Disco buyers guide

Um - well I mean I want one, not I've got one!

Anyone got any dos/don'ts, stuff to look out for, etc?

If there already is a guide on this site, apologies I've probably still got Freelander oil in my eyes, but I couldn't find it! :doh:

Thanks for the help

There are some good posters who have listed the pitfalls of Disco buying on here that I found. Although there are some points the same, a lot depends on which series Disco is your hearts desire. I would perhaps try searching again - include TD5 or Discovery 3 or....etc.

rust,rust and more rust then basically rust

gizgrey said:

rust,rust and more rust then basically rust

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You forgot to mention the rust.

Also try and check for leaks, sunroofs, door seals, have a proper look and smell at the carpets too.

Most of all don't get too carried away with the whole thing, which I did, try and keep your head and be extra critical of it before you part with your cash.

A friend of mine asked me this a while back - I've still got the reply so have just copied & pasted it for you to refer to. I'm sure it doesn't cover everything but it's a half-decent guide to go by for a noob.

Inspect every aspect of the lower body - it's pretty much all prone to rotting. Make sure you tilt the rear seats back and pull back the boot carpet back in its entirety - no other trim needs to be removed to do this. The soundproofing under the carpet often gets wet & kills the boot floor. VERY rare to find an original or un-repaired floor. Check rear cross member - a BIG expense repair & WILL fail a MOT. Front inner wings and battery tray are also likely to be roton.
Check every piece of electrical equipment - especially the electric windows. Also check rear wiper works.
If applicable, open both sun roofs - a lot are permanently sealed shut as a lazy fix. On this note, you'll be lucky to find one without a saggy headlining.
Check for leaks leaks in the engine bay - especially the steering box, vac-brake pump, fuel injector harness, rocker cover etc. Also check the diff seals and transfer box seal.
Check high/low range gearbox works - slide it to the left in both ranges to check the diff lock light illuminates on the dash - it should go back out again when you slide it back.
ABS light, if applicable, will stay on upon starting of the engine. This should go out when vehicle exceeds 5mph.
Check the rubber seals around the rear most windows & the tailgate window - these are prone to perishing. Also inspect windscreen seal as they often leak around the top, but it's an easy fix with some marine sealant or similar.
Check external door locks work on the key - these are prone to failing.
Check usual signs of overheating. The cylinder heads on the 300s are a bugger for head gaskets due to people not cleaning the radiator fins out. On this note - check the rad fins are not blocked or damaged.
Check it goes into 1st & 2nd gear ok. If it doesn't, this is a sign the gearbox is on its way out, as people neglect to ever change the oil in them.
Check the rubber coupling between the rear prop and the diff - these are often worn but it's a cheap fix. £30 for a new prop doughnut.

Good luck.

Wow thanks Mark.
I have no idea what you just said, but I'm sure the friendly mechanic I pass that list to will have a clue.
Cheers

Prop shafts uj for play, wheel bearings , leaking front swivels . Body mounts "rot". Rear a frame bush , leaking steering box, check it turns free from lock to lock , and it goes back to centre.

HA! I lol'd at the prospect of buying a disco and asking such a question.

Prepare to be disappointed after a short lived term of happiness. Put some graft in and then be impressed again!

Mr Noisy said:

HA! I lol'd at the prospect of buying a disco and asking such a question.

Prepare to be disappointed after a short lived term of happiness. Put some graft in and then be impressed again!

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Ha- That's it! The Disco owning experience. It's a real roller coaster!

pedros said:

Ha- That's it! The Disco owning experience. It's a real roller coaster!

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now he tells us

bukko said:

Wow thanks Mark.
I have no idea what you just said, but I'm sure the friendly mechanic I pass that list to will have a clue.
Cheers

Click to expand...

More than welcome.
Just don't do what I did 2 years ago and jump in at the first one you see with absolutely no idea whatsoever what you're looking at.
I ended up with an absolute basket case but the following 2 years were going to be a bigger learning curve than I ever could of imagined as Funkykipper will agree with me on.
1 scrapped Disco, a nifty £500 bargain find, a purchase of a decent tool kit and 7 months of restoration later and I'm finally ready to get out there and hopefully improve my off road driving skills and meet up with some of the guys on here.:5bhurray:

Sounds good mark! A lot of the south leaks laning we do actually ends up in or very close to Staffordshire so you're not that far away from the northerners, which is nice if you like regular laning

Sounds good, Mr. N.
We'll have to arrange for our paths to cross sometime soon. Leek is only an hour or so away from here.

Just checked ze map, tamworth is fair south, but then again I'm only 15 minutes away from Manchester centre so it's a decent drive for me to get to the peak district aswell!

I've definitely done lanes south peaks and driven past a Staffordshire sign!

Staffs is a pretty big area...Tamworth is pretty much the furthest point east. I'd say 2 hours to Manchester.

Cheers captain

So you want to have a guide to buying a Discovery.

Well after a little reflection one can assume that you are indeed too sane a person to own a Discovery if you have the forethought to ask the question prior to the said purchase.

Many people find that purchasing a Disco is a bit like finding the right women, or man to be politically correct.

You will spend ages looking at several types and you will settle on one that you feel will give you the best satisfaction. Mainly concentrating on a descent chassis and good clean bodywork. Many will also insist on a younger fresher face than the older looking ones.

After you have partied with some cash and become part of the relationship you will inevitably be asked to maintain the said women, sorry Discovery. This you won't mind about as you are only a couple of weeks into the experience and still in the honeymoon period.

Unfortunately as time goes by you find that whilst initially eager the vehicle is now more reluctant to provide the same invigorating performance. You will catch yourself looking at it from the side, never head on, and noticing that the arse is a little saggy and the flanks seem more untidy than usual.

Eventually you will discover that it is time to get rid but then again she has always been there for you and after all you have a lot of time and money invested so you then decide to add a few extras, do a little cosmetic work . A lift here new suspension there.

Then once finished you are satisfied to give the old girl a damn good seeing to in the dirty open countryside with a load of strangers looking on and cheering as you merrily get stuck deep in the bush.

God I love the disco

Alternatively you can accept that you are indeed a bender and get a freelander

thats brill ian, top marks!

GreenHornet said:

So you want to have a guide to buying a Discovery.

Well after a little reflection one can assume that you are indeed too sane a person to own a Discovery if you have the forethought to ask the question prior to the said purchase.

Many people find that purchasing a Disco is a bit like finding the right women, or man to be politically correct.

You will spend ages looking at several types and you will settle on one that you feel will give you the best satisfaction. Mainly concentrating on a descent chassis and good clean bodywork. Many will also insist on a younger fresher face than the older looking ones.

After you have partied with some cash and become part of the relationship you will inevitably be asked to maintain the said women, sorry Discovery. This you won't mind about as you are only a couple of weeks into the experience and still in the honeymoon period.

Unfortunately as time goes by you find that whilst initially eager the vehicle is now more reluctant to provide the same invigorating performance. You will catch yourself looking at it from the side, never head on, and noticing that the arse is a little saggy and the flanks seem more untidy than usual.

Eventually you will discover that it is time to get rid but then again she has always been there for you and after all you have a lot of time and money invested so you then decide to add a few extras, do a little cosmetic work . A lift here new suspension there.

Then once finished you are satisfied to give the old girl a damn good seeing to in the dirty open countryside with a load of strangers looking on and cheering as you merrily get stuck deep in the bush.

God I love the disco

Alternatively you can accept that you are indeed a bender and get a freelander

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It just doesn't get any more eloquent than this.....best reply I have seen in ages. Funny and prophetic....so its a shame but all true.

As an after thought, there is always the limited case that just as you fixed yours up, some hot shot comes along and robs you either by taking away or causing such damage as to put her in a terminal condition.

Excellent! raise: