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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10378  
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Depends on the model year.
Pre '02 had the usual head movement problems... The biggest thing is rear chassis corrosion on uk cars, check where the rails are at the lowest point ahead of the rear crossmember. Rear airbags can be replaced with coils very easily. I like td5 discos and would have one myself, Japanese imports are the best. |
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23rd Dec 2015 10:49am |
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| yetiman45 Member Since: 22 Dec 2014 Location: Tamworth Posts: 69  
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Great engines, will go on forever with regular oil change. Chassis made from kit kat wrappers, as mentioned check for rot.
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23rd Dec 2015 11:00am |
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| grumpy old git Member Since: 16 Nov 2013 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 153
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I sold my last Td5 D2 with 230k on it, lost rather than burnt oil and always walked the MoT emissions test. Chassis disintegrated at the rear, chap who bought it put in ¼ chassis & some patches, still going strong on original gear & transfer boxes 👍
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23rd Dec 2015 6:27pm |
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| o4dn Member Since: 08 Jan 2010 Location: South West Posts: 538  
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Thanks all, these are really useful inputs!
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24th Dec 2015 12:58pm |
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| adseybear Member Since: 08 Oct 2009 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 260 
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Mate of mine bought a td5 disco with 180k on the clock, runs like an absolute dream, gbox feels a million times better than my defender one with half the mileage on it.
Now been tuned and pulls like a train. So in short, as long as its got a good service history and no problems when you go to look at it, dont be put off by mileage. As you've already seen, the biggest issue is rear chassis rust, but nothing you cant chop out and weld in a new rear section. 2003 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Belize Green - "Betty" 1958 Series IIA 109 Station Wagon - "Randolph" - Awaiting Restoration 2019 Jeep Wrangler JL Rubicon - SOLD 2006 Volvo V70 D5 - Ocean Race Edition, SOLD 2003 VW Passat Estate 1.9TDI - SOLD 2008 BMW 320D M Sport Estate - SOLD 2001 Defender 90 Td5 Hard Top - SOLD |
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24th Dec 2015 2:09pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17307 
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You can now get galv replacement chassis for the Disco2. It's more difficult to swap than a Defender though since the body must be lifted complete.
I love my TD5 Disco, even at 200k miles! The main issues to watch for are the chassis rot above the rear axle, the usual TD5 clutch judder, leaks from the ACE, and air suspension issues. My advice go for one with 5 seats (so coils all round) that hasn't has its ACE removed. Oh, and the headlinings sag eventually as the foam layer breaks down. All these things can be fixed fairly easily though. Great vehicles. In fact, I think history will prove the TD5 Disco2 to be one of the all-time greats! |
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24th Dec 2015 2:18pm |
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| o4dn Member Since: 08 Jan 2010 Location: South West Posts: 538
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Humm, that's more and more tempting, the one I am considering (I haven't seen it, it's quite far from where I live) is a 2004, looks immaculate, never been off road and has coil springs (so no ACE issue) and the owner says it's always been kept inside and there is absolutely no corrosion neither on the chassis nor the body,
The clutch has been changed recently, as well as the head gasket (which sounds.. odd). Owner also mentioned on the phone that ABS light comes up from time to time even though he had the ABS sensors replaced. He also said the fuel pump is noisy but he's providing a replacement part (but not fitted as the old one's still working...) And the pictures he sent me look absolutely stunning! Full leather interior  |
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24th Dec 2015 5:51pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17307
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Unless it is poverty spec (which won't have leather) it will have ACE. Coils however mean you have the advantage of not having the rear air suspension, which can be troublesome and really offers few advantages.
The ACE was an outstandingly good system and the only real problem is that eventually the pipes can rust and leak. They're not cheap to replace, but not difficult either, and do last a long time. I bought my D2 new in '02, it's done 200,000 miles and I have had to replace 1 ACE pipe last year. That isn't bad. Provided that you have a Nanocom or similar, a D2 is just as maintainable as a Defender. The ABS warning light may be caused by the FOS ABS sensor wiring, if it is original. There is an issue with the connector in the wheelarch and replacement sensors have long leads to be taken straight to the SLABS ECU under the glove box, doing away with the connector. |
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24th Dec 2015 6:22pm |
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| o4dn Member Since: 08 Jan 2010 Location: South West Posts: 538
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Ah, yes, you're right, it's the one without rear air suspension ...
Now, for the same price, if you were to chose between a low mileage (80k) 300Tdi Disco and a much higher mileage (165k) TD5 Disco 2, which one would you take? That'd be for gentle greenlaning. Edit: Yes, I do have a Nanocom actually, all I'd need is the additional software licences for the TD5 |
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24th Dec 2015 6:40pm |
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| V8_Disco Member Since: 19 Dec 2015 Location: East Yorkshire Posts: 37 
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Td5 amazing I miss my v8 disco 2 for comfort ... Watch out for the 3 amigos and rust as already covered
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24th Dec 2015 7:06pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17307
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For me the Td5 would be the one, but others may have the opposite view. It's a personal thing!
I honestly do believe that the Td5 Disco is one of the all time greats - good looking, exceptionally good at almost everything, and sophisticated without being overly complex. The complexity of its successors let them down. Mine's taken me over 200,000 miles on and off road and has never let me down. It's a brilliant towing vehicle (my personal record is towing a 140 tonne load, although there was a strong smell of hot clutch, and it was only for about 30 metres), and is superbly comfortable. |
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24th Dec 2015 11:27pm |
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| ozzy57 Member Since: 14 Feb 2014 Location: Farnborough Posts: 221 
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Td5 every time, and personally, I'd go for one with airbags on the rear. I've had ones with bags, and with coils, much prefer the bags as long as the system is looked after and well maintained. It wasn't me!
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28th Dec 2015 12:05pm |
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| o4dn Member Since: 08 Jan 2010 Location: South West Posts: 538
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I am going to see the Tdi tomorrow.
Reason I'd fancy the Tdi more is because it's very similar to the Defender, same axles, same transfer box with central locking diff, etc. I see the Disco Tdi as a more comfy sort of Defender 100", whereas the TD5 is from another generation with electronics all over the place, ABS, SRS, ETC, ACE [insert your favourite 3 letter acronym here]. But we'll see tomorrow, I just hope it's not yet another one of those rust heaps... it's more than 400 miles away  |
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28th Dec 2015 1:25pm |
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| Freypal Member Since: 23 Sep 2013 Location: Shropshire Posts: 271 
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Sold my td5 d2 with 180k on the clock. Engine was perfect, flew through MOT emissions and pulled strong. In the 5 years I owned it I did the following work;
3 ACE pipes replaced at around £150 each. Fuel pressure regulator Rear chassis legs welded Crank position sensor replaced Rear hub assembly When I sold it the gearbox was on its last legs, although to be fair when I bought the car it wasn't great so it soldiered on a long time. Fantastic truck, I'm actually considering getting another. They're just a comfy and quieter defender. |
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29th Dec 2015 10:30am |
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