Thread: Nervous First Timer Amid a Lemon Mine field...

[quote="footprint"]Strewth that was quick- i was expecting a response back in a few days.

You will generally find that doesnt happen here, too many of us have the net at work.

The tests for me are:

1. Would I part with my Disco?....only reluctantly.

2. Would I buy another Disco?...Yes subject to me being technically diligent as described above.

3. If Land Rovers were banned?...I'd rather walk than buy anything else :wink:

Does there seem to be any specific brands of suspension that work well with the disco setup? I have a friend who just fitted Tough Dog gear to his GQ and, so far, he couldn't be happier so that would be the first place i'd look. I have heard a lot of rumblings about Bilsteins on the threads too.

Lucy- will the steering twitching cause a long term problem? Or is it just plain different from stock?

Hiline- I'm in the Blackburn area but, funny as this sounds, would happily drive to Sydney if i knew i'd be getting the best service (and best results)available. I'd want to get a specialist landy person under the bonnet before i bought it (would only look to buy in SA, VIC, NSW and QLD)

onei_ota- have you had to do much to your 95 tdi since you bought it? suspension?

Servicing seems to be the crux point- don't mind getting the hands dirty on simple stuff. Would be paranoid for any of the technical mods like timing belts etc

Welcome

I have had two Defenders, one was a '95 TDi300 and the current Defender is a '02 TD5.

From what you have said, I would be going for a later model 300 (ZF auto preferable to manual). 300 gives better economy than the TD5, theoretically more reliable as it is mechanical versus electronic.

OK, it is not as powerful as the TD5, but you can get more out of them and at the end of the day you are not about racing around the countryside.

Service history is the key to any Landy (and any other car).

Good luck!

Originally posted by footprint


onei_ota- have you had to do much to your 95 tdi since you bought it? suspension?

The fun bits include:

Snorkel (Safari)
Lovell's Springs (nominal 2" Lift) and Bilstein Shocks (a transformation)
Polyair bags.
Front diff protector (Graeme Cooper)
Sill protection (Rangie Spares)
Steering protection (Graeme Cooper)
Headlight wiring upgrade (c/o Traxide)
Spotties (Lightforce 170's)
Cargo Barrier (Milford)
BFG all terrain tyres (Muddies next?)
the wish list is longer :wink:

The downside includes:

Cooked an engine :x
Numerous pulley bearings.
A couple of water pumps
A power steering pump
Front drive shaft and a universal
Rear pinion seal
Vacuum pump
Alternator
Timing Belt modification kit
Brass plug replacements for the plastic ones in the cooling system
and the usual maintenance items: belts and hoses.

Am I unhappy?... no except for cooking the engine, but that was ages ago so the pain has faded. And bearing in mind that it does get driven in some inhospitable places pretty much par for the course.

How do I measure the pleasure and the experience?: priceless

An anecdote:

I once met a bloke in his disco who took it for a drive on fire trails for the first time since he had owned it. He was in the company of toyomitsunissan drivers. The conversation went something like this:

He asked me on the quiet: "Do you do this often?"

I Reply: "Yes"

he responds: "You're game!"

I reply: "Why?"

he responds: "They are unreliable"

I reply: "How so?"

he responds: "Well.....that's what my mates tell me and I have a whine in the gearbox"

:roll:

Conclusion: not a vehicle for the gullible or the neurotic.

Originally posted by footprint
Lucy- will the steering twitching cause a long term problem? Or is it just plain different from stock?

No idea, I guess I'll find out eventually. I don't actually notice it anymore, but did immediately after fitting the springs. I'm not going to worry until the springs settle in, then I'll look at castor angles, wheel alignment etc. I don't believe it will cause any problems mechanically.

If you are concerned, there are castor correction bushes available for small lifts, and other fixes for larger lifts.

Originally posted by Lucy+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lucy)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-footprint
Lucy- will the steering twitching cause a long term problem? Or is it just plain different from stock?

No idea, I guess I'll find out eventually. I don't actually notice it anymore, but did immediately after fitting the springs. I'm not going to worry until the springs settle in, then I'll look at castor angles, wheel alignment etc. I don't believe it will cause any problems mechanically.

If you are concerned, there are castor correction bushes available for small lifts, and other fixes for larger lifts.[/b][/quote]

and I will add

A true 2" lift will reduce the castor angle and the consequence is vague straight ahead steering.

Generally you will get used to it. It annoys me so I fitted a return to centre steering damper that counteracts this....but that topic will bring on a whole other debate :roll:

I bought my 1998 Discovery 300Tdi manual in 2001 when it was 3 years old and had 52,000kms on it.

It has been great and I have only had a couple of issues.

1. Heater matrix leak - this was with the first month of ownership and hasn't leaked since.
2. Welch plug leak, resulting in some coolant leak.
3. Fuel lift pump leak last month. Cost me $99 to replace it, and took 1.5 hours - easy.

Nothing major and I would say in 4.5 years that's pretty good.

It came with a snorkel, and I have since fitted:
ARB Bullbar and Side Steps
Dual Batteries
Old Man Emu suspension (done 4 months ago). This is claimed to be 40mm lift and transforms the car handling wise (and load carrying ability). As mentioned earlier, Bilsteins are very popular too. Everyone I rang told me there is no need for castor kits and unlike Lucy, I didn't notice any twitchiness - but it does feel different. But not in a bad way.

I've never had the intention to make it a (more) serious 4WD, it was because I wanted to go camping and explore.

As an example of price for a very major service (from a mechanical workshop in Wollongong - not dealer, not genuine parts) I had done:
All oils changed - diffs, transfer, gearbox, engine.
Coolant replaced.
2 wiper blades.
Fuel filter, oil filter, air filter.
2 new front rotors and pads.
Air Con belt.
Timing belt replaced.
Total: $1086.52 (15/3/2002)

Front rotors and pads had to be done because when I got back from Fraser Island, my front left caliper wasn't releasing the pad completely and it wore right down and ground the rotor...not the cars fault, Fraser Island, sand and salty water, I suppose.

Anyway, sorry to make it so detailed, but I thought I would give you some detail on my ownership experience.

Pete