Purchasing a Disco :)

Hi all. Am going to be purchasing a Disco soon, got a few people on the look out for one for me. I currently drive a Transit van (Old school Smiley MK5 Di) but, need more than 3 seats and have always fancied a Disco so...

I'm competent with mechanics, but not so with welding (odd that, seen as i drive a Dagenham rust bucket!)

I need to keep running on WVO/SVO so im guessing anything TD4/5 (did they do a TD4 disco?!) is out of the question, or am i wrong?

I was looking at the really old Discos, with the TDi engine. Are they Bosch pumped and suitable? I searched the forum here but only seemed to find old threads that I didnt want to re-ignite.

Also, what else should I look out for? Any common rust places, or engine bits to watch for? Im also thinking Auto vs Manual for transmission.

Sorry for all the questions :/ Im sure once I get the vehicle and start to learn about it then I will repay all the questions by answering some for others

Cheers

Kev.

Disco 1, ie the 200/300tdi or v8, very common rust spots are, wheel arches, sills, boot floor, inner wings, rear cross member I thinks, disco 2 bodywork is said to be better but chassis is more prone to rust.

All landrover sun roofs leak, just lift the (hopefully dry) carpets and see what's there, or not there

Engines, depends what you want the car for, off road use 200/300 is generally preferred, but for towing and daily drive disco 2 td5 is usually preferred, even though 200 or 300 will tow no probs

Brill, looks like it will be a Disco1 then as as far as I can see the TD5 engine doesn't like the Veg oil

Am used to driving my old Transit Di so anything is going to seem a luxury compared to it

Good luck with the hunt! I just bought a 300 Tdi in excellent nick. I'll be treating a couple of spots where rust has started to show through, bulkhead top outer corners (inside engine bay) and wheel arches. I'm sure I'll find more once I start pulling off trim and wielding the wire brush but I'm getting this one to keep so better prevent it now.

Fingers crossed I may have found one locally that is in "great condition"... yeah will see when he actually lets me look at it

Hopefully will sell the van monday so the hunt can really begin

KevAmiga said:

Fingers crossed I may have found one locally that is in "great condition"... yeah will see when he actually lets me look at it

Hopefully will sell the van monday so the hunt can really begin

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When you go to look at D1's do make sure you lift all the carpets so you can get at the metal, to check for rust.

The outer sills are hidden by plastic covers so you won't be able to get at them and they WILL have holes, but are an easy repair. The inner sills however are accessible to check.

Also take a good look at the bottoms of the A, B and C posts ( very prone to rust).

All of this is repairable, you just need to get a MIG welder and start practising - you WILL need it !!!!!

Good luck in your search,

Dave

Cannot stress enough about rusty boot floor and pillars being sound. Rust repair is a pain and all disco 300s will have some. Spend £2k on a nice one. I tried to achieve that but still found holes when I got home! Still, just buy one with solid boot floor and sills. Other repairs are easy even gearbox out etc.... good luck

"Rust repair is a pain and all disco 300s will have some". Not all, mine doesn't but then I've only done 43000 miles in it.

discool said:

"Rust repair is a pain and all disco 300s will have some". Not all, mine doesn't but then I've only done 43000 miles in it.

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Its not a real disco then