Disco 2 service history and advice

Hi, am looking for a Disco 2 once more. Saw a 2004 one with 70k for £6500. It is a Pursuit model so I think it has no sunroofs and no ACE which is good news. I know it's important to have service history - what does this mean exactly? What is the service interval. The ad for this vehicle states that it has 4 stamps in the service book. I am assuming that this is not a complete history?
Thanks

Without checking (always dangerous) I think the service intervals are 12,000 miles or one year. So you're right in thinking there should be more stamps.

The pursuit model is the one to go for in my opinion for the reasons you say.

This one? Down to you, mon ami.

Go have a look at the thing, have a drive of it, have a poke around, firstly have a look round the forum for general advice on buying one.

Service stamps are an indication only of the general vehicle condition, I've had my Disco TD5 for 8 years now and during that time hasn't had one main dealer stamp, reason being I wanted the servicing done properly, not just the oil topped up and the thing valeted and also for myself several hundred pounds lighter.

I give the Disco once a year to a semi retired mechanic, who had his own business, I supply all the service parts required and the disco is checked, serviced properly and also MOT'd and comes back with the service book stamped with his old garage stamp. The vehicle is now 12 years old.

Think the condition of the vehicle is more important that the amount of stamps a book contains. However if the one you are looking at has 4 stamps would that not equate to 60000 miles, a fifth one being on the 72000 mark, meaning it would be due shortly?
That said, on an 8 year old vehicle that's only been serviced 3 times, says a lot about how well its been looked after but still worth a look and a poke, might be a reason for a little haggling to reduce the price

I'm going to offer a controversial thought: I don't believe a service history is as important as most peeps think, allow me to explain:

1. A stamped-up service book on it's own has little or no value. It's too easy to forge and there is no information about what was ACTUALLY done.

2. There is no evidence of pro-active maintenance;

3. Far too much monetary value is put on FSH;

Whenever I buy a new-to-me 2nd hand car the very first thing I do is to go through it from front to back and replace all filters and fluids and in doing so you have to go over the car thorough so you see what has and has not been done.

My advice? Buy the buy you can for the smallest amount of money, then service it yourself.


Dave

Thanks guys, will have a think. With 4 stamps at 70k miles for a 2004 car, that is only an oil change every 2 yrs, unless there was a careless owner who just did not service it at all for a long period.

Agree with Dave entirely, people put too much reliance on service history which may or may not have been done, and even if serviced at the intervals could have been run without oil in the meantime by a careless owner!!!

Drive it and compare to others - it's the only way.

Mines done every 10k, never had a service stamp in the last 6 years but dad has used one of those dyno things and lables it under the bonnet so he can see when it was last serviced everytime he lifted the bonnet.

Very few stamps in my book,but have a look at my receipts for work done !!
IMO much more important than just a yearly stamp in a book.

blackvulcan100 said:

Very few stamps in my book,but have a look at my receipts for work done !!
IMO much more important than just a yearly stamp in a book.

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Totally agree, that IS a service history.


Dave

thebiglad said:

Totally agree, that IS a service history.


Dave

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+1,seen many vehicles with a fully stamped book which have just had the lub service done and nowt else

Only 2 stamps in my book, after the first 2 years started doing my own servicing when I had more time . every 6.000 miles all oils and filters, if you don't pay the garage you can afford to service it every month if you want to. And you know its been done as it should be.

Thanks for your input. Also what is the "value" of such a vehicle? I ended up paying way too much for last car and don't want to do it agin.

maelstrom said:

Thanks for your input. Also what is the "value" of such a vehicle? I ended up paying way too much for last car and don't want to do it agin.

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That's one of the best questions I've seen on here in a long, long time.

There is a huge difference between the price of a Disco and it's value - and you usually come to find out when you're selling it.!!

People often forget when buying a DI or DII that they are buying a vehicle which could be up 24yrs old - and no, they don't have classic status.


The "value" in my opinion of a 2004 basic Disco is about £4000 - if you were to look up the trade price in Glasses trade guide. This means anyone paying £6000 or more automatically loses 50% of the price paid as soon as they leave the forecourt.

Everyone likes to have bought a bargain and everyone likes to think if they were buying one they'd also have bought a bargain. Whenever I see someone on this and other sites wanting to buy and asking how much to spend, then I always see low numbers, sometimes bordering on reality.

thebiglad is about right that the value and what you actually pay are somewhat different.

To get a sorted '04 Disco you can pay anything between £6000 and £9000. Just as a guide to what is on offer, do a search on Fleabay for '04 Disco's. I'm not advocating actually buying one from there (or not) but it'll give you a good idea of what may be going for how much.

Good advice

I paid 5500 for a 2003 8 months ago