what to check for when buying a discovery.

Ok as this is the question that all new owners seem to ask(myself included) i thought i would put a post up for reference.

As you all know there is different models, i'll try and stick to the older ones. please feel free to add any info to the list, and if anyone could add info for discovery 2 that would be good has i have no idea.
discovery 1
200tdi
300tdi
3.9v8
2.0 mpi

Discovery 2
td5
v8

Ok so discovery 1's
things to check for rust
front inner arches
front inner wings
inner sills
outer sills
bottoms of roof pillars
o/s front footwell
n/s front footwell
boot floor
check around the rear alpine windows
top and bottom of the rear arches
all bodymounts
rear crossmember
outriggers
rear shocker mountain points top and bottom
front shocker turrets
front and rear spring seats
spring retainers front and rear
check all brackets and front and rear axles

Other things to check

Make sure that all the drivetrain is in good order
check uj's on front and rear props
check the doughnut on rear prop(94-98 disco only)
check that the transfer box is in good working order selecting hi/low range,difflock hi/low range
Check gearbox some 300tdi will have second gearcrunch
check if the gearstick is leaning over to the left. not a huge problem if it is
Check wheelbearings
If abs is fitted check to makesure its working
If sunroof is fitted check to make sure its not leaking(usualy sealed anyway)
clutch slave cylinder
clutch damper
clutch fork
waterpump
Steering boxes
Lastly common checks as per any car
check cambelt/or chain as to when it was last changed
check service items
brakes, pads and discs
clutch
aux belts
air con if fitted does it work
lights
and so on
d

sierrafery said:

Especially for Disco 2 , as a general rule(regardless of the enhancements) these warning lamps must all illuminate on self check and go off when car started. If any of these is missing or stays on after ignition there is a problem. There could be other warning lamps unmentioned here cos not all D2 are equiped(like ACE or SLS)...important is that all these lamps must illuminate firstly but none of them(or other) must be on when the engine is running.

Click to expand...

discovery 2

Hope this helps some of you, and as said above please feel free to add more info.
cheers guys
alex

what about a possi drive screwdriver bit inbedded into the piston, ??

You can always say that 97-98MY V8s don't have a doughnut (they couldn't find one to last) and to check the auto box fluid level, colour and smell other wise well done a great list of problem areas, but having to look at all that would put me off buying a old disco or any car for that matter.

Thanks for the input so far guys. and stu watch a possi bit doesn't find its way into your engine lol.
@discool yeah it would be enough to put you off for life lol, but we still seem to buy them

So when I bought my Disco a few months back ... my method of ...

" I know nowt above Land Rovers fella ... is this one ok? "

... not a great buying technique then.

If I buy another I'll be having that serp belt off and grabbing hold of that damper pulley and seeing if there's any play.

Col

we all live and learn pal.

Only thing i would add for d2's make sure every little thing work's, and still check for rust.......people use them for putting boats in the sea as i do and that wet stuff is evil to metal if you don't wash it off every time

If you can arrange a test drive, see if you can find a local garage or friend that will plug it in at the same time, might be over £30 but it could save you a small fortune.....oh....and buy a box of hind-sight!

Nick.

I think your post should be come a "sticky" Alex, then when the question "I'm thinking of buying a disco what do I look for" we can point to it.

Especially for Disco 2 , as a general rule(regardless of the enhancements) these warning lamps must all illuminate on self check and go off when car started. If any of these is missing or stays on after ignition there is a problem. There could be other warning lamps unmentioned here cos not all D2 are equiped(like ACE or SLS)...important is that all these lamps must illuminate firstly but none of them(or other) must be on when the engine is running.

Yeah would be alot better if it was a sticky. I take it the mods would need todo this would they

what would be good maybe with the original post...is to say what they are looking for exactly and what is acceptable or not ? and maybe how to look for some of the things/what to do exactly

steering box?? on disco 1

alex8882 said:

Yeah would be alot better if it was a sticky. I take it the mods would need todo this would they

Click to expand...

They would Alex, I'm sure the will get around to reading the thread and perhaps wait for your 'definitve list' after the other "snipits" of info have been added and your thread finally drops of the bottom of the page

Yeah indeed discool, or until somebody ask what should i look out for when buying a discovery lol.
@polsta yeah could do i how to thread. Thinking as another post thou.
@v8jay will add that little bit of info now cheers pal

alex8882 said:

Yeah would be alot better if it was a sticky. I take it the mods would need todo this would they

Click to expand...

Bloody good idea to make this a sticky:clap2::clap2:

just send a pm to ratty or sirus with a link to this fred asking them to make it a sticky. not sure if they will but I think it's defo worth asking.

What about disco 3 ? was thinking of geting one NO i am not selling my TD5 thats staying. Get rid of that peace of ****e mondeo the wife has bloody front wheel drive had it for two days in the snow & told her wanted mt disco back . So what to check on disco 3 apart from the ususal things ????????????

To be honest mate i know nothing about the d3, well apart fromt the eletronic handbrake buggers up on it, also seem to recall a problem with clutches only last between 5k-24k, before giving up, dual mass setup aswell. Lastly there is a switch that goes faulty inside the gearbox that gives up to easy and is a box off job. But as said i don't really know alot about them except they drive bloody nice.