Need advice before buying first LR DI

[celsius]

Hello, I am totally new in this and never owned a LR.

I am in East Timor and here we need 4x4 because the roads are very bad
and once out of the city,they get worse, it is the bush. Cars are
usually expensive because of the inflation and we find mostly Pajeros
and Landcruisers...few LR.

I found a nice opportunity for a LR Discovery I, 1999, TDi 2.5. I saw it and everything seems fine and the owner seems a passionate, he has 2 Disco II. The car has
about 79000 km. It was imported from Japan. The disco was essentially in
the city according to the owner and the car is very clean. Oil has been
changed on a regular basis (every 5000 km). This being said, there is no
way to have a record of the car...as there is no specialized mechanic for running the basic maintenance.

I've read they can be or are very unreliable, well is it true? The car
seemed fine and well cared of, but I am no specialist and neither a
mechanic.....That's why I am asking. Do you have any tips based from
your experience or knowledge? How much is
it actually worth?
I went to the mechanic, and they have experience with Land Rover so that's a good point, they use to service the UN Landrovers. In East Timor they have a bad reputation as they seemed to have lots of problems with the engine head gasket (he showed me the part), but for the rest he said it is quite easy. He mentioned that it is a very expensive piece to get in Timor (something like 3500$) - Well I looked on different website and it is cheaper (160$). No check was done on the car, as I need to make appointment.

To be honest, I am tempted, as I feel the car is in good shape. Nothing seems to leak, no weird noise and it seems robust and very confortable. I will still take it for a real test drive in some trails.

If I buy it it will essentially be used in the city by my wife and only
during week end and holidays we will take it for some expedition to
explore the country (outside of the city, roads are rough). I am even tempted to do an expedition with it and cross all Indo once my contract is done....

Here is the link for the add:
http://www.expatdili.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=79

Thank you in advance for sharing your advices

 

[Rovertrader]

she looks tidy in the pics. Check levels for sure, and here in the States that truck is very close to the Holy Grail in LRs. It should be a 300 Tdi, and folks here spend big money to convert to this drivetrain. The Japanese trucks are usually well cared for, as some here import a few D90s from there. It wouldn't hurt if you were interested in learning the maintenance, as it will make you familiar with the truck- especially in the bush. Reliability? In short, they have been used in your environment not to mention Camel Trophy events and the like for decades because of their dependability and robustness. That example is again, as good as it gets for LRs. Some will argue the auto/5 speed and others the mech/electric injector pump, but such is life. Best of luck, enjoy, and welcome to Expo!! Cheers

 

[celsius]

Thank you very much Rovertrader, and yes as I mentioned she seems she was taken care off very much. I doubt she was taken for heavy long off road expedition, but more as a daily safe car by the owner.
I am not a mechanic so what do you mean by check the level? Also, since probably besides oil change and other basic maintenance, what would you recommend to check or change (and cost estimates, in case I have to order the part myself, since if I go to the mechanic it will be surely overpriced)? Before buying I would like to be sure in what I am getting into and want it to be well maintained to make sure I can rely on....

Thank you.

 

[Nonimouse]

Check:

Wheel bearings
Propshaft UJ's
Halfshafts
Drive members
Shock absorbers
Springs
Bushes
Rear door hinges
All oil levels/quality - engine/ autobox, transfer box, front and rear differsentias, power steering, brake fluid
This model has a stepper motor on the injector pump - it can play up but usually only in the cold! Not a major problem in East Timor
Central locking
Electric windows - the infamous LR 'Spider' relay
ABS - Japanese spec vehicles sometimes have an odd ABS pump
Leaks from the PS box
Coolant colour and level
Radiator efficiency - heads are only problematic if over heated
Injector efficiency is critical and effected by poor quality diesel

No doubt I'll think of more things in a while

Parts from Australia
Try the Australian Land Rover Owners Forum for advice

It has the potential to be a very good vehicle

 

[timmy!!!!!!!]

I wouldn't mind that roof and drivetrain in my disco

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

Oh how I lust over those cloth seats. The diesel ain't bad either.....

Looks to be a very nice clean truck, often indicative of the mechanical care it's been given. Are you open to doing some repair/maintenance work yourself? Frankly I wouldn't recommend a Land Rover to anyone that isn't mechanically savvy, the small issues will cost you a fortune if you pay someone else to fix them. On the upside the Disco I is a pretty simple truck, I've only owned mine for a short time but it seems to be very easy to work on. With the help of forums like this you'll probably surprise yourself just how much work you can do with simple tools and a little advice.

 

[celsius]

Thanks, I understand that I really need to check it well and that mostly if taken care well they can last very long. I hope the mechanic I saw will do this carefully even though he advised me not to take it. I am not a mechanic savvy, though when I had my last car a few years ago and it was a Peugeot 205 :ylsmoke: , I tried to figure some things out. So yes, I am ready to learn and not be dependents of mechanics too much.

Also, I've seen lots of Disco I and II around that are just left on the road or at the mechanic (that was the case at the one I went to see). The reason seems that the parts were too expensive- though it makes me ask if I am doing the right choice. So I am thinking may be, if needed I can collect some of these cars part if needed.....no?

Well this being said, my next question is more toward the main routine maintenance or tips, what are these if any are specific to Disco? Also what would be a good test drive?

THanks, I am still meditating on it, but somehow it stayed on my mind......

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

I don't know about your location, but in the USA we have a number of very good used parts vendors. That can substantially reduce your ownership costs.

 

[Nonimouse]

If I were based in in a country like E.Timor I would up the service ratios considerably

The old saying is that parts are expensive but oil and grease are not

Oil changes every 3000 miles at the same time do the oil filter, fuel filter and air filter

Transfer box and differential oils at the same time

Avoid deep muddy in all but the direst emergency

Clean the vehicle very regularly - especially round the brakes (but not with a pressure washer) same goes for under the bonnet

Grease propshaft UJ's every 500 miles

If a part wears out replace it asap don't let it take something else out

Check wheel bearings every week, check tyre pressures every day

Use diesel conditioner

Two things break Land Rovers, poor maintenance and poor drivers

I have a rule; if you replace something because it is worn out replace everything it comes into contact with (in reason) so when doing a timing belt on a 200Tdi, new belt, tensioners, cam and crank oil seals, new studs, new water pump, new V belts, new tiny weeny hose to thermostat housing; check alternatopr and PS pump

 

[celsius]

Thank you very much for this, it is of great help. I found someone that has a Disco here for many years, and he also has a mechanic that knows these cars well which is very good. He mentioned that parts can be found but it is better to order them in the UK....I have to call him tomorrow to show him the car. I haven't bought it yet....

He mentioned something that he doesn't advise a 4 cylinder but more a 5 or 6. Would you guys know why? I don't know how many cylinder this one has, probably 4 no? What is your opinion about this??? How can I know if it is a 300 Tdi or a 200 Tdi? What is it worth?

Thank you.

 

[Nonimouse]

It's a 300Tdi 2.5 ltr 4 cyclinder direct injection turbo diesel. Despite what your learned mechanic stated, it's actually the 2nd best engine Land Rover ever produced and is ideal for wher you live. This type of Discovery has only ever been with either a 4cylinder turbo diesel (as above), a 4 cylinder 2ltr petrol (worth avoiding at all costs and never exported to Japan and finally the ubiquitous V8 petrol.

The five cylinder, known as the TD5 is in the later Discovery 2 and although a great engine is considerably less able in harsh environments and parts cost a lot more, it is also electronically managed. The 6 cylinder engine is in the Discovery 3 and Discovery 4 in 2.7ltr and 3.0ltr form - again not an engine for harsh environments and basic servicing

I am getting the feeling that you need to spend some time researching Land Rover vehicles - especially the Discovery 1. All you need is on Wiki and the various enthusiasts sites

 

[celsius]

Thank for this. well, I deduce then that he meant the 4 cylinder petrol. I will meet with him tomorrow and check the mechanic if she is ok. I'll go through more readings, though I get mixed up with the years and differences....This disco stayed in my mind since I tried it :Wow1:.......

Thanks for all the tips and I will let you know how it goes.

 

[Nonimouse]

They are great vehicles BUT they are different to almost anything else. They need a special kind of vehicle sympathy and understanding.

I have driven hundreds of different types of vehicles in my life but I have yet to drive anything that matches a Disco 1/Defender/Range Rover Classic (except maybe an Auverland A3, an FJ40, a UMM Transcat or a N/A 4.2 105 series 'cruiser - but they are rather querky in thier own right

Please read everything you can find on the internet and do not expect the vehicle to like anything else you have ever driven

 

[celsius]

Ok here it is: I brought the car to the mechanic who took a quick look and mentioned that there oil needs to change and there is a problem with the joint from the engine as oil is leaking, the same with the front wheel. I have to bring the car back for a full check. He also mentioned that the price should be around 4000 USD.
Since I had the car I took a few pictures but how do I insert pictures on the thread?

THanks

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

If all he said is that there is leaking oil, that shouldn't be a surprise since it is a Land Rover afterall. I've only owned 1 that didn't leak oil.
D