Tips for TD5 Disco

[Sequel]

Hi there,

I am about to buy my first LR (saying that feels like I am in a 4WDAnon meeting, admitting to something that I shouldn't be doing).

Any way, I have looked though all 87 pages of the forum (and wow, what a lot of knowlege, cant wait to use some of the tips), and basically confirmed what my previous research had told me. I am looking for a '99-'01 Disco, TD5, auto. i.e. Want the TD5 (over TDi) and the CDL, but cant afford an '03.

Is there any blatent/obvious problems or signs of problems that I should be looking out for when looking at potential vehicles?

Also, I (think I) really want ACE. Should I be all that concerened about it, is it a must have?

I have heard a rumour that child seats/capsules dont fit very well due to the nature of the seat belts/split seats, is this something to be worried about?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

Originally posted by Sequel
Hi there,


Is there any blatent/obvious problems or signs of problems that I should be looking out for when looking at potential vehicles?


Thanks in advance for any help.

<span style="color:blue">
be warned.....they are very addictive......</span>

[JackH]

Originally posted by Sequel
Hi there,

Also, I (think I) really want ACE. Should I be all that concerened about it, is it a must have?

I have heard a rumour that child seats/capsules dont fit very well due to the nature of the seat belts/split seats, is this something to be worried about?



I had the choice of 2 Disco's, one with ACE and one without, when I bought mine and went for the one without. I figured the coil suspension had less to go wrong with it than the ACE suspension. The whirring noise of the ACE set up would have driven me nuts over a period of time. I don't know if this is common to all ACE suspensions or just the one I test drove. I have been totally happy with the non ACE suspension.

I have had a child seat in mine without any problems, kid sat a little high though.

I bought my 2000 Disco in early 2003, from a Land Rover specialist, with 77000kms on the clock. I have now done 134000kms and it has only had 3 problems. The water pump replaced at 80000kms service, the electronic turbo boost control replaced at 120000kms and the driver's power window module replaced last week.

Make sure you get one that has been regularly serviced and, if possible, get it checked out by a Land Rover specialist.

As Defenderzook said they are very addictive - I am so happy with mine, most versatile car I've ever owned.

Good luck with your purchase, stick with this forum (everyone is very helpful) and get the DISCO2RAVE cd from the emporium.

Cheers,
Jack

[Redback]

Yep as above, with a service history is good advice, as for the CDL if you get the 2000 to 2001 model it will have the lock in the transfer case but no actuator, this can be bought after market for as little as $500 fitted, we got the AMV electric actuator for $620 fitted.

No problems with ours as yet purchaced it at 71,000k, now done 100,000ks.
I did break a diff but that was my fault, accidently dropped the clutch while towing the campertrailer (1.3t) and loaded up for a weekend away, still drivable though, got it fixed when we got home.

I love it, Baz.

[cwebb]

Hey Baz

For some reason, I thought your TD5 was Auto? Yours is manual is it? How do you find it?
Mine is manual as well, and as much as I like the manual, there are times I wouldn't mind an auto.
Cheers
Chris

[FenianEel]

Sequel,

Love the Disco's and TD5's! Like all our friends have said...serviced well, good history, reasonable age, genr. no probs.

As for the child/baby seats - heaps of room. I've got 5 children - 3 of them (ages 3,5,7) have all had baby/child seats in there at the same time, with plenty of room.

ACE is nice, but it's really no great thing or advantage to my way of thinking. The handling of these things really does surprise....

PM me if you want some details of a couple of decent vehicle brokers. .

Good luck and enjoy style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[Slunnie]

I tend to think that ACE is just awsome. Even with a total lift of 7" the Disco sits reasonable flat on road and while off road the ACE disconnects the sway bars for all intents and purposes and gives you a heap more suspension travel than the non ACE setup. In my opinion, ACE is win - win. So far I've also not heard of an ACE systems failing, not to say they don't but it seems rare if it does.

I would have no hesitation in getting ACE.

[LandyAndy]

Hi Sequel
I got a 99 TD5 man Disco back in august.200000ks for $14900.Goes really well,has ACE,no bodyroll at speed.Made my own CDL acuator for about $30.averages 10.8 to 11.8 L/100ks.Since owning it I made my own sliders(sill panels) recovery points, CDL acuator.I have taken it on some serious off road trips,goes really well,front/rear departure angles are no where near as good as my old series landies,so a rear custom bumper is on the drawing boards(1/2 ripped the plastic one off last outing)
Check for service history,especially on the high Km vehicles,if synthetic engine oil has been used all should be good.
Andrew

[brandavino]

My 2003 TD5, AUTO, ACE has been great, no probs so far 43,000 Ks, the ACE makes very plesent crusing, no body roll even with emu lift and springs, and so much nicer for passengers. If u don't like technology get a defender. Sure the noise wasn't the centrifical filter ?.
Regards

PS Looking for Chip upgrade info,

[Redback]

Originally posted by cwebb
Hey Baz

For some reason, I thought your TD5 was Auto? Yours is manual is it? How do you find it?
Mine is manual as well, and as much as I like the manual, there are times I wouldn't mind an auto.
Cheers
Chris

Hey Chris, yeah i know what you mean, i mainly don't like the manual when i'm loaded up with the camper on and i have to take off on an uphill, like at traffic lights and such really makes the clutch work hard, other than that i prefer the manual.

Baz.

[Sequel]

Thanks for all the tips.

Had a look at one on Saturday. 2000 TD5, Auto, ACE, ARB bar & steps, GME uhf, first reg 01/01, 82,000km. Dealer serviced to 60k, 80k service done by local. Country car (can still see some red dust).

Asking $28k. Fair price??

Few questions. Had slight oil leak between engine and transfer case. Is this common? I have seen it on most of the Discos I've looked at.

Fitted with Goodyear Wrangler AT/R 235/70/16, is this the standard size (or equivelent for speedo purposes) and would they be the cause of noise/(slight) vibration at speed, he told me that the noise was the tyres, but vibration was the transfer case, and that this was common. The vibration was slow and soft (as opposed to something like a wheel being out of balance), and if he didn't metion it, I probably wouldn't have noticed, however would it be a common thing or are they smooth at speed (90-100km/h)?

[DEFENDERZOOK]

Originally posted by Redback+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Redback)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-cwebb
Hey Baz

For some reason, I thought your TD5 was Auto? Yours is manual is it? How do you find it?
Mine is manual as well, and as much as I like the manual, there are times I wouldn't mind an auto.
Cheers
Chris

Hey Chris, yeah i know what you mean, i mainly don't like the manual when i'm loaded up with the camper on and i have to take off on an uphill, like at traffic lights and such really makes the clutch work hard, other than that i prefer the manual.

Baz.[/b][/quote]




<span style="color:blue">have you read the handbook to see how to deal with that situation....?

it tells you to take off in low range and change to high on the fly....


which is a good idea if their boxes worked properly and you could change
gears without crunching.....
i have enough trouble changing between high and low range whilst stationary....</span>

[Redback]

Originally posted by Sequel
Thanks for all the tips.

Had a look at one on Saturday. 2000 TD5, Auto, ACE, ARB bar & steps, GME uhf, first reg 01/01, 82,000km. Dealer serviced to 60k, 80k service done by local. Country car (can still see some red dust).

Asking $28k. Fair price??

Few questions. Had slight oil leak between engine and transfer case. Is this common? I have seen it on most of the Discos I've looked at.

Fitted with Goodyear Wrangler AT/R 235/70/16, is this the standard size (or equivelent for speedo purposes) and would they be the cause of noise/(slight) vibration at speed, he told me that the noise was the tyres, but vibration was the transfer case, and that this was common. The vibration was slow and soft (as opposed to something like a wheel being out of balance), and if he didn't metion it, I probably wouldn't have noticed, however would it be a common thing or are they smooth at speed (90-100km/h)?

Thats not a bad price for the Ks it's done and 235s are the standard size, 245/70 or 245/75 are a good size if you want a larger tyre if not doing a lift, also napisan will get the red dust stains off.

The vibration may be tailshaft related, get someone to look at the rotoflex coupling in the rear and the double cardin joint in the front as well as the other uni's, and also check to see if the balance thing is on the rear diff too, ya can't miss it it's the strange thing with a disc on it bolted to the diff :roll: .

As for the oil leak get the dealer to check it to make sure it's not the rear engine seal, if it is they should fix it before you purchace it actually they have to fix it anyway because they can't sell an unroad worthy car and oil leaks make a car unroadworthy techniclly speaking.

Come to think of it, anything that you think is wrong with it they have to fix, so make sure it's all done before you pick it up, if not don't buy it, make it a condition of sale that if not fixed then deals off, if you decide to buy it.


Baz.

[TheEntertainer]

Hi, I;ve got a 99 model and she goes like a dream, just drove around Aus with no probs. You will mis the CDL, I bought one for $500, original second hand, needs a little bit of modifications around gator hole, but the main parts fits like a dream. This was for me a better and more reliable option than the untested after market products. need about 4-6 hours to do the job.

[MickG]

Originally posted by Redback
Come to think of it, anything that you think is wrong with it they have to fix, so make sure it's all done before you pick it up, if not don't buy it, make it a condition of sale that if not fixed then deals off, if you decide to buy it.


Baz.

I agree, get the dealer to sort ALL probs before taking it as this will be your only chance to really bargain with them......you will have to push up hill to get them to fix anything once you have paid for it, but at $28K I would say that is reasonbly fair for a Disco is good working order.

Good luck, aye, Mick