Thread: buying a tdi but looking for info please.

Originally Posted by Xavie

Well, I took the tdi disco for a spin 1997 model. It had 145,000 on the clock and engine was so tired. It was an auto, and it was sluggish as hell. Does this sound right? Even when foot was flat it just sort of slowly picked up speed.

I then jumped into a RR 1989 which 120,000 kays ago had an engine transplant (300tdi) and it zipped along (was manual). I didn't see why so much difference in performance.

I want the rangie but they scare me. Not sure what it is about them I think it is just how foreign it all is.

I think I'm going to need to drive a few Discos now. Pitty because I thought this one might be a winner.

Xavier.

Regarding the Disco auto, at that age it will have (in Europe at least) EDC - Electronic Diesel Control and EGR - Exhaust Gas Recirculation. For some reason the EGR system - which is a very poor design - seems to hit the performance of the auto models very hard.

Round our way everybody blanks this system off and it can make a significant difference to drive - but the auto always seems slow off the mark.

Once your doing 80kms the torque converter "locks up" so they drive like a manual - no loss of power.

The Range Rover with the TDi 300 manual will feel a lot different but in my opinion, once you get used to the drive of the auto, the Disco will be a better long-term proposition.

I'm starting to wonder if it is just me now. But I'll take a couple of tdi's for a drive and see what I can work out. I might just have to do without a vehicle for a while.

Xav

Originally Posted by Xavie

I'm starting to wonder if it is just me now. But I'll take a couple of tdi's for a drive and see what I can work out. I might just have to do without a vehicle for a while.

Xav

I can't remember if you've said what you're used to driving, but I always try to remember that Disco's weigh 2 tons and have maybe 120bhp - not a recipe for a racing car !!

The other thing worth considoring is that with all that transmission ie gearbox, transfer and 2 propshafts with diffs, the loss of power between the crankshaft (maybe 120bhp) and the road wheels is enormous.

I read a test recently where a Td5 was tested - at the crank 120 bhp, at the wheels 61bhp

Originally Posted by thebiglad

Regarding the Disco auto, at that age it will have (in Europe at least) EDC - Electronic Diesel Control and EGR - Exhaust Gas Recirculation. For some reason the EGR system - which is a very poor design - seems to hit the performance of the auto models very hard.

Round our way everybody blanks this system off and it can make a significant difference to drive - but the auto always seems slow off the mark.

Once your doing 80kms the torque converter "locks up" so they drive like a manual - no loss of power.

The Range Rover with the TDi 300 manual will feel a lot different but in my opinion, once you get used to the drive of the auto, the Disco will be a better long-term proposition.

We didnt get the EDC in our TDI's nor did we get factory or retro fit TDI rangies, all are conversions.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

We didnt get the EDC in our TDI's nor did we get factory or retro fit TDI rangies, all are conversions.

Did you get the EGR in your versions??

Originally Posted by thebiglad

Did you get the EGR in your versions??

No, only in the TD5.

Howdy Xavie.
I've had our November 98 build manual 300TDi since it only had 50k on the clock and still smelt new.
It now has around 205k on the clock and I've had it bush quite a bit but it has spent the last 5 years being mostly mum's taxi (that's all about to change now at last)

In the years we have had it, I have only changed/repaired niggly stuff:
(a) last weekend the much needed plastic thermostat plug got changed (coz it cacked itself) to a brass one (<$2 to fix).
(b) new 'modded' clutch fork (and put in new clutch kit and changed both cylinders at the same time). THIS is a 'watch out for' fault for sure but if you get this fault with around 200k on the clock, may as well change the clutch anyway I say. This also got rid of the baby rattle sound effects from worn and loose clutch spring(s).
(c) new front rotors (warped) and new pads all round
(d) new oil pump hoses (and still need to change out power sterring hoses too!)

Other points:
I've towed close to 2 tonne of plant with the disco uphill and it was not one drama... very impressed. It is an incredibly good tower and damn good in the scrub. The wifey also lurves it for getting about.

Anyway, hope some of this helps. I cannot speak of any engine issues... just keep the oil clean and regularly changed and the diesel is a fine and reliable donk.

One other thing to watch for are the crappy pommy rubbers on your glass that love to crack and split plus the dodgy plastic front door storage boxes knock off easy...

Happy hunting! They are a beast.

Hate to add fuel to the fire over 300's but I not so long ago picked up a 95 300 TDi with 167K on the clock owned by an older couple that had basically had it since new and guess what, it had done the head......buy the one you've found with 140k but keep $2500 for what could be the inevitable.