how many miles?

[andy_s]

i've just been looking at a 54 plate disco 2.5 diesel with 105k miles on the clock and wondered peoples views on them. how many miles will this last before i start to get major problems and are there any known faults i should look out for. thanks.....andy.

[paddywack12]

Sounds like its just about run in now.

 

Look after it and it will do that mileage again

[keg]

Is it a Disco II or 3. I know they cahnged around then.

 

If it's the Disco II with the TD5 engine, the only big issue is oil frying the ECU. The problem is caused by engine oil contamination to the injector plugs inside the rocker cover, which are soaked with engine oil all the time the engine is running. The oil will pass all the way along the wiring loom to the ECU and then drip out into the ECU/battery tray. Easy to replace the loom but time consuming.

 

If it's the TDV6, it's a caseof checking that the tiiming belts were changed at the right time. There is one at the back of the engine that is a pig to change but other than that it's a great engine.

 

mate has a D3 with 130k on it, runs sweet as a nut he is religious on changing oils and filters.

 

I have a 300tdi defender,116k miles and engine never misses a beat, again religious in filters and oil changes and it's pulled some serious weight ( not just mine!).

 

Hope that helps

[al4x]

the issue is how has it been maintained, obviously buy a 60k motor with full history it is likely to be less hastle than one with twice as many miles and no history. Buy on condition and service history rather than mileage.

[andy_s]

Thanks for your replies. It's a disco II with full service history but was wondering about any known faults. I have also looked at a Jeep Grand Cherokee of the same age but less mileage but I'm yet to find a good review of them.

[Gav912]

I have a 1998 300tdi Discovery, 130k miles on it and still going strong, no rot in the chassis and the engine and gearbox are solid, bought at 106k with a fully stamped service book by a main dealer

 

Regarding the Td5 engine, I think by the time they got to 54 reg the main problem areas had been sorted. The oil gettinginto the wiring loom seemed to affect the earler ones more as did the head gasket leaking due to the locating dowels getting damaged. Areas definately worth checking are the gearbox/transfer box for unusual noises and that the clutch is ok as I'm pretty sure that they use the same dual mass flywheel as the Defenders of that age which is not a cheap item to replace if/when it fails.

 

Given the choice I'd go Disco over the Jeep, parts are cheaper and readily available at many specialist land rover parts dealers

[Gadge-it]

I always look at about doing 12k a year so for that year its done just over the average,but ask the question to who selling it to whats been done to it then youll get an idea whats to come,timing belt etc.

[Gav912]

There's no timing belt to worry about on the td5 engine as its a chain if my memory serves me correct so thats one expense you won't need to worry about unlike the earlier tdi engines

[gixer1]

Check the ace and rear air suspension if it has it, the td5's were much better converted to standard coil springs and ARB on the back, I had one on a 52 plate that I stupidly sold at just over 100k, the only thing I ever had to do was a front hub due to a wheel bearing and service it, sometimes wish I had kept hold of it....

 

Regards,

 

Gixe

[andy_s]

thanks for the replies. i'm off to look at another one at the weekend, only 68k miles and full service history on a 53 plate so hopefully that one should be a good buy.