Noob with some questions

["The Balls"]

Hi all, I'm new here and looking for some good advice from some seasoned Land Rover peoples. I've never owned one before but I have owned several other types of sport utilities over the years, some moded up and some just stockers. I'm looking at buying a 1996 Discovery with the gas V8 and a manual tranny for $2,000 canadian. It's got 280,000km's and the previous owner states it's been well maintained, frequent oil changes, ect. I've done some research on various sites with owners reviews of the same model year Land Rovers and for the most part they were quite good. Can someone please take a couple minutes and let me know what are the things to watch out for or trouble areas with these vehicles? Does this engine, transmission, 4x4 system hold up with this kind of mileage on it or am I better of not touching this one? I would be using this vehicle as a 2nd vehicle for my family so I will have m kids in it. Most of the time the vehicle would see only pavement but we do like to drive up into the mountains around where we live too. My type of off road driving is slow and steady, especially with the kids so the vehicle wouldn't be subjected to crazy jarring and speed. Thanks in advance for all replies.

[Jimbob292]

Hi, welcome to the forum,
Good choice of engine :D if its been regularly serviced, so includes engine, auto box filters, and oil diff & transfer box oils, it should be a good runner.
Get the engine up to temp take it for a gentle run, you will hear some moans & groans from a truck with 280k's on the clock, but that's to be expected. Stop and listen at the back of the lump near pistons 7 & 8, if you hear a ticking noise its either the cam or the top rocker's, these are a common fault, if you haven't got it no worries.
Look around for signs of water leaks, check the dipstick and feel / color of the oil also take the oil filler cap off and peer in side to see inside the rocker cover, if its all clear & no sludge your fine, if not it will need a GOOD flush; try some marvels snake oil added to the right weight of oil you will be using for your temp range, works well.
Look around the front swivels, drop arm of the steering box, for oil leaks, check your track rod arms for play and broken rubber seals.
Get a long steel bar on the panhard rod / swing arms to check for play in the bushes, do front and back, also don't forget the A frame joint and the back axle, just above the rear diff.
If anything's loose its a tool to drive the price down, all the fixes are not hard to do, as long as you have the time & tools at hand.
Oh and don't forget RUST!
Rgds,

Jim

["The Balls"]

Hey, thanks for the great advice Jim, really appreciate knowing a few things to look for. Is there any way to tell if the air suspension is ready to crap out (a '96 Discovery has the air sspension right?)? Thanks again!
Ryan

[Taxi Dave]

Hey, thanks for the great advice Jim, really appreciate knowing a few things to look for. Is there any way to tell if the air suspension is ready to crap out (a '96 Discovery has the air sspension right?)? Thanks again!
Ryan

1996 Disco will still be a Series 1 on coils not air

[conrad1468]

hello, Jimbob excellent advice. I'm new to Land Rovers and this forum and i just bought a 99 disco series 1. I'm going to check mine out like Jimbob said...
have a good one.