Landrover hexperts?

[Dave20046]

Just a quick one, my mates looking at a Landrover, and I said I'd go help him take a look as he's in plaster. Know there's a few owners on here just wondering about things to look out for? Known issues (terminal) and little known issues that ownership might throw up?

It's approximately 17 years old, it's a 200tdi and had quite a lot of work done to it, think it was a semi/full restoration project for someone - it's also been half cut down.

Cheers!

[dizzyblonde]

Hope he has big pockets. When Landies are working fine, they cost peanuts, when they're in need of fixing, they can be very expensive!

Ours is no disco, but with a broken ABS speed sensor, which cost 200 quid plus labour, then to put it through its MOT and fail on two tyres (£260 for the pair) a melted steering rack gaiter (£20 plus labour) a new rear indicator unit (£20 ebay) the ball joint on the front repairing.....and tax at the end of this month

The total cost ...... £1050:eek:


Thankfully the rear view mirror stuck back on and covered the missing glass in the windscreen that fell off with it, saving £75 on the insurance8-[

We have a Landy specialist round the corner, who does old discos up, young biker lad, new business, we couldn't do the repairs ourselves, so had to swallow a hard lump, but as its not had any work done on it in two years, I suppose its not too bad if you think of it like that......honest!

[Dave20046]

OOf, so they're expensive sheds then? :razz:

I've told him it won't be economical fuel wise and I know there can be a lot of niggles, but really that's just from what I've read on here some of the landrover guys knowing how to fix something with a well placed smack.

I'll get him to look into repair costs, I didn't think parts would be much on them for some reason.
Cheers dizzy

[husky03]

the 200 dti will run on bio or straight wvo so running costs are cheap if you use your knowhow, areas to look for are the chassis-even if its been undersealed i'd be poking and prodding with a hammer and screw driver to check for metal worm, the rear crossmember traps water but is replaceable and patchable,gearbox wise feel for a crunch changing into second and fourth, check the bulkhead for rust-lift the bonnet and get poking again-depends on his budget but with defenders they hold their money very well IF looked after you get what you pay for-he'd be better getting one from an owner on landyzone or similar-that way you can check and see what issues they've posted about and what they've had to replace.
There brilliant vehicles in my view, i love my TD5, but they need a different outlook as far as ownership is concerned-my mrs won't drive mine, my mate bought a 200dti last month and went for it on looks but didn't check where he should have -turns out that the doors are rotten at the bottom(common fault), oil leak(they all do it), paint finish is bad,door locks are temprimental and it is uncomfy to be a passenger in.
Mine is top of the range model thats more suited to towing a horse box than green laning it so it depends if he wants a toy or a useable car cause they don't suit everyone.

[Specialone]

Better off with the defender IMO, I don't rate the early discos very highly, a few of my mates used to build them at the factory, problems galore with them, half of them never left the line finished, instead driven to a field a few miles away then put right later.

My best mate used to be a cover man on them so had to know most of the assembley jobs in case people were sick etc, I wouldn't want anything that he'd built tbh, his attitude to everything is, that'll do.

He's a plasterer now ;)

[Dave20046]

Are the defenders the later ones? (so the 200tdi will be a disco?). He seems pretty set on this one (potentially just cause he's found a bargain, but it might be nice I ain't seen it yet....although he's also been offered a vauxhall frontier or whatever you call them.
the 200 dti will run on bio or straight wvo so running costs are cheap if you use your knowhow, areas to look for are the chassis-even if its been undersealed i'd be poking and prodding with a hammer and screw driver to check for metal worm, the rear crossmember traps water but is replaceable and patchable,gearbox wise feel for a crunch changing into second and fourth, check the bulkhead for rust-lift the bonnet and get poking again-depends on his budget but with defenders they hold their money very well IF looked after you get what you pay for-he'd be better getting one from an owner on landyzone or similar-that way you can check and see what issues they've posted about and what they've had to replace.
There brilliant vehicles in my view, i love my TD5, but they need a different outlook as far as ownership is concerned-my mrs won't drive mine, my mate bought a 200dti last month and went for it on looks but didn't check where he should have -turns out that the doors are rotten at the bottom(common fault), oil leak(they all do it), paint finish is bad,door locks are temprimental and it is uncomfy to be a passenger in.
Mine is top of the range model thats more suited to towing a horse box than green laning it so it depends if he wants a toy or a useable car cause they don't suit everyone.

That's really helpful , cheers mate. Especially as I've just realised he mentioned I'd have to test drive it. Had heard to watch for rust, and used to having a poke around old minis and vws so won't be afraid to do that, thanks for identifying the problem areas.

As I understand it it's going pretty cheap so will be extra cautious. He said it's really modified with a lot of lower bodywork chopped so you'd hope they'd taken care of rust first.

I don't think he's bothered about having a usable car he navigated last years snow in morris minor van so I can only see this being a massive improvement!

[husky03]

the 200 and 300 relate to the older defenders-the discoverys use the same engines so when they update the engine both models got it-the 300 engine is a piece of enginering wonder that will almost run on any oil as fuel.If its cheap its cheap for a reason mate-check out

http://www.repairmylandrover.co.uk/category/defender-repairguides

h.

[husky03]

if the lower bodywork has been chopped its been done for extra offroad clearance mate which would say to me its been hammered offroad-which is not bad if thats what your buying it for.
h.

[Dave20046]

if the lower bodywork has been chopped its been done for extra offroad clearance mate which would say to me its been hammered offroad-which is not bad if thats what your buying it for.
h.

I said the same but he said he wants to give that a go. Just I know he's going to use it as his workhorse too not sure if the two go hand in hand really.
He'll be putting a trailer on it for getting his bikes about.

Anything more than suspension to checkout re. off-road ragging?

[husky03]

go to landyzone mate and you'll find a full pre purchase check list on there as there is so much that needs checking

[Dave20046]

nice one cheers, going to print out your posts too to take

[Specialone]

The defender is the classic land rover style dave btw, I wouldn't mind a modern one tbh, they are brill for the rough stuff.

[dizzyblonde]

go to landyzone mate and you'll find a full pre purchase check list on there as there is so much that needs checking


Saved our bacon a couple of times, as far as the pocket is concerned!

+1 about the chopped up front.


Theres a bloke down the street whose just bought a Disco last month, I said to Pete it won't be long before its in bits, sounded dog rough.....low and behold its engine has been in bits and all four wheels have been up on stilts, draining diesel and oil all over the pavement!
He wheels and deals in chav chariots, and I personally think he bought a right lemon and won't get shut of it before the tax runs out this month.......he should have stuck with things he knows something about!

The Landy specialist is getting rid of his TD4(IIRC) all been geared up to the nines......cause it costs him too much in fuel.

[cb1000rsteve]

Mate at work has a 2 disco's and goes all over (Bosnia Russia etc) and both his have over 200,000 on the clock!! One of them is proper off roader with snorkel extra lift etc but the other is pretty much standard. He's knows what he's doing with them and swears by them. Says he's had no major issues with them, just usual wear and tear etc. The interior looks worn but not ripped which suprised me. very durable

[myfirstsv]

Discovery 300 TDI from 1996.
140k on the clock.
New clutch at 80k - but since I pull a big caravan with her that's fair
Bit of rot under the boot / rear passenger door that got sorted for a couple of hundred quid

She owes me nothing, she's worth nothing but she keeps on going!

Hope that isn't tempting fate.

[svrich]

- it's also been half cut down.

Cheers!
What exactly has been cut down? If it's bodywork that should be ok (as mentioned above) but if it's chassis that could be a massive can of worms.
The main areas of chassis and bulkhead have been mentioned also but try the determine when the cambelt was last changed, and give the wiring a good visual check over as far as possible, including any accessories. Bodged accessories, worn insulation, or poor earths could cause a lot of problems. If it has been lifted make sure the job has been done properly with castor corrected suspension arms, and possibly uprated propshafts if it is more than a 1 or 2 inch lift. Also brake lines extended. Big chunky wheels and tyres and lifted suspension are good for off road but can make it handle like a pig on road. Have a good test drive of it and make sure nothing knocks or catches (wheels on chassis etc) when cornering. If it doesn't feel 'right' walk away, however, it will feel very different to driving a normal car so be prepared for body roll, longer braking distances and truck like handling.
When all's said and done though, they are a fantastic vehicle to own and will look after the owner if they look after them.

[_Stretchie_]

I don't know if it's cos I've had a few beers but I can't see what Land Rover is it your talking about?

Is it a Defender or Disco?

[suzukigt380paul]

some if looked after and not off roaded will last but most older landrovers which use rover parts are reliable apart from engines gearboxs suspension brakes and diffs

[_Stretchie_]

Most landrovers are reliable apart from engines gearboxs suspension brakes and diffs

Corrected for you pal ;)

I'd say that like most engines if you service them regularly then they will be fine, you should get well over 200k out of one, but if you use it for what it's meant for then you need to know how to use a set of spanners, but that's engines.. Running gear is different.

Forewarned is forearmed, does he want to go off roading and dunking it in mud puddles? If so then fitting a raised air intake will be a needed addition, also by fitting a wading kit for the axles, gearboxe(s) and timing cover will stop all sorts of issues down the line like wheel bearings and cam belt issues.

Find out exactly what it's wanted for and then you can see what's needed to future proof it, but Land Rover ownership will cost you, either up front by preventing problems or down the line to fix the problems you should have prevented in the first place.. I learnt the expensive way

; )


** EDIT **

Oh yeah, and every bolt you try to undo will be seized solid making a simple job into a day and a half of labour, it took me a full day to swap the disks and pads on all corners on my Disco.

I am not saying this to be negative. I LOVE my Disco to bits, sometimes I'd love it IN BITS but I've still got it and I still love it. Tell him that by blanking off the EGR, replacing the downpipe with a non cat version and fiddling with the fuel pump he'll make it a much nicer almost car like drive and better on fuel economy, and tyres make a massive difference, I lost 50 miles a tank when I changed from road biased tyres to stuff that'll be good off road

[suzukigt380paul]

Corrected for you pal ;)

I'd say that like most engines if you service them regularly then they will be fine, you should get well over 200k out of one, but if you use it for what it's meant for then you need to know how to use a set of spanners, but that's engines.. Running gear is different.

Forewarned is forearmed, does he want to go off roading and dunking it in mud puddles? If so then fitting a raised air intake will be a needed addition, also by fitting a wading kit for the axles, gearboxe(s) and timing cover will stop all sorts of issues down the line like wheel bearings and cam belt issues.

Find out exactly what it's wanted for and then you can see what's needed to future proof it, but Land Rover ownership will cost you, either up front by preventing problems or down the line to fix the problems you should have prevented in the first place.. I learnt the expensive way

; )
older rover engines arent like most engines,alright so you know some one who has done 200k on a rover engine,im going by the 15 or so defenders disco's and older rangerovers
now let me see there was the model before the defender with a piston sticking out of the block a td5 discovery that the firebrigade had to come to when it sucked the oil out of the sump and wouldnt stop running the v8 range rover that the linners moved on, so even a new head gasket wouldn't solve and i could go on and on

[_Stretchie_]

That's like Squirrel Hunter saying all SV engines are crap just because his blow up (all his fault, and not suggesting that you fall in the same bracket, lord knows there can't be more like him)

You pay your money you take your chances. All I'm saying is that you can reduce the chance of things going pop by finding out what issues are and nipping them in the bud before it happens.

My old Rover 414 (just to support what you say) had a head gasket failure, and then threw a piston threw the engine casing after it was repaired... K series engines, well known and documented issues yet still used in many kit cars for racing... And they don't blow up

[Fraser24]

Hi, I guess I could be called a Landrover hexpert, I'm the workshop chargehand for the MT Dept for the MOD, we have got a LOT of TDI Landrovers that are used and abused everyday by heavy footed drivers, faults when used off road ? clutches every 75-90 k miles, rear pads 15k, axle and output shaft oil seals 20k, 2nd gear syncro gets weak after 50k , if your Landie has been used for serious off roading you need to check for wheel bearings, suspension bushes. All parts are available as pattern and a lot cheaper than OE, stick to std and you won't go far wrong , Fraser

[Dave20046]

excellent, cheers chaps!
Feeling a little more prepared.