Land Rover Repair: help and info for 1996 land rover discovery, land rover discovery, minute job

Question

1996 Land rover discov hello i plan on purchasing a used 1996 land rover discovery w/107,500 miles for $1,500. this is what the owner said about the vehicle.
 Engine won't fire. Security system has engine disabled. Original computer failed due to corrosion. a replacement computer was installed, however the security system won't recognize it. The computer needs reflashed to communicate with the security system. .....or the secyrity system needs disabled. Ran just fine and was used daily until this happened. Good condition in and out.
 do you think this is a good deal?  will this be an easy fix that i could do myself?  what do you suppose needs to be done or what is the remedy for this situation?  any info would be helpful thank you.

Answer
It's true that a replacement engine control unit needs to be synchronized with the security control unit.  That can only be done with the Land Rover IDS, T4, or Autologic test systems.  You need a dealership or an independent with one of those tools.  It's a ten minute job with the right tool, impossible without the tool

However, with respect to the second part of your question . . . the answer sounds "too easy."  If the truck was great, and all it needed was to sync up the controller, why didn't he do it and keep driving it?  My guess is, there are many more problems waiting to be discovered.  If I were the buyer, I'd be thinking $500, not $1,500.  Everything is costly to fix, and long experience tells me the seller has probably significantly understated its problems.