Topic: A prospective Disco owner writes... (Read 3565 times)

Gordo · « **on:** February 25, 2009, 13:28:59 »

I'm looking a buying a Discovery and wondering what the panel thinks - I'm new to Discos...

2.5l 300TDi 1996 Discovery ES with 200k miles. A rusty floor has been replaced.

I know that it has a 2" suspension lift, no body lift, and a snorkel fitted (I know what that does!). I assume on a chassis-based LR that the suspension lift increases ground clearance, whereas the lift on a Freelander does both because it's monocoque.

The mileage is high, but is it anything to worry about? I won't using it as an everyday car - I've a Freelander for my economical city car ;)

Should I run away? Or be prepared for big bills? Or...?

Discopoo · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2009, 14:13:20 »

I find the bits are fairly cheap and it helps if you don't mind getting your hands dirty, main thing to look for is rot on a disco, they are a bit prone for it.
The 300 is a good engine, just make sure it doesn't run hot loses water, they are a bit prone to headgasket

I have 200 and it does get abused but apart from tinworm the rest of it is cheap enough to fix :dance:

muddyjames · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2009, 16:47:33 »

Gordon, Gordon, Gordon. I would have thought a sensible man like yourself would have learned SO many things from Ed and my disco's!!! You know we have a landy bashing weekend at least once a year to mend them again!

Are you getting down about the freebie being a baby landy and now want a grown up one or something?

Gordo · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2009, 16:55:46 »

Quote from: muddyjames on February 25, 2009, 16:47:33

Gordon, Gordon, Gordon. I would have thought a sensible man like yourself would have learned SO many things from Ed and my disco's!!! You know we have a landy bashing weekend at least once a year to mend them again!

Are you getting down about the freebie being a baby landy and now want a grown up one or something?

Yes, I know they need a certain amount of attention - but equally I know you and Ed have done the Landy bashing thing so might be able to help me out if it goes wrong.

My current worry is whether it'll fit on the driveway. Someone was going to lend me one to try it out, but its not got its MOT at the moment.

:idea: Are you doing anything on Sunday...? ;)

I'm not worried about the size of my Land Rover, merely its towing ability :)

KingWolf · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2009, 17:52:01 »

Well I'm free on Sunday afternoon and I'm more than willing to pop down with mine so you can see if it fits on your drive ok...!!!!

I would expect a cup of Coffee in return of cause...lol

Mark.

Gordo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2009, 22:11:22 »

Quote from: KingWolf on February 25, 2009, 17:52:01

Well I'm free on Sunday afternoon and I'm more than willing to pop down with mine so you can see if it fits on your drive ok...!!!!

I would expect a cup of Coffee in return of cause...lol

That would be very kind of you - thanks. Of course I can do coffee - Americano? Mocha? Instant? :)

Unfortunately the lanes around here are closed for the winter, so no muddy fun to be had :(

crazymac · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2009, 22:56:28 »

Go for it!

I love mine, great piece of kit and easy to maintain. Landy's tend to get a bit of a bad rep for needing repairs but I abuse mine off road and on and it never misses a beat because I service it six monthly regardless of mileage (usually about 4 K) and keep everything greased that needs to be!

Regarding the suspention lift, all that really does is improve the approach and departure and ramp over figures, but it does allow you to fit bigger tyres which is what gives you better ground clearance by lifting the diffs up a bit.

I have no lift (just new standard springs) and I run 235/85R16 Cooper STT's which gives me about and extra inch under the diffs.

Disco Matt · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2009, 14:23:24 »

Quote from: crazymac on February 25, 2009, 22:56:28

Go for it!

I love mine, great piece of kit and easy to maintain. Landy's tend to get a bit of a bad rep for needing repairs but I abuse mine off road and on and it never misses a beat because I service it six monthly regardless of mileage (usually about 4 K) and keep everything greased that needs to be!

Regarding the suspention lift, all that really does is improve the approach and departure and ramp over figures, but it does allow you to fit bigger tyres which is what gives you better ground clearance by lifting the diffs up a bit.

I have no lift (just new standard springs) and I run 235/85R16 Cooper STT's which gives me about and extra inch under the diffs.

That's exactly what a friend of mine said in response to my joking that I seem to have the least rotten Disco in the country - I look after it!

A properly maintained Disco is no more or less reliable than anything else. You can avoid most rust problems by jetwashing it thoroughly after getting it muddy.

I am now looking at heavy duty standard spings (the proper LR "blues") with a view to trimming the arches, fitting extensions to make it look neater, and buying 235/85R16 Insa Turbo Traction Tracks next time. It'll have the extra space underneath without altering the centre of gravity by much.

muddyjames · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2009, 16:06:19 »

Quote from: KTM Gordo on February 25, 2009, 16:55:46

My current worry is whether it'll fit on the driveway. Someone was going to lend me one to try it out, but its not got its MOT at the moment.

:idea: Are you doing anything on Sunday...? ;)

I'm not worried about the size of my Land Rover, merely its towing ability :)

I will take you freebie home and you take my disco then and then swap back at the bcn!?!?!?

When you say towing ability. Do you mean trailers or stuff in mud on a boggy certain field? Your freebie will easily tow a kit trailer (sorry to the people that means absolutely nothing too!) and boggyness wise. How do ya know? Only reason mine did so well last year was down to the tyres. The year before I had my bfg at's on and it did very well. No reason your at's wouldnt do as well. Depending on how boggy I will be on at's this year and as ed and I found out, 2 landies on at's pulls out a well bogged down luton transit with books in!

KingWolf · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2009, 16:51:52 »

Quote from: KTM Gordo on February 25, 2009, 22:11:22

Quote from: KingWolf on February 25, 2009, 17:52:01
Well I'm free on Sunday afternoon and I'm more than willing to pop down with mine so you can see if it fits on your drive ok...!!!!

I would expect a cup of Coffee in return of cause...lol

That would be very kind of you - thanks. Of course I can do coffee - Americano? Mocha? Instant? :)

Unfortunately the lanes around here are closed for the winter, so no muddy fun to be had :(

I'm not that posh to expect anything other than instant coffee my friend... :lol:

If you still want me to pop down PM me your details as I need to be in Peterborough on Sunday anyway.

Mark.

muddyjames · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2009, 16:56:16 »

Be careful Kingwolf. I popped round a few weekends ago and Gordon ended up making me install a ciggy socket in his boot and change break disks and pads!!! ;) :lol:

KingWolf · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2009, 17:17:14 »

Quote from: muddyjames on February 26, 2009, 16:56:16

Be careful Kingwolf. I popped round a few weekends ago and Gordon ended up making me install a ciggy socket in his boot and change break disks and pads!!! ;) :lol:

:-k best take my tool box out of the boot then....lol but then again I've not had the chance to wash the Disco down yet from last weekends Laning so I don't think he'll want me hanging around too long...lol

Mark

Gordo · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2009, 19:58:05 »

Quote from: muddyjames on February 26, 2009, 16:06:19

I will take you freebie home and you take my disco then and then swap back at the bcn!?!?!?

Well that's not quite what I meant, but if you don't mind then that would solve the problem very neatly! Thank you.

Quote

When you say towing ability. Do you mean trailers or stuff in mud on a boggy certain field? Your freebie will easily tow a kit trailer (sorry to the people that means absolutely nothing too!) and boggyness wise. How do ya know? Only reason mine did so well last year was down to the tyres. The year before I had my bfg at's on and it did very well. No reason your at's wouldnt do as well. Depending on how boggy I will be on at's this year and as ed and I found out, 2 landies on at's pulls out a well bogged down luton transit with books in!

I failed to tow an empty Transit on grass...

Gordo · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2009, 20:01:20 »

Quote from: muddyjames on February 26, 2009, 16:56:16

Be careful Kingwolf. I popped round a few weekends ago and Gordon ended up making me install a ciggy socket in his boot and change break disks and pads!!! ;) :lol:

Oi! You'll get me a bad reputation with comments like that! [-X :lol:

Gordo · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2009, 20:15:29 »

Quote from: KingWolf on February 26, 2009, 17:17:14

:-k best take my tool box out of the boot then....lol but then again I've not had the chance to wash the Disco down yet from last weekends Laning so I don't think he'll want me hanging around too long...lol

Don't worry, my yard resembles a ploughed field! I'll let you know about Sunday ASAP... :)

ironarm · « **Reply #15 on:** February 26, 2009, 20:23:25 »

Quote from: Discopoo on February 25, 2009, 14:13:20

I find the bits are fairly cheap and it helps if you don't mind getting your hands dirty, main thing to look for is rot on a disco, they are a bit prone for it.
The 300 is a good engine, just make sure it doesn't run hot loses water, they are a bit prone to headgasket

I have 200 and it does get abused but apart from tinworm the rest of it is cheap enough to fix :dance:

think everyone else has said it really!! disoc's are pretty easy to fix and parts are pretty easy to find but u will more than likley need to fix it! as reagrds body lift - most i know haven't done this, as to do it properly is a bit more involved. a 2" lift via springs is ideal but have a look to see if the shocks (or dampers for the perdantic lot :-k) have been changed as well as the springs, if not u will prob ending up changing them at some point! 200k milage shouldn't be a problem really, just the usual checks with white smoke etc, saying that tho expect it to smoke a little bit - it is a disco after all :doh:
if the boot floor's been done check the sills (if u can) they will prob be rusty, okay if holes are not near the mounting points etc!
good luck - once u pop u can't stop :twisted:

muddyjames · « **Reply #16 on:** February 26, 2009, 21:55:05 »

Quote from: KTM Gordo on February 26, 2009, 20:01:20

Quote from: muddyjames on February 26, 2009, 16:56:16
Be careful Kingwolf. I popped round a few weekends ago and Gordon ended up making me install a ciggy socket in his boot and change break disks and pads!!! ;) :lol:

Oi! You'll get me a bad reputation with comments like that! [-X

I wouldn't worry about that, most landy owners have the same reputation!!! Pop round for a cuppa and ya end up under the landy instead doing something "quickly"

muddyjames · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2009, 21:56:34 »

Quote from: KTM Gordo on February 26, 2009, 20:15:29

Quote from: KingWolf on February 26, 2009, 17:17:14

:-k best take my tool box out of the boot then....lol but then again I've not had the chance to wash the Disco down yet from last weekends Laning so I don't think he'll want me hanging around too long...lol

Don't worry, my yard resembles a ploughed field! I'll let you know about Sunday ASAP... :)

All specialy imported mud too!

Gordo · « **Reply #18 on:** February 28, 2009, 22:23:59 »

Well tomorrow will be D-Day: MuddyJames's Discovery is sat on my driveway ready to see if it'll fit where it needs to go. :dance:

My only slight concern is that I'll get it in, but not be able to get it out again... :doh:

muddyjames · « **Reply #19 on:** March 02, 2009, 15:16:09 »

as long as you take out your garden wall and shrink your house wall you should be fine!! :doh:

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AuthorTopic: A prospective Disco owner writes... (Read 3565 times)