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Thread: Newbie saying hello to all

  1. #1
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    Newbie saying hello to all

    I blame a friend for convincing me that a Landrover Discovery was a better alternative to buying the new cheap chinese dual cab utes I was contemplating. Covid didn't help as the money I had for buying one disappeared in March 2019 when my super balance dropped by $30K. Another friend, years ago, kept telling me to avoid common rail diesels, as the injectors and pump cost a fortune and a considered consumables so not covered by the new car warranty. So, if I wanted a reasonably good looking vehicle that was a pre-common rail 4 cylinder diesel auto that could pull 3 tonne. There wasn't much of a choice. The friend who told me to consider a Discovery, owned one himself (200tdi) as well as a Range Rover evoc (however that's spelt).

    So, I started searching for a one owner 1998 300tdi auto that hadn't been driven on a beach and hadn't been used as a bush basher, hadn't done more than 250K km and try to keep to a budget of $6000. A few came up but tended to sell sight unseen in a half hour. Many more V8 vehicles kept appearing but who wants to pay V8 rego for the rest of their driving life.

    I finally snagged a good one that I could look at and test drive by accepting one that had done 273K km and cost $7000 (with 4 new Yokohama A/T's). Would you believe that test drive was the first time I had ever driven a Discovery or any 4x4 vehicle. I basically fell in love with the car on the trip back from Hervey Bay to Ipswich. So, I've basically swapped from one iconic British vehicle to another, From my 2000 Mondeo Ghia Mk2 that I bought brand new to a Discovery that's 2 years older with far fewer bells and whistles. Hopefully it will be the last car I ever buy.

    Since then I've sourced a TJM alloy bull bar, had it professionally polished and installed. Picked up a genuine cargo tub for the rear floor and a cargo cover. Tomorrow, it's off to the auto-electrician to check out the wiring and add a 12V point in the cargo bay, electric brakes to pull my tandem trailer, add driving lights to the alloy bar and investigate whether the car has an alarm installed. After that it will be off to get all the windows tinted.

  2. #2
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    hi harrone.
    Welcome to AULRO ... and 300 tdi ownership.

    just some observations with tdi's I've now had over a few years.
    Not powerful for towing. Will do the job, but you will have wished for the V8 many times .. otherwise just accept that you won't be going anywhere quickly.

    If you tow regularly, consider an additional(or replacement) trans cooler for the auto.
    There is a small slimline type up front, and it does the job for non 3 ton towing, but in our summer heat, it don't look like it's enough for the ZF when towing heavy stuff.
    And be prepared to change trans oil regularly(as opposed to never) .. many say approx 50K klms or so .. and trans will last well.

    More importantly, be prepared to totally overhaul the cooling system. Tdi's can run hot under power stress situation. If cooling system is perfect, you shouldn't have issues.
    Check your rad, full copper types work much better than the plastic/aluminium replacements.
    I found that the waxstat thermostats don't work as well for cooling as do a particular Tridon replacement thermostat(I can find the part number for it if you want).
    With that in mind, seriously consider adding either a proper coolant temp gauge or low coolant alarm, and also an EGT gauge for it.

    Tdi's have some issues you will discovery in good time ... such as vacuum pump(for brakes) and cooling if not kept in good condition .. otherwise great little motor for a old banger.
    Arthur.

    '99 D1 300Tdi Auto
    '03 D2 Td5 Auto

  3. #3
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    There are so few D1s around now so welcome to the quietest section of AULRO.
    They are in that window of being oldish but not collectable..I wonder if they ever will be collectible. Probably will - the D1 2 doors will probably be the forst.
    Post the era of their release when they were 4WD of the year more than once I think..they have come to be seen as slow, unreliable and uninteresting.
    I have had people openly point and laugh at my truck out on remote desert trips. I think this is amusing..everyone has the $50-70000 DC ute these days and changes them over every couple of years.
    Oh well I wouldnt have my couple of houses if I was in that club.
    The old D1 has a great heritage from the RR classic..so it is very well proven in chassis, brakes, drive line. I have found D1s to be very reliable..with just a bit of model specific knowledge and a bit of mechanical sympathy on the road.
    Welcome to the ever shrinking club.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by edddo View Post
    .... I think this is amusing..everyone has the $50-70000 DC ute these days and changes them over every couple of years.
    Oh well I wouldnt have my couple of houses if I was in that club.
    .....


    I'm thinking the 50-70K club is just the purchase price .. then add the $50-70K worth of what look like generally useless mods, or mismatch of mods.

    So many of these utes around my neighborhood, primarily Hilux and Ranger types. Could be my imagination, but they're all lifted by at least 2", then fitted with 20(maybe 22) inch wheel tyre combos, and what appear to be maybe 45 section tyres.
    So lift it .. lifts usually equate to off roading need .. then these stupid low profile tyres, which surely can't be any use in such situations.

    There's got to be approximately a small one bedroom, Chinese built multiplex apartment's worth of earnings 'invested' in them vehicles I see(and have to deal with) every day here.
    Arthur.

    '99 D1 300Tdi Auto
    '03 D2 Td5 Auto

  5. #5
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    Welcome, and what everybody else said.

    D1s are great, 300TDs are simple and reliable with a few caveats.

    Unless you have a proven history that it's been done, I would recommend getting the timing belt done sooner rather than later. I would check the radiator for external blocking, as they can get full of grass and insects etc and it's hard to see. The intercooler/turbo hoses have a habit of delaminating or just plain blowing off ( you'll know ), so I'd suggest getting a set of silicone ones.
    300 TDis tow fine as long as you keep an eye on things, which is where coolant temp and EGT gauges come in, and a proper tune on the injector pump.
    All that may sound scary, but it's actually really simple.
    I'd take my D1, or my D2 for that matter, over one of those common rail DCUs any day. They are comfortable, capable, the 300 is easy to fix, the visibility is fantastic and they have character.

    Enjoy.
    ​JayTee

    Nullus Anxietus

    ​Getting involved in discussions is the best way to learn.

    2000 D2 TD5 Auto: Tins
    1994 D1 300TDi Manual: Dave
    1980 SIII Petrol Tray: Doris
    OKApotamus #74
    Nanocom, D2 TD5 only.

  6. #6
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    Now I have a To Do list

    Thanks everyone for all the good advice. I've now got a "to do" list to go through. One thing I should mention is that I do have another vehicle that I've been using to tow my hobby items around to country shows and rallies. It's a 1988 Nissan Atlas 200 3.3l diesel tray back with dual rear wheels and a GVM of 4.2t. It's my little bump magnet due to the 4 wheel leaf suspension. That's the other reason I had to find a 4x4 with a more comfortable ride and towing capacity. I'm retired, with little income, so not interested in paying V8 registration for the rest of my life. As it was, Qld Transport charged me V8 rego on the Atlas as the GVM was over 4t. Now that it is 30 year old, it's suddenly a classic vehicle which I've been able to put on club registration of $250 per year. Even comprehensive insurance through Shannons plummeted to $211. I bought the old Tonka for $5000 and spent $8000 on it and have it insured for $15,000.

    I'm wanting to get a set of slimline plastic weathershields for my D1 but can only find sets of 4 for D2's. Are the doors on a D2 the same size as a 98 D1?

    Also, does anyone know where I might find a winch cradle/bar for a D1?

    Cheers

    Mark

  7. #7
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    Tridon replacement thermostat

    [QUOTE=AK83;3068215]hi harrone.
    Welcome to AULRO ... and 300 tdi ownership.

    I found that the waxstat thermostats don't work as well for cooling as do a particular Tridon replacement thermostat(I can find the part number for it if you want).

    Yes please, what is the thermostat part number that you suggest I get?

  8. #8
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    No idea on winch cradle sorry. A possible tip for 'ya tho. What happens if you try a search for the classic range rover too .. maybe could help broaden the search. RRC and D1 are pretty much identical in terms of chassis and running gear.

    Tridon 300Tdi Thermostat TT380-190

    Note that you can also get a cooler running 180(or 78°C) version of the above stat. I reckon it'd be way too cold running tho.

    Quote Originally Posted by harrone View Post
    ....
    I'm wanting to get a set of slimline plastic weathershields for my D1 but can only find sets of 4 for D2's. Are the doors on a D2 the same size as a 98 D1?
    .....
    Yep!
    Arthur.

    '99 D1 300Tdi Auto
    '03 D2 Td5 Auto

  9. #9
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    Weather shields ordered.

    Quote Originally Posted by AK83 View Post
    No idea on winch cradle sorry. A possible tip for 'ya tho. What happens if you try a search for the classic range rover too .. maybe could help broaden the search. RRC and D1 are pretty much identical in terms of chassis and running gear.

    Tridon 300Tdi Thermostat TT380-190

    Note that you can also get a cooler running 180(or 78°C) version of the above stat. I reckon it'd be way too cold running tho.



    Yep!
    OK, I've ordered a set of 4 dark tint slimline weathershields from the good old Russian Federation for $107.
    Never bought anything from Russia before. Should be interesting to see if I get 4 pieces or more and if they actually fit.

  10. #10
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    Did the weather shields show up? I have some extras if you get stuck. I'm not a huge fan of weather shields as I'm tall and they warp my vision a bit.
    "Dolores" my '97 model 300tdi D1 and "Donkey" my '20 RE Himalayan.

    Previous: ‘00 D2, '04 110 wagon, '96 D1 and '95 110 ute, plenty of other bikes and cars too :angel:

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