2003 disco2 w/ 300tdi R380 conversion, good buy?

Hi,

I live in the States and came across a very nice looking disco 2 with a 300tdi engine conversion with R380 5 spd transmission. the whole vehicle looks nice and customized inside and out and from what I have read the 300tdi is a pretty bomb proof engine, but on a whole I am pretty ignorant on range rovers and a little confused on these vehicles reliability. In the US it seems all the reliability complaints are related to the V8 gas engines, which wouldn't be an issue with this disco. But are there other issues with these trucks? reading the forums it sounds like they can be headaches with lots of little things falling apart? What could I expect with reliability and maintenance with this vehicle if I choose to buy it?
it has 90K miles on the body and 50K on the engine and trans. Owner claims to get 25 US MPG (~30 UK MPG), I would lower it from the current 5" lift to something like 1-2" and probably put on skinnier tires to help increase fuel economy.

Good buy?


Thanks

300's were the last "non computerised" engine LR fitted and as such are pretty simple to work on. I just scrapped a 300tdi discovery with 226k on the clock. engine and gearbox were still running perfectly.

In the UK disco2's suffered chassis rot. But we put salt on our roads in the winter.. I'd say it's a good buy and 30mpg (Uk) is achievable but 27/28 is more realistic for day to day driving.

Thanks, good to know about the chassis rot, I live in Utah so we have no shortage of salt. apparently the owner put rhino liner on everything so hopefully it is pretty well protected. I do like the fact that it is a 'simple engine' without all the modern smog, urea and engine management. It does come with a nice edge engine monitor.
What about the timing belt, what interval does it need changing and is it an easy job, or is it like my audi that requires you to take half the car apart and special tools to get to it?

willymcd said:

Thanks, good to know about the chassis rot, I live in Utah so we have no shortage of salt. apparently the owner put rhino liner on everything so hopefully it is pretty well protected. I do like the fact that it is a 'simple engine' without all the modern smog, urea and engine management. It does come with a nice edge engine monitor.
What about the timing belt, what interval does it need changing and is it an easy job, or is it like my audi that requires you to take half the car apart and special tools to get to it?

Click to expand...

Doing a timing belt on a TDi 300 is easy-peasy. You can do it without any special tools, but I would advise you to get a set of locking pins as it makes the job easier and more secure.

Timing belt interval according to LR is 72,000 or 6yrs, but most of us would do it much sooner, say 36,000mls or 3yrs. It's easy cheap insurance, if you understand what I mean.

A quality timing belt kit will cost you the equivalent of £35+tax such a s this one:

TIMINGKIT300L | Timing Belt Kit - 300TDI later type

Good luck with your new purchase, she looks a peach.


Dave

willymcd said:

Thanks, good to know about the chassis rot, I live in Utah so we have no shortage of salt. apparently the owner put rhino liner on everything so hopefully it is pretty well protected. I do like the fact that it is a 'simple engine' without all the modern smog, urea and engine management. It does come with a nice edge engine monitor.
What about the timing belt, what interval does it need changing and is it an easy job, or is it like my audi that requires you to take half the car apart and special tools to get to it?

Click to expand...

The chassis rear-half rots from the inside out, so the Rhino stuff (unless it was sprayed into the chassis box sections) won't protect it, but it might cover up a whole load of sins !!!

Great looking truck, and like the man said, the 300tdi is pretty bombproof. It's also easy to fix when it does go wrong, so GO FOR IT!

What do you Americans call the fuel you use to cook on? Other than electricity or coal/wood. You know the flame on the hob in the kitchen?

Do they have hobs and kitchens? I dunno these foreign languages!

Bbq?