Disco 2 Viewed my first disco, after advice!

Hi chaps,
Viewed my first landrover today. 2004 td5 non sunroof 90K ish on the clock, 2 owners!

So just after a bit of advice, after doing as much reading as possible. Had a good look under the truck, chassis seems OK by the fuel tank from what I can see but then found a small section (realistically maybe cut a 5CM length section out) of the offside rear sill. Is this bad news? Could it be horrific behind the sill or unlikely? This is literally right below the rear door, under the truck, on the side of the sill facing the floor, the sides of the section seem OK. I presume this is called 'the outer sill', sorry for the stupid questions, I don't weld or get involved with bodies at all...

Apart from the truck seemed OK, stiff going into 2nd but maybe that's because I'm used to driving a fiesta?

Interior lights don't work either, nor does the radio..

The truck was owned by the original keeper till 2012, but sadly there's no receipts of any work, literally just the V5 and service book (FSH)

Thoughts? Walk away or?

If it's free, I'd take it, but I'm assuming it has a price. Which is what?

West Slope Rover said:

If it's free, I'd take it, but I'm assuming it has a price. Which is what?

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£4500, which is low compared to others of a similar age and more mileage! Price im not too worried about, more just the fact it may be a rot box or a problematic turd!

There is a reason they make rear quarter-chassis sections available... but realistically, any vehicle of that age is going to start showing problems. If you can weld well...or have access to somebody to do it for you...., then it needn't be a deal breaker

Beneagles said:

There is a reason they make rear quarter-chassis sections available... but realistically, any vehicle of that age is going to start showing problems. If you can weld well...or have access to somebody to do it for you...., then it needn't be a deal breaker

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Thanks for the reply, I know people who can weld, and see repair sections are cheap enough but I didn't know if they can hide more behind the outer sill m, not entirely sure whys it rotten here, maybe a blocked sill drain?

Hi IMO, £4.5K for a Disco with no service record, (stamps in a book dont count!) is too much.
If the last owner couldnt do simple things like interior lights etc then they probably didnt do bigger things.
Notchy gear selection could just be wrong oil, usual DIY mistake, is reverse difficult too?
Mark

To be honest I have no idea of Disco 2 values but 4.5K and it needs welding ? I paid £800 for a very tidy Disco 1 then spent about £400 welding it but its spot on now so you are paying more as its newer and in some peoples eyes better but to me it seems a lot for any vehicle that's rusting.
I would suggest you do your home work on vehicle choice and take some one who knows them well as its a lot on money to spend

Thanks for the replies guys. I suspect the interior light problem is a fuse, as it also runs the radio and interior clock, neither of which work. The cars had some accessories wired in at some point, as there's a couple of holes in the dash where either a switch or light used to be so suspect it's blown a fuse whilst they removed whatever was attached.

I appreciate stamps in the book doesn't necessarily count, but with the original owner having it for 8 years, and having fitted a private plate from day one (done a HPI check) I would imagine the guy looked after it..

As far as price goes, for the mileage and age, and spec actually, it's pretty cheap for a disco 2. Similar models, colour etc with more miles are going for 5-6k.

Reverse gear was ok, was only 2nd. Suspect it's a synchro but a friend who knows a bit about landrovers suggested it's pretty common when the gearboxes are cold..

And u wish to buy a vehicle with an iffy gearbox when cold. There's something wrong even though it may be common so don't accept it.

But I know how problematic landrovers are and appreciate I'm unlikely to find one that's perfect and doesn't have a single problem, common or not..

But based on what you chaps are saying, it's one to stay clear of?

You have a better idea than anyone here - you have seen it..and driven it! You know that any vehicle of that age is going to be a gamble to some extent. If you reckon it is worth the gamble...and don't have the funds or the inclination for a much younger version... then yes...Go For It!
What are weekends for, after all?

Hmm. I am a mechanic by trade (ford tech) but have never got involved with 4x4's.. Owned a fiesta for 5 years and gone everywhere in it and only had to replace wheel bearings.. So swapping to a landrover is making me paranoid!

Spoke to another friend who told me a few more places to check for rot, apparently rear door shuts and boot floor are still a problem even on disco 2's?! Thought that was only the disco 1!

Thanks guys, let's hope all goes well on Sunday, and if I do buy it, that I gets me home, 70 miles away!

If you're unsure and at 4500 I would steer clear; but follow your gut feeling.

Couple of things you could ask the vendor.
Did he know about the chassis rust? If he did has he had a quote to repair it?
Does he have a copy of the last mot? Does it have any advisories?
Would he let you take it for an MOT before you buy it? You pay for the MOT, its a cheap (but not foolproof) check.
If its a turkey walk away, you only lost £45!

What does he say about the gearbox?

If the syncro is going, budget/deduct £1000-1500 for recon box fitted, incl a new clutch

Why is he selling it?
He could have just reached the end of his tether, like quite a few LR owners! And he simply doesnt want to spend anymore weekends working on it!

To state the obvious, when the money is in your pocket, you are in a position of strength.
Its your hard earned (hopefully not borrowed) cash.
I saw my dad buy two sxxt box cars, one from a "very nice and honest" eBay dealer, they were scrapped after 2 weeks! He lost £4K in total, just dont want to see that happen to other people!
Mark

Have a look on the mot history web page.its a government ran site and all you do is type the reg in.

denrr1 said:

Have a look on the mot history web page.its a government ran site and all you do is type the reg in.

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Good call denrr1!
Just did mine! MOT info back to 2007, every pass/fail and advisories!
Mark

Hi mark, thanks for the reply!

The cars from a dealer, so he doesn't know of any problems etc, and I knew more about it than he did. Gearbox job wouldn't be that much, with no labour (as I mentioned above, I'm a mechanic myself) same with the MOT really, I've already had a look at that aspect, and it would deem safe (until I stabbed a hole in the sill). Also, I had already done a MOT check, sadly only shows the most recent one (of which it failed for blowing exhaust, and slight play in front ball joints advised) it now has a full MOT till next October.
Thanks

Hi
It should show MOT,s back to 2007, has it had a plate change? Import from Ireland? If it was an import from Ireland it probably came in as a commercial and the dealer then fitted seats/windows, the V5 should tell you where it started life.

Its the MOT history that will confirm that rather low mileage, hence a premium price, but TBH I think mileage is almost irrelevant on a 10 year old car, its condition and service history.

The dealer will absolutely not commit him/her self to what the condition of the vehicle is. So vague "dont know of issues" etc are all you will get.
Can you tell I don't like dealers!
Do some checking on changing a gearbox, its a heavy lump, BUT think if you really want to buy a car where you already know the gearbox is suspect, add that cost and a few £100 on top for other bits, then see what else is out there for that total amount.
Sorry if Im pressing the point!
Look at buying a project "spares or repairs" from eBay if you want to do some tinkering and build up a decent Landy yourself, then you will really know its condition.
Mark

Car had a plate change when brand new, and reverted back in 2012. Then belonged to a ground maintenance company. Think the reg originated from Yorkshire ish area I seem to remember reading.

I'm not a fan of dealers either, as they don't know anything about the car, it's history, any problems etc. Not after a spares project as its replacing my 'daily' (I have a BMW I race, which the landrover will be toeing once I do my tow licence)

Thanks Mark!

LOL, if you race then you will know all about nights/weekends working on cars!
I was involved in a small way in motor sport in the 80,s A lot of the teams we supplied were owner/driver/mechanic all in one, race day was the only day they were in the car, not under it!
Mark