ferguson_tom Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Hi Everyone I am looking at spending about £1500 on a discovery for my wife, question is do I go for an early TD5 with over 150000 miles or do i look at a later 300Tdi with somewhere between 120-150000 miles. Main reason for asking is there is a nice TD5 for sale but has about 170000 miles on the clock. I would assume the TD5 is nicer to drive? The car is going to be used for my wife running around town and carting around dogs and the baby with a bit of towing as well. I had a Terrano which i sold last year which was a great truck but my wife didnt like driving it as suspension was a bit hard so had to go. Thanks in advance. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockermax Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Had an 'M' Reg 300tdi and have now got a 'V' Reg TD5 with 160'000 on the clock. Found the 300tdi easier to work on but I enjoy the TD5 more better handling for a 4x4 and more power from the TD5 engine. If the TD5 is a 7 seater it should have rear air suspension and probably active cornering suspension which in my opinion gives a smoother ride. If its the 5 seat model it will have coil springs. As with all Discovery models they have their problems so have a good look on the Discovery forums or ask on here before you buy so you know what you are looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 300, early TD5 are **** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barney 66 Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 300 Tdi unless you have deep pockets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garygreengrass Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Before you buy one lift up the carpet and check the boot floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 boot floors a days worth with welder and grinder and a £50 repair panel, not much of a problem really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 (edited) my brother is pretty good with a welder so assuming its not too bad its not a major worry for me. Also found out about most of the places for rust as looked a few years ago and bought a house instead. Thanks for the advice though everyone. Edited January 30, 2013 by ferguson_tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fib new Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Can't see why an early td5 with these mileages would be cr*p... I think both engines are nice. Tdi300 is easy to work on and is ok to drive, td5 is very nice engine to drive and not that hard to work on as people tell you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Get yourself on the D2BoysClub forum where you will find all the information you need in buying a Landy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Can't see why an early td5 with these mileages would be cr*p... I think both engines are nice. Tdi300 is easy to work on and is ok to drive, td5 is very nice engine to drive and not that hard to work on as people tell you... 10p engine is **** compared to 15p, nylon dowels in the head for a start so when they get hot and worn they allow lateral movement, this then leads to HGF and a day of work you don't need to do Oil in wiring looms too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajb403 Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Dr evil - do you actually have any hands on experience (reading about it doesn't count!) of any of the engines/vehicles you've been dishing out 'advice' about recently? From what I've seen on landy zone you've had one V8 that was terminally over heating, another V8 that despite several thousands of replies to your thread (to anyone who's not seen it no I am not exaggerating, last I saw it was around 2.5K replies) you still didn't get running and now you've got another V8 that's was supposed to just be dropped in it but several weeks later is still just somewhere near your landy not actually attached to it. I don't have any experience with the vehicles/engines people are asking about and so wouldn't be able to offer anything constructive so I don't post 'advice'. Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 I have owned an run various 300tdi's so I know those engines just fine thank you very much…………and would take one over an early TD5 any day of the week You are more than welcome to get that heap of **** engine I took out running if you think you're capable but considering various attempts with help have failed I would be led to believe that my engine is ******. The new one is going in on sunday as its been picked back up today, it was meant to go in a couple of weeks back but if you hadn't realised theres been snow and extremely heavy rain so stop trying to be a smart ****, if you fix your engine head in place with plastic you're going to have problems….why do you think LR tweaked the 15p and used steel locating dowels ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Oh just to add, on top of that TD5's may have TC and low range but I much prefer a locking centre diff, a lack of electrics and various other small benefits…………. I may not own a TD5 but I have tested them and talked to those who work on them at the local garage, the 300 is a superior lump when it comes to simplicity! TD5's may win in power and refinement but you get a similar economy, expensive parts to repair it with and the chassis are worse for rust than the 300 series. 300 bodies rust more than TD5 but I'd rather have a solid chassis and spend a couple of hours with a welder on bodywork instead of chassis. Plus for £1500 he could get hold of an ES spec 300tdi which will be much nicer than a base model TD5 as it'll have heated electric leather seats up front, air con, sun roofs if you do a mod like I have so they don't leak and are far easier to repair at home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fib new Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) The 300tdi is a very nice engine, so is the 200tdi -must add I only drive defenders-. Had an early td5 in 2001; never had any problems with that one, but only used it about 75000miles. Now have a 2002 td5 and it's been great up till now. Fitted a new transferbox when I bought it. Also have a 200tdi 90 pick up which I love. Use it for shooting. There's no point in denying the ABS and TC in the td5 are great things to have on à heavy car! Wish the 200tdi was equiped with these gadgets. Also had an old range rover V8 -mine was fine- but I would have a diesel anytime over a V8 for everyday use. Edited January 31, 2013 by Fib new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 The 300tdi is a very nice engine, so is the 200tdi -must add I only drive defenders-. Had an early td5 in 2001; never had any problems with that one, but only used it about 75000miles. Now have a 2002 td5 and it's been great up till now. Fitted a new transferbox when I bought it. Also have a 200tdi 90 pick up which I love. Use it for shooting. There's no point in denying the ABS and TC in the td5 are great things to have on à heavy car! Wish the 200tdi was equiped with these gadgets. Also had an old range rover V8 -mine was fine- but I would have a diesel anytime over a V8 for everyday use. 2002 is 3/4 years after initial launch not sure if thats a 15p engine or 10p though, some will have no problem but a lot do……..especially if you offroad them! ECU's getting wet when wading, overheating or getting very hot due to mud in the rad, this is when the nylon becomes more of a problem as it can then move more either way 300 is the way I'd go purely for its simplicity and the fact that the chassis seem to be better than the TD5, plus for the money he's looking at decent 300 or dog TD5…….I know which one I'd prefer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgguinness Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 I have a 300TDI with 187k miles on the clock, she is on a P plate. Many folk reckon if you can get a decent late 300 then go for it, maybe a Jap import? Mine is an ES spec so has all the toys. Apart from regular servicing its needed nothing. It seams a little sluggish recently but that maybe me. I know that although visually similar looking, the Disco 1 was based on the classic Range Rover chassis where the Disco 2 is based on the P38 chassis. The 2's are wider, taller and longer I think, quite a bit more space width wise inside the car. Also from what I've seen, the D2's don't appear to rot on the rear arch (where you open the rear door) where the D1's do. Kind regards Jonathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 The D2's don't rot the arch so much as the D1's but the chassis rot out more, also if you get one with the air suspension unless its a good one you're in for a large annoyance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted February 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Thanks for all the advice everyone, I think i will leave the TD5 then and go for a 300tdi as will get something higher spec and lower mileage as also think the TD5 for that money will be the bottom of the barrel so to speak. I will keep you informed hopefully can find something half decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Good decision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Good choice, the 300 is a far stronger engine then the TD5, I have had 2 300 Disco's both had 120k+ and never missed a beat, then I got silly last year and 'upgraded' to a TD5 which decided to crack a head shortly after buying it. Other common TD5 problems are the air suspension and the ace steering, also the chassis on the TD5 seem to rot out at the rear where the 300's never did. Obviously this is just my experiance but the cylinder head problems seem to be very common. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Exactly as I said and this time its from an owner so theres yer back up to the "potential myth" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 The other option is stick some knobbys on your avatar and use that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted February 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 The other option is stick some knobbys on your avatar and use that I have ice spikes which would work Well I have bought one got a 300tdi manual 129000 miles, new boot floor already in all sills and wheel arches solid. 11months MOT. Picking it up tonight so will post pictures tomorrow. I have know this landy for years as it was a friends then another friend bought it now i got it. Ex MOD (RAF) and used for the Queens Flight so its an unusual blue colour with some extra goodies on it. Where is the best place to get spare parts for it as going to give it a full service including gearbox and diff oils, its a bit sluggish at the moment but think its the inter cooler hoses or lift pump so will be replacing both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted February 4, 2013 Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 Can't see why an early td5 with these mileages would be cr*p... I think both engines are nice. Tdi300 is easy to work on and is ok to drive, td5 is very nice engine to drive and not that hard to work on as people tell you... My TD5 has done 248,000 miles, pulls a big trailer most days from August - April, all up trailer weight loaded about 2.2 tonnes. Recommended. More power and torque than 300, yes air susp is smoother but air bags only last 70-100,000, had mine replaced with coil springs, only notice a slightly harder ride when towing. Head only came off when two injectors seized at 180,000 miles. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David 686 Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 I've got a 300tdi disco. Had it 3 years now with no big problems. But I am looking to upgrade but I won't be going for a disco td5. I've got mates that have had lots of problems with a disco td5. If you only have £1500 there's only one car 300tdi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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