Which Disco?????

[tennismark]

Be gentle on me, Im a first timer with the rovers. Im interested in a disco, bit listening to nissan and tojo drivers, they are scaring me off. Im wanting a diesel to lift to 33's . Which diesel is less of a problem?What is required to lift a disco so 33's can be fitter. What price will this work cost me??/\Id appreciate all your help and know the landie family is a helpful one...

[Slunnie]

Td5 is less of a problem.

A few run around with 33" Simex on the Disco2 with a 2" lift only, though it will rub a little on full stuff in the FPS corner. 4" lift will not rub at all, and 4" with a guard cut will fit 35" tyres.

[Mick G]

I've got the TD5 with a 2" lift and am running 265/75R16's which I beleive is a shade under 32". I have zero rubbing issues either at full lock or full articulation and I reckon they are about as big as you can go with the 2" lift without cutting and going higher.

Love my set up and love the TD5. Although was out with a few Series 1 V8's at the weekend and dam, do they sound good and make it all look so easy.

Mick

[tennismark]

thers not to many dramas with the diesels to look for????Will a body lift be ok with a 2 inch lift???What lift do you use, from which maker???

[Mick G]

thers not to many dramas with the diesels to look for????Will a body lift be ok with a 2 inch lift???What lift do you use, from which maker???

Like anything you buy, make sure it has a full service history. I actually bought an $800 extended factory warranty policy which in the one year of owning my D2 has paid for new injectors, new radiator, recon starter motor, recon front tail shaft. I change oils etc and service mine every 10,000 with a guy who specialises in land rovers and apart from the probs listed, I am very happy with it - you get probs with any vehicle no matter how old or new. I bought mine with 90,000k's on it and have just passed 120,000.

I have done a 2" Old Man Emu spring and shock lift only. I think if you go above this you have to start changing break/steering hoses etc. I think Slunnie has a 4"lift on his and has moved a few things to accomodate. I would like more lift on mine but not willing to move hoses etc just now. I have no experience with body lifts but there are plenty on this site who have.

Bottom line though is the D2 is an extremely capable car out the box and with a few simply additions - CDL, Muds etc - it becomes a weapon which amazes me everytime I take it out to play. You wont regret buying one and with the wealth of information and experience on this and other forums you are never really on your own when you have a problem or question.

Hope this helps and good luck, Mick

[igould]

Be warned. In spite of the scare-mongering of the whitegoods brigade, once you get your butt in a LandRover, you'll never want to change.

Ian

[DARTHrover]

TD5 auto disco with chip and bigger intercooler will leave any
other behind.

In spite of the scare-mongering of the whitegoods brigade, once you get your butt in a LandRover, you'll never want to change.

ians right!
my father in law would buy a landie 2morrow, just he
couldnt handle the crap dished out from his mates.

[gordon]

I run a 1993 200TDI disco - obviously a much cheaper alternative to purchaing a TD5

I like it because:

a) it's entirely mechanical (I can do almost all servicing and repairs myself),

b) its age allows me the luxury of being able to justify cutting up the panels and modifying bits here and there,

c) it's economical and has plenty of power for off-road applications (easily tunable),

d) very little will stop it.

I've fitted 33" tyres and can go to 35/36" if needed. This is after a 2" body + 2" spring lift and a fair bit of guard cutting. It needs to be serviced regularly, but nothing more than any other 13 year-old vehicle.

I'd never be happy with anything else

[ISUZUROVER]

If I was buying a disco I would get a late model 300Tdi (1999ish) - with either the ZF auto or the R380 manual - both are good. I don't like all the electrics on the TD5 (but it is a good engine), and the SII discos have more overhang. The early 300Tdi's had some timing belt misalignment problems, but the later ones had everything sorted (and most older ones have had the kits from LR fitted to correct the problems). The engines are reliable and can be tweaked very easily for more power (check the threads on here).

I have seen discos running 235/85-16's (narrow 32" diameter tyre) with a slight body and spring lift, and no guard cutting.

[TuffRR]

If I was buying a disco I would get a late model 300Tdi (1999ish) - with either the ZF auto or the R380 manual - both are good. I don't like all the electrics on the TD5 (but it is a good engine), and the SII discos have more overhang. The early 300Tdi's had some timing belt misalignment problems, but the later ones had everything sorted (and most older ones have had the kits from LR fitted to correct the problems). The engines are reliable and can be tweaked very easily for more power (check the threads on here).

I have seen discos running 235/85-16's (narrow 32" diameter tyre) with a slight body and spring lift, and no guard cutting.

Another vote for late model 300tdi. I have a 98 300tdi which is pretty much the last of them before the series II. Has been a very reliable vehicle so far. I'm running 235/85/16's with a 2" spring lift and slight trimming on the rear guards.

I've tweaked the fuel pump and it goes well, not quite as well as a td5 but I'd take a series I over a series II anyday just for the reason that there is no reliance on electrics. I have seen too many series II's disabled because they have blue screened.

[Slunnie]

I'm on an Australian and globally based Disco2 group, and I can recall 1 Disco "bluescreening". These folk use them hard also. Thats not to say they wont break down like any other truck though. That said, the Defender TD5 is more prone to this due to the location of the ECU - water can get to it. The TD5 in the Disco can be tweaked also, a chip will see 145kw, and a intercooler brings it to about 170kw/520Nm.

WRT electrics, the one thing that sometimes can play up is the ABS sensors. If the ETC fails, then lock the centre diff and keep driving. The ECU's, rheostats etc are reliable.

[phippsey]

Depends again on what you want.

91-94 - I wouldn't touch, unless you wanted a basher, and only a V8i
94-99 - 300 series tdi, with EXCELLENT service history by a rover place and pref. auto (i'd watch out for anything that has been treated rough. rovers can't handle it like datsuns. they love a good service and lean foot)

I like V8's, but beware the rover 3.9/3.5 is pretty sluggish (not too bad), uses an AMAZINGLY HUGE amount of fuel, but are very smooth, sweet and reliable. Go LPG like me if you do go V8i.

Other issues to be aware of.

- CVs/axles are weak on rovers and need upgrading for 33s and moderate work (pre S2)
- They all leak oil
- Newer discos lose their value something fierce. Defenders are pretty good despite the general belief!
- Older ones will 'hover' once reaching $9k or so and slowly drop as normal
- Rover electrics are terrible mostly - windows/heater/radio/central locking

If you want a true off roader for mostly off road and don't need comfort, but a 2002 -> defender. (Watch out on 99-01 early Td5s)

Shop around. I wouldn't pay more than $9-10k for a mint V8i auto disco on LPG <180ks.

Happy hunting!

And watch out for the bite - the rover bug!

[Mick G]

(Watch out on 99-01 early Td5s)

I have a '99 S2 and it has served me very well in the year I have had it. Bought it with 90,000 on it and it now sits at 120,000. I think a lot of it is down to how you drive it and how you look after it.

And watch out for the bite - the rover bug!

Couldn't agree more!!

[Aquarangie]

Yes as many have stated there is many options for under 10K these days. I've seen mostly V8's and a few tdi's for under the 10K mark, but there's some good buys. I seen a 95 V8i auto with 160 thou on the clock for $9K the other day in Brissie.

I owned a 93 Disco and thay are crap. The dash is woeful and the seats i reckon are uncomfortable in the earlier models (I have sat in later ones and the seats seem to have more padding and much more comfortable). I had it for 7 months and bough the late Aquarangie.

As much as I love my Rangie, the later S1 Discos are hell of a lot more comfortable and would probably have to look at one if I wanted a later model. After owning aquaranmgie (93 Vogue) with ABS, that bloody viscous coupling an air suspension, I am a bit more wary of having to sort that all out over again wheras the Discos have the basics that I prefer (no ABS, EAS, LT230 transfer, steel rims, etc..).

Regards,

Trav

[phippsey]

I have a '99 S2 and it has served me very well in the year I have had it. .....I think a lot of it is down to how you drive it and how you look after it.

As per earlier conversation here, re the oil being forced into the computer on Td5s, mainly it seams defenders.

My old man's suffered this very fate and it cost a bit to fix! And it reaffirms my point about rover specialists. A alleged 'rover man' (not a dealer) said "I've never seen this before, I have no Idea", but Pacific Rover just went "Yep, common fault, we'll have it ready this arvo"

[Slunnie]

I think thats a TD5 loom problem rather than Defender specific. The looms have been updated now and replacement is about $200. The oil doesn't actually get into the computer, it follows the loom and gets around the plug where it plays up. I had this picked up at the 70K service, though it didn't seem to affect anything. This said, it does affect others causing an intermittant misfire.

[tennismark]

thanks guys, seems im more confused now than ever before. How big a job is it to get the axles done if you wan to fit 33's????But at least know what Im in for and what to look out for. Thanks a buch

[Slunnie]

The Disco1 is slide out slide in, the Disco2 is a little harder as they are a semi floating setup. The factory diffs though are about the same strength as the axles so I dont think there is a lot of point in putting HD axles in without lockers.

If you snap an axle on the track its a different story.