QuestionHello,
To whom it may concern, I've been interested in these vehicles for years but of course don't have the money to get a new one. I like the serries one discovery (not version 2)the best. Wished I could have afford a defender 110 or 90 but the discovery is fine.
Since this is a british car, I was wondering what would be a good check list as to when getting one of these as to what to watch for. Also was wondering if there's anything out of the ordinary compared to other cars from other countries that you have to go to the dealer for.
What are the top items that usually have problems within the 95-99 years? I've noticed that on most of the ones I've looked at that are used that they usually have problems with the rear windows not working.
How many miles do you go between each change out of a serp. belt, tune ups, and other items that are usual main. issues?
If there was something that was to stop you from purchasing a used discovery when you saw something wrong at the lot, what would it be? Notice, the usual items like wrecked and or dammaged to extense issues would be a given. What I'm saying are things that are not easily seen from a distance and or a picture etc.
If you were going to start servicing one of these yourself, what are some common tools that you use constantly? I'm assuming that everything is metric?
Are Oil changes easy? Any special parts needed to do routing issues?
How would you check out the 4wd system on one of these machines when you test drive ( low and high gears I'm assuming since they run 4wd constantly.)
There always seems to be some sort of oily areas around the filter areas that are caked and or fresh on most models I've looked at. Sometimes this is noticeable on some hoses around those areas. Why is this?
What's the average life of one of these vehicles? Usually the price range I'm looking at they have around 70k to 100k+ miles on them. Can you get 200k on these without much trouble? Or would it be constant repair?
Thank You
Will
AnswerHi Will,
Your question is a long one and requires much thought.
If you are serious about purchasing a LR Disco series I, you'll have to accept the fact that parts and dealer labour are inevitable. Both are are like death and taxes...you can't avoid them and eventually they catch up to you. Parts are a small fortune and unless you can repair the vehicle yourself, you'll have to use the local dealer or a euro-mechanic you can trust.
What to look for in a used Disco I:
How does it sit in the parking lot. Is it high and steady or leaning to rear or front? Check the tire for unusual wear patterns (they show up very easily on all 4x4's).
Corrosion is a big problem with alum body. Check around all doors - especially the rear door.
Almost all LR's leak something. Normal for older LR's. Just make sure its not a steady stream!
You'll have to drive the vehicle before you purchase. When you first start up the Disco, see if the engine rev's too high. Should hover around 750rpm and never 1000rpm.
Before you engage gear, turn the wheels and listen for any clunks...possible CV joint trouble or axle wear.
Drive slow at first and listen for any abnormal gear changes.
ABS is a big problem with Disco's Series I. Sensor are touchy and some owners would disconnect the panel light out of fustration. Make sure its not the case with your vehicle. At start up...ABS light should flash like all other instr.panel lights. If not, its been pulled!
For testing the low gears, remember to come to a complete stop before engaging these gears. It might be tight at first (most Disco's have the gears but their owners rarely use them). Start slow and don't go too fast. These gears are not made for city or highway...only extremely rough road conditions (sand, mud, water, snow).
Oil changes are no different than any other vehicle. Most tools you would use for any vehicle are used on a Disco EXCEPT when removing the wheel hubs to change your rotors and a special tool for viscos fan. Some other tools may be needed for specialty work on the engine but usually DIY'ers don't touch that stuff anyway.
As for life expectancy, I have almost 300,000 kms on my Disco. So long as you are willing to change your fluids frequently (seasonal or yearly) you can also expect many kms and years. Serpentine belt should be changed every 2 or 3 years (how hard a driver are you?), spark plugs and wires every 2 years, tires every 2 or 3 years. The rest is just like any other vehicle.
High mileage Disco's are like a ticking time bomb...eventually something will break down and you'll have to replace it. A power steering pump can run you $700 US, an alternator about $300US, a new engine about $4000, transmission are about $2500. Lets hope the only component failure are light bulbs.
Have any Disco you are interested in checked out by the local LR dealer. It could cost you about $100 but it will be worth it. The dealer knows exactly were to look for trouble areas.
Best of luck,
JohnMc
