TD5 Purchase Help Needed!

Guys I need your help!
I’ve been running a Disco 300TDI for about 7 years and this year the MOT has finally killed it. I am in absolute turmoil about what to replace it with, be it a small economical hatch back or a Disco TD5.

I’ve found a 03 TD5 at a local dealer, it looks nice, drives will and the price seems about right……BUT it’s had 5 previous keepers and yes, its wet underneath (oil). The dealer said if you want a Landrover that doesn’t leak oil, buy new! Fair enough I thought but £9K is a lot of money for me, especially if its going to drop oil on my drive.

I’m now in such a state I’ve gone and put deposits down on two cars, a Suzuki Swift and a Disco TD5! :doh:

In short, are Disco 2’s affordable to run? Do I believe all the horror stories?

Many thanks,

John.

sounds a bit steep pricewise.

whats the 300 failed on?

nrgserv said:

sounds a bit steep pricewise.

whats the 300 failed on?

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Boot floor, wheel arches and sills, plus a few other things, been told it'll cost 2K to put back on the road.

The Disco 2 had done 68,000 miles but had had 5 owners and is only an 03 - ???

nice mileage, but 5 owners in 7 yrs...

Kernow nige said:

nice mileage, but 5 owners in 7 yrs...

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…exactly, that is my dilemma - I was meant to be picking it up tomorrow as well :doh:

John W H said:

…exactly, that is my dilemma - I was meant to be picking it up tomorrow as well :doh:

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Keep looking John, even if it means buying a cheap runaround just to keep you mobile.

£9000 is a serious chunk of money and imo opinion fair to much to pay for a 5-owner 2003 car. Should be more like £6000.

Keep looking, take your time.

Are you handy with spanners and do you feel like working on cars? Discoverys are great vehicles but to get the best out of them you need to apply a 'preventative maintenance' approach which means being much more pro-active than with a modern hatchback.

The choice is yours of course, but if you don't need a heavy 4-wheel-drive, don't buy one.

Good hunting

Dave

At 9K I would want it without the oil leak. I don't care if it's a Land Rover. Fact is that it can be repaired.

I've got one on my 03 and I intend to get it fixed. Trouble is that it's the main crank case bearing so it's going to cost me £300 or thereabouts.

If he's making that kind of mark up on a car £300 is well worth spending IMO.

and yes, its wet underneath (oil). The dealer said if you want a Landrover that doesn’t leak oil, buy new! Fair enough I thought but £9K is a lot of money for me, especially if its going to drop oil on my drive.

John.[/quote]

My 03 cost the same back in febuary this year and had 98000 on the clock, and is as dry as a bone underneath. For 9k tell them you want the leaks done.
Its had a few owners so is there any service history, it may show if its been a problem car
Mark

For 9k it would need to be dry and mint. HPI checked etc. Be interested to see the V5. Has it been "in trade" a lot sold by dealer to dealer ? Keep looking, they are out there. Took me a long time to find mine!

Many thanks for the feed-back guys, much appreciated! I used to be a mechanic at my fathers garage so I’m handy (ish) with the spanners. I’m Landrover through and through - started off with a series 3 pick-up, then had a 110 ex army Defender, then an ex army 90 LHD Defender and lastly my 300 TDI which I loved! I really don’t want to ‘change brands’ and go the sensible hatch route.

I feel under pressure as the MOT has run out, and got a hire car at the moment - however its refreshing to know that DRY landrovers do exists, maybe I should keep on hunting!

Here is a top tip. I may be dissed off for this if second hand 4X4 guys monitor this in Spain. Look at WWW. SUR IN ENGLISH.COM. Lot of people bring Landys over here. RHD !! Lots of things happen and they try and sell them for nothing. Spanish MOT rules prevent them from registering them. Its a minefield. If you factor in the cost of a flight, free holiday and a deal. You will find a bargin. I have looked at 2 RR tonight. F""K I would buy them now!! But RHD !! worth a punt, and you can stay at my place. Just dont drink my beer.

My '99 TD5 GS 5 seat is for sale if you're interested! Only 108,000 miles and i'm the second owner! Less than half the money of that '03 aswell!

TD5ilver said:

My '99 TD5 GS 5 seat is for sale if you're interested! Only 108,000 miles and i'm the second owner! Less than half the money of that '03 aswell!

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how much

bet its RHD.. !"!!!!!!!!!!

Up-date, going to keep my 300TDI, found someone who will do the welding for £600!

TD5ilver said:

My '99 TD5 GS 5 seat is for sale if you're interested! Only 108,000 miles and i'm the second owner! Less than half the money of that '03 aswell!

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thinkin of sellin mine too

The dealer is a cock. "if you don't want wet buy new". What a load of old ****e. My W reg is dry as a bone underneath, proper maintenance works!!!

Good job on getting the welding done though, I think its a shame when an old car is scrapped.

Thats too much money !!

This whole episode has cost me a fortune! Started off with the ‘Landrover specialist’ quoting me the £2000 for just the welding - that threw me big-time and panicked me into looking for a TD5, found one and put a deposit down, then thought better of it and went the ’small car route’ and put a deposit down on that! All in all I’m £650 down, you live and learn! :doh:

John W H said:

This whole episode has cost me a fortune! Started off with the ‘Landrover specialist’ quoting me the £2000 for just the welding - that threw me big-time and panicked me into looking for a TD5, found one and put a deposit down, then thought better of it and went the ’small car route’ and put a deposit down on that! All in all I’m £650 down, you live and learn! :doh:

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For which im sure wudve paid fer the welding shud someone else have done it and not a garage