Discussion
As a relative newcomer into the world of the TD5, what am I likely to be letting myself in for?
I've been considering a replacement for my 300 TDi Disco I sold a couple of years ago for some time and have been looking at a P38, but have almost discounted it due to persuasion to the wise on here
I have seen an early 1999 MY TD5 Disco with 150k miles and no service history. It is an ES spec so well specced but the aircon doesn't blow cold air and one of the electric seat backs doesn't work. Apart from these it seems OK. What else am I likely to encounter? I am quite handy with the spanners. How much should I budget for and knock off the asking price?
I've been considering a replacement for my 300 TDi Disco I sold a couple of years ago for some time and have been looking at a P38, but have almost discounted it due to persuasion to the wise on here
I have seen an early 1999 MY TD5 Disco with 150k miles and no service history. It is an ES spec so well specced but the aircon doesn't blow cold air and one of the electric seat backs doesn't work. Apart from these it seems OK. What else am I likely to encounter? I am quite handy with the spanners. How much should I budget for and knock off the asking price?
No history at all? Forget it.
Anything pre-2000 (or was it 2002?) is right in the middle of cracked head territory. It'll keep running fine and just seem to use a bit of coolant, which becomes a lot of coolant, which becomes a cloud of steam at the roadside, especially if it's not been cared - as the missing history would suggest.
Hold off and shop around, there are loads out there, and since D3/4 appeared D2 values have plummeted.
Anything pre-2000 (or was it 2002?) is right in the middle of cracked head territory. It'll keep running fine and just seem to use a bit of coolant, which becomes a lot of coolant, which becomes a cloud of steam at the roadside, especially if it's not been cared - as the missing history would suggest.
Hold off and shop around, there are loads out there, and since D3/4 appeared D2 values have plummeted.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 24th August 18:50
cpas said:
As a relative newcomer into the world of the TD5, what am I likely to be letting myself in for?
I've been considering a replacement for my 300 TDi Disco I sold a couple of years ago for some time and have been looking at a P38, but have almost discounted it due to persuasion to the wise on here
I have seen an early 1999 MY TD5 Disco with 150k miles and no service history. It is an ES spec so well specced but the aircon doesn't blow cold air and one of the electric seat backs doesn't work. Apart from these it seems OK. What else am I likely to encounter? I am quite handy with the spanners. How much should I budget for and knock off the asking price?
I'd give it a very wide berth. There's no shortage of these vehicles about and that one sounds like it could be a very expensive mistake. I've been considering a replacement for my 300 TDi Disco I sold a couple of years ago for some time and have been looking at a P38, but have almost discounted it due to persuasion to the wise on here
I have seen an early 1999 MY TD5 Disco with 150k miles and no service history. It is an ES spec so well specced but the aircon doesn't blow cold air and one of the electric seat backs doesn't work. Apart from these it seems OK. What else am I likely to encounter? I am quite handy with the spanners. How much should I budget for and knock off the asking price?
High milage, chocolate cylinder head with no documented service history (why?), AC not working could quite well be down to a knackered compressor or split pipe / rad (if it just needs a regass why hasn't the seller had it done, it's hardly expensive?).
Unless it's VERY cheap, and you're looking for a potential project/money pit I'd walk.
Thanks for the info and advice.
It's a T-plate but with quite high spec. with leather and a Bose stereo, and later front end (possibly replaced for a reason!!).
It's up for £4k but I was considering offering £3k or slightly over which would allow some 'contingency'. I haven't seen many decent specced ones for this price, just 'S' spec with no air-con or anything nice.
I am looking to spend about £4k for an early one but don't mind spending a bit more for a nice later one.
I am toying with a pre-2001 to avoid the possibility of later FRL hikes but would quite like a post-2002 model with the facelift if the right one comes along.
Did the early ones have head problems then? What year was this sorted out?
It's a T-plate but with quite high spec. with leather and a Bose stereo, and later front end (possibly replaced for a reason!!).
It's up for £4k but I was considering offering £3k or slightly over which would allow some 'contingency'. I haven't seen many decent specced ones for this price, just 'S' spec with no air-con or anything nice.
I am looking to spend about £4k for an early one but don't mind spending a bit more for a nice later one.
I am toying with a pre-2001 to avoid the possibility of later FRL hikes but would quite like a post-2002 model with the facelift if the right one comes along.
Did the early ones have head problems then? What year was this sorted out?
cpas said:
Did the early ones have head problems then? What year was this sorted out?
Yes. The cooling is critical on TD5s. Let the coolant level drop and the crappy nylon locating dowels soften and allow the head to shift and crack. The exhaust manifolds sometimes distort too. LR cylinder heads and their associated gaskets aren't beyond the wit of man (I replaced one in a French hotel car park once) but, the engine will soldier on for quite a while with a cracked head, which just gets worse and worse until it finally lets go by which point it really is knackered. This means a whole new head too (circa £1100) - they have some clever surface hardening on the mating surface which if skimmed will get peeled off leaving a head that might as well be made of cheese. There are a few skimmed TD5 heads around along with a few pioneering types who've skimmed them and reckon they're as good as a new one. Think LR sorted it in late 2000 (not 100% sure)
They don't take too kindly to bit-by-bit tweaking either with remaps, bigger intercoolers and other bolt-on crap.
Overall, a T-plate Disco for £4k is more than a little overpriced, even for a high spec one.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 24th August 22:51
Crossflow Kid said:
cpas said:
Did the early ones have head problems then? What year was this sorted out?
Yes. The cooling is critical on TD5s. Let the coolant level drop and the crappy nylon locating dowels soften and allow the head to shift and crack. The exhaust manifolds sometimes distort too. LR cylinder heads and their associated gaskets aren't beyond the wit of man (I replaced one in a French hotel car park once) but, the engine will soldier on for quite a while with a cracked head, which just gets worse and worse until it finally lets go by which point it really is knackered. This means a whole new head too (circa £1100) - they have some clever surface hardening on the mating surface which if skimmed will get peeled off leaving a head that might as well be made of cheese. There are a few skimmed TD5 heads around along with a few pioneering types who've skimmed them and reckon they're as good as a new one. Think LR sorted it in late 2000 (not 100% sure)
They don't take too kindly to bit-by-bit tweaking either with remaps, bigger intercoolers and other bolt-on crap.
Overall, a T-plate Disco for £4k is more than a little overpriced, even for a high spec one.
Edited by Crossflow Kid on Tuesday 24th August 22:51
edc said:
Based on the agreed sale price of my 97 P38 that sounds very rich even at £3k!
Another option I've got is an N plate P38 TD for around £3k with 100k miles. Has been well maintained by a LR mechanic and has full leather. Seems like a fair price to me but have been warned away from it on here. Decisions decisions!!!Personally if you want a p38 and buy with your eyes wide open then is go for it. I did and it was my first foray into LR ownership proper. It's been a solid and reliable car. Only problem was when a clip was not installed on a coolant hose which then came off. Clip back on refill and all is fine. 10k in 10 months as a commute car so not bad at all. I would say that at the cheap end the body work and leather could be tatty. I viewed about 6 before buying but dozens more on classifieds and haggled hard for nearly 20% off sticker price. I guess lots do have problems or maybe we were lucky. As for anything LR with no history then it has to be super cheap!
Gassing Station | Land Rover | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff