Bought Disco 3 at auction

**Sideroad** · 11th July 2019, 08:50 PM

Hey all, I am a long time series lover and never thought the day would come that I would venture into this part of the forum. My wife wanted a running 4x4 to travel in and around Australia and seeing as my 2a is still ages from being on the road (and not at all comfortable or reliable), I have been forced to buy a newer machine.
We won an auction bid this evening and will soon be the new owners of a 2008 SE diesel.
I don't know the first thing about these machines and expect a very steep learning curve. I spent almost 5min just figuring out how to change the ride hight today during the inspection.
I also expect to get lost digging through the years of disco threads to fill in my knowledge gaps.

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**BradC** · 11th July 2019, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by Sideroad

my 2a is still ages from being on the road (and not at all comfortable or reliable)

Welcome to the asylum. At least the D3 will be more comfortable than the 2a.

**Sideroad** · 11th July 2019, 09:32 PM

Our first trip is going to be a short drive along the Condomine Gorge road.
We once took my previous 2A on a club run many years ago. We were the only series, as all the other had defenders or discos and we overheated up the hills trying to keep up. The 'no faster than 80km/h' shouldn't count for hill climbs.
We loved the drive along the gorge road with the canvas top off. We were behind a new D3 and got to see first hand how a D3 does the river crossings. The body of the car was so smooth whilst the wheels bounced every which way over the river rocks. Crazy smooth.
We, on the other hand had spinal damage.
I'm really looking forward to having both options once my 2a is on the road. Bonus is I will also have a very capable vehicle to rescue my 2a when I break down.

**BradC** · 11th July 2019, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by Sideroad

I will also have a very capable vehicle to rescue my 2a when I break down.

And vice-versa

**Sideroad** · 11th July 2019, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by BradC

And vice-versa

Oh, I sure hope it doesn't come to that. I know Series repairs, but these new things are complex as hell.

**Sideroad** · 12th July 2019, 09:47 AM

Turns out the 2A may end up being the recovery vehicle.
I have found out some history, the previous owner bailed on this D3 due to the repair list. Has multiple oil leaks (not obvious when I inspected), bushes, cv boot, tail shaft uni joint, noisy diffs and some noise in the transfer case. Has also had previous issues (possibly ongoing) with the high-pressure fuel pump or injector.
I haven't even received the auction invoice yet and I'm already in a deep hole. Bugger.

**PerthDisco** · 12th July 2019, 10:45 AM

Yes seems a riskier way of buying but assume price was low? How many kms? Does it have a service history?

Pay now or pay later is an inescapable truism in machinery purchasing and operation.

Time to find a good Indy if you are not handy.

**BradC** · 12th July 2019, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Sideroad

Turns out the 2A may end up being the recovery vehicle.

Damn it. I was hoping my pointed barbs would result in "nah it's all good" and in a couple of years "see, I did 50 grillion km and it didn't even need a new wiper blade".

They are a bugger to work on, but nothing is insurmountable. If you decide to take it on then you'll learn pretty fast. It's also worth joining the Uk disco3 forum for additional information.

Between there and here you'll find someone who has taken on whatever task you choose to do this week and can give you the right advice. Don't skimp on tools, buy a Gap IID and get as complete a copy of the factory manual as you can buy. Alternatively subscribe to Topix for a month and download all the VIN specific PDFs for your model.

No different to any other British or Itallian vehicle. Enjoy driving it while it runs, and enjoy fixing it when it doesn't.

**Eevo** · 12th July 2019, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Sideroad

Turns out the 2A may end up being the recovery vehicle.
I have found out some history, the previous owner bailed on this D3 due to the repair list. Has multiple oil leaks (not obvious when I inspected), bushes, cv boot, tail shaft uni joint, noisy diffs and some noise in the transfer case. Has also had previous issues (possibly ongoing) with the high-pressure fuel pump or injector.
I haven't even received the auction invoice yet and I'm already in a deep hole. Bugger.

bushes - all cars
cv boot - all cars
uni join - easy fix
diffs - change oil first, reassess.
TC - change oil first, reassess.
just change all the oils!

**PerthDisco** · 12th July 2019, 11:30 AM

What Eevo said-

And for goodness sake make sure the timing belts have-been / will-be done properly and you have changed the oil pump housing being a MY08. Read the TDV6 belt tensioner (destroyed engine) threads on Aulro.

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