Thread: Looking at a Disco 1...

Weve had our '95 300 tdi auto for three years from 125000km to 200000km. It is slow but it doesnt seem any slower with a load. Weve toured with the back (shelves) full, bikes hanging off the back door and kayaks on top. It doesnt sag much in the back with a big load and still feels safe. I always feel safe driving it tarmac or dirt. Its OK offroad but no lockers or LSD limits it. Clearance etc is good. Everytime I look under it, Im amazed by the solid look.

We have had wheel bearing issues front and back but that was probably more a servicing thing. The lights which illuminate the auto gear letters on the console, overheat. I removed one and dropped the wattage. The heater core started leaking. I replaced it myself, not super difficult but long as everything had to be removed first. Then put back!. Theres not too many electronics in this model. We actually needed a mechanical injector system so we could run on vegie oil. Im not sure about old cars and old electronic components.

Today, Im very happy with it. Tomorrow, who knows? When we were looking, I drove a number. If they dont feel right, they're probably not. I drove one with an annoying vibration noise from the low range knob area. Transfer case, linkages? I didnt know, but the noise drove me crazy.

We bought ours on Ebay for $5000. Sellar had a 100% rating.

I have been happy with parts availability and pricing.

Join a land rover club.

We also have top cover with RACV. We have used the towing 3 times and free car rental and taxi fares. All related to the wheel bearings.

Cheers

Lachlan

The boy has a 1993 Tdi200 it's has been excellent even with a head off road life. 300k
The latest year of any model is usually the waypoint go. With the Tdi manual the later R380 gearbox is a great improvement over the LT gearbox

just like you, I wanted one but was unsyre about reliability, seems to me landrover do mechanics well and electrics on a shoe string, good ideas but not enough investment to get them right first time, so I bought a 300tdi S model, it's the poverty pack model, still has e,ectric windows central locking (key) and the like but no electronics, no ABS no cruise control, I think the most complicated electronic thing in the car is the stereo, so I got one with good mechanics and a lived in body off of gumtree for $5500 with a rear locker and mud tyres, changed all the wheel bearings and enjoyed, the aircon compressor is starting to fail now so thats the next thing to fix, but it will hardly have me at the side of the road if it stops working.

they are basically a good solid vehicle, and most of the parts are standard off the shelf things, wheel bearings were $300 for the whole lot from a landrover specialist, aircon tentioner pulley bearing was $8, my mates Hyundai was $280 a wheel.

the 300tdi will never set any speed records, but its reliable if services and gives good fuel economy, I use mine as my daily drive, and it has never let me down.

if the electrics worry you just get one without them, problem solved (removed?)

I know I'm biased but I think they are a great car, you will enjoy owning one, and it sounds like you are willing to wait to get the right vehicle, good luck

Speed doesn't worry me....the one I tested was happy on 100, even seemed ok at 120.
I drive buses for a living so I'm used to lacklustre performance....and if I want to go fast there is my Volvo 242GT turbo project!

I've got a few friends who are mechanics who told me all kinds of stories about electrical failures and nasty rust....kinda put me off them although I have alway admired them from a distance (and as a youngster I grabbed the brochures from the dealer...still have them!) and I've been wary of Land Rovers in general after years of my father's stories about broken gearboxes and axles and diffs from when he used to run them in banana plantations up in Coffs Harbour...
I hear rear windows fail often...also been told door locks break?

I like the idea of the folding seats in the 7 seaters...are they hard to retrofit if i get a 5 seater?

Someone mentioned veggie oil.......are the 300 TDi ok on this?
Any mods required?
They run the Bosch VE pump don't they?

How much electrical stuff is on the engine? I know they aren't full mechanical like an Isuzu...nor common rail either.

Glad to hear a load doesn't slow them down much...and I noticed on the test that hills didn't seem to be a huge problem either. Just seems to be not hugely fast anytime, no matter what's thrown at it....

Carnut1100, your instincts are right the Disco 1 is a great 4x4, my advice is buy the best body and mechanicals you can get for what you can afford to pay, most other stuff can be easily fixed, (the grown man's Meccano set).
We bought our 1998 D1 off the internet on ebay, sight unseen and it turned out to have a broken clutch release fork, but no rust and a leak free engine and gearbox, only $4.5K still rego'd, very untidy inside but only170000 Klm genuine, with books etc. What I'm saying is they are out there, we looked for a long time and then decided to take a "stab". It has taken a bit of work but not much money to get it up to a reasonable standard as an everyday drive and we have done one trip to "The Cape" since owning it and only failed one shockie, (my over enthusiastic driving).
In short, if you are prepared to do some work on the vehicle yourself and live with some of the ....shall I say "endearing foibles" of a Disco, it'll put smile on your face every time you drive it.

Nice.
I'm looking at one hopefully this afternoon, owner is an engineer and does all his own maintenance.
250k on the clock but new clutch and fork and master, timing belt recently done, head gasket has been done a while back, oil and filter every 5k etc...and he's selling it because he has just bought a D2, not because it's knackered.
Price is high for a D1 but peace of mind about a good starting point is worth a lot of $$$$....the $7k one I looked at on Friday will need at least $3-4k in the not too distant future....makes one expensive Disco!

Spotted a D1 in a car yard and went for a bit of a sticky beak...V8 auto but I figured there's two good reasons to take it for a test....
1; I've never driven a V8 before so good chance!
2: I want to get a feel for Discos as a whole.
3: V8, cool noise, hell yeah!!!
4: V8!!!!!!!!!
:-)

If I could get the noise of the V8 and Econ of the diesel I'd be in heaven.......
Auto sucks.......
V8 auto is deceptive, feels like you're trundling along but look at the speedo and go "oh crap!"
Cool noise!!!!!!!
I'd hate to be feeding it.......
Did I mention the noise?
:-)

Hey mate noticed your from tassie. R u up north? I live in Evandale, pretty much went through the same as yourself. First wanted a deefer but ended up buying a 300tdi disco from Vic about 4 years ago. 4 years later I think we've nearly got it sorted! If I ever bought another one I'd know exactly what to look for! Look hard for rust in the floors and alpine windows would be my advice. Your welcome to pop round if you're ever out my way