Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: vstevens on March 31, 2017, 11:07:24 AM
-
Lately been interested in late 90's Land Rover discovery. Visited plenty forums to check out best years etc. never owned a LR but thought I'd ask opinions of any current or former owners, especially the Australian, British and New Zealand crowd.
-
Loved my old '64 Series IIA 109, but that was a completely different "animal" than a '90s Disco. I'd only buy one of those if it had a manual transmission and those are quite rare...
-
Are you looking for parts?
Radiator fan?
Heater fan?
Hey. This is how MG folks respond to these type of questions.
-
I used to have a '62 ex military SWB (but not the lightweight). It was great fun, easy and cheap to maintain. It even had a cranking handle! :-)
Unfortunately, I don't think any experience I had will be helpful to you in your Disco considerations. :-(
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
-
Yes, love them! (Almost as much as my Guzzi) I currently own 3.. A 1963 Series 11a being the oldest & a 2006 Discovery the youngster. They are all pretty tough, though the post 2004 models contain much more technology & consequently much more to go wrong. Which model are you concerning? A TD5 or 300tdi?
Jon
-
YES. Love my 2000 Disco II. Just ordered new brakes... Will be ready for some expeditionary duty this summer.
-
Be sure to research the 3 Amigos when looking at Discoveries. They had a tendency to tick, quite a few engines overheated, when running they are one of the most enduring and iconic LR's. We have a ton of them in our Houston Land Rover Club, nicely kitted out and make for very fun and utilitarian vehicles. If I were you, I'd go with a well sorted D2 rather than a D1 however. If you are interested, I've got a friend in town here who was looking to sell his immaculately kitted out G4 D2...for the right price, you could fly out and drive it home I'm sure.
Or...alternatively, you could put your name on a wait list for the soon to be released Defender...finally coming back to the U.S. since last sold here in 1997!
There is also an excellent Southern California Land Rover Club...they do lots of runs out to Death Valley, sometimes Rover Rendezvous, so you'll have a good community of Rover nuts to play with. I'm not familiar with any Indy shops in San Diego, but I'm sure you can get some recommendations from club members...I think there might have been one out in Miramar...but that information was from a few years ago.
-
I've have had a 2003 Discovery since new. 140000 relatively trouble free miles. Had the head gasket go out, and the 3 Amigos show up from time to time. My joke is it makes no power, requires premium, and gets terrible mileage. On the other hand, nothing will stop it. Deep snow, deer, turkey, and even one unfortunate bicyclist haven't slowed it down a bit.
I have a local mechanic who is well versed in them which is good, because taking it to the dealer would be a very poor option.
I wouldn't recommend one to anyone, but I have no intention of selling mine until it costs more to keep it running than buying a new vehicle .
-
I used to have a '62 ex military SWB (but not the lightweight). It was great fun, easy and cheap to maintain. It even had a cranking handle! :-)
Unfortunately, I don't think any experience I had will be helpful to you in your Disco considerations. :-(
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
You have to be a Brit and/or ex British military to refer to light weight Landys :grin:
I was never sure which was cooler the light weight
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_1/2_ton_Lightweight
or the 101 forward control
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_101_Forward_Control
Still this reminiscing doesn't help the OP with his question I'm afraid :embarrassed:
-
I have had several Discoverys in the past and loved them, but they were purchased brand new and sold after a few years. My son has a 2003 right now and while a great vehicle, it can be a maintenance nightmare. The head gasket design is poor and fails easily, not a cheap fix. Have a good independent mechanic on speed dial :grin:
-
I've had a '98 D1 300Tdi for 14 yrs and nearly 180K Klms.
You'll hear the odd warning like the overheating comment
but like Guzzi's with a little fettling they're fine.
The overheating thing was because they have a couple of
plastic screw in plugs in the cooling system that were single
use which could fail - first thing to do is replace them with
a Brass plugs.
I bought it as a work/tow/do anything I wan't thing - I'm not
really into Bush Bashing but it's pulled everything from broken
down cars on trailers, fencing/gardening/landscaping materials,
to trailers full of Band equipment for regional gigs without even
a sign of blinking.
I use quality oil (Penrite) and short change it, and in the 14 yrs
It's needed 1 alternator bearing (wasn't pressed in straight) and
an alternator itself 10 yrs later, 1 coolant pump, 1 expansion
tank for the cooling system, one radiator core and it's coming
up for it's 2nd Timing belt.
I live about 300yds from Bass Straight and it lives in the open so
so the body has rust now and I'm looking for D1 V8 - I plan to
swap out the Motor as my son has a Series 111 Stage 1, basically
Leaf Spring S111 with Range Rover V8 and running gear so he'll
have a spare motor.
They're not chest beating powerful but perfectly adequate - it's
Like they don't accelerate quickly but will pull just about anything
At their own pace - e.g. my wife's Peugeot broke down about 30kl
From home. My son had just gotten the S111 but I'd towed my
Daughters Saab to the top of Arther's Seat for repair so I got a trailer
As I knew the Disco would pull it fine. We loaded it up and I headed
off home leaving my Son to follow a few mins later. As I was pulling
around 1500kgs + a trailer he was a bit casual and we still rib him
About how I beat him home.
Maurie.
-
You have to be a Brit and/or ex British military to refer to light weight Landys :grin:
I was never sure which was cooler the light weight
or the 101 forward control
Still this reminiscing doesn't help the OP with his question I'm afraid :embarrassed:
:-) Yes, a Brit.
But I've been over here in Germany for over 30 years now!
If I had to choose, I'd probably go with the 101. :-)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
-
Land rover's are like some kind of disease, everyone who has one here seems to be hooked on them. Be careful though,
3 things happen to Land Rovers
They Roll over, or
They catch on Fire, or
They roll over and Catch on fire :grin:
-
Strange - I've never heard that.
But I have heard that around 80% of the Landrovers ever
built are still out there Bimbling around defiantly giving
everything else the 🖕.
:azn: Maurie.
-
The US market never got any of the diesels, only V8 gassers. What a pity.
-
I had a '97 Disco & kinda wish I still had it.
Had a gremlin with the rear window harness, but never any terminal issues and traded it at approx 175k miles.
Was a comfy tank. As previously stated - slow, took premium, and got 14mpg.
I'd consider another - a sturdy lump with no airbag suspension and no hill descent assist. That gen seemed like the right cross of luxury and analog.
-
I've got one as a project although is vastly cruder than the flash discovery and has a stinking great Japanese diesel motor in it which what was fitted to it by the local assembly plant. Can tell you much about the petrols the early manual gearboxes are a bit soft Ashcroft in the UK are pretty good about sorting them out. You are considering a 20 year old vehicle so condition and service history would be paramount.
I'd personally try for a newer one they don't hold their value like the 110/defenders do for reasons the petrol ones you almost have to give them away to sell them. Try the AULRO forum massive amounts of info there.
-
Fantastic replies! im favoring the D1 over the D2 due to the 3 amigo and other electronic gremlins. Granted they are 20+ years old, I don't intend for it to be my only vehicle... my trusty fiat is my daily driver and commuter. My intention is to spend some time doing maintenance with my son (good excuse to get together and talk while wrenching on an old 4x4), and take some weekend/day trips to the mountains and desert.
Prices are rock bottom... most used guzzi models fetch more dollars.
Been reading through several forums to get an idea of oils, parts availability, common issues and fixes. The US didn't get the diesel model, regrettably.
Again, thanks for the feedback and stories. 😀
-
My brother used to work for the Landrover franchise here. He borrowed a trade-in to lay out an offroad rally and was so impressed with it that he bought it. It is a V8 auto.
I will check with him as to what year etc. Some years gave more problems than others. He did have it some years before he found that the aircon switching was faulty and was not disengaging. Fixing that gave him a lot more mpg. Some models had three computers under the seat or some such thing. No problem until you went through a river, which tends to be done a bit with those :rolleyes:. He did say the Disco was the only L.R. we would ever consider.
-
He did say the Disco was the only L.R. we would ever consider.
I'll be the first to point out the 110's especially the Perinte versions are more a high speed tractor that a car.
-
Just remembered. If you want one with exta zest go to Dubai. The had a special there with a 5. something litre V8 lump in it :grin:
-
My brother had 3 Range Rovers (all petrol) of various vintage over a period of about 15 years, he is very handy with the spanners, I'm not too bad myself but would be hesitant to go there. Most common issue was with the centre diff, he rebuilt a few
Having said that the RR is an awesome beast in the rough, I reckon no other 4wd would get near it for shear ability in really rough terrain (I reckon the manufacturer would have been horrified to see what my brother did to them). The Disco should be similar :boozing:
-
All I really remember about my 1968 IIa swb was to throw it into 4 wheel as soon as I hit significantly rough trails or risk snapping about an inch off the end of one of the rear half shafts. Think it was the long side.
Great little truck for many reasons. Comfort and speed were not among them.
-
Always lusted after one of these:
(http://www.expeditionlandrover.info/LR.images/Camel%20Trophy%20110.JPEG)
-
Always lusted after one of these:
(http://www.expeditionlandrover.info/LR.images/Camel%20Trophy%20110.JPEG)
Me too. Somehow, they look more seductive the dirtier they are 😊
-
All I really remember about my 1968 IIa swb was to throw it into 4 wheel as soon as I hit significantly rough trails or risk snapping about an inch off the end of one of the rear half shafts. Think it was the long side.
Great little truck for many reasons. Comfort and speed were not among them.
d
It only takes 15 - 20 mins to change an Axle though :evil:
Me too. Somehow, they look more seductive the dirtier they are 😊
That's my sons Landies Grandchild. They don't look right
Without a couple of dents either :wink:
Maurie
-
Pretty sad day when they stopped making the Defender. Almost like a death in the family in the UK. But they were very uneconomical to make, and people expect more refinement these days.
-
I started out a fan of American iron until I saw my first movie set in Africa with a couple of beat-to-hell Series II/Series III running around...LR one of those iconic legends like Ford Model T/A/B, VW Beetle, Volvo, Jeep CJ/YJ/TJ, Subaru, or Moto Guzzi...humble sheetmetal around a great powerplant...easy to work on, parts generally locatable, dents/scratches not a tragedy, and many times charming their way into your heart like a family member...if you sell one, you somehow never forgive yourself... :cool:
-
and many times charming their way into your heart like a family member...if you sell one, you somehow never forgive yourself... :cool:
Which is why many Land Rover owners suffer from the same disease as Guzzi owners, inevitably you start with 1 and will have more than one...there are some guys in the club here who are seriously afflicted with the fleet of Series 1, 109's, NAS D90's, Forward Controls and the more modern RRS or even the Full Fat Range Rover (FFRR)...
I'm really looking forward to seeing the new Defender on US soil here shortly, and while not all versions come in a diesel, now for 2, maybe 3 years we've been able to get the Range Rover Sport Diesel here in the states...quite a smooth powerplant...obviou sly not the same as the TDV8 which was available for a time in Europe.
There is a good book out by Ben Fogle, well written history of Land Rover...for any Rover nut, it's a good read!
-
I want an Air Portable...perfect size! :thumb:
-
Yo vstevens. Finally tracked down my bro who is presently floating around our Catlins area down south. (Lovely, wild. inhospitable area)
His Disco is a '94 which he rates as one of the best (for whatever reason)
They all are rather thirsty.
Camshaft and tappets tend to wear, usually need doing by 130,000kms. If the cam is bad;y worn it could need replacement.
The auto the use is a ZF and is a beauty. 40,000kms service on auto.
The transfer case uses EP90, NOT ATF. If ATF has been used they will whine.
If it is a manual it will be a 380 gearbox, which is "a prick to rebuild".
Early '89-90 were a 3.5 carbed, then went to injected for a couple of years.
Around late '92 they went to a 3.9
'98 they changed the injector system, although there was nothing wrong with the previous model.
The alarm that was fitted came with two different frequencies. The 315MgHz was bad because a lot of garage door openers were around that and the alarm gave no end of trouble because of it. The other was 433MgHz which is a much better frequency.
He has had his for years and has been anvil reliable.
-
Yo vstevens. Finally tracked down my bro who is presently floating around our Catlins area down south. (Lovely, wild. inhospitable area)
His Disco is a '94 which he rates as one of the best (for whatever reason)
They all are rather thirsty.
Camshaft and tappets tend to wear, usually need doing by 130,000kms. If the cam is bad;y worn it could need replacement.
The auto the use is a ZF and is a beauty. 40,000kms service on auto.
The transfer case uses EP90, NOT ATF. If ATF has been used they will whine.
If it is a manual it will be a 380 gearbox, which is "a prick to rebuild".
Early '89-90 were a 3.5 carbed, then went to injected for a couple of years.
Around late '92 they went to a 3.9
'98 they changed the injector system, although there was nothing wrong with the previous model.
The alarm that was fitted came with two different frequencies. The 315MgHz was bad because a lot of garage door openers were around that and the alarm gave no end of trouble because of it. The other was 433MgHz which is a much better frequency.
He has had his for years and has been anvil reliable.
I've read on the LR forums that they are anvil reliable with proper maintenance. Unfortunately, the US didn't get the earlier disco. I think the 95 or 96 is the earliest we got, all fuel injected. From what I've read, the disco 2 has a slipping cylinder sleeve which eats gaskets. Don't know when they started using the sleeves or why. The LR3/4 is much more refined and expensive with much more electronic whiz bang and associated gremlins.
But perhaps I shouldn't be such a Luddite. Most newer electronics seem to be pretty reliable