Thread: Brisbane TD5 check??

Originally Posted by OffTrack

It's this car

Land Rover Discovery Td5 (4x4) (1999) 4D Wagon 4 SP ... | eBay

The sub 150K mileage is tempting. However, the interior looks a little shabby, and there seems to a strong correlation between shabby interior and neglected mechanicals. It may well be sound, but I would definitely leave that call to someone who has physically checked the car.

rego history attached fwiw.

Hey Paul,

I'm kinda glad you didn't go for that one in the end. As I said in our messages we just got bad vibes about it. That and the incorrect VIN in the original eBay listing and the sellers attitude (as quoted by other buyers on eBay). Just seemed like bad buying.

Good luck with the search, hope one turns up quickly for you with a decently documented history! Ours isn't perfect but it craps all over the car yard D2 we originally had!

Now I just want a Nanocom... anyone?

Cheers

Wil

Hey biggin,

Absolutely. But think you'll find the guys with a hands on approach to maintaining their cars are pretty up front about it. I've seen cars advertised which clearly state the owner maintained the car, and I'd be favourably inclined towards such a vehicle.

The problem lies with cars being sold by dealers, owners that just didn't really care, or, as with the subject of the original post, a "wheeler dealer" doing a quick "fix up and flog job" on an auction car.

While I haven't been able to get in touch with the previous owner of the car I'm currently looking at, he did post about work he was doing on the forum. That's allowed me to get answers to a number of questions I had about the car, and gives me a fair degree of confidence the car is well cared for.

A service history is fairly useful in that it enables you to follow up with the mechanics who stamped the log book. For instance the car I'm currently looking at had a solid history with a specialist in Melbourne. I was able to give them a list of service dates and the car details, and they very kindly sent me a summary of the type of service on each date plus any additional work carried out:

Code:

09/2005                120,000 Km Service and replace rocker cover gaskets
03/2006                130,000 Km Major Service, replace fuel filter switch and RHF ABS sensor.
05/2007                150,000Km Service, machine front brake discs, replace rear brake pads and machine discs, replace sump gasket, water pump and hose.
05/2007                Replace bonnet cable.
12/2007                160,000Km Major Service, replace front brake pads and machine discs, replace RHF ABS sensor, transmission service, replace steering damper.

So even tho' the stamp in the book doesn't have much value in itself, it can be the key to some useful information about what work has been done.

I've read many horror stories of just purchased cars with serious issues here on AULRO, and as the Disco I buy will be a daily driver I'm trying to avoid that scenario as far as possible.

cheers
Paul