hey guys, firstly, im new.. ive had a disco 1 300tdi for a few months now

i have looked through the forum when ive had trouble with the car and i have to say its very helpfull!

anyway, me and 3 other friends are planning a trip from london to istanbul (and back) in the summer.. i am beginning to prepare the car now and there are few things that need sorting..

interior lights dont work
rear leccy windows dont work
slight coolant leak
slight engine oil leak from rocket gasket
needs a new boot floor

i was just wondering if there is anything people recommend changing before a big journey..?

the car already has 210,000 on the clocks!!

heres the car in question, all £800's worth




thanks

at 210 k miles I'd recommend changing the disco for a lower mileage one lol

Sort the oil leaks and Water leaks before you do anything,do a service and change the timing belt




Oh, and get breakdown cover!

I would make sure those points on your list are fully seen to first, plus the service mentioned and and any other rust issues. It would need to be running very well before i ventured that far from home although i have no doubts that it will do it ok.

Check RustyRhinos posts in the expeditions section, some excellent advice there and his web blog about the various trips they've done ( in a series with a petrol engine anorl )

Servicing is paramount atm and spares including a good tool kit will be needed.

Good luck with it and good on ya for considering it

as youve been playing in muddy water it would make sense to strip and regrease the wheelbearings..or .even replace the lot before you go, or at least carry a spare set , possibly a cv for the front axle aswell, id probably take a spare alternater

Travelling 5,000 miles in my disco 1, Advice needed

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I would recommend changing the fuel now and then, that would be the most crucial part of going any distance

Sort out any leaks first of all, 5,000 miles can only make them worse!
Do a FULL service before you leave, including replacement of all fluids
I.e. Engine oil, coolant, gearbox oil, transfer box oil, axle oil.
Also change oil filter and fuel filter, perhaps the air filter if it is dirty or damaged.
Get the wheels jacked up one at a time and check the bearings for play.

Spares - I would bring 5 litres of engine oil, 5 litres of coolant and a couple of litres of gb/tb fluids, just in case. A spare fuel filter is very cheap and could come in very handy, especially if the diesel in Istanbul isn't as clean as the Disco is used to in the UK.

Change the drive belts (fan belt, alternator belt on a 200) if they show any signs of wear. Keep the old ones as spares in case one snaps on the trip.

Check your tyres for any signs of damage, splits bulges or perishing, including your spare!

The last things you might want to consider are a spare lift pump (prone to failure) and perhaps a spare alternator if you can find a cheapish one.

And of course, a good set of tools