Posted by Lawrance Lee on December 27, 2001 at 10:31:52:

In Reply to: Purchasing Discovery posted by David Waters on December 24, 2001 at 12:13:05:

Hi David,

The problem with buying *any* 2nd hand vehicle of any make, not necessarily a Land Rover, is that someone else is selling it because it no longer suits their needs or they want to offload it because it has problems. However, having said that, a proper inspection of the vehicle should help you determine if this one is worth the buy.

But before I go further with what to look for, be aware that being a two tonne four wheel drive, the Discovery, even with the V8, is no speed machine. And that is also reflected in its poor gas mileage. So if its thirst is going to be a problem, I would suggest that this is not a good first car to have especially if you are not going to use it for what it was designed for - offroad. There are much better highway SUVs out there like a Durango, in my opinion, and this is coming from a Land Rover fanatic! :)

OK, here's what you have to watch out for, in no particular order:

1. Oil leaks - the Land Rover is infamous for oil leaks from every possible component that uses oil, e.g. swivel balls, front differential, rear differential, engine sump, and transfer case. Oh, and don't forget to inspect the steering box too. Weeping or seeping along the seals is acceptable, but if there are spots on the driveway from actual oil drops, the seals are stuffed. It becomes a very expensive exercise to get the dealer to replace the seals.

2. Body corrosion - if it has been used on salted roads, check the door edges for corrosion. Even though it has aluminium panels, the frame is steel, and salt will just catalyse the reaction between the two metals. Also pay particular attention to corrosion around the seals of the alpine windows in the rear of the roof.

3. V8 idle - if it is not smooth, then the stepper motor or some other thing like sticking valves needs to be fixed. The latter will be expensive to rectify since you need to pull the heads off.

4. Check that there is not too much slop in the drivetrain. Drive at a slow pace and lift off the accelerator, then depress it. If you hear a soft clunk and can live with it, this is a normal trait. If you hear/feel a loud clunk, then there is too much play in the driveline, possibly worn splines on the transfer case output shaft. I'd steer clear of this vehicle.

BTW, a little driveline whine is perfectly normal. But if it is excessive, then avoid making a purchase.

5. Dashboard warp. Look on the leading edge of the dash, where it is closest to the windshield. In harsh hot weather, the glue can fail, and the dash warps. If you are buying from a Land Rover dealer, make sure that get that fixed before it becomes unsightly.

6. If fitted with sunroofs, drive around to see if it rattles. That should be fixed too. Best to also check to see if they leak, since many have been known to do that.

7. Drive the vehicle over some speed bumps or pot holes. If the steering wheel judders or wiggles too much, then the front suspension swivel preloads need to be set again, and/or the shocks and steering damper need to be replaced.

8. Check proper operation of the high-low shifter (transfer case). If it's never been used by the previous owner, it may be difficult to shift.

9. Check that the 3 studs on the spare wheel carrier are intact. Many studs snap off if torqued too tightly, so make sure that you can loosen the spare wheel nuts.

10. Check the body mounts in case they are cracked - this is a problem with examples that have been taken through many miles of serious offroad conditions. Not a serious problem, but one you'd like to avoid if possible.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but those are the major problems that come to mind, which I'd use as a check list. There are Discoveries that are well built and exhibit no problems, and then there are those that aren't so do suss it out.

And as a piece of advice, buy a bumper-to-bumper warranty after you've read the fine print. And as a final warning, watch out for the silly grin from ear to ear when you or your son drive and enjoy this magnificent British offroad vehicle.

Good luck with the purchase and have a happy New Year 2002.

Lawrance Lee

p.s. why don't you check out www.discoweb.org for more info.