Making my 1994 200tdi reliable

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Baker556

Member
Posts
68
Hi all,

D1 200tdi been sitting probably 5 years now (failed MOT on rust), about to get some of this sorted.

I'd like to make it reliable to get around the M25 towing etc.

What are the main things for help make this run better, already covered off the usual full service etc, should I look into any of the following and possibly more:

- Thermostat?
- Cambelt/belts
- Gearbox oil
- Brake fluid done
- Brake lines done
- Rear shocks done
- Fuel pump? This had some issue around 7 years ago a garage sorted it at the time
- Glow plugs no idea when these were last replaced

Rust on the rear body mounts are about to be looked at.

She is old year 1994 with 220k miles on it mostly motorway miles, this has been in the family since brand new (never been off road).

Or another option, sell her and buy a Honda CRV for the reliability aspect?

Any thoughts, greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
Wash your mouth out with the Honda crv 😂. I’m looking to do similar to be honest to one of similar mileage. I’m restoring one at the moment but have got a commercial to take the beating of shifting stuff about and general duties instead of my daily getting abused.

Lots of people on here have run them for years so they’ll chip in hopefully. In addition to your list of what I intend though:

Water pump (oem spec!) p gasket, fuel lines, fuel pump - lift and main, not sure if people do HG as a matter of maintenance?, silicone coolant pipe kit and a low coolant alarm.
I’m going to put a fresh alternator on also, UJs, bearings including stub axle seals, swivels/seals. A lot for the former could be done as and when you notice weeps etc. check leak off pipes, power steering hoses, oil cooler hoses, brake lines, transfer weep etc.

At high mileage I’d be looking at getting the injectors refurbed or even buying a spare set for refurb that you could swap over one day.
My resto build is having rebuilt pump and refurbed injectors but that’s a fresh rebuild that I’ll be going ocd with.

Rust is the killer mate and will creep up on you. It’s such a bastard. I’d ensure you’ve dealt with it thoroughly before putting money into it 👍🏻
 
resto_d1 said:
Wash your mouth out with the Honda crv 😂. I’m looking to do similar to be honest to one of similar mileage. I’m restoring one at the moment but have got a commercial to take the beating of shifting stuff about and general duties instead of my daily getting abused.

Lots of people on here have run them for years so they’ll chip in hopefully. In addition to your list of what I intend though:

Water pump (oem spec!) p gasket, fuel lines, fuel pump - lift and main, not sure if people do HG as a matter of maintenance?, silicone coolant pipe kit and a low coolant alarm.
I’m going to put a fresh alternator on also, UJs, bearings including stub axle seals, swivels/seals. A lot for the former could be done as and when you notice weeps etc. check leak off pipes, power steering hoses, oil cooler hoses, brake lines, transfer weep etc.

At high mileage I’d be looking at getting the injectors refurbed or even buying a spare set for refurb that you could swap over one day.
My resto build is having rebuilt pump and refurbed injectors but that’s a fresh rebuild that I’ll be going ocd with.

Rust is the killer mate and will creep up on you. It’s such a bastard. I’d ensure you’ve dealt with it thoroughly before putting money into it 👍🏻
Click to expand...

Ha, thanks for the response.

Thing with the CRV is that they are dead reliable and can be picked up for around 2k!
 
marjon said:
Have you seen the towing capacity of the Honda CRV :vb-lol:

J
Click to expand...

It is a dismal 1500kg braked towing capacity, agreed.

However, with the rust toward the back of the disco and the reliability aspect of the CRV I'm kind of swaying this way..

I'd like to get the disco back on the road but need to weigh up the effort and overall costs vs reliability aspect, although these disco 1's have suddenly become extremely rare so that does add to the appeal.
 
I may have punted this before but an engine monitoring system where you can set alarms for when something goes over your setting
Egt gauge - Water level monitor - water temp and oil pressure
It has single handidly made my D1 300 tdi with 800k on the clock absolutely reliable in that it picks up things way way before it becomes an issue
 
D1Nut said:
I may have punted this before but an engine monitoring system where you can set alarms for when something goes over your setting
Egt gauge - Water level monitor - water temp and oil pressure
It has single handidly made my D1 300 tdi with 800k on the clock absolutely reliable in that it picks up things way way before it becomes an issue
Click to expand...
Interesting didn't know that was possible!
 
Baker556 said:
Why the interest? Genuine question, why not buy a honda crv for example?
Click to expand...
They are getting rare and because they are awesome 😁
I had two Nissan Terrano's before I got my D1, the 2.7 and 3.0. both were superb pullers, and had LSD's fitted, so was pretty awesome off road/snow ECT.
But I love the look of the D1.
 
Baker556 said:
Why the interest? Genuine question, why not buy a honda crv for example?
Click to expand...
Idk... Practically, absolutely no reason. On paper, the Honda makes more sense.

But... I just like old land rovers. In reality they're sh!t of course... but somehow they've just got something about them. They're more interesting and they've got history and a bit classic and British and all the things that a Honda CRV isn't.

Why a D1? Well been thinking about this recently:

I don't need another car and it would do nothing but drain what beer money I do have left... But I just fancy a D1

You see, I likes my Freelander but I would like a diff lock and low range and 4wd for up the farm. I love the series but they're too old to be a daily runabout, and getting too expensive to maintain / find parts. I likes a defender 90 bestest of all but they're becoming a collectors / status symbol and so price is shooting up. So I'd settle for a disco 😁
 
Some good points here lads, I'm trying to use them to talk myself out of buying a sensible reliable CRV in order to keep my old D1 and get it MOT'd.

It's difficult, the CRV is no doubt more comfy along with that reliability factor heading around the M25.
 
Baker556 said:
Some good points here lads, I'm trying to use them to talk myself out of buying a sensible reliable CRV in order to keep my old D1 and get it MOT'd.

It's difficult, the CRV is no doubt more comfy along with that reliability factor heading around the M25.
Click to expand...

But then you have to wake up and go out to your crv in the morning and live with the fact that you could have been driving a 90s icon but you opted for bland 😂
 
D1Nut said:
I may have punted this before but an engine monitoring system where you can set alarms for when something goes over your setting
Egt gauge - Water level monitor - water temp and oil pressure
It has single handidly made my D1 300 tdi with 800k on the clock absolutely reliable in that it picks up things way way before it becomes an issue
Click to expand...
How many miles?! Prove it! 😂
Is it on the same head? This post is bang on money OP. What kills them is heat. Egt gauge is piece of p!ss. You can make the water level alarm with a Range Rover cap but can also buy a kit on eBay including this that’s plug and play!
Can’t remember what it’s called - mud or raptor may make it but you can get a pod that goes on centre of dash and stick these in it.
Is yours manual?
 
Manual
second head - a spanish thing - cant remember the name now

EMS3 | Madman Developments

madmandevelopments.com madmandevelopments.com
I don't have the ver 3 ems but the ver 2 - 15 + years old now
I don't have any connections to the above link
but it's paid for itself many times over - with the water level sensor and water temp in the lead on saving my baby
 
D1Nut said:
Manual
second head - a spanish thing - cant remember the name now

EMS3 | Madman Developments

madmandevelopments.com madmandevelopments.com
I don't have the ver 3 ems but the ver 2 - 15 + years old now
I don't have any connections to the above link
but it's paid for itself many times over - with the water level sensor and water temp in the lead on saving my baby
Click to expand...
The Aussies swear by this mad man jobbie - didn’t realise you could get in uk - thanks for link 👍🏻
Your new head was prob amc from turners then. I’ve just bought another commercial with 270k on, my 5 door had 240 but is getting a fresh build but even at 240 the big ends showed little wear!!
 
Baker556 said:
Interesting didn't know that was possible!
Click to expand...
I thought you had to almost build your own setup but this madman setup that D1nut linked looks the absolute bollocks. This is a kit here with everything in the box to do what you want and more!
@D1Nut - you just cost me more money!!! 😂
shopglobal.madmandevelopments.com

Land Rover 300 Tdi for EMS3

This is a full kit for the Land Rover 300Tdi engine as fitted to Defenders and Discovery 1 MANUAL
shopglobal.madmandevelopments.com shopglobal.madmandevelopments.com
 
There is another Saffer product called TD5 spy
links to a cell app and you can add other predefined analogue type sensors like actual egt, oli pressure and temp fuel pressure and 2 or 3 more things
don't have a link but I think prices are similar
 
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