New Disco, no underseal and useless paint

Just splashed out on my first new car in 30 years motoring - a TDV6 Disco. I got it over my inspection pit this afternoon and was apalled at the lack of rust proofing. I wouldn't mind if it had decent paint on it but it's already peeling off some of the suspension components and starting to rust. Should I hammerite it or underseal it?

you should take it back

Neither, take it back an show the manager and any potential customers that happen to be there.

SHBS said:

Just splashed out on my first new car in 30 years motoring - a TDV6 Disco. I got it over my inspection pit this afternoon and was apalled at the lack of rust proofing. I wouldn't mind if it had decent paint on it but it's already peeling off some of the suspension components and starting to rust. Should I hammerite it or underseal it?

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I wouldn't add any paint or underseal yourself as this may invalidate the rust warranty.

I bought a new Freelander a few years ago and like you was unimpressed with the underbody protection, only had it 2½ years so it became someone elses problem.

Remember looking at a brand new TD5 Disco 11 in Hartwells showroom a couple of years back. Amazed to see that most of the exposed screwheads dotted around the bodywork bore a coating of rust and the thing had never turned a wheel on the road.

New cars don't seem to have underseal as we know it these days, but they do have protection in the body voids with wax and plastic shields in the wheel arches and I believe that zinc paint is now applied electrostatically as a primer.

Seems now a good time to to start Waxoiling the underneath I would not have thought this would invalidate any warranty. Thats what I did back in 1997 and every year since.

Taking the Disco back isn't an option as I bought it through the internet and it came from a dealer 500 miles away - I live in Aberdeenshire. I think I will touch up the dodgy bits with hammerite and keep an eye on it rather than paint everything underneath. I only want to keep it 3 years but I'd like it to be in good nick at the end of the three years.

If you think its an issue with the quality of the vehicle then use your warranty, it's not a dealer issue its down to landrover, any dealer will fix it they will get paid by landrover.

Might want a 3 yr old disco 3 when you come round to sell it and wouldnt want to find it had gone rusty cause landrover hadnt got it right at the start.

I don't think it's exclusive to Land Rover. Loads of new cars are like that especially after a Scottish winter!
Waxoyl/Dinitrol (or the new beforenafter stuff) is the answer!
The Before N After will actually add value to your vehicle...I would pay more for one that's been professionally treated
Before 'n' After - Classic car rustproofing since 1987

BTW, I tried to get mine waxoyled locally "cheaper", and it was a waste of money, I now top up the waxoyl annually myself (when I swap the wheels front-back to make sure tyre wear is even).

The Scottish winter is what I'm worried about. Even with global warming we still get tons of salt on the roads in winter. Before'n'after is a bit far away but I might give the waxoyl a go.