Discovery I ownership.... looking to buy

[ExpoGeorgia]

How's it going guys, recently sold my FZJ80 due to unfortunate circumstances and I found a 1997 Discovery I with a few mods on it (ARB bumper, OME lift, 31's, roof rack) with 175k miles. Vehicle throws 2 codes, one for the 02 sensor and the other the fuel heater sensor. Other issues are cruise control doesn't work (not important, but from an electrical issue... idk), horn doesn't work, and ABS light is on. The truck felt pretty solid, nothing compared to my Land Cruiser but I like the smaller feel of the Discovery.

The guy wants $3,150.. what do you all think of the price?
Also are their any issues I should look for when looking at the Discovery I?
Reliability? I need a weekend trail vehicle/daily driver. Will be driving an average of 25-30 miles per day

I understand Rovers normally require more attention than what I'm use to, but I'd like to experience ownership of a rover. Thanks for the help guys

 

[I Leak Oil]

How's the rust situation? If it's solid it might be worth it but still sounds a little high. Cruise control is probably a cracked vacuum line. ABS is probably a sensor that is not seated or needs replacing. Most just remove the fuse for the ABS under the hood and call it a day. Any info on the history of the motor? Don't get caught up in the add ons, they really don't increase the price of the vehicle all that much. An ARB doesn't do you any good if water is splashing up through the rusty floor pan or if the motor constantly over heats.

 

[Glenn C]

Having had 3 Disco 1s and a Freelader and I now drive a 2.8TD Pajero mk2

I suggest you read my thread here

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/86331-from-Lr-Dsicovery-to-Pajero

 

[rijosho]

Sounds like a $2k truck that the seller is placing a premium price on for the bumper, lift, etc.

You want full receipts from the previous owner (PO) and maintenance done by all owners for a record of how it was maintained throughout its life.

Rust should also be a concern.

If you're looking for it to be your most reliable daily driver (DD) then probably look elsewhere.

If you're even somewhat mechanically inclined with a pretty good tool set, you can do most of the things that these trucks require in maintenance. If you're planning on paying a shop to do every little thing for you, then yes read Glenn C's thread above.

Parts can be found CHEAP here as there are plenty of breaker yards selling off used parts for them since they're going for so cheap at auction, etc.

 

[zolo]

I'm also about to pick up a Disco 1, Also in GA.

As my 3rd Rover I really like them. The view from the front seats is superior to most 4wds. The key to Rovers is Preventative maintenance.

I'm a big Toyota guy and I have been spoiled with how crazy reliable my Tacoma has been. But the Rover's offers a lot for the current $ they bring, all the way up to the D2 and LR series trucks. I'm looking forward to mine. Should be picking it up on Friday.

I'm interested in what the die hard Rover folks have to say about the D1.

 

[ExpoGeorgia]

How's the rust situation? If it's solid it might be worth it but still sounds a little high. Cruise control is probably a cracked vacuum line. ABS is probably a sensor that is not seated or needs replacing. Most just remove the fuse for the ABS under the hood and call it a day. Any info on the history of the motor? Don't get caught up in the add ons, they really don't increase the price of the vehicle all that much. An ARB doesn't do you any good if water is splashing up through the rusty floor pan or if the motor constantly over heats.

Rust free, has spent its whole life in Georgia. Thanks for the information, I felt the guy was trying to get up on the price, what you think I should offer him? However, it looks to be a very clean truck for its age.

Sounds like a $2k truck that the seller is placing a premium price on for the bumper, lift, etc.

You want full receipts from the previous owner (PO) and maintenance done by all owners for a record of how it was maintained throughout its life.

Rust should also be a concern.

If you're looking for it to be your most reliable daily driver (DD) then probably look elsewhere.

If you're even somewhat mechanically inclined with a pretty good tool set, you can do most of the things that these trucks require in maintenance. If you're planning on paying a shop to do every little thing for you, then yes read Glenn C's thread above.

Parts can be found CHEAP here as there are plenty of breaker yards selling off used parts for them since they're going for so cheap at auction, etc.

Thanks for the information. I'm mechanically inclined somewhat lol so most of the work will be done by me. How's the power of the 3.9 V8?

I'm also about to pick up a Disco 1, Also in GA.

As my 3rd Rover I really like them. The view from the front seats is superior to most 4wds. The key to Rovers is Preventative maintenance.

I'm a big Toyota guy and I have been spoiled with how crazy reliable my Tacoma has been. But the Rover's offers a lot for the current $ they bring, all the way up to the D2 and LR series trucks. I'm looking forward to mine. Should be picking it up on Friday.

I'm interested in what the die hard Rover folks have to say about the D1.

Me to lol, I had a 94 Land Cruiser with 230,000 miles that I bought for $300 because it had a bad rearend. Replaced the rear end and had no other issues out of it! Good luck with your D1 purchase, let me know how you like it

 

[rijosho]

How's the power of the 3.9 V8?

That really depends on where you're driving.

Flat Ground: adequate
Uphill: like a Porsche...being towed behind a VW bus
At a stop light: Hot
Downhill: LIKE A ********** RACECAR!!!!

 

[LR Max]

The 3.9 is...adequate. Don't expect to win off the line but she will cruise ok on the road.

As others have said, maintenance. If the previous owner kept it in good shape and you keep it in good shape, it should be ok. However I am seeing many older rovers in my neck of the woods being neglected by their owners (the vehicle is a status symbol...but the owner isn't interested in spending money beyond that) and when they crap out, its pretty terminal.

Do you have any maintenance records? Does the owner appear to keep up their vehicles?

 

[JSBriggs]

..I'm interested in what the die hard Rover folks have to say about the D1.

Mechanically is the same as a D-90. Sold for about the same price new. Good offroad. Poor mileage. Quality British construction.

-Jeff

 

[Ray_G]

I'm on my 3rd D1 and am very happy with her for what she is (my build thread is somewhere here a few pages back), it's daily driven just like the last two were at various times. 1st one had an issue right as I went on deployment so I sold it rather than have an albatross, never got over that. 2nd had a top end issue that was related to the 4.6 put in her, and again I went on a deployment and the 3rd was as expensive to buy as the 2nd would be to fix-with far less miles.

Background above says things inherent to the trucks; if you are looking for a DD then maint matters-records help a lot. Miles matter too but that's getting harder and harder to find a low mileage example.

97 is a decent year, 2nd year of the GEMs motor so the bugs in the 96 had more or less worked out. Build quality is so/so, but that's true with any Rover.

Rust in the wheel wells near the passenger seat (lift up carpet and check). Floorboards, particularly driver/passenger side on the front (lift carpet, remove trim piece). Same/same in the rear cargo area around fuel pump.

ABS may as well have the fuse(s) pulled and just take the bulb out. Drive it like a heavy truck and anticipate stops. Horn may just be disconnected, they get finicky and often just as easy to re-wire an aftermarket. Be wary of larger wiring issues related to the spider under the dash; no fun there.

Most other issues are simple troubleshooting and not all that hard so long as it isn't head gaskets. The motor is pretty simple and all the technology that 1960 had to offer so it can be worked with. Basic spares and stuff are easy to come by and not that expensive. If you want a list, check some of the previous posts or pm. Same with tools that are worth carrying onboard.

The D1 as mentioned before has the same basic underpinnings as the D90/RRC (and 110 for that matter, just shorter wheelbase-and slightly longer than the 90). Not as erector set like as the Defenders and clearly doesn't hold value as well. Upside to that is if you have a well sorted one you can drive a 75mph to and from wheeling while listening to the radio with heated seats.

It lacks the class and beauty of the RRC, and the simple functionality of the Defender. Its sits in between the two having adequate luxury if desired and can be very utilitarian too. I find them to be quirky in their own way and frequently finding myself falling back to a simple truth which is without the Disco, specifically the Discovery 1, Land Rover may well be an interesting side note in the dustbin of automotive history right now.

Reliability to me is both based off the resiliency of the vehicle and my ability to fix it-in which case with moderate mechanical capabilities and decent preventative maint the D1 is fairly reliable. For any offroad vehicle enthusiast having just a single platform as a DD is likely not the smartest; irony in my life right now is my fiancee's Tacoma is having more mechanical issues than the Rover.

Cheers-
Ray

 

[ColoDisco]

I love mine. She is not winning any high speed records but offroad she amazes me. Comfort inside is better than most jeeps and more solid than any japanese vehicles. (Not knocking them, I respect all 4 wheel drive vehicles.)

That being said this is what I have done to mine since I bought it for $700.

THE LIST (since January 2009):
Added rear brake pad securing pins (yes they were missing)
Replaced left rear inner axle seal
Repacked both rear wheel bearings
Replaced right rear window regulator
Replaced windshield twice (get the windshield coverage on insurance)
Replaced the head gaskets
Replaced the battery
Replaced the alternator twice
Replaced the spark plug wires twice
Replaced the spark plugs twice
Replaced the distributor cap twice
Replaced the distributor rotor twice
Replaced the air filter
Replaced the fuel filter
Replaced the cam, tappets and timing chain
Replaced the serpentine belt twice
Replaced the water pump
Replaced both front wheel bearings
Replaced high pressure power steering line (blew on the trail)
Replaced the kickdown cable
Performed fluid and filter change on the transmission twice
Replaced differential oil on all 3 differentials twice
Replaced 3rd member due to a rotoflex conversion I botched
Added 2" Terra Firma big bore expedition lift (more like 5")
Added Terra Firma steering damper
Replaced front driveshaft with double cardan shaft due to lift
Added 31" BF Goodrich MT KM2 (get the warranty from discount tire)
Replaced all my front tie rod and steering ends
Replaced exhaust y pipe gaskets
Added 67" trail gear rock sliders (you will want rock sliders)
Added heavy duty Ram Xmount for iPad navigation
Removed, stripped and painted roof rack
Added CVT roof top tent and awning
Added 60" Hi lift Jack
Added 2 Hella 550 driving lights
Added ARB tire repair kit
Added staun tire deflators (not impressed, hard to dial in)
Added Bonaire high volume pump
Added hi lift winch kit
Added CB with 5' fire stick
Replaced digital clock
Replaced left front window regulator


Keep in mind I was a professional mechanic by trade and have a lot of my own tools so I did all this work myself.
Maintenance is key and should always be done preventatively.

As she sits today:

 

[Glenn C]

Most of the repairs I had a good friend do for me not a shop to give an idea take gearbox out replace gearbox with new gearbox and change all the fluids he charged me 100 euros whats that in dollars $130 ?? had i taken it to an actual shop id be afraid to think , as a daily driver I would say there not to bad mine used get 425 miles to a full tank of 100 litres and it was a tdi diesel mine got a nice bit of abuse off road so it was bound to break , the only thing that didnt give me trouble was the engine twas bulletproof , as a daily driver id say yes but have a second car available as in the last few months of owning my last disco I kept it off the road and it still broke , best of luck with your purchase though

 

[Colin Hughes]

After starting with a 95 D1, I moved to a 97 P38, a 2003 D2 and am now back in a 300 tdi D1 and loving it. I find its a comfortable size and I use it, like my previous ones daily, 100 mile round trip. Preventive maintenance is the most important thing. Oil changes every 5000 kms without fail! I never replaced head gaskets in the D1 or P38.
The 1997 should have a 4.0 engine, not a 3.9. Something's not right if it has a 3.9.

 

[ExpoGeorgia]

Yeah its a 4.0, my mistake. Going to test drive the truck this weekend and try to talk this guy down due to a few electrical issues (horn and cruise control, not working cd player doesn't work but weather band radio works) he described. I'll keep you guys updated

 

[Ray_G]

Forgot to mention the cruise control in my post, almost certainly isn't electrical (though don't let that slow you down from talking him off a price point). A working cruise control in a Rover that old would be something to behold...I don't think many Disco's CC worked when it was new! CD player under the seat not working isn't terribly unusual-several solutions for that-most people move toward some type of ipod interface which is easy enough to explore if you get the truck.

Good luck!
r-
Ray