So I looked at this disco today

**vk2icj** · 28th March 2009, 04:56 PM

HI All

Just looking for some advice from disco owners. I went and looked at a Disco today. First off let me say I'm looking for a tourer not a rock basher. I want to get into some remote touring in the next year or so. I currently belong to a 4 wheel drive club that is very active in these things. Ok I looked at a 1995 Disco TDI 5 speed manual with 240,ooo on the clock. 2 owners. The log book is stamped every 8000 to 10000 k by a land rover dealer until about 140,ooo k in 2002. Supposedly the first owner then started using a private mechanic near his home to service for the next 5 years or so. A year or two ago the motor blew a head gasket and the owner sold the disco to one of the mechanics at the shop for repairs on another of his cars or some such plus some coin exchanged hands. At anyrate at that time the mechanic was going to do some 4 wheeling but never got to it and now has decided to sell the car. The mechanic changed the timing belt pullys and all about a year ago when he did the head gasket. The mechanic says he has the service record at the shop on the computer for the disco and can print it out for me if I want including the invoice for the timing belt as they used genuine LR parts. I drove the disco (very smooth copmpared to my MQ Patrol) and it went well. I didn't see any smoke on startup however it was warm when I got there as the mechanic uses it as a daily driver. I saw a small oil leak at the front of the block and one of the oil hoses on the driver's side was a bit leaky. The body looked good with some scratches and some paint fading. There was a very very very small amount of surface rust around the "Alpine" windows bottom. Tyres were ok but highway tread and just legal. All and all it looked and drove ok to me. He is asking $5000. I've seen on ebay some for a bit more and some for a bit less so I'm thinking that this is middle of the road. Whats your thoughts,, OHH and the air con was nice and COLD.

Thanks

Chris

McDisco · 28th March 2009, 04:59 PM

Sounds like you are checking the right things and documenting its history. One of the best things you can do..

Angus

**Chucaro** · 28th March 2009, 05:30 PM

I am on my second Tdi 300 vehicle, the first was a Disco 1998 manual and now a Defender.
I like them very much.
There are 2 things taht you have to keep the eye on the 300, One is the timing belt and the other the engine temperature and water level.
If you get one get that alarm for heating and water level and the engine will be protected.

Regarding the Alpine windows, this is a common problem on them. If you get this unit I would inspect the panel from inside and replace the rubbers

Cheers

**justinc** · 28th March 2009, 05:49 PM

Also, that model year suffered from the input gear and mainshaft spline wear issues badly. Make sure this has been addressed or you will be the one to part with about 2 to 3 K to fix it

It is characterised by excessive drivetrain backlash etc, and can only be accurately assessed with the PTO cover removed and either looking in with a good torch etc, or just remove the gear out the back of the PTO hole and inspect that way. Having travelled 240K, I would've expected it to have been fixed by now, either that or it'll break any second

JC

**Utemad** · 28th March 2009, 06:28 PM

Just on the rust issue.
The alpine windows rust out from under the rubber. So if you can see rust below the rubber then I'd say the rust under the rubber would be pretty bad.
Try pressing hard on the rubber itself and listen for crunching noises. If you hear crunching then it is very rusty in those spots.

Also check the front footwells for rust under the carpet.

Originally Posted by justinc

Also, that model year suffered from the input gear and mainshaft spline wear issues badly. Make sure this has been addressed or you will be the one to part with about 2 to 3 K to fix it

It is characterised by excessive drivetrain backlash etc, and can only be accurately assessed with the PTO cover removed and either looking in with a good torch etc, or just remove the gear out the back of the PTO hole and inspect that way. Having travelled 240K, I would've expected it to have been fixed by now, either that or it'll break any second

JC

Mine is a 94 model and does not have the cross drilled gear as JC mentioned. However mine does have an oil feed plate which is shown in the RAVE manual as a factory part. When I checked mine at about 170k kms or so all parts looked new. No idea if this was done after sale but it was certainly done before I got hold of it 2.5 years ago.
Not really going anywhere with this other than all is not lost without the cross drilled gear

If it all checks out then $5k seems like a good price for a 300Tdi Disco from what I've seen.

**Chucaro** · 28th March 2009, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by justinc

Also, that model year suffered from the input gear and mainshaft spline wear issues badly. Make sure this has been addressed or you will be the one to part with about 2 to 3 K to fix it

It is characterised by excessive drivetrain backlash etc, and can only be accurately assessed with the PTO cover removed and either looking in with a good torch etc, or just remove the gear out the back of the PTO hole and inspect that way. Having travelled 240K, I would've expected it to have been fixed by now, either that or it'll break any second

JC

Just wonder if this apply to the Disco only or is a problem on the Defe as well?

**Utemad** · 28th March 2009, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Chucaro

Just wonder if this apply to the Disco only or is a problem on the Defe as well?

It's an R380/LT230 issue. So yes Defender too.

**Chucaro** · 28th March 2009, 06:50 PM

On the log book of my Defender when it have 30000 km on the clock LR Australia fitted a new transfer case and gearbox. Just wonder if the job was related to this problem?

**JDNSW** · 28th March 2009, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by Chucaro

On the log book of my Defender when it have 30000 km on the clock LR Australia fitted a new transfer case and gearbox. Just wonder if the job was related to this problem?

Quite possibly, although I would have thought it was a bit low mileage for it to have shown up - I seem to remember figures around twice that, but could be faulty memory!

John

**justinc** · 28th March 2009, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Utemad

Just on the rust issue.
The alpine windows rust out from under the rubber. So if you can see rust below the rubber then I'd say the rust under the rubber would be pretty bad.
Try pressing hard on the rubber itself and listen for crunching noises. If you hear crunching then it is very rusty in those spots.

Also check the front footwells for rust under the carpet.

Mine is a 94 model and does not have the cross drilled gear as JC mentioned. However mine does have an oil feed plate which is shown in the RAVE manual as a factory part. When I checked mine at about 170k kms or so all parts looked new. No idea if this was done after sale but it was certainly done before I got hold of it 2.5 years ago.
Not really going anywhere with this other than all is not lost without the cross drilled gear

If it all checks out then $5k seems like a good price for a 300Tdi Disco from what I've seen.

Correct , I'd forgotten about the oil slinger. I have fitted some over the years on low km ones that hadn't worn yet. LR was supposed to be fitting them during normal service up until 1996MY AFAIR (Scouse or Bigjon can confirm this?)but lots were seemingly never actually fitted to the customers vehicles due to slack dealer workshops or the vehicles never going back there for servicing etc. Either way, It is essential the gear etc is checked prior to purchase. If a oil slinger is fitted, as Utemad says the gear wear will be nill, it worked really well.

JC

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