Work list for potential Disco1 purchase.

[Goots]

So I looked at a Disco 1 today to buy, 94 300tdi, 241,000km on the odo 6000km on a new reco'd motor. I had a mechanic come with me and this is the list.
Back Diff clunk - backlash (up to 1/4 a turn if u wobble tail shaft)
Back Diff minor leak - gasket
Back? Diff ball join suspect
Brake booster issues
Vacuum pump oil leak.
LHF clunk - Shockie Bush?
Radio (music is a must!)
Floor rust left and right side footwells maybe one handspand worth coming in from side.
More rust above fuel tank, looks like a fair bit a decent way along the width not sure how far in, couldnt rip the carpet up.
Dash skin peeling up starting at windscreen end.
Tacho intermittent.

Now, it seems pretty extensive to me, the seller wants 3 grand I figure i can talk it down maybe 1.8-2? Only problem is I'm not sure how much of this work I can do myself, I know a guy for the rust but it could be a biig job, many afternoons and I work in a mechanic workshop as a TA so finding help shouldnt be too hard however I only have roughly 2 weeks and then I want to take the car to Melbourne.

Any opinions are appreciated.

Cheers,

Goots

[chazza]

So I looked at a Disco 1 today to buy, 94 300tdi, 241,000km on the odo 6000km on a new reco'd motor.

Back Diff clunk - backlash (up to 1/4 a turn if u wobble tail shaft)
Back Diff minor leak - gasket
Back? Diff ball join suspect
Brake booster issues
Vacuum pump oil leak.
LHF clunk - Shockie Bush?
Radio (music is a must!)
Floor rust left and right side footwells maybe one handspand worth coming in from side.
More rust above fuel tank, looks like a fair bit a decent way along the width not sure how far in, couldnt rip the carpet up.
Dash skin peeling up starting at windscreen end.
Tacho intermittent.

Goots

Diff backlash/leak - not hard to adjust but may be expensive for parts and involves removing the axles and diff centre so that it can be worked on. Probably the most time consuming mechanical item.

Rear axle ball joint - not hard to do but needs hoist to make it easier. Check out the suspension bushes as well before you start.

Brake booster - best to let a brake specialist give you a quote, or check out booster prices in the UK.

Damper bush - easy to replace as are the front dampers; allow about half a day.

Rust - how bad is it? If the panels are holed, it is a big strip down job to weld in new metal. Probably your best bargaining point for reducing the price. The question is why is it so rusty - so thoroughly inspect the chassis, door skins and roof etc. to see if it has been a beach car.

Dash peeling - needs a new one; so does mine - don't know if they are still available. Very time consuming to replace!

Tacho - check the electrical connection on the back of the alternator - a known problem,

Cheers Charlie

[Goots]

Ok thanks for the info. The rust is right through the panels would have to be cut out and welded back in but i'm not sure if its just like flat parts of I'm going to need another disco for wrecking to cut parts off.
The dash doesnt bother me at this stage!
It needs an MVR RWC though so most of its essential.
You've put most of it into perspective.

Cheers,

Goots

[chazza]

If the rust is that bad then I think he is dreamin' at $3000!

In fact, it sounds like a car which is close to being a wrecker, so I doubt the value is much more than scrap price.

Check out this link here for some body panels Land Rover Discovery 1 Body Parts | Paddock (http://www.paddockspares.com/parts-and-accessories/land-rover-discovery-1/body-and-panels/body-parts.html)

Unless you enjoy panel repairs, it might be a good car to forget about,

Cheers Charlie

[Grumbles]

That car sounds like just so much trouble and worth a wrecking price only - especially with the rust and it's the rust you can't see which might kill the car. Surely there are better ones around for the money.

[Goots]

Yeah, the rust i spose is just too much. I know a boily i was gonna get to do it. Drove it around and it seemed alright (with the exception of the brakes/clunk) I only work 2 days a week so I figured I'd have heaps of time for the mechanical side of things oh well.. keep looking.

Cheers,

Goots

[MacMan]

One thing to bear in mind with Discoverys and Rangies is that the alloy bodywork can hide very significant rust problems in areas you can's inspect. With that much rust in the floor I'd be concerned about the rest of it too.