Are all J and K Reg Discos Rotten/Rusty??

[stabinthedark]

I am wanting to buy a cheap Discovery J/K/L reg to tow my boat, not to use as an everyday car. I will be able to do all the mechanics but cannot weld. I keep getting told all old Discos are likely to fail MOT because of rust at rear body mounts. Won't some of them have been treated (is it called waxoyl) so not likely to have the problem? Does anyone have good experience with these older cars?

[redhand]

I am wanting to buy a cheap Discovery J/K/L reg to tow my boat, not to use as an everyday car. I will be able to do all the mechanics but cannot weld. I keep getting told all old Discos are likely to fail MOT because of rust at rear body mounts. Won't some of them have been treated (is it called waxoyl) so not likely to have the problem? Does anyone have good experience with these older cars?

Well mine's rotten but not round the body mount. There are plenty out there that have been repaired and even some that have never been off roaded (very rare) take someone who knows what to look for and take a torch even if it's bright sunshine. get underneath and poke and prod at everything including the chassis rails and sills. Take a posidrive screwdriver and lift the carpet in the rear If the owner isn't happy with this then walk away. no matter how much he tries to convince you otherwise.

Check for clunking when lifting the clutch to set off. Make sure you or ur mate are doing the driving.

[fergie2035]

If you're going to buy old vehicles I'd buy a welder and learn to weld. Seriously. Its well worth it if you are at all DIY inclined. You don't need to invest more than a couple of hundred pounds to get a welder and a few other bits of equipment e.g. grinder and some tin snips, vice grips, hammer etc. Repairing bodywork and chassis is cheap if you can do it yourself but very time consuming and expensive if you get other people to do it.

[lawzer]

ours is a G reg (1990 I think) and although the rear boot floor was totally rusted away I have it on good autority from the very nice man who took the floor out that the chassis is sound.

There's some other little bits where rust has got the better of her but considering it's a very old vehicle it's not too bad.

As said though - poke around everything.
When I looked over the car before we bought it I thought all that was wrong was the mudflat bracket. The floor LOOKED ok from underneath but defo lift the carpet.
Check inside the door frames too - especially down the bottom.

Good luck!

[nomoreleafs]

I am wanting to buy a cheap Discovery J/K/L reg to tow my boat, not to use as an everyday car. I will be able to do all the mechanics but cannot weld. I keep getting told all old Discos are likely to fail MOT because of rust at rear body mounts. Won't some of them have been treated (is it called waxoyl) so not likely to have the problem? Does anyone have good experience with these older cars?

Not all of them,there is a K plate 200TDi for sale near me,it has a very small amount of rust on inner wing but it is in VERY nice condition every where else.Sills are like new,rear body crossmember is spotless.It is a very clen disco.
IF ONLY I had waited a bit before I bought mine.
You are not really too far away.buy it,it is a shame just sitting there.

[TEMPL4R]

My L plate is immaculate on the chassis, a few rust patches showing on the rear floor.

I think it just depends on who owned it and how clean they kept it.

Chris

[stabinthedark]

Not all of them,there is a K plate 200TDi for sale near me,it has a very small amount of rust on inner wing but it is in VERY nice condition every where else.Sills are like new,rear body crossmember is spotless.It is a very clen disco.
IF ONLY I had waited a bit before I bought mine.
You are not really too far away.buy it,it is a shame just sitting there.
Hi nomoreleafs. Have you got any details of the K reg near you as I might well be interested. Is it advertised anywhere and do you know mileage, price and contact details? Thanks.

[John Lee]

My Disco was quite rotten in places when I first got it, nothing on the chassis though, (surprisingly my 110 chassis was in far worse condition).
Rear floor was completely replaced, inner wings were welded, sills replaced with 1.5mm plate, that was about it.
I have since found that most of the problems arise from the rear sunroof leaking so took advice, removed it completely and welded a sheet of steel in its place.
If you do get a welder I suggest you invest in an electronic controlled face mask, safer and being fully automatic gives you your left/right hand back for other duties.
Hope this helps ...... JL

[nomoreleafs]

Hi nomoreleafs. Have you got any details of the K reg near you as I might well be interested. Is it advertised anywhere and do you know mileage, price and contact details? Thanks.

OK here goes,
M&S car sales (bargain section.) 0161 626 6217.
From memory it has about 108,000 on it.
Dark metallic green,3 door.
He said it was £1295,but they are full and I bet a sensible bid would buy it.
If you want to view it,let them know so they can blow the tyre up and move it so you can get to the back to open the back door.
Chadderton near Oldham.

[stabinthedark]

Phoned M&S this morning and was told the £1,290 Discovery is sold but they are keen to sell me another one at £2995! Thanks nomoreleafs for the lead, it was worth trying.

[BrianH]

I have an N-Plate and mine is rotten at the rear body mounts too. I've done as fergie suggested to be honest, I'm going to do the work myself. I've never done welding before but a friend who has is going to come down and help me out with that, I'm just waiting to buy the replacement bits and then it'll be time for the angle grinder to come out!

Brian