New to Landrovers, a bit of advice please

[Offroad_AJ]

G'day,

We are new to landrovers having owned suzukis for the last few years. We looking at a disco, but not sure what common problems they have. I assume that like most cars, regular servicing is important, don't buy one thats had a hard life etc.

Our budget extends to allowing early model series 2's (Are they from 98 on or 99 on?) So are there major reliabiltiy improvements in going to a series 2 or is a good example of a series 1 as capabale as a series 2?

We live on the central coast, so most of the cars 4WD use will be in the watagans, stockton beach, with the occassional trip. Ideally we want a good touring vehicle as well as a good daily driver which is why i am leaning to a series 2. (With all that electronic gear, ABS stability control etc, or is all that electrical gear more trouble than it's worth?)

We don't (by that i mean the handbrake) intend to go to nuts, having rolled a few zooks in the last couple of years, but we want a capable truck. (From what i've read the capability of a stock disco leaves cruisers and prados behind) So basically we've settled on finding a good disco, so i spose back to my original question,

Are there any peruliar things to look for in Discos?
Do they run timing belts or timing chains?
If we do get a series 2 with all that fang dangled suspension, do the shocks cost much more than normal and does a suspension lift affect it?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers
Anthony

[George130]

OK
Series one has a timing belt - 300tdi motor
Series 2 has a timing chain TD5 motor.

If you go series 2 then make sure it has the center diff lock. You also want to look for post 2001. The series 2 started in 99.
TD5 engine is great, very good on fuel and lots of go. If you cook the engine then the head gasket will cost you $1500 to $4500 depending on how bad you hurt it. The electrics are not as scarey as people make out but the three amigo's seams comon.
Can't give a much detail on the tdi motors.

[JDNSW]

Although the Discovery 1 and Discovery 2 succeeded each other, and look very similar, they are quite different vehicles. Which is better depends a lot on your view of the world, and of course mainly on the past of the particular vehicle you are looking at.

The Discovery 1 is basically the same vehicle as the original Rangerover, with a new body. In other words, even when first released it was a twenty year old design (with improvements of course, including a new diesel engine). This means that they had relatively few problems, at least mechanically, and most parts are cheap (comparatively). On parts one thing to watch is that the early 200Tdi engine heads are now said to be unobtainable, so if thinking of one of these you would need to be very sure it has not been overheated.

The Discovery 2 was essentially the same vehicle designed from scratch, so that it does not have the advantage of sharing as many parts with a long production run, so parts are often expensive compared to the D1. Against this, the twenty-five years newer design means that it is perhaps more reliable, and certainly performs, rides and handles better, and is quieter and more refined (not that any were bad in these respects when new, but standards have changed).

But the major factor will be the condition of the particular vehicle, including a documented service history.

Hope this helps,

John

[wally]

All I would say is if you get a Td5 don't get an early one. Go for 2001 or later. Personally, due to bad experience with a Td5 I'd go for a 300 Tdi but as John says it depends on your view of the world and there are plenty of reliable Td5s getting around.

[Offroad_AJ]

Whats the reason begind going for a post 2001?

[George130]

Whats the reason begind going for a post 2001?
Most issues seamed to be with the very early ones. There was a problem on a few with the oil pump bolt and the heads tended to more likely to let go. By now the early ones will have had these problems though.

[spudboy]

Can't go too far wrong with an 'end of run' Disco 1. They were pretty sorted by then. Look for a 97 or 98 model. I prefer the diesel in a manual but lots of guys love their autos. Not real fast, but if you drive it like you stole it they still get up and go OK and you'll get about 10L/100 from it.

Mine's got rust forming in the Alpine windows and not sure how I'm going to fix it so probably off to the body shop for someone who knows what they are doing. This is pretty common, as is rust in the rear "door catch" area (the body side not the door side).

Just make sure you get one with FSH, and make sure the timing belt has been done at 80,000Km intervals.

HTH
David

[Tombie]

If we do get a series 2 with all that fang dangled suspension, do the shocks cost much more than normal and does a suspension lift affect it?


Did they fit something fancy I never heard about? :p

Nothing fancy under there!

[Blknight.aus]

IMHO the series II has better road manners and comfort and the series I is better offroad but thats simply because of the better approach and departure angles in the series I its a smaller vehicle.

[CraigE]

A lot will depend on your budget.
There is the series 1 Disco 200tdi also availkable as a 3 door and then the update series 1 Disco 300tdi (better engine and gearbox).
Then there is the series 2.
Of course both are available in V8s as well.
There is a lot of BS about early model TD5s, some true some exagerated.
I have a 2000 TD5 Defender and have not really had any trouble with the engine at all, but have done some preventative maintenance. Just find one with a good service history and check things like the sump bolt have been checked.
I had a 97 tdi300 and it was a good reliable car, though a little underpowered. I would go a D2 TD5 as late a model as you can afford, in thye best nick and lowest Kms you can find.

[Psimpson7]

I reckon if you can justify it, go for a series 2. They are a lot more modern than the series 1's. Mechanically they are stronger, with better axles, cv's etc. They are nicer to drive, more powerful, and better on the road.

As suggested get one with the centre diff lock (or get it fitted at least)

Make sure it has a full service history.

With ACE they handle really well (Active cornering enhancement)

7 seats available (and the rear 2 are really good) on the SLS models.

I had a late 2004 td5 auto for a while and loved it.

cheers.

[Offroad_AJ]

Thanks for all your info,

We will start looking for either a late series 1 or a post 2001. Probably going to try for a petrol V8, manual.

And thanks for the centre diff lock info. We definitely need a centre diff lock. (Going to try and onvince the handbrake that we need a front diff lock too, if that goes well i'll try for a rear diff lock :) )

well now here comes the fun looking for our new truck

[Bush65]

Thanks for all your info,

We will start looking for either a late series 1 or a post 2001. Probably going to try for a petrol V8, manual.

And thanks for the centre diff lock info. We definitely need a centre diff lock. (Going to try and onvince the handbrake that we need a front diff lock too, if that goes well i'll try for a rear diff lock :) )

well now here comes the fun looking for our new truck
The other thing to watch, that hasn't been mentioned is the double cardan joint on the front drive/propeller shaft. The u-joints in this joint are not re-greasable and they can cause a lot of $$$ damage (take out the gearbox) when they go.

So any sign of wear in the joint, attend to it promptly. Re-greasable joints can be fitted.