Discovery TDi - The real story

[fino]

I am looking at retiring my old rocky as it is very near death and I am looking at buying a Discovery TDi - 94 model. I have been trying to read as much as possible and have read some really good things and some not so good. I am sure it will be good off road and the one I drove seemed fine to me. I don't think anything could be as slow as a straight diesel Rocky. What I am concerned about is the reliability of these vehicles and repair costs. I know it is going to cost a bit in repairs/maintenance - all cars do - and they have told me the gear box on the one I am thinking about has been overhauled and modified. Are there any other major problems with these vehicles I should be look out for or be worried about?

Thanks in advance

Scott

[Phoenix]

G'day and welcome to AULRO style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

to begin with, if the gearbox has been overhauled that is good for the buyer, but modified!!! i'd be wary of that. In what way has it been modified??

As you said, the discovery is great off road, is this one a 200Tdi or a 300Tdi (I can't remember what date they changed over :oops: ).

The 300 tdi has some problems with the timing belt, but as long as it is changed at about 80,000 km intervals, it shouldn't present a problem.

Asides from that, just look out for all the usual things, and enjoy your purchase style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[Gaz69]

Welcome fino,
You should be right with a 94 Disco. My father has a 95 Tdi Disco and he has over 350000 on the clock and still runs great. Thats majority dirt work towing a tandem trailer. Find out the mechanical/servicing history and dont pay too much as there is heaps on thew market.

Gaz

[pug303]

Hi, the reference to modified probably only relates to cross drilling the output gear to improve lubrication to the main shaft in the top of the tansfer case. This reduces the liklihood of further problems with excessive wear which was a problem in Rangies and early Discos

Cheers

Jim

[one_iota]

Fino,

I have found www.lrenthusiastforum.com a good source.

My understanding is that the 95 was the first of the 300Tdi so the 94 may be a 200Tdi and maybe free of the dreaded timing belt issue.

That aside the first thing I did was to have the belt changed. Now I have the modifications done to alleviate this.

So issues are:

Timing belt.

Transfer Input Shaft.

If the vehicle comes with service records then this helps. Mine didn't and took the gamble I still have it after 5 years.