Few tips please on Disco 1 300tdi

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johnnytheboy

New Member
Posts
5
Hi There,

I have been browsing about the site looking at a few things here and there trying to pick up some info. I want to get my first landy, I'm going to look at one on Wednesday night.

I havent got piles of cash £1k at the most, which I know isnt going to buy allot but I'm up for a wee bit of work.

The thing is I would rather know what I'm dealing with, any hints or tips on looking at old 140K 300tdi discos???

I got shown around one with body problems, inner arches, sills, rear floor etc so I Know those bits to look for, any other general tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance guys!!!
 
from my experience check EVERYTHING! ;)

Check all the underside for oil splatters, check props for play at each end, check if difs whine, check all body mounts, inner wings, and sills, check oil cap for a milky scum (head gasket fail) swivle ball for pitting/rust, check heaters blow hot and with power behind them..... basically if it moves check its doing it right!
 
When you go, use the following as rough guide

Inspect the areas you have already mentioned
look for leaks, diffs, bell housing, P-Gasket (behind Alternator), PAS pipes, Rocker cover, Diesel pump, As goes the landy saying, if it aint leaking it needs topping up :)
make sure the engine is cold, start her up listen for unusal sounds
Transfer box is a must, check it moves freely from low to high and diff locks as well
Take if for a drive, check gears for clunking 1st - 2nd - 3rd
Make sure is dosent wobble or veer when braking
get both hands round the wheels and check for play in bearings and swivel pins
elecy windows work, back one are prone to go
sunroof if it has them, check for signs of leakage

Sure the friendly peeps will add if ive overlooked anything,
try a search... its been covered before ;)
 
Hi There,

I have been browsing about the site looking at a few things here and there trying to pick up some info. I want to get my first landy, I'm going to look at one on Wednesday night.

I havent got piles of cash £1k at the most, which I know isnt going to buy allot but I'm up for a wee bit of work.

The thing is I would rather know what I'm dealing with, any hints or tips on looking at old 140K 300tdi discos???

I got shown around one with body problems, inner arches, sills, rear floor etc so I Know those bits to look for, any other general tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance guys!!!

It would be a good idea to post what area you or the Disco are in.
You might find that someone who knows a Disco offers to view it with you.

Most things are easy to sort and you might be able to negotiate a better price once all known faults are identified. I'm sure you will fin one or two :rolleyes:

Good luck and don't forget to post some photo's of your purchase!
 
I'm in falkirk, viewing the disco in Fife tomorrow night.

Thanks so for for the tips, for the money I have i'm not going to get much, but after my last mistake with a gwagen that was rotten out i think i will check this one over to make sure i dont get stung again.

I looked at my friends disco with him and got a few landrover mags, and i'm quite impressed with the price of spares, as long as it doesnt need anything major im up for abit work!!
 
There are some good ones out there for the money.

I've just bought a P reg 300 TDi, 7 seat, 122k on clock, 2 owners, last one for 4 years who was an absolute LR nut. The thing has been serviced to death, all the usuals dealt with (EGR, spider valve etc etc), even got a set of front and rear pads, bag of new bushes, and 2 new monroe shocks for the front as these were his next service items on his list. Dont need doing, i just think he liked working on the car than being in the house with his missus :)
Taxed till September, MOT till December. Genuinely drives like new, not so much as a light bulb not working, all for the sum of £1200.
I didnt even haggle him, it was too good to let go.

And he cried when i drove away in it :) no honestly, he did.

So take your time, there are plenty about, and dont accept someone elses shed.
 
I have an old 93 Disco 300 and I would stake my life on her. The chassis is great but the body is failing a little. My advice is drive it. It should drive, stop and corner very cleanly for a two ton lump. If it doesn't then walk away. Apart from a slightly noisy engine at low revs and painfully slow acceleration there should be no bangs, knocks, pulls or anything untoward, if there is, walk away. Check the water in the expansion bottle, if there is anything in there beside clean anti freeze and water, walk away. An early 300 is about as simple as a car gets. A monkey with a wrench can service and look after it. If there is something wrong with it, it will be cheap to fix, but if it doesn't drive perfectly, walk away. I have just spent £400 on an injection pump rebuild for mine. I never, for a second, considered scrapping it. I can guarantee she will be working hard for me, daily, in 2 or 3 years time. A much better work horse than a TD5 disco 2. Not as good a drive though.
 
i've just brought my 1st disco a 300tdi 5 speed 163t 6mths mot and tax,some service history better than average condition for £975 if that helps but do check underneath for leaks as mine has one nearc the transfer box!!
 
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