SLROC Forum

Hi all,

I'm currently thinking of buying a second landrover: a discovery as a run around car for my wife to replace her focus that has just died.  I'm probably looking for a 200tdi, 300tdi or TD5 and would appreciate any advice that anyone can give me on what I should look for when buying a discovery.  I'm familiar with defenders, I've got a 2.5na 90 but know very little about what to look for in a disco.

What sort of prices would people expect for the above vehicles assuming they're in pretty good condition (I don't have the time for another project car at the moment as the defender already consumes virtually all my spare time!)?

Cheers,
Robbie

The best 300tdi around will cost £3k.
Have a look for other threads on this - have you considered an LPG V8? What to look out for when buying is also on here elsewhere.

How handy are you with a welder?

The youngest tdi will be what, 15 years old now? In this country that means it's very unlikely you'll find one that isn't rotten. If you do go for one, take someone with you to view who knows the usual rusty bits (sills, boot floor, inner wings, anything not made of plastic really).

As far as mechanicals go, if you know your way around your 90 it's going to be pretty similar.

look towards somerset way for a disco.

thats where ill be going anyway when the frontera of doom dies.

last of the 300tdis likely to have a less rotten chassis than early td5s.

early td5s = good body, rotten chassis.

depends how handy you are with the welder as konads says. some folk would be happy to repair the body of the 300 others would prefer to pay for a chassis swap on the td5.

If your anywhere near Dundee I'll show your around a disco td5 for all the problem areas. Earlier discos are a can of worms so I would also recommend taking along someone who knows the motors well.

I have a cracking D2 TD5 2000 on an X for sale in great condition.  Owned last 5 years.  Maintained by specialist. Very reliable, needs no welding and has all the trouble some bits done!

I was really lucky with mine. Its a 94 and was exported to France shortly after it was made, where the summers are hot and dry and they don't bother to salt the roads. As a result the chassis and body are in the best nick of any disco i have ever seen. Still get comments from MOT guy every time it goes in. Only problem is that its a 3.9 V8 and is a little thirsty, but considering it only gets driven 2 or 3 days a week its not so bad.

Like everyone is saying, take someone with you. If you buy one that has had the bare minimum to get it through an MOT you'll just end up selling it as Spares or Repair when it comes round again.

If you get one thats OK make sure you keep it clean and wax oiled underneath. No point in letting mud build up and holding water against your chassis. I give mine a good jet wash underneath after ive been off road and a wax oil every summer.

Just noticed you're in Aberdeen. I stay near Kitttybrewster. Give me a shout and you can have a look at mine and i can show you the bits to look at if you want?