Shall I buy buy a 300tdi? are they ok in Disco?

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landowner

landowner

Pensioner Pete
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Thinking of getting another Disco but not many 200tdi's left,

Can afford something like a 1996 ish model but have heard that they have electrical problems etc etc

any advice apreciated, need a good Disco that dont need loads of work, dont mind the odd bit of welding but dont want to be takin engines apart and doin cambelts and brakes etc.

is it possible to get a good un cheap.:)
 
Is this a whaaaa. If not then yup you can get a good one depends what you got to spend.
Electrics are very basic so not a problem, but the auto that has EDC and that can be a pain some times.

The biggest problem is rust in the rear especially if it has a rear sunroof. Check front and rear both inner and outer arches, boot floor, rear body crossmember, sills

Mechanically seeking there is not much of a problem make sure it has had regular servicing at 6000 miles the cam belt should last 72000 but I change it at 36000. Check the fuel lines at the tank end as sometimes leak. Brakes well hit and miss there. But it's like anything you get what you pay for take someone with you that know what there looking for.
 
seconded, the simpler the better, so look for one without:- ABS, aircon, all the electrical crap that dont work anyway such as seats, sunroofs, etc

if you can find one without sunroofs you're onto a winner.

the 300tdi engine is pretty much as tough as the 200, but as was said, make sure the servicing was done, but saying that the timing belt isnt too difficult.

its just rust, that never sleeps :)
 
Having had a disco 300tdi I wouldn't worry "too" much about electrics. I opted for the XS, mine didn't have air con etc. Rust, yes. Had lots of welding done on mine but once its sorted and kept on top of, no worries. My new Td5 I again, went for the XS, less to go wrong electrickery wise but still lots to worry about, way more so than my tdi.

If you can get one with no sunroofs the better because they are a pain in the arse, especially the older vehicle but nothing sealing them shut won't cure.

Good luck!
 
I got a 300 auto and it's only got leccy windows , no sun roofs and no rot ( there had to be one ) never had any electrical issues other than the rear windows dont always go down , so far they always come back up though !!
 
I have got an ES and have had no real problems. Check the cambelt mod has been done otherwise its £150 for the parts from LR to do, other than this its the usual lift pump and sedimenter issues but nothing else really, oh yeah, make sure the rad gets hot evenly...

Electric seats are a pain, im using my passenger switch to control the drivers seat as the drivers switch is ****ed, very hard to find a second hand one and they are £150 new!

Usual rust, some are worse than others as always...

Overall im very happy with mine, I prefer the refinement of the 300 over the rattly 200's
 
As Gavdaz & trax99 said look for one without the electrickery. I spent about a month looking through ebay and found my current disco, a 3 door (my peference) with no abs,aircon or sunroofs for well under a grand and had a few months T&T on it anorl.

Spend the time looking they are out there.
 
So any years to avoid then?

I'll probably be looking at a 95 to 97 model which should be in my price range.

Last one I got was a 200 on an 'L' plate and it was a cracker but I swapped it for a Defender 90 that wont run...dont ask:mad:
 
Bin trollin through fleabay an auto trader

Some crap on fleabay an the rest are very overpriced

Where are all the reasonably priced ones then, tempted to go petrol / LPG
 
we have the discovery 50th anniversary limited edition 300tdi, with all bells and whistles, somewhat more refined than our old 200 tdi, no sunroofs (thank goodness) swapped a heap of shi.err! sorry, a very nice volvo s60 d5 for it, best decision ever made, wifey loves it spent about £300.00.on it so far trying to sort out little niggles but at least it's big comfy and reasonable on economy. the volvo cost me £900.00. and he gave me the landy and £200.00 so me thinks me did quite well.
 
I have one all you need is

sticky back plastic
bog roll
bathroom sealant
oh and a pack a mac

fabric glue

bungee rope for when the seat collapses ( mind you here you can check the size of the bottom of the previous owner :D)


In all seriousness though I was able to seal up my sunroofs quite easily and cheaply, but then I had a rover 200 last and am used to things dropping off, Really love my 300 and would have another at the drop of a hat even with its leakage issues.
 
Helen20 said:
I have one all you need is

sticky back plastic
bog roll
bathroom sealant
oh and a pack a mac

fabric glue

bungee rope for when the seat collapses ( mind you here you can check the size of the bottom of the previous owner :D)


In all seriousness though I was able to seal up my sunroofs quite easily and cheaply, but then I had a rover 200 last and am used to things dropping off, Really love my 300 and would have another at the drop of a hat even with its leakage issues.
Click to expand...


How old is the beast then?

I suppose age is not important as long as there is not a lot of rot and it has been serviced regularly.

Just hate it when people say its a good motor and they have looked after it then when you pull out the dipstick its just black crud and never been changed for years.
 
How many miles are you looking to do in it? If its very low and something like 1000-2000 a year, then the LPG V8s start to make sense.

LPG V8s start from about £1500 and upwards, but there aren't that many about and the majority are autos. Some will have the tank in the boot, which takes up loads of useable rear boot space. The underslung tanks give that space back, but reduce clearance for off road stuff.
 
bakerstreet said:
How many miles are you looking to do in it? If its very low and something like 1000-2000 a year, then the LPG V8s start to make sense.

LPG V8s start from about £1500 and upwards, but there aren't that many about and the majority are autos. Some will have the tank in the boot, which takes up loads of useable rear boot space. The underslung tanks give that space back, but reduce clearance for off road stuff.
Click to expand...

Been thinking along those lines, tank not a problem as I have a spare which would go under sill.
My mileage is a bit high I'm thinking, doin about 160 a week at the moment so on gas that would probably cost around 35 quid
A diesel doin 28mpg would cost about 37 quid so cheaper then Hmmmm:)

Trouble is they are all high mileage on ebay at the moment, may start lookin at dealers though
 
Mr-Tomcat said:
A friend of mine in Holyhead is selling a tidy R reg 300 tdi, it has the usual Discovery point's but has been well looked after.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan, I would be prepared to nip up an see it if it has a longish test and not too rough or expensive.
What do you think?:)
 
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