Disco 2 Does this look like a good buy?

Sorry for all the random “is this a good buy” posts (in various forums) but if it’s not a Defender, I’m out of my depth, and could use a hand.

Nice looking D2 near me, 93k miles...but I don’t know if the price is steep, and the list of things from the MOT checker, whilst a bit long, mostly seem like small things to fix.

This is the vehicle: http://www.yourmotoringworld1.com/u...5-landmark-5dr-7-seats-welwyn-201909031816046

This is the reg: GD04DUU and the MOT checker: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/?_ga=2.28957116.129166470.1568150917-1319910302.1567798938

I don’t know how serious the last advisory “excessive corrosion to front lower bumper support” is?

Anything jumping out from this lot that’s making you want to walk away?

I'll let you know when I pick it up

If not I'll give you fist dibs with a modest price reduction

Looks like a few minor issues which can easily be sorted. However, what else could be wrong which the MOT won't cover?... check it out carefully first.
The corrosion issue you mention shouldn't be a problem unless you are gay....

Sounds expensive to me for one that will need the rear chassis doing soon, going by the advisories

Reading the mot history I dont think thats had a lof of love for a few years now, dont mean its a bad car but needs careful looking at, it is after all 15yrs old.

What I have found over the years with mechs/mot testers is if they see recent mech work/new filers/brakes etc they dont tend to rip into a vehicle, but if they see its not getting any tlc they go to town to cover their arse and lets be honest with an old land rover thats not hard to do if its been abused/ignored.

With an older landrover its whats under the skirt that matters and no matter how posh the frock no knickes is still no knickers.

£3600 with no mot, am i reading this right?

Insane money, walk away. They are going purely on the mileage. The MOT tells you everything you need to know. There are loads more around that have been better looked after, and the miles shouldn't put you off too much.
If it was any good the previous owner would have fixed stuff and got a year's ticket on it. Don't know why anyone would even dream of paying that for an MOT failure!

The same place has another 04 plate with 122k miles on it for £2.5k. MOT history on that seems far better. Might be worth a look.

Bumper bracket is basically a steel tube with brackets at each end. I made a new one myself by cutting the ends off the old piece and welding to new tube, easy fix.
Appears the PAS box is leaking. That’s about £160 for a recon unit, or stupid money for new. Other options are available for a fix though.
Rear chassis legs might look like light corrosion, but I would dig a bit deeper .

Right, I’ve joined a couple of Discovery groups on Facebook - they aren’t especially helpful.

I’m getting rather frustrated with this. I’m being told it has no MOT, so (somehow) is worth maximum £500.

When I explained that the dealer will be attending to the reasons for it failing its MOT (by a third party business, not themselves by the way) and it will actually have an MOT, I get told that doesn’t count either, as a dealer can get an MOT on anything.

I went there today, armed with the buyers guide from this very forum. It ticks all the boxes.

I’ve copied and pasted the last reply I gave to someone who was sort of helpful...he was commenting that the seats are in such good shape because they’d been taken out at some point. The assumption being, it was a works vehicle. Maybe it was, does that necessarily mean it was a builders truck, or misused?

“I went to look over the vehicle again today. I looked over it for a good hour, slowly working my way through each point on a D2 buyers guide from the Landyzone forum.

It ticks all the boxes from that list.

The dealers were happy to just leave me alone with it, and they gave me some trade plates, and I went on a test drive, testing both high and low range.

It’s not just the rear passenger seats that are in good nick, they ALL are, including the drivers and front passenger.

However, there is wear to the gear and handbrake gaiter.

I was on my back for 15-20 minutes, looking over all of the chassis, and apart from the rear step (which I’d take off anyway) and the bar for the front bumper support (which is just a bar and two brackets) there only appears to be light surface corrosion at worst, to the best of my knowledge.

The dealer has booked it in for an MOT on Monday, and the reasons for it failing will be rectified.

My gut reaction is that this is a good vehicle, and I see no signs of misuse, or lack of care - maybe the previous owner got rid of it for legitimate reasons, and the MOT just happens to have expired near that time?

I know it’s a lot of money for a Discovery, but I’m seeing loads of them for sale in excess of £4k?”

Any further thoughts on this then? I’m not getting it for daily use, just as a toy for the weekend, and something I can use for travel in the long-term, so I’m going to pamper it, and have it as a bit of a project.

Good ones are worth £4k plus absolutely. If it feels good go for it. It wont be perfect and its always a gamble, just expect to shell out 20% extra over the first year on various bits. That way you will be prepared for the worst and it may be great.

ronsealdeath said:

Good ones are worth £4k plus absolutely. If it feels good go for it. It wont be perfect and its always a gamble, just expect to shell out 20% extra over the first year on various bits. That way you will be prepared for the worst and it may be great.

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Thank you for this. This forum seems much more supportive and helpful than the various FB groups.

Martin Radoczi said:

Thank you for this. This forum seems much more supportive and helpful than the various FB groups.

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Any changes / additions you would recommend for the buying guide?

Cheers

Martin Radoczi said:

Thank you for this. This forum seems much more supportive and helpful than the various FB groups.

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Fb has its uses, getting sensible answers to sensible questions isnt one of them!

neilly said:

Any changes / additions you would recommend for the buying guide?

Cheers

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There were some things I thought could have been explained in more detail.

I wasn’t 100% sure what a “wastegate actuator” was....so maybe more info in identifying parts. I had no idea where to look for the ACE unit to look for leaks, for example.

I spent a bit of time fiddling with the ORM button, and checking how it works.

Id suggest making the buyers guide like an idiots guide - those who know what they’re looking for, won’t mind; those of us who aren’t so clued up would find it easier.

Otherwise, it was brilliant, and really helpful to me!