new to it all

hi there everyone my names david and im going to view a 2001 disco td5 auto tomorrow with 97000 miles on it , is there any thing that i should be looking out for on these? im quite mechaniclly minded but i recon you lot will know a whole lot more than me on these.
any replies will be appreciated.
david

Rust, rust and rust. take a screwdriver with you and have a bloody good prod all over.

:welcome2: If you've got a sense of humour you'll get on well in here.

what the noob says n welcome
yer wid be better getting adefender though

i do like the fneders as you call erm but i gotta drag a mobile hoose and the ball and chain and the mutant around the country so i wanted some thing with a little comfort. leaving the mondeo club and saying hello to the new world of landy's

r the engines good for a couple of hundred thou? what about electrics? are the auto's any good?

I bought my first Discovery 2 a couple of months back - year 2000 and it has 105,000 miles on it and full landrover service history.

My views from research and as another newbee are that the Disco 2 is a good buy. They are less prone to rust in the boot and rear arches than the Disco 1 but still check everywhere.

In particular I suggest you look for:

1) Rust in bodywork particularly rear boot and cills - check the carpet all over for damp. The sunroofs are notorious for leaks. The rubber seals harden, the joint between the plastic sunroof frame and the metal roof is factory sealed with mastic and that hardens and fails with age and the sunroof was designed to catch water passing the rubber seal and then pipes it out via rubber hoses hidden behind the headlining and bodywork. The area where the pipes join to the plastic drip tray which in turn is mastic sealed (plastic to metal) fails and voila another leakage source. All of this is hidden from view behind the headlining.

Tell tale signs of problems will be wet headling, or stains on the headlining, wet carpets in front footwells and rear load area, sunroof handles removed, or fuses taken out on electric roofs to conceal the roofs have been stuck shut with mastic etc.

If you search this forum and google you will find the best method of fixing this problem and although it involves stripping the headlining and much interior out it is a fairly easy job with patience on a nice sunny day and the problem can be fixed. The longer part is drying out the interior!

2) Good service history in particular usual oil and filter changes and look for leaks on the drive where it has been parked.

3) If 7 seater with air rear suspension make sure the car has not sagged at the back and sits level. Air suspension bags are replaceable as diy but cost a fair few bob.

4) Check that it also runs up to mid range temperature. Mine doesn't so I am about to change th water temp stat. Not expensive but a little awkward to access so worth negotiating on. My wife prefers warm air heating!

I also chose the auto because it works well with the TD5 engine is relaxing and for someone who tows occassionally rather than regularly it copes fine and avoids the input shaft wear problems of the manual.

Mine is a TD5 GS 7 seater. The kids and dog love the 7 seats. I love the pulling power when shifting tractors and other heavy plant and it drives very well in my case with the ACE active corner suspension system.

Good luck. If you have decent car maintenance skills don't be put off by the reliability reports. If you buy a good one they are great vehciles and can be fixed using online help and tips without recourse to landrover dealers and their prices!

Jer

the list is long with a discovery....and even longer with a TD5 lump fitted.....but being mechanicly minded il spare you the obvious things to check.....in a nutshell,under the boot floor carpet...sills...inside rear door arches...inner front wings/bonnet slam panel....engine wise check for diesel in the oil...and your normal engine checks,...then check everything electrical.......and i mean everything!! EVEN A KEY FOB CAN COST A BOB OR TWO....check the suspension raises/falls if your on air and park it a few times on different angles to see if it sinks with engine off...try your low range...check the central locking on every door.....every window.....sunroof.....ive no idea what model your veiwing but the top of the range ones have everything...that little climate control box on the dash...well that alone is £1000 so thatl give you an incentive to check everything is working.......the good news though is that so long as you stay away from veg oil/biodiesel then you should be okay.....buy a goodun and look after it and they arent bad vehicles but buy a baddun and oh boy will you need deep pockets.

wow you two seem too know your stuff on these i feel like a 36 yeasr old apprentice,
im going to use the disco to pull my mobile hoose every other month and shopping on a sat , ill have a good go at any thing diy so as long as it aint that expensive bring it on , its been a long time since ive been stuck out on the drive under a car,
do the autos suffer any usuall defects?

whizz114 said:

hi there everyone my names david and im going to view a 2001 disco td5 auto tomorrow with 97000 miles on it , is there any thing that i should be looking out for on these? im quite mechaniclly minded but i recon you lot will know a whole lot more than me on these.
any replies will be appreciated.
david

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:welcome: to LZ

i wouldnt like to make a call between auto/manual....both can give probs as with any make of car...the world is full of used discoverys.....there everywhere from private sales to main dealer outlets and at the moment prices are lower than jane goody so go and veiw a few others and look them over very carefully......find a goodun and your half way there.......youl be 'all the way there'when you se the light and change it for a defender lol

wow thanx for the warm welcome its been graet tonight a few stella a bottle of wine and talk about cars any one got any tattoos?

swamp donkey i really like your stile keep on pushing.
my brother out law has a 19something (really old ) defender and a 2006 model and i like them but there not quite what im looking for at the mo but ay who know what the future brings i might change my fun sponges mind about landy's and she might let me have anothe for off roading

whizz114 said:

wow thanx for the warm welcome its been graet tonight a few stella a bottle of wine and talk about cars any one got any tattoos?

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yep complete arm sleeved from wrist to shoulder blade

i call her the fun sponge coz she sucks the fun outta everthing . god dam women

disco71 welcome .
ive got a full sleave and working in the other arm the pain is sooooo addictive

twas only teasing.....the discos a great truck too,in many ways its better than a defender(but i wouldnt say that in here)...just look carefully before you buy,then once youve got the one you decide on then its only your imagination/pocket that limits what you want to do with it

rust ,water leeks if its got a sunroof ,more water leeks if its got 2 check the carpets and sound deadening under the carpets ,if you check for rust first check everything else then check for rust again its surprising how quick they rot

yeah ive got a few ideas id like too do like nitrous ,lowering kit, big bore exhaust, tinted windows.

your the first person ever to come in here and say they want to lower a disco..............most want to lift em so high the red arrows divert around them!

pimp my disco