Poss looking at buying a Land Rover discovery- any advice/tips?

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xch4r

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We've found a Land Rover discovery for sale and are going to have a look at it, but wanted to see if you lovely lot have any advice or experiences you could share?

It's a p reg Land Rover discovery, 2.5 litre, 300tdi, 180000 miles, manual, diesel from pics it looks in good nick... But obviously we won't know until we see it. Have you got any advice on what we should look out for?

And what do you think about this type of car? It will be used to tow a horse trailer, my little trailer I use in the field to poo pick and weed with, and poss tow my arena grader around the school until my quad is back in action. I currently have a corsa and it just doesn't do what I need it to and my puppy is now too big for it!! My other half wanted a flat bed with a double can but they are super expensive.

On that note what would you say is a good price for this car?

Thanks in advance!
 
I purchased mine 2 years ago and paid just over £2k for it. It only had 103,000 on the clock, FSH, 2 owners and only towed minimally for a year. Interior was very good etc. The mechanics I use are land rovers specialists and said it was a great buy.

I sold my knackered N reg disco for £600. Disco's go on forever but the bodywork doesn't! They are great at leaking and welding becomes very expensive at MOT time!!!!! The back panel (boot area) is an area to check as not cheap to replace. The back door will probably be difficult to open and will have dropped on it's hinges and will need to open with the key as the locks drop. The window mechanisms ****** up and you can get stuck driving round with lots of fresh air.

I would check what welding work it has had done to date as that will give you a clue as to what state it's in. I love my disco's, great for towing and filling up with coats, mud, feed etc. :D
 
My OH is quite high up in the JLR world but designs cars for 4-5 years time. He said he would never buy any Land Rover as they're so unreliable but I do catch him looking at the new discos quite often....
 
Tiarella said:
My OH is quite high up in the JLR world but designs cars for 4-5 years time. He said he would never buy any Land Rover as they're so unreliable but I do catch him looking at the new discos quite often....
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Do you know what he says are unreliable? Want to go in with my eyes fully open!
 
Peregrine Falcon said:
I purchased mine 2 years ago and paid just over £2k for it. It only had 103,000 on the clock, FSH, 2 owners and only towed minimally for a year. Interior was very good etc. The mechanics I use are land rovers specialists and said it was a great buy.

I sold my knackered N reg disco for £600. Disco's go on forever but the bodywork doesn't! They are great at leaking and welding becomes very expensive at MOT time!!!!! The back panel (boot area) is an area to check as not cheap to replace. The back door will probably be difficult to open and will have dropped on it's hinges and will need to open with the key as the locks drop. The window mechanisms ****** up and you can get stuck driving round with lots of fresh air.

I would check what welding work it has had done to date as that will give you a clue as to what state it's in. I love my disco's, great for towing and filling up with coats, mud, feed etc. :D
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Thank you! I will ask to see all service history and mot stuff etc... And will check all of what you've just said. This one is up for £1000, unsure of whether that's expensive or not :\
 
Rust, rust and more rust. Take a hoof pick and prod everything underneath. LR's go on for ever but the bodywork does not! Make sure you lift the carpet/rubber in the boot as they tend to rust through too.

P reg - I'd pay £700-900 for it, it will be fairly knackered. Get underneath it and have a proper poke around, look to see if it's had it's chassis waxed (this is a good thing as helps protect against rust).
 
Custard Cream said:
Rust, rust and more rust. Take a hoof pick and prod everything underneath. LR's go on for ever but the bodywork does not! Make sure you lift the carpet/rubber in the boot as they tend to rust through too.

P reg - I'd pay £700-900 for it, it will be fairly knackered. Get underneath it and have a proper poke around, look to see if it's had it's chassis waxed (this is a good thing as helps protect against rust).
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Thank you, how would I know what it would look like if chassis is waxed? We are taking someone more experienced but I like to know what I'm looking for as well. The photos on the outside look like it's been well looked after but very wary about 'what lies beneath'!
 
I've had my 300tdi for about 7 years. Have never loved a car like I love yolandy!

She has probably had every inch of her welded in the time I've had her, but OH has learnt to weld. OH is also very good mechanically and keeps her going. (He has a disco 1 V8 himself, so shares the love).

Boot floor and sills, rear wheel arches need scrutinising. Engines, if well maintained will last forever, but head gaskets are a problem if they overheat, so have a good look for any signs of overheating. I know if mine is running a millimetre hotter than normal.

Has it got sunroofs? Mine has, and they leak like crazy in heavy rain. Have not solved the problem in all the time I've had her, despite looking at all the usual suspects like blocked drain holes. Have since found out, if roof bars are fitted, as on mine, they can leak around the joins. To get help deal with the problem, have taken out all the soundproofing under my carpets, as it absorbs water like a sponge, and can rot the foot wells etc. Cant say I've noticed much difference in the noise levels, just turn the radio up!

She tows like a dream. Have towed my 16'1 Suffolk cross, and 15'3 cob many miles with no problems. Pulled out muck man when he got stuck in heavy mud coming to take away our muck heap.

I would recommend the Disco every time, but I know plenty of people that wouldn't.
 
75%of Landrovers ever built are still on the road. The other 25% made it home. ;-)

I love mine, it's perfect for towing, moving sofas, carting canines, poo picking. The list is endless. no tips on what to look for apart from rust.
 
TheresaW said:
I've had my 300tdi for about 7 years. Have never loved a car like I love yolandy!

She has probably had every inch of her welded in the time I've had her, but OH has learnt to weld. OH is also very good mechanically and keeps her going. (He has a disco 1 V8 himself, so shares the love).

Boot floor and sills, rear wheel arches need scrutinising. Engines, if well maintained will last forever, but head gaskets are a problem if they overheat, so have a good look for any signs of overheating. I know if mine is running a millimetre hotter than normal.

Has it got sunroofs? Mine has, and they leak like crazy in heavy rain. Have not solved the problem in all the time I've had her, despite looking at all the usual suspects like blocked drain holes. Have since found out, if roof bars are fitted, as on mine, they can leak around the joins. To get help deal with the problem, have taken out all the soundproofing under my carpets, as it absorbs water like a sponge, and can rot the foot wells etc. Cant say I've noticed much difference in the noise levels, just turn the radio up!

She tows like a dream. Have towed my 16'1 Suffolk cross, and 15'3 cob many miles with no problems. Pulled out muck man when he got stuck in heavy mud coming to take away our muck heap.

I would recommend the Disco every time, but I know plenty of people that wouldn't.
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Fab thank you, I'm looking for a workhorse really but don't have a huge amount of disposable income for the initial purchase.. Although I know there will still be ongoing costs, I don't want to be stung due to getting over eager..
How would I tell about the over heating?
 
Never had a landy but if you don't go for this I had a K reg izusu trooper - paid 4k for it maybe 8 years ago and had to spend maybe 2k in the time I had it (sold last year). It towed so nicely and was super reliable. worth a look at something along those lines if you don't go for the disco (although don't touch the 3l engine as they blow up, izusu will replace the problem part if you ask them but personally I'd only go with the 3.1l engine - my cousin is in cars and passed this on when we were looking at it)
 
mynutmeg said:
Never had a landy but if you don't go for this I had a K reg izusu trooper - paid 4k for it maybe 8 years ago and had to spend maybe 2k in the time I had it (sold last year). It towed so nicely and was super reliable. worth a look at something along those lines if you don't go for the disco (although don't touch the 3l engine as they blow up, izusu will replace the problem part if you ask them but personally I'd only go with the 3.1l engine - my cousin is in cars and passed this on when we were looking at it)
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Amazing thank you! I'll have a look at this one tomorrow and be extra vigilant but that's a fab recommendation thank you.
 
Obvious ways to check the head gasket is ok are to look at the oil. If it is milky, water is getting into it. Also, have a good smell in the header tank when it's running and see if you can smell exhaust fumes. I know a little, learning along the way, but can ask the OH in the morning.

Do you do FB? There is a very good group on there called Landrover discovery owners. Lots of help and advice, and most of them a lot more clued up than me.
 
Sounds a bit pricey to me ... We bought a M reg Range Rover (top of the range effort from its day so has huge myriad of mod cons etc which were considered very posh back in the day! Chuckle) with 84000 miles on the clock, mechanically practically new under the bonnet and is a fab work horse (old cosmetic bump and scrape on the door in one place but as its my old work horse I don't care!) and all for 1500 quid. Just something to ponder.
 
TheresaW said:
Obvious ways to check the head gasket is ok are to look at the oil. If it is milky, water is getting into it. Also, have a good smell in the header tank when it's running and see if you can smell exhaust fumes. I know a little, learning along the way, but can ask the OH in the morning.

Do you do FB? There is a very good group on there called Landrover discovery owners. Lots of help and advice, and most of them a lot more clued up than me.
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Yes! I'll go on there now thank you!
 
I sold my M reg disco approx 150,000 miles for £1000 a few months ago. We had people biting our hands off for it. Loved it but had all the usual disco issues of welding in boot floor, all 4 wheel arches, back door hinges, leaking sunroof etc. I've got a Honda CRV now and it feels so ticky tacky in comparison!
 
xch4r said:
Amazing thank you! I'll have a look at this one tomorrow and be extra vigilant but that's a fab recommendation thank you.
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No probs, if it helps I sold my trooper last year for a smidge under 1k, it was showing signs of potentially needing some welding for this years mot (I sold with a full years mot) which was disclosed but otherwise sound. I loved that car and if I need a towing vehicle again will definately go along those lines - I just can't afford a 3.1l engine as a student. It's also a 7 seater although the back seats can be removed. I had the long wheel based version and with the back seats down could fit 9 bales of hay in :-p
The older ones, the trooper, the mitsubishi shogun and the vauxhall frontera are all the exact same car - makes getting bits and pieces from the scrappies much easier.
 
springtime1331 said:
I sold my M reg disco approx 150,000 miles for £1000 a few months ago. We had people biting our hands off for it. Loved it but had all the usual disco issues of welding in boot floor, all 4 wheel arches, back door hinges, leaking sunroof etc. I've got a Honda CRV now and it feels so ticky tacky in comparison!
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Is ticky tacky good or bad? I let my old L reg disco go to a mechanic who fixed up the body work and loved it...
 
Love my Disco, it's fab for towing and also long journeys as you're not cramped and great views all round...
However, It's pot luck on wether you'll get a Friday afternoon job or a slightly more reliable Tuesday morning build!!!
My first was a petrol loving V8 model that was fab..when it wasn't in the garage being sorted out :-((
But my second (once you fall for a LR Disco you are hooked for life...a bit like owning labradors..) is a diesel and much better behaved (reliable)
 
I've just bought an L-reg Disco to match the other current resto project. It's got 140k miles on it and 10 months MOT - £400. The other was similar and was £500.

Rust is a big problem, the ongoing resto project has basically had the front end rebuilt (battery tray, headlight surrounds, inner wings both sides, bulkhead both sides, both A-pillars) and is now waiting for outer sills (both sides), inner sills (both), rear crossmember replacement, boot floor, and there's probably more we'll find along the way. OH is a resto welder and mechanic by trade so this isn't actually costing us anything apart from time and materials - doing this sort of work wouldn't be possible if we were paying someone to do it (OH's labour rate is ~£70ph and it can take a few hours just to weld a small area properly. Just both inner wings would be ~£1k inc new panels). It's also had the gearbox and transfer box rebuilt and replaced, rear axle replaced with one that has had everything replaced with new, suspension upgrades etc.

Unless you have a tame welder I'd avoid personally, or look for a cheaper one. If you can get with 10 months MOT for £400-£600 you can drive it until the MOT is out and then either sell it (probably for what you paid for it) or scrap it.
 
I adore mine (Mr Mainwaring to his friends) ... he has taken me all over the country teaching and riding, he's done yard duties like toppig, harrowinf and rollering, he's pulled broken down cars through floods, pulled lorries out of muddy fields at events and pulled mine home when it broke down (horses off dont worry... get breakdown cover folks!) And we've done some serious off roading too. He's just retired having done in excess of 250k and is enjoying a quieter life on the farm now doing field stuff and emptyig the muck heap. HOWEVER the electrics did go in the end, the doors were all knackered, my oil leaked, and the steering lock got stuck on so I had to manually disemgage it so for the last few weeks I was having to start him wih a screw driver while I sorted out a new car, hence his retirement. It all adds character... but these problems really only started when he reached 250k miles and wanted to retire! I would have another one in a heartbeat!
 
I love mine! Wouldn't have anything else for towing. I'm only selling it because I've got a lorry now, and the Disco just isn't getting enough work to justify keeping it (I have an old Peugeot which I use for work!)

I've always towed with Landrovers of one type or another, I like the Discos best because of comfort really. They tow like nothing's behind them! My current one is an auto, which I wouldn't have chosen, but actually it's fab for towing and if I ever get rid of the lorry I will have another auto Disco like a shot :)
 
We love our Discos. Hubby is a mechanic and won't have anything else for towing. The R reg got very rusty and had to be sold as a non runner for £400. We currently have a w reg but think we will need to upgrade to a three soon.

OP you sound as though you could do with taking your local friendly mechanic with you for a look.
 
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