To save or not?

Evening guys,

Had a bad day.... My m reg disco 1 overheated on the a27. After inspection by a reputable 4x4 specialist in peacehaven, it was inspected and found to be a head gasket. The cars done 120k (300tdi) looks tidy enough and I've ploughed money into her ( cam belt, couple of services, complete new brakes) So she stands me in a fair few quid. But I'm seriously looking at newer discos and their prices and thinking would I be better off scrapping her? I've haven't yet been quoted a price- what line would you draw price wise at a head gasket fix to make this un economical?

Cheers chaps

Mostly depends on how rusty it is mate. 300 engines are cheap. Td5 are expensive

if it's really just a gasket and you haven't got a crack or warped the head, then fix it. part doesn't cost much, labour might be a few hundred though.

it's easy enough to do yourself, if you wanted to have a go.

Fair point- I'd say in the not too bad category. Been welded. Creeping in places. Looks good though. Pretty mint interior wise. What price would you put all in for head gasket repair at a garage?

i dunno, get a few quotes. i'd have thought 3-400 for just a gasket change.. :shrug:

if you did it yourself, it would be about 40quid for oem gasket kit + oil + coolant. So if it's service time, then it's only really an extra 40quid.

but it all depends on what happens when it comes off, it may have cracks or be warped.

actually, i'd expect a garage would probably want to skim it anyway, so it might be up towards 600-1k.. in which case it's not worth it and i would either do it yourself or flog it on with the known hgf to someone who doesn't mind spanners

but, bear in mind once the garage take the head off and find issues, then you are stuck with it at the garage.

you'll probably only ever get 600-800 for it in good nick, so y'know

markbarnes said:

Evening guys,

Had a bad day.... I've ploughed money into her ( cam belt, couple of services, complete new brakes) So she stands me in a fair few quid.

Cheers chaps

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Routine maintenance surely?

You would do this to any vehicle, apart from TD5 doesn't have a cambelt.

What caused the head gasket failure?

Cost £850 for my 300tdi to be done. But it needed a new head and other stuff too.

I think the Discovery 1 is getting towards the bottom of the price curve, and it will not be long before the survivors start to increase in value. It is beginning to get difficult to get a good early one already. If you like it repair it. There is no guarantee its replacement will not develop problems, and if it is a D2 they will be more difficult and expensive to repair.

A new head is only £500. DIY it its not a hard job you just need a torque wrench and maybe a valve spring compressor.

Worth having a go yourself first, like posts say, gasket sets are cheap and it is good practice to be able to do these things yourself anyways.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, why is it that as soon as you need to spend a grand or more on a Disco everyone goes with "scrap it" while Deafners get multiple thousands spent on them without the blink of an eye

Get the HG done and enjoy it, sounds like the bulk of the works been done, even if it needs a new head at least you have the peace of mind that it has been replaced already with a good known part.

PS. Any subsequent vehicle purchases will need to be above and beyond the cost of repairing this one unless you want the same dilemma relatively soon after buying it.

If its a 'good un' then take your time and DIY. Nice disco 1's are getting harder to come by, and the nicest are still being advertised for a couple of grand. A smart d1 still looks respectable parked in your drive, and they are a doddle to work on, which is still appealing to some people. While it may not seem economical to repair now, it might reward you in a couple of years.

You do not want to know how much I paid for a Discovery 2, lets just say if it gets terminal tinworm I will fit a galvanised chassis.

MJI said:

You do not want to know how much I paid for a Discovery 2, lets just say if it gets terminal tinworm I will fit a galvanised chassis.

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Paid less than 1500 for mine, and if it gets terminal tinworm its going to the breakers!

dieseldog69 said:

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, why is it that as soon as you need to spend a grand or more on a Disco everyone goes with "scrap it" while Deafners get multiple thousands spent on them without the blink of an eye

Get the HG done and enjoy it, sounds like the bulk of the works been done, even if it needs a new head at least you have the peace of mind that it has been replaced already with a good known part.

PS. Any subsequent vehicle purchases will need to be above and beyond the cost of repairing this one unless you want the same dilemma relatively soon after buying it.

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Cos 90s and 110s are worth way more than discos of comparable age and they do rust less than discos, but they all rust granted! A 110 is less capable and practical than a disco imho, but a disco isnt a famous iconic shape recognised and loved by everyone even car haters! Hence why discos are the ginger step child of 90s 110s

Turboman said:

Paid less than 1500 for mine, and if it gets terminal tinworm its going to the breakers!

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Just don't buy a last few months of manufacture fully loaded TD5 in VGC and low mileage in mid winter.

MJI said:

Just don't buy a last few months of manufacture fully loaded TD5 in VGC and low mileage in mid winter.

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Don't worry, I wont!

Low mileage old tatty v8 auto, midsummer, way to go! :5bsifone:

Turboman said:

Don't worry, I wont!

Low mileage old tatty v8 auto, midsummer, way to go! :5bsifone:

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I HAD to buy a car, and after looking round every local car dealer it was one of the few vehicles I liked.

Sheffield said:

I think the Discovery 1 is getting towards the bottom of the price curve, and it will not be long before the survivors start to increase in value. It is beginning to get difficult to get a good early one already. If you like it repair it. There is no guarantee its replacement will not develop problems, and if it is a D2 they will be more difficult and expensive to repair.

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Gents, I think this just about sums my thoughts and the sentiments are shared in other posts.

As long as I get a cast iron price of below £1k I'm gonna go for it.

Just more question - I have been running this long distances from London to sussex and back again. Do you think motorway driving has contributed in a vehicle this age to the gasket problem? Would you, when fixed, retire her from distance driving??

motorway driving is the best type for a vehicle and engine , head gaskets only last a certain number of years with a cooling system in good condition ,obviously less so with an aging system