Should I buy a D1?

**Traco** · 17th December 2009, 05:59 PM

The good thing about the V8s is that there's a world of parts available for them because they were also fitted to a lot of other Rover cars and other specialist makes like TVR, Morgan, Marcos , Triumph, MGs and of course all those early 215 Buicks, Oldsmobiles, etc. And the P76 was a close cousin.

Many of the parts are interchangeable and can be got from all over the world at increasingly competitive prices. Much of it can also be replaced from specialist suppliers, like Scorcher distributors for example in place of the LR ones, Mustang injectors in place of the Lucas ones, massive selection of aftermarket cams from UK, US and Oz, and so on. It's simple to service and I generally replace plugs annually and leads every three years - all up cost again less than $100 and half an hour's work.

The only injection problem I've ever had with my 95 V8 was a duff TPS. It's still on the original MAF and stepper. The expansion tank did split and was all of a 40 minutes job to replace with a new one bought for less than $100 of ebay. Fuel pump is still the original as is the block, heads and radiator and all ancillaries including the original water pump and alternator.

Not bad for a 14 year old rig.

**disco_mitch** · 20th December 2009, 11:18 AM

i bought my 95 300tdi 12months ago with 130k for 5800 admittingly i have spent about 3k on repairs beacuse(2200 on the gbox) the guy i bought it off didnt maintain it properly

**whitakerb** · 20th December 2009, 12:21 PM

If you have 10 grand to spend then go buy a 5 grand earlier disco. Go to your local Landy mechanic and ask him if he knows of any Disco's for sale. The problems with any older euro car is that no one wants to touch them, and if they have to they don't give a ****. So if a Landy mechanic knows of one, it's more than likely that he has worked on it, and guess what? He knows all about TPS, MAFs, expansion tanks an he lot so he wouldn't have just turned a blind eye when servicing it.

The reason I say spend 5 grand is because you will lose anything up to 2 grand after rego, transfer, insurance. You will want to give it a full service when you get it. And then there's a good chance something may be wrong - tires, a few leaks that need addressing or even an injector pump that everyone has been haggling about.

Anyway you can see how a 5 grand landy soon turns into a 10 grand landy.

As for the Petrol v Diesel, I've had both, and if I was worried about the cost of fixing them I would have kept my ford laser (3 yrs = 1 clutch and 1 wheel bearing)

The reason I have a diesel now? Simple Fuel efficiency. I had LPG on my V8 rangie, so that gave me 140L of fuel. That got me 500 - 600 kays. (If you can get a V8 to do 13L per 100 kays like some people on here do you will be very lucky. Expect 20 as a flat average) I also had very little room left in the back after the LPG tank. As far as I'm concerned LPG is an unreliable fuel. If your engine is not at 100%, it wont run, and it isn't available everywhere.

It was an awesome car on and off road, but required a lot of attention.

I now have a 200Tdi manual disco and it isn't that much sower if you adapt your driving style to suit. And 1500 kays to a tank (150 L long range) is sooooo much better.

In a nutshell, stuff what anyone here thinks about the cost of parts. Its a simple rule Landy parts cost $lots. But if you can get a good one then you wont need any for a while.

If you can justify the lack of range and the cost of fuel then get a V8, but if running costs are an issue as I expect they would be, get a diesel.

Ben

ozm29c · 21st December 2009, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Tank

JC, I'm after a head for my 300TDi, whereabouts can I get one of these heads, any idea of the cost of frieght, I priced an alternator from the UK recently, was $186 AUD but the frieght was $150AUD+, ended up buying local for less, $330AUD, is it viable to get a head from the UK, Regards Frank.

Frank,
I recently got two 300tdi cylinder heads (over a 4 month period) from Paddock spares in the UK. At the time they were 246UK pounds bare (valve guides and welch plugs fitted). Freight was about 120UK pounds to ship it out here by UPS. I had the head within 7 days. This was still substantially cheaper than buying a new head through an Australian dealer. BTW The reason I got 2 heads was that the first cylinder head gasket sold to me by Paddocks delaminated in the fire ring and cooked the engine. I made a warranty claim with Paddocks and after a "cordial"

discussion with them they agreed to replace the cylinder head. This time I fitted a genuine LR laminated metal cylinder head gasket. To date no problems. I reckon that you would have to be lucky to track down a good take out 300tdi cylinder head here in Oz. Good luck with whatever path you choose.
Cheers
John W.

**blackbuttdisco** · 23rd December 2009, 11:37 AM

I have had an LPG V8 Discovery for 4 years now. After a bit of tidying up due, as usual, to the previous owner not doing things right, it has been good. Getting rid of the Scotchloks has been the biggest nightmare. Did blow a head gasket 4 months ago, but at least it is clean to work on. I previously had a 2a diesel . The new oil was dirty within minutes, everytime you touched it you were dirty. Everytime you changed the filter, everthing was dirty. It did have a turbo on it so that at least kept the exhaust a bit cleaner. Big marine diesels (9000hp plus) have their oil purified all the time and it is still a kahki colour. Some of the marine generators do not have their oil purified separently and they are dirty to work on, despite me spending 30 minutes at the end of each day washing the engines down. Recently went across and back from Qld to WA and ran on LPG 95% of the way. So, no more diesels for me, I'll stick with the V8 and LPG.

**Jay** · 27th December 2009, 05:00 PM

Hi Mate,

Merry Christmas etc etc.

I got a D1 - Tdi. Been a great car I have done about 60K in it since I got it just over a year ago. Saved my bacon as I injured my back and the comfort is fantastic on and off road.

Mate, save a heap of cash by being patient and getting a good one. I love my car, it is my favorite possession, but I have spent too much on it as it was not looked after by the previous owner.

The things I have replaced needed replacing and I have had a little bad luck with a timing belt breaking.

If you are not a mech, take it from me. Take your time as the folks say, drive a few, see what you like. Me it's the deisel, so cheep on fuel and so powerful offroad.

There was one piece of advice I read above which if I had my time again I would follow to the letter. Contact a recommended Land Rover mech and see who wants to sell one. Second go through a forum like this for advice.

A LR in good working order is pure joy, each one is different. The community here is tops.

Maintenence schedule is prefered every time.
I rebuilt seat via a vechile upolstrer, $150 great investment.
Get the timing belt done unless done recently.
Spend the money to get it checked out if your not sure, LR specalist only........!!

Their are a great vice, everyones gotta have a vice right.....? 10K is about right too, andything less and you are proberly buying a lot of problems. There are LR's for sale in this forum and through mech on their notice boards. I would go for one of those.

Good luck to you, a good one is wel well worth it, but as the others say, be prepared to walk away. Don't do what I did and make the car fit the dream. Be practical, get a good one.

Jay

**jazzaD1** · 28th December 2009, 07:04 PM

wise words there, i too have spent much more than i would have, if i took the time to buy a decent one, dont get me wrong i love my v8 d1 but it has caused me alot of grief, mainly due to a lack of maintenance by the previous owner, i did get mine cheap

lesson learned!

i'm now looking for a 300tdi defender 130, i wont be making the same mistake of a cheap purchase

**LandyAndy** · 28th December 2009, 07:25 PM

If you are considering a V8,look at a D2.
They are available around the $10000 mark in the V8.
They are a better discovery,although these D1 guys may not agree.
D2 has more room in the back seat and rear cargo area,climate control,cruise control and traction control as standard.In the $10grand area it will be an early D2 so should have the centr diff lock still in the transfercase,you will need to conect it up.Some D2s have ACE,active cornering enhancement=hydraulic controled sway bars=handles like its on rails.
here is an ebay example Land Rover Discovery 2001 ES V8 (4x4) - eBay, Passenger Vehicles, Cars, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 28-Dec-09 23:42:10 AEDST)

Have a look at some D2s,they are alot of vehicle for the money.Love mine!!!!
Andrew

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