What to do with my Disco..

I've got a 94 300tdi Disco. Bit of a read but would appreciate your thoughts.

Recently it has been causing me quite a few issues. After a 5000 mile trip, then 3 weeks pulling a 2.5 tonne load around cambs (service in between and regular checks while in cambs) something gave up and plumes of smoke came out of the exhaust. The general consensus was that the turbo had given up in some shape or form and I decided to replace it. Since replacing, the plumes of smoke has gone but there is still more than usual, enough to get pulled by the cops, who were more concerned about the vehicle than my carbon footprint

My mechanical knowledge of the 300tdi engine is limited and I fear further work will have to be carried out by someone with a little more know how. On top of this, when parking up after the last and only time I ran it since I replaced the turbo, i noticed coolant is leaking out of the bottom of the rad, somewhere near the pipe connection. The rad is new and is being sent off for exchange and I am replacing the pipe for good measure.

The engine has recently developed significant oil leaks, but without giving it all a good clean and a run, I cannot figure out from where. The body needs a lot of attention around the front wings, boot wings and mountings. The chassis is alright condition. Gear and transfer are also ok. Axles are as you would expect for a 110,000 worked vehicle.

The main use for this vehicle is occasional use, some work and long distance travel.

I do not know what to do next. Do I keep throwing money at this chap? or do consider buying another Disco with better body/engine? Do I sell mine to help fund another purchase? I'd like to avoid this as it has a few transferable items on it.. seats, winch, turbo, alternator, wheels etc etc. To make decisions harder, I am considering a 110/130. I have about £2,000 that I can justify sorting out this situation but it must be used to the fullest extent, ie providing a good vehicle and not just to be thrown at mechanics to sort it all out. At the moment, I am drawn to buying a new engine as I have lost faith in this one and getting someone to do the welding for me. (quoted £250).

Obviously this is a decision I need to make myself but I'm sure a lot of you have been in similar conundrums. Thoughts on the situation please.

Larry

Why a Defender? Antique piece of tat, 2K goes no where towards buying something decent that won't need a ton of work/money spent on it.

Better to spend the 2K you got on getting the Discovery up and running in good order and enjoying it.

I will write a few lines to explain my own situation and why I think this way.

I own and have spent over €8,000 on a 1992 200Tdi Discovery, trouble is now I have moved into the Netherlands fom Belgium, problems with my last employer meant that I had no legal registration, no contract of employment, no certificate of health insurances and paid in cash means basically I have no history and no comeback, with this in mind, I cannot import and register my Discovery here as the tax service refuse to recognise me as a person, even though I have a contract and official registration here in the Netherlands. My dilemma, I have invested 8K in this car so throwing it away is simply not an option, what are the realistic options?

A) Get a Discovery chassis with NL papers and rebuild my Discovery on it?

B) Buy another Discovery in good condition and simply tranfer all my goodies onto it?

C) Buy a small run around and forget owning a Land Rover and just leave it in the coner of the yard to rot?

Not sure really for my own personal situation, but there aint a chance in hell I will be looking at anything in the sub 4K bracket unless it is remarkable condition, most likely if I am going to replace this with a fresh one then it is going to be one that needs no work doing has a full years MOT and is in the best condition possible, why bother with other peoples cast offs where they are really only being sold as they have too many problems or have been bodged to the point where there are no bodges left to save them from big bills.

Ultimately yes the choice is yours, but you already have a vehicle that can be made reliable with the money you have and you have to look at the other side of buying another car, are you realistically only buying other peoples problems?

I'd get the welding done and either buy a replacement 300 tdi or get yours seen by a trusted specialist in the area and diagnosed. It could just mean a couple of hundred quid on bits or maybe they will write it off. But either way, your old 300tdi would be worth something to someone to recoup some cash.
In for a penny and all that but you know the vehicle and once the welding is done and engine sorted, what more can go wrong! That was a joke by the way.

A joke that needs no explanation on a land rover forum Good idea, something I will consider.

Diesel, I know what you are saying and I share your thoughts on buying another, though not those of the Defender

I am obviously on a bit of a downer about the vehicle, having not been able to enjoy it for some time now, and of course when you (semi)solve one major problem only for another completely unrelated one to present itself, it kind of makes you wonder what the point is.

Once I get the new rad on in the next couple of days, I'll have a look into seeing someone about the engine. Definitely not against the idea of buying a stripped engine as mine has new alternator, rad, intercooler, turbo, waterpump, lift pump, pipes, I refurbed the head not long ago etc. The engine has severely overheated twice since Ive had it and of course who knows what the previous 2 owners put it through.

Cheers

ps Diesel, I hope you find a solution to your problem you are happy with.