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Thread: which year discovery to buy

  1. #1
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    Question which year discovery to buy

    Hi all,I am new here but have been a loving range rover classic owner for years.I presently am on my second rangie that I have owned for a few years now and have found her to be a great vehicle that has never let me down.It is an 86 hi line auto that has a discovery 98 3.9 V8 on duel fuel with only 85000 kms in it,97 disco 24 spline front axles and diff,3 inch lift and 265/70/16 tyres and a few other bits and pieces added to her.She is though getting a bit old in the body and I want to get something a bit newer so I am looking at a discovery series 1 V8 because I have always loved the look of them and they are cheap to buy.I am only looking at a V8 because I will swap over my rangie gas system if I need to.I have a few questions though about the series 1's so here we go.


    no 1: Is there a preferred year to get due to more reliable electrics or drive train.I have read that the electrics Improved when BMW took over,is this true and when was it.Also is it true the 24 spline axles came out in 94,I have the 24 spline front end in my rangie that I could swap over but not the rear end.


    no 2:What parts if any are interchangeable with my 86 4 spd auto rangie classic,drive train parts or any electrical bits or anything at all.It has a good alloy bull bar and arb rear step bar that would be nice to swap over also if possible.


    no 3: Do they have reliability issues.I know leaky seals are a land rover issue generally but are there any other problems at all that anyone can advice me to look out for when looking for one and any advice on reliable fixes for any problems so I can replace anything after I buy one that might let me down,like any faulty electrical bits or anything at all

    I can probably only afford up to a 96 model so any advice on any of this is much appreciated.Look forward to any replies.

    Cheers Shane.

  2. #2
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    The ride in a RRC is probably better.
    The series 1 from 94-98 is fine spline.

    I currently have a tdi 97 Disco and put that on gas also.
    Goes great.
    I had the 3.9 and fuel was driving me nuts, depending where your tank/s are or is, if in the back you will loose much of the already limited storage.

    Most other issues are similar as to your current ride.

    The 86 RRC is probably one of the more basic ones and often one of the more reliable.

  3. #3
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    Mine is a 98 V8 auto with 260k on the clock and i have not had any major issues at all, i picked it up for 5k with 230k on the clock, if you will hunt around you will find a good one.
    Not sure on the Rangie bullbar and rear step bar fitting on a disco although i doubt they would.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by big guy View Post
    The ride in a RRC is probably better.
    The series 1 from 94-98 is fine spline.

    I currently have a tdi 97 Disco and put that on gas also.
    Goes great.
    I had the 3.9 and fuel was driving me nuts, depending where your tank/s are or is, if in the back you will loose much of the already limited storage.

    Most other issues are similar as to your current ride.

    The 86 RRC is probably one of the more basic ones and often one of the more reliable.
    How does the TDi go on gas?
    Was it an expensive conversion?
    How is overall fuel economy now?

    Thanks
    Adrian

  5. #5
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    Q no 1: Is there a preferred year to get due to more reliable electrics or drive train?

    A. Post update or 94 onwards. The only drive train changes I think occured mid release around 96/97 and were positive which was a Uni instead of flexi coupling in rear shaft at the Diff and the transfer has a x-Drilled input gear. Better front seat frames also appeared around then and a few cosmetic changes like door lock buttons etc. However as the electrics got more complex and no more reliable particularly with ABS etc, many prefer ealier ones.

    Q no 2:What parts if any are interchangeable with my 86 4 spd auto rangie classic?

    A. Not a lot as most of the good things that you have already put in the RR are already in the update D1 ie 24 spline driveline gear and 3.9. However the Update D1 also has the next generation EFI ie 14CUX, remote ignition amp etc.

    Q no 3: Do they have reliability issues?

    A. No more than LR's of that vintage. A few quirky things like potential dash peel, alpine leaks etc...all which can be searched here before you buy.

    I find the early post update D1 with no airbag etc simple and a lot easier to maintain and upgrade and therefore arguably more reliable than later D1's and D2's. However that is offset by the age on some componentary that needs swapping out, particualy anything prone to engine bay heat.

    Good luck searching

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by ahebron View Post
    How does the TDi go on gas?
    Was it an expensive conversion?
    How is overall fuel economy now?

    Thanks
    Adrian
    There is a post recently I did on the diesel gas conversion.

    Try a search, its sinply fed in via the air inlet to the turbo.
    It runs a very small amount of gas and only when accelerator is pressed.
    Better performance, better economy and cleaner burn plus more range.
    With current re-bate, it was actually free.

    Ask Bee utey on here, he is the gas fitter.

  7. #7
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    Cheers cockie55 for the good info.One question I have is regarding the abs in 94 or later.I have heard that they are a problem,what goes wrong with them and are they expensive to fix or can they just be eliminated from working at all and just have normal brakes.Cheers Shane.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by mandala1111 View Post
    Cheers cockie55 for the good info.One question I have is regarding the abs in 94 or later.I have heard that they are a problem,what goes wrong with them and are they expensive to fix or can they just be eliminated from working at all and just have normal brakes.Cheers Shane.
    I have a 1996 with ABS and works ok on the road. It does not give me much confidence off road though. On dirt or after water crossings it is over active and just pulses and hard to pull up. I would prefer it did not have it or could turn it off.

    I have seen the Bull Bar of a Rangie put on a D1. It looks ok but does not wrap around. Would also probably not be air bag compatible.
    Cheers, David.
    My Land Rover has made me a better Mechanic........
    D2 TD5 Manual, CDL, Detroit Rear, Truetac Front, 2" OME lift, 32" MT Tyres, ARB Bull Bar, Winch, TJM Roof Rack, Driving Lights, Dual Batteries, ARB Side Steps, Rear Draws, Uhf.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Landover View Post
    I have a 1996 with ABS and works ok on the road. It does not give me much confidence off road though. On dirt or after water crossings it is over active and just pulses and hard to pull up. I would prefer it did not have it or could turn it off.
    Every time a wheel sensor packs up your ABS stops working. Why not fit a switch in line with one ABS sensors? Better still fit a switch on its power supply. With a red light for "ABS off"

  10. #10
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    The D1 had problems around 94/95 so 96-98 are the best years to go for, electricals rarely give problems although the leccy windows switches and ecu do play up. Personally i would stay clear of ABS as its just too expensive to repair on a vehicle worth 10K at best. Bullbar will fit unless you have airbags in which case the a/b might not go off correctly, the rear step will physically bolt to the chassis but looks ugly as it protrudes too far out from the body.

    You can use your 2" springs along with wheels/tyres no probs, i swapped all my goodies from my old 85 rangie over to my 98 disco.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

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