Life Span

I have a 98 SI disco ( 300tdi) with 141000 miles, I've replaced the clutch (100k) the headgasket / waterpump (138k). I know that any vehicle can go on forever, with maintenance ability of many of you lads, however I'm not handy with spanners ( I'm an oil and fuse changer only ) and I'm looking to start saving for my next LR. Since I bought the disco with 89k miles its cost me on average £ 750 per year in professional maintenance, I'm hoping to budget around this ammount up to 175k miles when I feel she'll be due for write-off. Am I realistic in this budgeting or for example do you think I've yet to get gearbox trouble at 160k or do you think 175k if a fair life span for a disco?

Well it ain't unknown for a TDi engine to go for 250k+ miles before its ineed of a rebuild, but then again someone who drives it badly could bring that down to a much lower millage.

Key thing with landys is the metal work, i.e chassis and shell. Engines are cheap and easy to strip/rebuild and gearboxes aint that expensive if you go to the right place. If the chassis is still solid and you've kept the tin worm at bay then as long as you look after the mechanics you should be able to reach 200k easy i would of thought. but like i said, depends on what kind of life its had really.

i saw an M reg, (so '94 i think) 300tdi a few months back with 874k miles on it. no ****, the chassis was fooked and the engine sounded like a bucket of bolts but it went...

I should say that I pull a horse box for about 20 weeks of the year with two horses ( about 3 ton in total ) into some ****ty fields, so this lady works hard, its a good piont munster about the chassis, I've noticed some rust on the rear wheel arches and touch them up with a hammerite treatment ( p****** in the wind?) but what more could be dobe to preserve the chassis?

Waxoil is the most popular choice, but obviously if your starting to have rust problems already then they need to be repaired before you waxoil or all you'll be doing to 'hiding' the rust if you get what i mean.

wheel arches are common rust areas for the disco, so are the rear crossmember, bulkhead and engine bay supports around the base of the radiator.

My 200tdi (J reg) has 237,000 miles on and still seems to be quite fit - body is looking a bit ropey in places but somehow chassis is still fairly good.

At work we run a fleet of 12 defenders (from h reg up to 07 reg) and they all get the same treatment every year - steam clean and underseal. seems to work for them.

I have 171,000 on my H plate disc, just done the head and the engine looks in bloody good nick for its mileage , so yea 175k should be easy. Just as long as you look after it it will you

116k miles on a TD5. Barely run in I guess. Oil consumption now about 1 litre between services. Metalwork still top notch, as I had it waxoyled three years ago. I'm hoping this is only ~halfway thru it's life. I've owned it from new and can't be bothered swapping it!
Just had 116k service, £270 included all filters and new oil seals on rear diff.
Serviced at 104k, nothing but oil & labour.
A few issues at ~92k (a couple of oil seals, and a new starter motor).

Can't complain! Great service from a fantastic vehicle.

PS Still on original front brake pads/disks
PPS Rear pads/disks swapped 6 weeks ago for 1st time!
PPPS Original tyres to 70k miles. BFG's now done 45k miles and no signs of wear, maybe they'll outlive 70k miles like the originals!

Thanks lads, thats all very encouraging about the mileage but with regards wax oil whats the deal? Is it never too late to get it done or should the chassis be treated for rust first?

phoenix said:

Thanks lads, thats all very encouraging about the mileage but with regards wax oil whats the deal? Is it never too late to get it done or should the chassis be treated for rust first?

Click to expand...

depends if your going to have a go yourself or take it to a garage.

a garage will be expensive but some places will give you a guanentee for a certain amount of times/miles etc.

if you do it yourself make sure its super clean, and that it is bone dry.

Re Waxoyl..great info on here:
Before 'n' After - Classic car rustproofing since 1987