Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi all,

Looking at buying a 1999 TD5 Disco and I've just had one with 160k on the clock inspected (RACQ). The report highlights defects of:-
Oil leaks at Transfer case
Oil wetness at cylinder head level, sides of block and rear sump bell housing
Oil wetness at steering pump & hoses
Both sides rear disc rotors are worn below minimum

Theres also other items of:-
Slight crankcase fuming noted
Oil moistening at Turbo inlet
Surface rust to unpainted metal surfaces

Obviously the discs wil need to be replaced - any idea roughly how much I should be banking on for that? As for the oil wetness - reckon this is just standard Landy quirkiness and so long as i keep an eye on the levels all is OK? (hard to diagnose without seeing it I know).

Its also sometimes a little notchy going into third, but that might be my fault - havent driven a manual for a long while.

The car is one previous owner, brother of a mate, with servicing every 20,000ks. What do you think?

Ta - Mike

Dogtank wrote:Hi all,

Looking at buying a 1999 TD5 Disco and I've just had one with 160k on the clock inspected (RACQ). The report highlights defects of:-
Oil leaks at Transfer case
Oil wetness at cylinder head level, sides of block and rear sump bell housing
Oil wetness at steering pump & hoses
Both sides rear disc rotors are worn below minimum

Theres also other items of:-
Slight crankcase fuming noted
Oil moistening at Turbo inlet
Surface rust to unpainted metal surfaces

Obviously the discs wil need to be replaced - any idea roughly how much I should be banking on for that? As for the oil wetness - reckon this is just standard Landy quirkiness and so long as i keep an eye on the levels all is OK? (hard to diagnose without seeing it I know).

Its also sometimes a little notchy going into third, but that might be my fault - havent driven a manual for a long while.

The car is one previous owner, brother of a mate, with servicing every 20,000ks. What do you think?

Ta - Mike

Depends on what you are paying for it, if it's 12-13k go for it, if it's above 18k walk away, anything inbetween it's a judgement call on the condition of the rest of the car.

Budget 5k for repairs if it is worse case senario. The head can be a problem on the '99's due in part to plastic head dowles, also there is a harness at the front of the motor that can get oil in it.

Discs are no a worry, should be less than $200 with new pads.

I would steer clear of a 99 model, 1st of new model and problems fixed with the next years release, stick to 2000 up if possible.

Getting this for 13 1/2 and the rest of the car is well looked after...no dinks, tears in the upholstery or obvious wear and tear. Its the model with ACE too...

I have a '99 TD5 manual Disco 140ks and mine is slightly clunky into 3rd too......I think it just happens. Auto box definitely better suited to the TD5.
13.5k......not bad i'd say. If you do go for it, i'd start getting it serviced every 10,000 though and keep on top of the leaks.
Don't be put off by all the horror stories....hands down the best car I have owned and like anything, the more you look after it the better it will be.

My 10c, Mick

Oil leaks at Transfer case
Oil wetness at cylinder head level, sides of block and rear sump bell housing
Oil wetness at steering pump & hoses
Both sides rear disc rotors are worn below minimum

Theres also other items of:-
Slight crankcase fuming noted
Oil moistening at Turbo inlet
Surface rust to unpainted metal surfaces

At $13.5, for a manual Td5, I'd say go for it.... The 'oil wetness at cylinder head level' will most likely be the rocker cover gasket leaking, and the plastic plug in the front of the head, which goes in the camshaft boring hole - it has an o-ring around it, common for these to stop being sealed.

Oil at the powersteering pump is a little bit of a worry, but I don't believe a secondhand pump to be overly expensive...

Oil leaks at the transfer case - well, rover transfer cases have been leaking like sieves since they first started making them, why should they stop now? Could be the o-rings on the intermediate shaft, could be input or output seals - a matter of where its actually leaking from.

Slight crankcase fuming - not quite what they mean there, but if they've taken the oil cap off while its running, 300 Tdis do that, and I imagine Td5s would as well, being diesels.

Oil moistening at turbo inlet - fairly common, not really something to worry about....

As for the surface rust, well, thats an easy fix, if its not on a panel - just give it a quick sand up, and spray over it....

At $13,500, with a known previous owner, thats a pretty damn good deal I reckon. Like Mick said though, service intervals of 10,000 km are probably a better idea - Rover does specify 20,000km intervals, but then again I think the Australian climate would be considered 'extreme operating conditions' by the poms.

$13500 is a pretty good price.

Rotors are $320prF and $195prR for EBC slotted and dimpled.

The gearbox notchiness might be fixed by changing gearbox oil to Castrol Syntrans.

Thanks for the advice everyone - I've got the car now and the more I drive it around the more I like it . . Will drop the service intervals to 10,000 and keep an eye on the levels and it should hopefully all be good!