I'd appreciate some advice

As an avid lurker on this site, I'm picking up more knowkledge than I had but I'd still appreciate some advice.

I bought a 1994 Disco last May and it's been great fun but it's cost me a bob or two in repairs and I'd like to change for something a bit newer, tidier and more reliable. I'm well happy with the Landrover marque and I'd like to stay with it as our 2nd car. I've a budget of £5-8k and I've been looking at the various Discos, but I've now seen a 1998 R-reg Range Rover,

2.5 DT, locally advertised in a small garage for £7,500. Usual 6 months small garage warranty. Although it's got 109k on the clock, it drives well and it looks very clean with a FSH. Cloth seats, manual transmission and no sunroof, BTW.

I've no experience whatsoever of these cars and I've spent a fairly confusing afternoon Googling on the web for info.

What, IYE, are the problems I need to look out for with this model, is there a better source of info on the web and are there any particular websites that are better than others for buying (and selling) used Land Rovers, generally?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

- Tom SW Essex.

Reply to
Tom Bennett
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All the info you will ever need on there, and there is not a lot I can add to that info!

Only thing I would say it that the DT is a very basic model so it will be pretty difficult to sell on later unless you are prepared to give it away cheap. You'd be better off looking around for a DSE, there are loads of them around at the moment, and prices are good (for buyers!).

Matt.

Tom Bennett wrote:

Reply to
Matthew Maddock

Personally, I wouldn't touch it. It will be gutless and you will more than likely get various electrical and air suspension (if fitted) faults at that age. If you like the disco, then upgrade to a newer one, possibly a Disco II as they are now available at around £8k for a decent one. I bought a 2000 (X) 4.0 V8 (now on LPG!) XSi Auto early last year with a genuine 26.5k miles on it, full history and a lot of dealer fitted extras for £10.5k!! You've just got to search and be prepared to travel for the right one. Oh, and a Disco II with ACE will out-corner a lumbering barge of a rangie any day! ;-) Badger.

Reply to
Badger

He forgot to mention the fact that the Disco II is a paragon of reliability, especially ones that are ACE equipped! :)

Matt

Reply to
Matthew Maddock

Don't listen to him. He clearly doesn't know what he's talking about:

They ALL have air suspension! Unless it's been removed & replaced with coils of course- in which case it's prboably been given a thrashing offroad & should be left alone. Yes you might have a few air suspension faults. Just allow for a new set of air springs & compressor in your budget & you'll be right. These are no longer the drama they once were- price wise that is. Can now be had for around $100 in Aus. You can even upgrade them to Arnott air springs for not much more-

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are available on ebay and at breakers for cheap.Valve blocks can be re-kitted for cheap.Go on, get a great car instead of an ordinary one! That diesel will go for ever...

Reply to
Natalie Drest

I don't know what I'm talking about, eh? I am repairing these things almost every other day in my workshop, I think that means that I have a fair idea. Yet you go on to state the following....

Exactly what I meant! I am well aware that they all had air when leaving the factory, but at the age of vehicle the OP is looking at, there's a high probability of finding coils fitted.

But why budget to spend money that you shouldn't have to, on something that is inherrently unreliable and needs upgrading to make it reliable in the first place, hence why so many have had their air suspension removed and replaced with coils!

And are mainly second-hand with no telling how long they will last! Biggest issue is needing something like testbook to correctly diagnose, otherwise you are almost certainly stabbing in the dark replacing parts until you fix the fault, and P38's can have some really obscure electrical faults, I've seen a lot.

That's as may be, but you shouldn't need to if it were a good system in the first instance.

Until it overheats, then the head will be scrap more than likely. Seen a few go that way in the last year or two. The 2.5 BMW engine is a great engine in a BMW car, but it's not so hot in a rangie, IMO. Badger.

Reply to
Badger

"Matthew Maddock" wrote in message news:dtlg4o$3vd$ snipped-for-privacy@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

Never had a single faulty Disco II through my workshop yet....... but an awful lot of faulty P38's. That says enough in my book. Badger.

Reply to
Badger

First you tell me this in reply to my thread...

and then...

I thought you'd never had a faulty DII through your workshop???! :)

Matt.

Reply to
Matthew Maddock

Is it pick on Badger day?

I think "these things" means LR products in general, not DII.

I don't think anyone sensible will try to argue a P38 is a paragon of reliability (but I am looking to buy one anyway, anyone got a nice

4.6HSE to sell for sensible money).

A mate DID buy a DII with a faulty compressor. Mind you it was a Y plate 2001 and he payed approx £6500, so duff compressor was minor irritation.

David

Reply to
rads

I was only having a bit of fun :)

I wasn't! I don't think anyone could say that of any Land Rover :) But the impression was given was that the DII was flawless!

There are plenty of problems with it, the rear air suspension is basically the same as the P38, ACE has it's own set of problems, and the Td5 is certainly not the most reliable unit around. In general though, it is bound to be more reliable than an older-design vehicle (i.e. P38), that is just the way things generally are in the automotive industry.

The 2.5 BMW unit is nowhere near as bad as most people make it out to be, I didn't buy a Range Rover to burn-off idiots in their Scooby's! But it happily keeps up with modern traffic, and I've never had a problem overtaking when I need to. Though I can't deny that it would by nice to have the Td5 in there - much as I like BMW! However, given that at the time the choice of diesel power for the P38 was either a 300Tdi or the BMW engine, I'm glad they made the choice they did; something that I think a lot of people seem to forget.

At end of the day, you buy what is suitable to you. I've had a couple of Disco's in the past, but now my P38 is more suitable to how I use my car, which is why I bought it!

Matt

Reply to
Matthew Maddock

"Matthew Maddock" wrote in message news:dtmt20$rnq$ snipped-for-privacy@nwrdmz02.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

"These things" as in P38's mate. badger.

Reply to
Badger

"Matthew Maddock" wrote in message news:dtmviu$eln$ snipped-for-privacy@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

I'll let you off then... ;-)

You'd need to be insane, more like!

Indeed, and I can only speak from personal experience. I own a DII and I've yet to have one with a single fault through the workshop, whereas I see a lot of P38's with electrical , ABS and air suspension faults. Things may change with the DII as it gets older no doubt, but at this moment in time it appears to be a better-sorted vehicle than the P38.

Fair comment, but not every scooby driver is an idiot, and no, I don't own one before you ask! :-)

Pity the timing was all wrong re. the intro of the TD6 engine, now that is a seriously good disiesel.

fair comment.

Badger.

Reply to
Badger

"Badger" > You can even upgrade them to Arnott air springs for not much more-

The upgrade isn't for reliability- although they do fit tighter. It's for ride quality. Check the link. Air is not inherently unreliable. If it were, heavy trucks/buses wouldn't use it.

Computer diagnosing isn't a step forward? Saves all that messy trial-and-error business, as you point out.

Rubber perishes. Seals have to be replaced. Seems to be something around

7-10ish years for these particular valve blocks. Nothing to do with it being not a 'good system'. Look at it as routine maintenance, same as replacement of air springs. Don't forget you'll have to do similar with the D2 rear suspension.

My point is that since these things are now so cheap to purchase and that because LR in their wisdom have seen fit to drop prices of parts from Ridiculous to Reasonable (eg. compressors, air springs, AC fan motors), if you are prepared to spend on upkeep you have a top car for a total of not much. Remember what these things used to cost- you are getting a lot of car for your dosh!

Point to Mr. Bennet: If you're intending to take it offroad (& I hope you are), it might pay to make sure the model you purchase has traction control in at least the rear axle. A worthy inclusion IMHO.

Reply to
Natalie Drest

"Matthew Maddock" wrote in message news:dtmviu$eln$ snipped-for-privacy@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

Reply to
Nige

"Matthew Maddock" wrote in message news:dtmviu$eln$ snipped-for-privacy@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

Now now! I drive both a HSE & a WRX Scooby & i'm not an idiot!

Exactly, i love my RR mainly for the hatch arrangement. Nice workbench if you need it out on site!

I was going to buy a DII but they are out of my price range & I think the bodywork & chassis of the P38 seems to be well enough put together after 12 years i have only ever seen lower tailgates with a problem. The original Disco had more than it's fair share of problems as did the RRC! It's probably fair that given another 5 years the DII should, in the long run, turn out to be more reliable than the P38.

I do like the P38 though, especially the V8 & the comfort factor. It could do with better damping, especially at the front. Thats why I'm gonna buy some gas dampers when funds permit.

Nige

Reply to
Nige

Was going for the stereo-typical view! You've got to admit that (no matter how "good" they are) they've gained a rather poor image. I can't help but think "tosser" every time I see one. Sorry WRX owners - it's nothing personal!

Yeah, although I've heard the [Jaguar developed?] TDV6 in the D3 is better than the BMW TD6 in the RR.

Wonder if anyone has dropped a Td5 into a P38? Mine's done nearly

200k now - when it dies, it might be fun to try!

Matt.

Reply to
Matthew Maddock

"Matthew Maddock" wrote in message news:dtn8pv$ph0$ snipped-for-privacy@nwrdmz02.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

Not round here, they tend to be driven by older, motorsport enthusiasts.

Mind you, that's only the newer ones. Older ones are driven by some dodgy looking yoofs with feckin' huge spoilers!

I dont see why it couldn't be done!

Reply to
Nige

Hi,

Leaking ace valve block cost me £2000 to have repaired last year, although I got a bit back by making a post warranty claim.

regards

nemo2

Reply to
nemo2

"Natalie Drest" > Point to Mr. Bennet:

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to post. I've followed your advice and kept my money in my wallet for the time being, to see if I can get a better spec. at a better price.

Regards,

- Tom.

Reply to
Tom Bennett

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