buying a tdi but looking for info please.

**Xavie** · 28th February 2008, 12:17 PM

So I am going to buy a Disco and tart it up a bit but I have a few questions.

I'm leaning toward a 300 TDI currently and am not swayed by the td5 engine. But, after looking at many Tdi's it seems that the majority with over 180,000 on the clock have had an engine rebuild or serious overhaul. I have not seen this in 300 TDI Defenders

I saw one with 140,000 on the clock and was pretty much stock standard but if in 40,000 km's I have to rebuild the engine that's a bit of a concern. Also,

Am I asking for trouble buying a 300 tdi say 97 onwards? AM i better off if the engine has been rebuilt and does that mean it will be better then ever or i'll expect big issues?

I'm also hoping to get diesel gas on it and have made enquiries there, just waiting for a response.

I guess a good question is am I being silly buying this vehicle and not a td5?

I'm looking for an auto but not liking my chances with what's on the market.

I realise these are hard questions in a way but I'm just fishing for info so I have some brain food whilst looking and deciding.

Thanks all.

**mns488** · 28th February 2008, 12:56 PM

There is a 300TDI reliability thread somewhere here, a lot with well over 200K.

Mine is about 215K/ms, no engine dramas at all really.

just make sure you put a low coolant alarm in as i imagine the 300's with rebuilds have just been cooked due to the poorly designed temp guage.

Tdi Longevity

**Xavie** · 28th February 2008, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by mns488

There is a 300TDI reliability thread somewhere here, a lot with well over 200K.

Mine is about 215K/ms, no engine dramas at all really.

just make sure you put a low coolant alarm in as i imagine the 300's with rebuilds have just been cooked due to the poorly designed temp guage.

Tdi Longevity

It's difficult to decide as I've seen a few with higher km's and heaps of mods which I will end up doing but no engine rebuild and some which are quite stock but have been rebuilt and so I'm trying to work out which way to lean. It's quite difficult. As mods cost so much it's probably worth ahving the engine overhauled down the track if it has the mods!

After reading your link it looks like what I want is one with some mods which has been serviced regularly and belts changed often.

Xavier

**abaddonxi** · 28th February 2008, 01:32 PM

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

300tdi engines overheat and need new heads, or the timing belt lets go, or someone drowns them.

I haven't heard of lots of other problems with them.

Cheers
Simon

**Four Boar** · 28th February 2008, 06:22 PM

300Tdi all the way in my opinion.
I searched for 6 months untill I found the write one.
I have almost had it for a year and no problems ay!
The odd service and 20,000km l8er (now 140,000km)
and she is still going hard. The odd slight leak, but nothing to be worried about.

I have towed boats inc. a 6.5m Quintrex for 6 hour drives non stop, no probs.

The fuel consumption is fantastic, a standard tank 900km (not towing).

I love mine, just do your home work and wait for the write one. The worst problem so far is that the roof lining has started to sagg!

I have heard a few bad things re: the Td5's that first came out.

Four Boar.

**Xavie** · 28th February 2008, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by Four Boar

300Tdi all the way in my opinion.
I searched for 6 months untill I found the write one.
I have almost had it for a year and no problems ay!
The odd service and 20,000km l8er (now 140,000km)
and she is still going hard. The odd slight leak, but nothing to be worried about.

I have towed boats inc. a 6.5m Quintrex for 6 hour drives non stop, no probs.

The fuel consumption is fantastic, a standard tank 900km (not towing).

I love mine, just do your home work and wait for the write one. The worst problem so far is that the roof lining has started to sagg!

I have heard a few bad things re: the Td5's that first came out.

Four Boar.

That's a positive story! Because one of the ones I'm looking at is stock and has 140,000 on the clock and is prob a good buy then.

Mind you the one I'm leaning toward is a different sotry. maybe someone can give me an opinion

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/LAND_ROVER/DISCOVERY/details.aspx?__sid=117B79178CFB&Cr=0&__Ns=pCar_Pri vateSpecialFlag_Int32|1||pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1|| pCar_LastModifiedDate_DateTime|1&State=All%20State s&distance=25&silo=1003&seot=0&__Nne=20&Model=DISC OVERY&R=5182280&__N=4294965541+0+243+4294965540+83 4+285+257&Make=LAND%20ROVER&state_id=0&trecs=22

Thanks,
Xavier

**abaddonxi** · 28th February 2008, 07:46 PM

Ah, forgot expansion tank failure.

Cheers
Simon

**29dinosaur** · 28th February 2008, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by Xavie

That's a positive story! Because one of the ones I'm looking at is stock and has 140,000 on the clock and is prob a good buy then.

Mind you the one I'm leaning toward is a different sotry. maybe someone can give me an opinion

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/LAND_ROVER/DISCOVERY/details.aspx?__sid=117B79178CFB&Cr=0&__Ns=pCar_Pri vateSpecialFlag_Int32|1||pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1|| pCar_LastModifiedDate_DateTime|1&State=All%20State s&distance=25&silo=1003&seot=0&__Nne=20&Model=DISC OVERY&R=5182280&__N=4294965541+0+243+4294965540+83 4+285+257&Make=LAND%20ROVER&state_id=0&trecs=22

Thanks,
Xavier

Reads well but IMHO is still overpriced. So what if it has new lining that's no big deal - a few hundred $ max, when it was done and is now old... other ad-ons must be looked at as now depreciated.
I'd offer $13000 max.
(I have 1998tdi man with complete rebuild which I will sell at $10K)

**Xavie** · 28th February 2008, 09:15 PM

I was thinking $13 would be the maximum I'd pay. I thinkt he hard yards have been done but I suspect it will need refining for me to be happy with and call it my own so that'll cost a bit more anyway.

is a 95 to old or were their no changes in models between that time?

I noticed one advert said "updated 95 model" not sure what that meant.

Xav

**abaddonxi** · 28th February 2008, 09:41 PM

Looks to me like there's a rhs rear mudflap missing, and a new rear bumper cover. I reckon you'd do that getting hung up on something off-road. Also looks like there might be a little rust.

And it's a manual not an auto.

EDIT: Just had a look, not many out there at any price.

Cheers
Simon

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