Disco 2 buying help

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vizsla

vizsla

Active Member
Posts
163
Evening chaps, I'm hopefully going to have a look at one tomorrow, it's a low spec s model like I want so hopefully less to go wrong it's had the air suspension replaced with coils, 130 000 on the clock, 2003 it looks very good so far but was after any tips or things to look for.
I keep reading up but get confused some people say they great and reliable were as others say there terrible and cost thousands!
This will be my first modern type Landy as I'm usually for 300tdi or older but were after something safe and practical being a daddy!
Any help will be great thanks
 
Check over rear chassis legs and by the tank for rot, 3 amigos on the dash lights but with an S there pretty good as you have the least to go wrong and no twin showers other than that its all standard checks but make sure you sniff the dipstick and if it smells of diesel I would walk away im sure someone else will come and tell you other things too good luck there great vehicles if looked after
 
It's a s model but unfortunately it does have sunroofs which I was hoping to avoid, what'd is ace? Air con? If so it has it
 
Oh cheers mate, how troublesome are the basic models I enjoy basic maintenance and tinkering but don't like being stuck on the hard shoulder because of some silly electronic gizmo!
 
They are usually pretty reliable and when things go wrong, you can usually get home and sort it.

If the starter motor just goes click, it's the solenoid connections inside - common problem and if you persist it'll start, but the problem gradually gets more frequent, so telling you it's time to fix it (cheap if you renew the connections, or more expensive if you swap the starter for a new/recon).

If the motor starts "missing" like a petrol engine, it'll likely be oil seeping down the injector harness, but again it'll limp home for you to fettle it. Also pretty cheap. Or it could be just oil and crud accumulated in one of a few items bunging things up affecting performance.

Heads have been known to go, hence the diesel in oil comment above, but that's fairly rare.

So most things are user-repairable and regular maintenance does prevent them. The main thing that you should look for is the chassis at the back. Rot there is terminal and you should treat that as a deal breaker. The bodywork may be excellent. They usually are, but don't be fooled and have a ferret up the back end!
 
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look i have a d2 i treat it like the wife, if its sad i give it a service if it plays up i pamper her, she has been good to me as i service her regular and polish and look after her. Which you get loads of great use and many a fun time. yeah once in a while she will kick u in the nuts but you can't guess every outcome can you. This has seen me have many years of trouble free motoring plus, i'm still married and smiling ;-)
 
Thanks for some great advice, it's a bit of a minefield it seems with newer landies, iv never had a concern with older models including the likes of the turbo diesel, As long as I kept on top of maintainance I had little problems, but now these models are getting old and rare I'm kind of worried about up grading
 
Discovery II TD5 is an excellent vehicle and completely reliable IF properly looked after, apply a preventative maintenance approach.

However, there is one really important aspect to take into account: rear chassis rot. These are not like DI TDi 300, the chassis on the older cars is usually very good. But on DII the rear end of the chassis - from the rear axle to rear crossmember - is rear quite bad for serious rust and crumbling.

They can of course be repaired, or replaced with a galvanised chassis but it'll cost over £3000 fitted.


This is a serious issue so you need to check very carefully.

Good luck

Dave
 
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