What should i look out for 1995 Land Rover Discovery 300tdi?
Discussion
So going to see one of these tomorrow and was hoping for some help in what i should be looking out for.
It's a 1995 Discovery 300tdi 2.5litre, 147000miles, 11 months MOT and 5 months TAX for £1250 ono. Don't know a thing about Land Rovers but we're looking for a second car that's safe, cheap with tax/mot and thought this was worth a look. I do know the boot floor has been welded for last Mot, should that be a concern? How bad is the MPG going to be? What does the 300 stand for?(told you i know nothing about them!) So over to you lot, whats your thought on what i should look out for? Cheers guys.
It's a 1995 Discovery 300tdi 2.5litre, 147000miles, 11 months MOT and 5 months TAX for £1250 ono. Don't know a thing about Land Rovers but we're looking for a second car that's safe, cheap with tax/mot and thought this was worth a look. I do know the boot floor has been welded for last Mot, should that be a concern? How bad is the MPG going to be? What does the 300 stand for?(told you i know nothing about them!) So over to you lot, whats your thought on what i should look out for? Cheers guys.
If it's had a floor, don't waste your time going. It'll be a rotbox.
300TDI is just the engine model. It's a timing belt driven update of the older 200TDI, which is a direct injection update if the old DTurbo, which was a turbocharged version of the old 2.5 diesel, which itself was based on the 2.5 petrol, which is a bored out 2.25 litre out of a 50's Rover P5.
Otherwise, look for rust, gearbag issues, leaky axles, electrical gremlins, more rust.
300TDI is just the engine model. It's a timing belt driven update of the older 200TDI, which is a direct injection update if the old DTurbo, which was a turbocharged version of the old 2.5 diesel, which itself was based on the 2.5 petrol, which is a bored out 2.25 litre out of a 50's Rover P5.
Otherwise, look for rust, gearbag issues, leaky axles, electrical gremlins, more rust.
You guys are all being a bit harsh are you not? Yes, they rust. However, because they rust so much repairs are cheap and well practiced for most mechanics! I have a 200TDi which is about to go up at 1100, the price you mentioned is cheap for a 300. If its had the boot floor welded it may well require replacing long term. Mine has been done, along with rear cross member. Don't buy mine though, its got off road bits and no carpets! Not a family wagon!
OK they rust,but if its had a boot floor then presumably its been patched as requred in the other important places. The only important bits are where the body attaches to the chassis or near seatbelt mounts etc- my Disco had a floor about 8 years ago and has only needed one little patch on a front bodymount since and it gets soundly abused and neglected. The engines are pretty bullet proof with no real difference between 200 and 300tdis,just change the oil and filters once a year. Gearboxes transfer boxes and axles likewise last better if you change the oils occaisionally.
Running costs are pretty low with about 30mpg easily attainable in sensible(not trying to keep up with 3rd lane motorway traffic)use.Parts are unbelievably cheap if you get cheap pattern parts ,I've just ordered a wheelbearing kit off e bay for £8.00 and replaced all 4 glowplugs a couple of weeks ago for less than a tenner,avoid so called specialists who charge almost main dealer labour rates and get very snotty about 'genuine' parts. E-bay is full of people breaking olds Discos and it's worth joinig your local 4x4 club as there will be loads of bearded slightly scary looking blokes who will sell you parts cheaply and help you fit them for a cup of sweet tea and a digstive!
For that money buy it run it for a year and if it gets slaughtered next MOT sell it as a trialler or project for £700, chances are by then you'll have either long given up and sold it or become a Land Rover bore and talk about keeping it forever. Even if I wanted to get rid of mine my wife and kids wouldn't let me,my 18 year old daughter recently announced that our Disco is the only car we own that 'isn't chavvy' !
Running costs are pretty low with about 30mpg easily attainable in sensible(not trying to keep up with 3rd lane motorway traffic)use.Parts are unbelievably cheap if you get cheap pattern parts ,I've just ordered a wheelbearing kit off e bay for £8.00 and replaced all 4 glowplugs a couple of weeks ago for less than a tenner,avoid so called specialists who charge almost main dealer labour rates and get very snotty about 'genuine' parts. E-bay is full of people breaking olds Discos and it's worth joinig your local 4x4 club as there will be loads of bearded slightly scary looking blokes who will sell you parts cheaply and help you fit them for a cup of sweet tea and a digstive!
For that money buy it run it for a year and if it gets slaughtered next MOT sell it as a trialler or project for £700, chances are by then you'll have either long given up and sold it or become a Land Rover bore and talk about keeping it forever. Even if I wanted to get rid of mine my wife and kids wouldn't let me,my 18 year old daughter recently announced that our Disco is the only car we own that 'isn't chavvy' !
There are only 3 types at this age: rusted, rusting or repaired. They'll all have had some remedial work by now or be hopeless MOT failures.
It depends what has been repaired and how well it has been done. There are common spots which go on them all such as boot floor, wheel arches, some chassis members, inner sills, inner front wheel arches etc.
A Discovery with a 12 month MOT is worth about 75% more than one with a 1 month MOT for obvious reasons.
You'll probably have to weld or replace something every year at MOT time but it is part of deal. Lots of places are well experienced in fixing them.
Mechchanically the gearboxes can be weak, headgaskets can go, diff lock can sieze, sunroof leak. The last of the Mk 1's is now approaching 14 years old so looking for a perfect one is a bit of a fools errand IMO and unrealistic.
It depends what has been repaired and how well it has been done. There are common spots which go on them all such as boot floor, wheel arches, some chassis members, inner sills, inner front wheel arches etc.
A Discovery with a 12 month MOT is worth about 75% more than one with a 1 month MOT for obvious reasons.
You'll probably have to weld or replace something every year at MOT time but it is part of deal. Lots of places are well experienced in fixing them.
Mechchanically the gearboxes can be weak, headgaskets can go, diff lock can sieze, sunroof leak. The last of the Mk 1's is now approaching 14 years old so looking for a perfect one is a bit of a fools errand IMO and unrealistic.
I had one for a couple of years.
N reg 300TDI with 320000 miles.
My dad used to run them towing trailers delivering cars. Now has Discovery TD5s
As others have said the rear sunroof is likely to leak.
Sold mine as the boot floor and rear crossmember needed welding (£700 quote). Had to beat off hoards of e-bayers and got a quick £500 with no MOT or tax.
Engine was fine and had never had the head off. Started first time every time.
Gearbox was on its way out though. Only seemed to last about 100000 miles whe towing though!
If it drives ok and isn't damp inside you can't go too far wrong at that price but have to appreciate that you'll have to keep your fingers crossed for the next MOT - and unfortunately be prepared to let it go if terminal rust is found!
N reg 300TDI with 320000 miles.
My dad used to run them towing trailers delivering cars. Now has Discovery TD5s
As others have said the rear sunroof is likely to leak.
Sold mine as the boot floor and rear crossmember needed welding (£700 quote). Had to beat off hoards of e-bayers and got a quick £500 with no MOT or tax.
Engine was fine and had never had the head off. Started first time every time.
Gearbox was on its way out though. Only seemed to last about 100000 miles whe towing though!
If it drives ok and isn't damp inside you can't go too far wrong at that price but have to appreciate that you'll have to keep your fingers crossed for the next MOT - and unfortunately be prepared to let it go if terminal rust is found!
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