North of Wales by the sea



PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

if it`s brown in colour ,






it could be rust
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scut44
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

& look for wet or mouldy carpets in the rear covering rust. Wink
Lift these & look for rust.

Only ever go looking at Discovery's with a Discovery or Land Rover owner or at the very least a competent mechanic that understands 4x4's & people need to own/drive them.

george

.
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Coll455
Just got MTs


Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Odometer: 219
Location: Leyland, Lancs.



PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

For some reason imgetting the impression that Discoverys rust?? lol.
I will eventually be using it for greenlaning, so is it worth staying away from the models with alot of electrics in i.e. electric mirrors, electric windows, heated seats and air con?? Does any of that sort of stuff make a massive difference in weight and reliability??
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Hooli
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Odometer: 2217
Location: Doncaster



PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh they rust too, don't think anyone has said that?

Apart from that I always used to listen for a big clonk under the centre of the car taking up drive as they can chew the splines off the transfer box input shaft. I'd rather suspect they've all done that & had new gearboxes by now though as it seemed to happen by 100k miles.

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Coll455
Just got MTs


Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Odometer: 219
Location: Leyland, Lancs.



PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hooli wrote:
Oh they rust too, don't think anyone has said that?

Apart from that I always used to listen for a big clonk under the centre of the car taking up drive as they can chew the splines off the transfer box input shaft. I'd rather suspect they've all done that & had new gearboxes by now though as it seemed to happen by 100k miles.


Oh....so they DO rust??? Laughing

Fair point, i'll listen out for that, cheers.
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jeffheron
Gate Opener


Joined: 27 Aug 2011
Odometer: 1




PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Surprise to hear that rusting is the major issue with Discovery! Not a good option for areas near sea.
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jojo
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Odometer: 5422




PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Coll455 wrote:
For some reason imgetting the impression that Discoverys rust?? lol.
I will eventually be using it for greenlaning, so is it worth staying away from the models with alot of electrics in i.e. electric mirrors, electric windows, heated seats and air con?? Does any of that sort of stuff make a massive difference in weight and reliability??


If you are going to use it for greenlaning remember that greenlanes, or Byways Open to All Traffic BOATs)) are public roads and that all vehicles using them must comply will all legislation; ie, they must be roadworthy, taxed, insured and have a current MOT.

Rust, as others have pointed out is the key thing to look out for and avoid on all Discos. Disco 1s (200 and 300 tdi) don't have too much in the way of electrics and are fairy bust proof given basic maintenance especially regular propshaft and UJ greasing.

J
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Coll455
Just got MTs


Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Odometer: 219
Location: Leyland, Lancs.



PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 11:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yep i understand. It will be used more as a daily driver than an offroader so deffinately will be road legal.

Well thats good to know. I suppose i just need to have a look at whats out there then.
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Let Luce
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 11 Dec 2002
Odometer: 4018
Location: Derbyshire


1977 Land Rover 101

PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hooli wrote:
I'd rather suspect they've all done that & had new gearboxes by now though as it seemed to happen by 100k miles.


Not all, I broke a 147k 200tdi a while ago, that unusually had died of rust, (headlight surrounds, front and rear wheel arches, inner wings, top and bottom of A, b and C pillars, sills, boot floor, body mounts, rear x member...)

I didn't drive it far but it sounded ok, when I split the T-box from the gearbox, the splines were totally shot!
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Coll455
Just got MTs


Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Odometer: 219
Location: Leyland, Lancs.



PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well went and looked at my 1st disco tonight and have to say was pleasently suprised. It seemed to be ok mechanically but it has raised some further questions.

The brakes felt fairly poor, is this normal for discoverys or should they be quite sharp? it felt like i had to put in more effort than i expected. Dont get me wrong they worked but not what i expected.

Also, when selecting low ratio, how easily should it go in? as the current owner showed me that it did work but he had to wrestle with the stick to get it in.
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jojo
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Odometer: 5422




PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are the brakes ABS? If so they can feel a bit soft and unresponsive - that's normal. The key question is do they work? If in doubt put it through an MOT - if it passes you pay, if it fails the seller pays.

Discos often suffer with difficulty in getting into low range and difflock. This is because many of them never get it used on road and it gets a bit stiff and clogged with gunge and needs lubrication and regular use. To get it into low range - at between 5 and 8 mph select neutral and then select low range (don't force it, feed it gently) then back into gear. Same to go from low to high. Difflock can be properly gunged up if not used. Get under and squirt some squirty penetrating oil or similar over the mechanism, leave it for a couple of days if necessary but keep trying it. Don't force it. When it eventually goes get under again and squirt some squiry grease (motorbike chain lubricant is excellent) on it, then use it regularly.

J
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Hooli
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Odometer: 2217
Location: Doncaster



PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What Jojo said basicly. It'd also be worth looking at the colour of the brake fluid, I'd bet it's old n black if the brakes feel poor.
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Coll455
Just got MTs


Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Odometer: 219
Location: Leyland, Lancs.



PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No i dont think so, it was an R-reg 300tdi. not sure on the exact model though. It had an MOT last thursday, passed with no advisories, had new sills and rear crossmember and completely wax oiled. Seemed ok for what it was just unsure on the brakes.

Need to check the brake fluid really, possibly a bleed would help?
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Hooli
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Joined: 09 Jul 2004
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Location: Doncaster



PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Might do, especially if the fluid is old as you'd be changing the fluid at the same time.
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mrcheese
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Joined: 14 Oct 2003
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Of all the Discos I have driven I would say that the brakes are not as sharp when compared to other vehicles. All the ones I have driven have ABS.

Don't forget that the vehicle is much heavier than what you are used to.
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jojo
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Joined: 11 Aug 2007
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Disco is a heavy old bus and if it has ABS the brakes can feel a bit odd if you are not used to ABS. It doesn't matter how hard you stand on the brakes it won't make any difference, but you will feel the ABS working (rapid vibration through the brake pedal). You really don't need much pressure on the pedal. Although obvious it is worth rembering that with ABS you can't lock the wheels.

As it had an MOT last week it would have had a brake test and passed, so subject to duff MOTs, OK. It may be worth changing the fluid and inspecting the pads and discs.
J
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Coll455
Just got MTs


Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Odometer: 219
Location: Leyland, Lancs.



PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 12:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

On another subject the rear wheel arches felt a bit loose, at the back behind the rear wheels if you tapped it the arches moved a bit. Are they meant to be soldi at this point or do they flap around a bit?
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scoots
Gate Opener


Joined: 28 Sep 2010
Odometer: 34




PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 3:33 pm    Post subject: new disco Reply with quote

pm sent..
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Hooli
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Odometer: 2217
Location: Doncaster



PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Coll455 wrote:
On another subject the rear wheel arches felt a bit loose, at the back behind the rear wheels if you tapped it the arches moved a bit. Are they meant to be soldi at this point or do they flap around a bit?


There is a bracket that rots away in that area.

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jojo
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Coll45,

It's a 14 year old car so you can expect a few problems and bits of rust. If you want something trouble free then go for a Disco 3, or later. That said, Disco 1s are easy and relatively cheap to fix and you can get plenty of advice and help on this forum and elsewhere.

OK, so you take a risk buying any second hand motor but if it's got a good MOT and it looks OK to you then go for it - and enjoy itr.

J
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Coll455
Just got MTs


Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Odometer: 219
Location: Leyland, Lancs.



PostPosted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok so bought a disco today and taken it out for a bit of a drive this evening. it's an auto, with abs and a few other gizmos that im still trying to get my head round haha.

When i press the brakes, the pedal sort of moves up and down, is this down to warped rotors or is there another possibility??
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scut44
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 6:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is it a fast pulsing in the pedal, as tho the ABS is operating Question

Not saying working properly, but maybe what you feel is OK!

Do you know any other Disco owners that can drive yours & see how it feels.
Just ask any Disco driver sitting in a nice one you see parked up somewhere,
try to choose one that doesnt look dodgy?
You may strike lucky & find a friendly one thats a mechanic.

Idea
Put a shout out on here & see if someone from here is in your area to give it a once over for you.

have fun & enjoy it.
Dont mess with it too much in the way of up-grades & modifications untill you get to know it.
Drive it & get used to the foibles.
Important IMO to,
Just see what is neccessary to do before the winter before anything else.
All fluids OK, everything tightened & greased & inspected is the first & important things.
Diff & transfer/gearbox oil changed or at least checked at some point in the near future.
Check anti freeze strength & change before winter if you are not sure of it, along with inline fuel filter & anything else that hasnt been covered by an old receipt when you
have bought it.

george

.
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Coll455
Just got MTs


Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Odometer: 219
Location: Leyland, Lancs.



PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good advice there. The pedal feels more of a slow bobbing motion, as if the discs weren't true, it's deffinately not a sharp vibration like ABS.

I'll have to have a good look over the weekend.
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