'96 300Tdi, opinions needed

[TheSpringbok]

Hi all,

I have been looking at buying a tdi for a couple of weeks now and it seems everytime a good one pops up online it's sold before I can even get a chance to look at it. There's really only one good option left in SA right now (within my price range), and that's this one: 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY TDI Cars For Sale in SA - CarPoint Australia (http://www.carpoint.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=10317480&__Ntt=10082525&__Qpb=1&__Dx=mode%20matchany&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_Price_Decimal|1|| pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=10082525&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282&__Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&seot=1&__Ntk=CarAll&silo=1011&Cr=0&__Nne=15&trecs=1&__D=10082525&__sid=12E02BB42B22)

It looks exactly like the V8 I currently have, except it has a snorkel and is obviously on diesel. I contacted the guy selling it who says the timing belt was replaced 60,000km ago and the auto transmission was replaced much more recently. He claims to get 650km out of a tank, which also seems a tad low.

My main concerns are the 303,000km it has travelled and that it appears to have been used for towing. Two things I feel will have worn the engine down. Am I correct in thinking this or would this car still have a lot of life left?

I plan to get bee_utey to install LPG on whichever car I buy, as well as a roof top tent for my (tame) trip to the Kimberley this August.

[big guy]

I was going to offer to take a look but its a bit far from Adelaide.
Take into consideration that the head has been done as well as injectors and tranny. Get bloke to give you his mechanics details and double check that way.

The 650 maybe what he gets till he feels its running low, I had same car and always filled up at 650km's as I never wanted the last bit to go through the pump.

Looks good to me. The bar it has is original and crap but its good enough if you just want to hand a towel on it when going swimming at the local damm.

Offer him less and go with the gas, its a fine deal as far as I can see.;)

[Nomad9]

Hi Mr Springbok,
Looks the part, I'm going to assume the tyres have some life left in them, it's a cool $1k to replace them with something decent. Check the vacuum pump on the side of the engine for any oil leaks, this isn't cheap. When you say the timing belt was it just the belt that got replaced or did the guy get a kit put through it, including the tensioner.
Personally a great fan of the 300 Tdi motor (in a D1), I drove one back from Sydney to Perth on three and a half cylinders, bit of crankcase pressure, but it was brilliant, very economical and smooth.
Not sure about the gas, some swear by it, me I've had two now, the one with gas I took the gas system straight off. Using gas will work short term, long term, personally believe it will shorten the life of the engine. Based on my personal experiences, never go on gas unless the engine is designed to take it.
I find it a bit lazy on the initial pick up, once it's moving no problem at all. If you put bigger tyres on this will only get worse.
Me I would start at $6k and go from there, easier to go up than down.

[TheSpringbok]

Looks good to me. The bar it has is original and crap but its good enough if you just want to hand a towel on it when going swimming at the local damm
As long as it can take a hit from a kangaroo! Although you've got me a little nervous that it won't even be able to manage that. :(

Nomad, I will have to find out about the belts. He only mentioned the timing belt. Also, if the tyres are quite worn it's not a big deal as I can swap them with my current V8 ones, which have about 60% tread left.

Thank you both for your opinions. I feel a lot more confident going down to check it out now, although I'll have to wait till the weekend to make the trek down there.

[big guy]

Definately worth a trip I say, the more you look at, the more you have seen and driven the more informed you are.
That bar will not take a roo hit, it will not take a bird strike for that matter but its a start.

As far as the gas is concerned, i had it on mine and remember its only getting a very slight amount and have had no ill effects, if anything it seems to run cooler.
You make up your own mind there I guess.
Enjoy your trip

[TheSpringbok]

Just to let people know, I put a deposit down on the car for $6900. The amount of preventative maintenance that had been done was great. It has the new head, new transmission and new belts, with spares in the boot.

I was very impressed with the condition of the interior as well, and while the exterior has some slight wear around the windows it's nothing I can't handle.