Reliability of the Disco 2's

LandyBuzz · Feb 27, 2024

Hi All,

Some friends and I are looking to take a roadtrip from the UK to Japan, and have been trying to find the perfect vehicle for the job. I am a huge landy fan and would love to buy a defender but sadly they are a little out of the trip budget. I have however found a 1995 Disco 2 , 2 door in France (we wanted something LHD). The car has had 2 owners, and has a complete service history - the owner has sent me many a video, and there appears to be no rust underneath, it has done 250k km (155k m) and all looks pretty neat on the inside. I was wondering if anyone had any pointers of anything I should be looking out for, or if theres a better landy i should be looking for. Any comments or advice much appreciated, for reference the sale price is circa £5k. TIA - LB

Henry_b · Feb 27, 2024

1995 will be a D1...

Rust is the killer, and as for the trip i'd recommend an aeroplane

Stanleysteamer · Feb 27, 2024

Speaking as a person who has both a TD5 Disco 2 and a 300tdi Disco 1, and having used both for long trips towing, I'd go with the 300tdi every time, as regard reliablilty and being able to fix it in the middle of nowhere.
There is a good reason why the Army stopped buying Landies after the 300tdi. May just be urban myth but I bet reliability had something to do with it.
Only things I have ever had to fix on the Disco 1 were the fuel lift pump and the diesel return pipes, whereas the list of stuff that has gone wrong on the TD5 is endless.

Stanleysteamer · Feb 27, 2024

Henry_b said:
1995 will be a D1...

Quite. Wonder who told him otherwise? :stars:

Stanleysteamer · Feb 27, 2024

Would a '95 be a 200tdi? Dunno as mine is a '98.

sierrafery · Feb 27, 2024

'95 with 2 door i doubt it can be 200tdi but it's certainly not a D2 ... let's hope it's not with the petrol Mpi engine, too bad that the OP didnt provide enough info

LandyBuzz · Feb 27, 2024

Henry_b said:
1995 will be a D1...

Rust is the killer, and as for the trip i'd recommend an aeroplane

Cheers for the reply, so no rust would indicate all good? On the back of the car it says discovery 2, and it is a 3 door. My only guess would be maybe the seller has the year incorrect?

LandyBuzz · Feb 27, 2024

sierrafery said:
'95 with 2 door i doubt it can be 200tdi but it's certainly not a D2 ... let's hope it's not with the petrol Mpi engine, too bad that the OP didnt provide enough info

Its a diesel Disco 2 from the photos, the original owner could have got the year wrong? What are your thoughts on the diesel disco 2's please?

LandyBuzz · Feb 27, 2024

Stanleysteamer said:
Speaking as a person who has both a TD5 Disco 2 and a 300tdi Disco 1, and having used both for long trips towing, I'd go with the 300tdi every time, as regard reliablilty and being able to fix it in the middle of nowhere.
There is a good reason why the Army stopped buying Landies after the 300tdi. May just be urban myth but I bet reliability had something to do with it.
Only things I have ever had to fix on the Disco 1 were the fuel lift pump and the diesel return pipes, whereas the list of stuff that has gone wrong on the TD5 is endless.

Cheers mate, thanks for the reply

Western Slope Rover · Feb 28, 2024

I wouldn't trust a 95 Disco on a trip like that. No way. No how.

Stanleysteamer · Feb 28, 2024

Western Slope Rover said:
I wouldn't trust a 95 Disco on a trip like that. No way. No how.

Have you ever read "the Last Overland?"

Kev12 · Feb 28, 2024

There are no 2 door D2s so it must be a D1

Western Slope Rover · Feb 28, 2024

Stanleysteamer said:
Have you ever read "the Last Overland?"

No, but I've had 3 Land Rovers.

Stanleysteamer · Feb 28, 2024

Western Slope Rover said:
No, but I've had 3 Land Rovers.

I've got 3, all Discos, and I'd go anywhere in the 300tdi.
But in "The last overland" one of the very first Series 1s was driven from Singapore to Oxford. Trying to reverse the story of The First Overland, back in 1955, (I think) where two of the first Series 1s were driven from Oxford to Singapore.
Both are really great reads. The first one especially proved exactly what a basic Series 1 could do.

And the Series 1 that did the last overland was one of the two that did the First Overland.
Amazing!!

MJI · Feb 28, 2024

Need an under bonnet photo.

They are not unreliable as such but need good maintenance .

If you get it drive around for a few weeks and sort out any issue.

Biggest risk is not mechanical reliability, but other things like perishing hoses.

Anaconda · Feb 28, 2024

Before buying something it is always wise to find out what you are actually buying.
Sounds like you and the seller have no idea at the moment.

landowner · Feb 28, 2024

Mine was an 03 and looked nice but rusting badly when I sold it

LandyBuzz · Feb 28, 2024

MJI said:
Need an under bonnet photo.

They are not unreliable as such but need good maintenance .

If you get it drive around for a few weeks and sort out any issue.

Biggest risk is not mechanical reliability, but other things like perishing hoses.

Thanks very much for your help, i have attached an under bonnet photo and a few others! Any comments very happily taken!

MJI · Feb 28, 2024

D1 not D2

LandyBuzz · Feb 28, 2024

MJI said:
D1 not D2

Okay cheers, very strange to have D2 on the car in 3 different spots then. In mechanical terms, all looks decently sound underneath?

Reliability of the Disco 2's

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