Disco2 buying - gotchas?

[stickybloke]

Hi, new to the forum and Land Rovers in general. Having become fed up knackering fast cars in pot holes and floods I've decided it's time to buy a sensible car and am soon to pick up an 03 Disco ES TD5 Auto.

I've had a good look through the forums and it seems like there is plenty I need to check on the car before I hand over the cash. The car has a full LR history with the last service at 60k done in Jan 06. I've asked that it be serviced (now 72K) and that's being done at an independent garage on Friday.

Does anyone have top tips on what I should look for when I go to pick up the car? Obviously not going to strip it down :) but general places to look for leaks, rot, air problems etc.

I'm sorry to say I don't know a huge deal about Land Rovers and am not really sure where to start and I know newbies probably ask these sort of questions all the time.....

Thanks
Simon

[Dave78]

Welcome to the forum, there are loads of people on here who should be able to point you in the right direction as to what to look for etc.

I'm currently trying to work out what to buy, Disco 1, Disco 2 or Defender 110.

[d1scv]

Service history- read it carefully.
Try to get it on a ramp and wander round in your own time with a torch. Look for rust/corrosion particulary on any pipework- doesn't matter what the pipes are or what they do.
If you see rust/corrosion on pipe work chances are it's been in sea water.
Chances are rust will be in places you can't see!

Lastly remember-Buyer beware

[lynalldiscovery]

Start it drive it if everything does as it should and it feels right you should be okay.

You may hate the autobox as its only 4 speed:eek:.

After drive slowly remove coolant cap as they suffer from headgaskets probs , slight pressure okay if it keeps on coming walk away, later ones are meant to be okay but you never know:rolleyes:.

Everything inside should be ok mine has never had any faults inside the car in 3 years:)

Mine was serviced by an indy garage before i picked it up and afterwards i checked it over and the gearbox oil was very very low!



Lynall

[stickybloke]

Thanks for the tips guys. Sorry Lynall, do you mean there should only be a slight pressure when I remove the coolant cap?

Any tips on checking the air suspension business? I'd read somewhere about raising and lowering the back end and listening for funny noises?

How easy is it to check oil levels on the gearbox etc?

:) cheers!