Thread: buying 300tdi disco...

from what i have heard parts for LRs are no dearer but as with anything it can pay to shop around

My experience with a 300TD1 '97 Disco is:
+ Pretty much bullet proof in both engine and transmission
+ Only ever had std tyres and never any problems with Diffs (and it gets flogged)
+ Forget free-wheeling hubs. Defeats the purpose of full time 4WD & centre diff sorts out any wind up even in low range
+ Parts are pretty good - no worse than anything else
+ Radiator is fine for Oz conditions. We have towed 2.5 tonnes in summer and no issues at all. However, keep the cooling system in good condition as they will fry a head if overheated (head gasket at the very least).

We bought it new, and will probably never sell it.

HTH
David

Cheers for that David, good to hear some opions from people who actually own them.
Had any serious dramas in your 13 years?!
The only real expense I'm worried about would be if I ever needed to replace / rebuild an injector pump or turbo, but i havn't read much about them giving trouble.

Things that have gone wrong since new are:
+ Head gasket blown when I ignored a leaking welch plug and it got too hot. I got 'swishing' noises from under the dash, which I now know means the coolant level is getting low. Cost to fix was around $1000 from memory.
+ Both front window winders gave up the ghost within a fortnight of each other. Cheap fix.
+ Hose rubbed through on the high pressure aircon line and all the fluid escaped. Was $300 or $400 to fix, so not serious.

It has had a hard life (we live on a farm) and lives outside, so there is rust starting under the alpine windows. This is pretty common.

That's about it. The overheating issue was definitely the worst issue.

I am with spud boy and have similar car.
You have to keep in mind that the car is 13-14 years old.
Our brand new SS ute just done a rear main seal at 6000km's.

New injectors for a similar toyota are $700 each, for a tdi you can get a set for $500.

Its a good cheap car that is very capable but keep some $$$ in reserve for any issues, maintenance is the key though.
Cooling system as mentioned is to be in top shape.

Turbos cost in any car and so do injection pumps.

Weigh up the pros and cons, take some for a drive and for say $6-10K you will have a great car. Spend $2k per annum on repairs and improvements and I see no reason why this could not be the last car you ever buy.

Drive plenty and get the one that feels the best.

Than put it on gas and you be laughing.
Oh and where are you? SA?

Welcome to swing by and take mine for a spin as a guide.

that sounds like a damn good run in 13 years David, i recon i spent more than that on a falcon in 12 months! haha

set of injectors for $500! couldnt make them for that much. Sounds like somthing that it might pay to do straight up when i get one.

thanks for the offer of a drive but im from vic.

ill just keep doin my 5000k servicing and it sounds like i should be pretty right. I've decided im not too worried about the rear main because my old one tonner has been dropping 1L a week into the bellhousing for the last 12 months and the clutch still hasn't packed it in

thanks for all your help guys

You'll be right if you take your time.
get it checked over by a LandRover specialist, if the owner will let you ( Fred Smith in the Bayswater area would be my reccommendation )
Make sure you fit a a low coolant level alarm - they don't like loss of coolant. Get the timing belt changed every 60,000k
Otherwise pretty bulletproof.

Hi there Johnsa- welcome to the "bunch".
Don't know about the "Pommy cooling system" comment though - remember the car is designed to be used in worldwide markets - including the Middle East where it gets a fair bit hotter than Victoria ever would. I'm pretty sure the rad is the same all over? The aircon pumps cold air like there is no tomorrow and you can make toast on the dash in Winter!
Haven't had trouble with mine apart from an Auto box overheat - but that was due to the temp sender letting me down on Fraser Island.
Cheers