High km V8 Discos

[Utemad]

Hi all.

I am still on my search for a Disco.

I have noticed that there a few high km Discos (200K+kms) for sale on the car sale sites. These are all around the $5-7000 price range.
Considering they have been for sale for a while I would expect the owners would be open to negotiation.

I was thinking that it might be better to get one of these dirt cheap and then rebuild the auto and engine a bit sooner than I would no doubt have to do anyway if I bought one with less kms but paid more for it.

The main thing stopping me is that there are lots of other things to think about with high km cars than just the engine and gearbox. Such as all the electric bits and the transfer case. Plus the whole mindset issue of not wanting a high km car.

What do you guys think?

Anyone own a V8 94-98 Disco with 200-300k on it that they have had problems with?

[BRS]

Read my Post "Disco engine meltdown". l dont think it matters if its high milage or not, you will have to rebuild the thing. Buy a Hi lux, or go on a round the world trip, or put a deposit on a house, what ever you do Dont buy a Land Rover! Ben.

[PhilipA]

Ben, you are correct that you really should have some mechanical knowledge if you have an older Rover.
Your problem is unfortunate and pretty unusual .
I note that a major issue is that you have been quoted $4000 to fix it!! I assume that it is out of warranty and that you have had a dealer quote.
first , have you gone to Land Rover to seek "policy" on this?

Second, if you are handy with tools, the Rover V8 is one of the easiest engines to work on that there is.

If you could do the labour yourself it would probably cost you about $1000- 1500.
for gaskets say $150, 2xhead reco say $400, new rocker $30, new cam followers say $80, new camshaft $350 , cam chain $150. Unforeseen items eg pushrods, rocker shaft the rest.
I think a specialist should also be cheaper than $4000. I reckon about 20 hours max at $75 equals $1500. Unfortunately its probably not possible to use any second hand bits.
Although Toyotas are very reliable, when they do go wrong they are expensive.
I think an old Rangie/Disco would be one of the cheapest cars to keep on the road ,as the parts are available,and non genuine parts are cheap.

The way to keep a 200K plus on the road is to buy second hand bits to replace the tired ones.
Regards Philip A

[incisor]

buy a hilux?

i think you need to vist a toyota forum..... they have their fair share of problems..

all brands have problems with some models, from time to time.

80 series turbo diesel toyotas, 3.0l tdi nissans, petrol landcruisers and their cracked heads, toyota front diffs, toyota 100 series IFS woes, rodeos and vanishing engine oil.... the list goes on... happens to the best of them.....

[Utemad]

Well I have decided on the type of vehicle I want it is just the particular vehicle that I will buy that is in question.

I am quite handy with the tools and will give anything a go.

If the engine did die I would like to put a 4.6 in instead too.

As for buying a Toyota I think some people need some perspective. The closest vehicles in terms of capability in my mind would be a Nissan Patrol or 80 series. Now hands up who thinks you would get a pretty decent Patrol or 80 series in good nick for under $10k after all necessary repairs have been done? :roll:

I also don't want anything the size of a Patrol or 80 series and comfort levels of the Disco are far higher IMHO.

So getting back on topic, am I asking for expensive trouble by buying a high km Disco?

[NOZ]

You can rebuild a V8 for the price of a 300 TDI injector pump.

Get a compression test done on it, check out as much history about the Discovery as you can and like buying any second hand car you take your best educated chance :wink:

[PhilipA]

Sorry, you got Hijacked there by Ben.
I reckon the highest risk is the ZF auto transmission. They are about 3K-4K to reco and they last about 250-300K. If you got one with a reco trans it would be a bonus. Manuals had lots of problems about then but at 200K it would have been fiixed. Diffs go forever.
Motors can run over 400K., with a few headgaskets etc on the way.
Other than that the usual electrical suspects like alternators, starters , power window motors, all of which are painful but not ruinous.

Parts are cheap vs Japs, and there is a thriving specialist scene, with local aternatives for lucas crap etc.
Regards Philip A

[mauricem]

Originally posted by NOZ
You can rebuild a V8 for the price of a 300 TDI injector pump.

:

when I researched the possible costs of disco ownership a few months ago I'm sure I heard that you could import a new fuel pump from Paddocks for about 500 pounds therefore $1500 or so Aussie dollars would be the worst case outcome and youd have a brand new pump..or am I missing something??

[NOZ]

I have only looked into a pump for the UK a little bit, but from what I have discovered it cost closer to $2500 including import duty.

If you know of the place for around $1500 I would be keen to know

[abaddonxi]

I spoke to Paddocks before I bought new injection pump, they couldn't get one for the price on their website anymore, they quoted more like 8-900 pounds.

On top of UK price is import duty 5% and GST.

Cheers
Simon

[NOZ]

Thats about $2500 + I think :wink:

[Utemad]

Originally posted by PhilipA
Sorry, you got Hijacked there by Ben.
I reckon the highest risk is the ZF auto transmission. They are about 3K-4K to reco and they last about 250-300K. If you got one with a reco trans it would be a bonus. Manuals had lots of problems about then but at 200K it would have been fiixed. Diffs go forever.
Motors can run over 400K., with a few headgaskets etc on the way.
Other than that the usual electrical suspects like alternators, starters , power window motors, all of which are painful but not ruinous.

Parts are cheap vs Japs, and there is a thriving specialist scene, with local aternatives for lucas crap etc.
Regards Philip A

So the major thing I would be looking at would be the auto box. So if I could get a well maintained high km car for perhaps $4000 less than a low km car I would be ahead. As both would need the box rebuilt eventually anyway.

I had a good look through those cars again and only one really captures my eye. The others are either higher spec, manual or 3 door etc. I will keep my eye on that one.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Originally posted by BRS
Read my Post "Disco engine meltdown". blah blah blah,, blah !! blah#### blah!
Ben.


mate your post is like a fart in church,
everybody knows the dic##ead that did it,, but the congregation is too polite to say anything.

still,,
why dont you toddle off and buy that lowlux? and leave the rest of us in peace.

[one_iota]

Originally posted by Pedro_The_Swift+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pedro_The_Swift)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-BRS
Read my Post "Disco engine meltdown". blah blah blah,, blah !! blah#### blah!
Ben.


mate your post is like a fart in church,
everybody knows the dic##ead that did it,, but the congregation is too polite to say anything.

still,,
why dont you toddle off and buy that lowlux? and leave the rest of us in peace.[/b][/quote]

My thoughts reflected. And on BRS's original post I suggested that "meltdown" was over the top.

Serial monogamy...buy you car new and change your car every three years...what is the cost of that?

I had a major failure on a three year old Disco. Engine rebuilt and I still own it and would only dispose of it under duress.

I have a rule at work...come to me with your solutions and not your problems because we all have them and we need to work it out for ourselves with a little bit of help from our friends.

BRS should take up the challenge or shop around...where is the commitment....divorce your car.

[spudboy]

Don't be too harsh on him. The poor bugger has had a bad experience with his Land Rover, and anyone would be ****ed off and feeling like telling a few people. The odds of it happening don't seem to be high, but every so often someone cops something like this. Happens to all brands, but that doesn't make it any easier to stomach when it happens to you.

[one_iota]

Originally posted by spudboy
Don't be too harsh on him. The poor bugger has had a bad experience with his Land Rover, and anyone would be ****ed off and feeling like telling a few people. The odds of it happening don't seem to be high, but every so often someone cops something like this. Happens to all brands, but that doesn't make it any easier to stomach when it happens to you.

Yes you are right.

We have to pick ourselves up and get on though.

Let the emotions fade and get on with the hard choices.

The reality is that owning a machine involves taking a risk:

All machines will fail sooner or later

My Land Rover is a machine

My Land Rover will fail sooner or later

Is that true?

It works for any make.

So back to topic:

If a motor has done high mileage then there is an increased risk of failure ...on the other side it has lasted this long so all the usual issues have been dealt with. That is why I hang on to my Tdi..it is the devil I know.

The buick block is robust...the transmission issues are known and rebuilds are well documented...on balance the total package is very good.

There are many early eighties RR's still on the road and driven with pride...more than can be said for Toyo's and Holden Jackaroos

[abaddonxi]

Originally posted by one_iota+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(one_iota)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-spudboy
Don't be too harsh on him. The poor bugger has had a bad experience with his Land Rover, and anyone would be ****ed off and feeling like telling a few people. The odds of it happening don't seem to be high, but every so often someone cops something like this. Happens to all brands, but that doesn't make it any easier to stomach when it happens to you.

Yes you are right.

We have to pick ourselves up and get on though.

Let the emotions fade and get on with the hard choices.

The reality is that owning a machine involves taking a risk:

All machines will fail sooner or later

My Land Rover is a machine

My Land Rover will fail sooner or later

Is that true?

It works for any make.

So back to topic:

If a motor has done high mileage then there is an increased risk of failure ...on the other side it has lasted this long so all the usual issues have been dealt with. That is why I hang on to my Tdi..it is the devil I know.

The buick block is robust...the transmission issues are known and rebuilds are well documented...on balance the total package is very good.

There are many early eighties RR's still on the road and driven with pride...more than can be said for Toyo's and Holden Jackaroos[/b][/quote]

Here endeth the lesson in deductive reasoning.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Cheers
Simon

[sclarke]

Could be worse....
He could have a 55 Series Cruiser

[igould]

G'day Utemad,
I bought my 97 v8 at 198,000km. Virtually all highway km from what I could find out.
It still drives like new at 257,000km now.
Only significant expense has been $800 for radiator recore, power-flush and thermostat.
Had a few niggly little problems, but nothing I wouldn't expect from a car of that age/mileage.
Correction: actually less than I expected and significantly less than all the LR critics warn.
Find a car that has been looked after and you shouldn't have any serious problems. Having said that, as Simon warns, everything wears out/breaks eventually.

Happy hunting,
Ian

[Quiggers]

G'day utemad

93 V8 Disco auto: 279,000ks, country stuff and lots of off road.

goes like a train, but is well maintained, the past four years have seen new water hoses and a dead heater.....

the worst problem i have is the roof is fading

works for me.....

cheers, GQ

[Utemad]

Thanks guys. You make it sound promising.

Anyone else?

[Caveman]

Hi Utemad,

I bought my Disco at the the start of the year.....95 manual with 205000kms on LPG.

I haven't had any problems with it so far...apart from the speedo sensor which needed a bit of a clean out.

Mine seems to run fine, and I go offroad with it most weekends.

As has been stated before, you can't buy a better 4x4 for the price that the D1 V8's are going for......I'm very happy with mine.

cheers
Paul