Discovery II Td5

[Craigb]

I am playing with the idea of replacing the isuzu with a discovery and I need some help and advice please.

I am looking at a 1999 Td5 with 120 000km on the clock. The price is in line with the retail price for the vehicle, but I would imagine you should get it for somewhere between the trade and retail as there are plenty on the market and they seem to move slowly at the moment.

A few questions:

1) Is 120 000km considered high mileage on a Td5 engine. Given that it has FSH and I did manage to speak to the guys that did the last service. A few things that need sorting, but all in all, it sounds good.

2) Are there advantages to getting a warranty with a vehicle like this? I understand that an engine rebuild is quite a few bob!

3) Any idea on the costs of a major service (just a guideline)

4) It is the XS model - does this have normal coil springs at the back? Not keen on any electronic self levelling stuff.

5) Any ideas on what the consumption would be when travelling without towing anything at 120kph?

6) Auto vs Manual - I prefer manual, but I hear the auto is better for us off road novices and tends to last longer?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

[LRFan]

Hallo Graig,

I can not comment on the TD5, but the kilo's are not that high for the year model. I'll deffenatly will go for a auto, very strong don't give hassles and it makes offroad driving a breeze and it locks up in 1st low when going down steep slopes, so no running away. Between the TD5 and S11 Disco V8's there are not a big difference in fuel consumption and I think the V8 will be cheaper to services as well.

Hannes.

[Dirk]

Craig I must also say that if I had to replace my TD5 I'd go for the auto box as well. Everybody I've spoken to so far rates the auto driving much better than the manual.

You must also look at the GS spec vs the ES/XS, it should be quite a bit cheaper.

[Craigb]

Hallo Graig,

Between the TD5 and S11 Disco V8's there are not a big difference in fuel consumption and I think the V8 will be cheaper to services as well.

Hannes.

Thanks guys.

Can it be that the V8 and the Td5 are that close in consumption? What would you get in the V8. I have heard 5km/l vs 9km/l in the td5?

My concern with the GS - only a driver side airbag? Is that correct?

[pretdave]

Hi Craig
My personal experience.
TD5 is great- I am averaging better than 10km /l , granted I do drive conservatively. At 120 km/h you should get 9.5km/l
In town the TD5 can be difficult - clutch throttle coordination and no low down torque - here an automatic will be best.
I am enjoying my rear air bag suspenssion , but would prefer coils for serious offroading.
THe XS comes with air suspension at rear - can be changed to coils without much sweat.
Reccommend remove EGR system immediately , as well as instal CDL mechanism ( can be done cheaply) Instal Little Black Box - essential.
The TD5 has a reputaion for head problems - check it out thoroughly.

Cheers
Dave

[Dirk]

Hi Craig
My personal experience.
TD5 is great- I am averaging better than 10km /l , granted I do drive conservatively. At 120 km/h you should get 9.5km/l

Hell! Obviously I'm driving it waaay wrong!

In town the TD5 can be difficult - clutch throttle coordination and no low down torque - here an automatic will be best.

Chip PLUS Intercooler replacement can sort this out, R10-R15k though.

I am enjoying my rear air bag suspenssion , but would prefer coils for serious offroading. THe XS comes with air suspension at rear - can be changed to coils without much sweat.

Craig I have 4 virtually brand new LR coils, so if you go ahead you know who to call!

[Craigb]

Thanks Dirk - certanly will call you if I go ahead. A mate of mine test drove it yesterdday and says it is lekker - well cared for.

I'll know for sure if my buyer is taking the isuzu then I'll fly uf to PTA and have a look around.

Thanks Dave - I am also a conservative driver (Can't actually be any different in a 250d isuzu!!!)

Another question. We live in a tiny town and the missus uses the vehicle during the week. Most trips to town and back are less than 5km, if that. Would this be bad for a td5 to constantly do start stop like this?

Once a month we do a long trip.

Any suggestions there?

Thanks

[Craigb]

Friday here in Kathu

[Craigb]

Reccommend remove EGR system immediately , as well as instal CDL mechanism ( can be done cheaply)

What is that

[Dirk]

The first Disco 2's (1999 - 2002/3), thus the pre facelift models did'nt ship with the CDL lever installed, most of the models have all the working bits (I think with the exception of possible 2001). You cannot lock the centre diff, but it takes a small mod to install the CDL level to enable locking.

Without the CDL you are reliant on traction control alone.

Obviously the CDL makes a massive difference offroad!

Here's some good reading on the subject.

http://www.boothroyd.com/cdl.htm
http://www.erikburrows.com/index.php...is+CDL+Linkage
http://www.discoveryownersclub.org/f...wer.php?id=106
http://www.discoweb.org/cdl/index.htm

[pretdave]

What is that

The EGR is the Exhaust Gas Recirculation. It was originally installed to allow a controlled amount of exhaust gas to be fed back to the inlet manifold ( yes - really. Seems like pissing in your own beer while drinking it)The idea was that at times the production of nitrogen oxides is too high ( environmental concerns) and that a small amount of recirculation reduced combustion temperature to reduce formation of these oxides. In practice it didnt work and was discontinued on later models. The real downside is two fold : something else to clog up and go wrong - this it will inevitably do in time. Also anything to reduce the complexity of the plumbing under the bonnet is a good idea. Further it also will give an immediate small but noticeable power increase . For the record my D2 is a 2000 model with 150 000km on the clock.
Regards
Dave

[Craigb]

Thanks Dave,

I got the same advice from the guys at the landyonline workshop.

Does seem like a strange move - I suppose more to satisfy the EU standards.

[HenryT]

Graig,

It is a pity you cannot get this vehicle up to JHB. My workshop - Landies - in Strydom Park does a conversion for the EGR for +/- R600.00. It eliminates the EGR and improves performance as the intercooler fluid is not fed over the radiator and doesn't get heated up as per the original design. Well that is as I understand it.

Also he could check the ECU out for errors and faults.

Service records do not reveal the in between bits and out of service repairs. Phoning the various dealers who serviced the vehicle will also give an insight to whether any problems were experienced between services. My experience is that the service history only tells you it was serviced (oil change) - it does not reflect repairs.

[Craigb]

Hi Henry,

When I do get around to buying one it will more than likely be in JHB. Not too big a selection here in Kathu!

I will certainly contact your guys - can you let me have their number please.

Thanks

[Olive Rover]

Hi pretdave,

My Disco is a '96 Tdi (300Tdi) also fitted with EGR. Its not as refined as the TD5.

I was thinking...........(a new experiance)

For this system to be effective, the exaust gas pressure must be higher than the turbo pressure; for, exaust gasses to be circulated back to the inlet manifold.

If this is not the case, the pressure from the turbo will simply be lost into the exaust system and ON gasses wil be recirculated, hence a drop in performance due to a loss of turbo pressure.

Also, the recirculating exaust gasses does not go through the intercooler.

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A USELESS SYSTEM.

I am strongly thinking of removing the EGR on my Tdi.

Do I understand the system correctly?

[HenryT]

Graig,

Landies Auto - speak to Danny or Kerry 011 793 5534. When I bought mine (sorry my Wife's) my agreement on the option to purchase was that he gave the all clear first. He checked the vehicle out and subsequently I had new disks and pads fitted on the front wheels new hose pipes and some paint work repaired done on the advise of Landies. All done at the original purchase price. If you are interested you could phone Tata Truck and Car Newlands 011 477 3705 and ask for Anthony or Grant. They specialize in 2nd hand Landrovers - Anthony is previously from Bedfordview LR. I visited them, gave them my requirements, and they sourced a vehicle for me. Excellent backup service as well. No quibbles.

Good Luck

HenryT

[henkc]

Service records do not reveal the in between bits and out of service repairs. Phoning the various dealers who serviced the vehicle will also give an insight to whether any problems were experienced between services. My experience is that the service history only tells you it was serviced (oil change) - it does not reflect repairs.

This has always been my problem with a full service history. The cracked head and blown turbo don't necessarily feature. what you need is a history of all repairs as well, which the stealers will have only if they did them. There's also the question of the horror stories that you hear about the scheduled service items that don't get done by stealers at services and LR's belief that Magnatec is the best oil for a diesel.

With a turbodiesel, the service history also tells you nothing about how the vehicle was driven, whether it was idled down after running and so on.

OTOH, it's better than nothing. At least you know that the oil and filters were changed regularly.

[RichardS]

Graig,

It is a pity you cannot get this vehicle up to JHB. My workshop - Landies - in Strydom Park does a conversion for the EGR for +/- R600.00. It eliminates the EGR and improves performance as the intercooler fluid is not fed over the radiator and doesn't get heated up as per the original design. Well that is as I understand it.

Also he could check the ECU out for errors and faults.

Hey HenryT,

How about a phone number here?

Cheers

[Marius Murray]

My Safari has only got an exhaust............nothing more.

[HenryT]

Richard, look at my later posting.