Hey everyone. I've been looking at some used Discos lately and I found a used Disco with a 300TDI (not sure if it's a swap or not). Is there anything in particular I should be worried about with this one? Is parts availability in the US a problem for discos (or the 300TDI motor?)

 

It's a swap.
Land Rover never brought the 200 or 300 TDI engines to the USA.

so that begs the question of how well the swap was done. Does the climate control/ac still work? Is it an auto or manual ? (Auto tdi is a dog)

the 300tdi is a solid engine, just not particularly powerful compared to the Rover V8.

 

plenty of parts sources in the UK service the USA for diesel parts - probably not as many US LR parts providers stocking many diesel parts so it can take a bit more time and postage

 

It's an automatic. I guess I'll have to see in person if the swap was done well.

 

It's rare, but possible it's an import from a non-US market. Mine is, but it's pretty easy to tell given it's RHD. And we know that LHD and RHD Defender imports are all the rage these days.

 

It's LHD in the pictures so I'm guessing its a swap.

 

There's one for sale here in the Pacific Northwest. Things I'd want to know are whether the v8 transmission is being used and whether they hooked up the climate control.

there also a bunch of states that won't allow you to register the diesel so if you do go that route, it's worth checking in advance.

I'd go with the NAS V8 personally. The 4.0 GEMS runs forever.

 

I'm just trying to get whatever I can get my hands on that isn't a complete rusted beater. Discovery 1's/2's out here in the Northeast are hard to come by. The ones that are okay are pretty overpriced. In your opinion, how much should I be spending on a Disco 1-2 that isn't completely beat but in decent condition?

 

Hello,

My Disco 1 300 Tdi manual (from may 1998) is a very reliable engine. I bought “my Disco” in 2010 and have had till now no problems with the engine. It always, summer and winter, keep running under one same temperature indication on the dashboard ! (see picture)
- the (small) fuel leak-off return hoses are replaced about 3 years ago (becoming brittle by the pressure and age ; replacement costed me nothing
- the (small) fuel pump is replaced about 5 years ago (membrane was getting to stiff when engine was cold)

It’s a lovely “Holliday-cruiser” on the French Route Nationals (at a speed of 90 km/uur - about 58 miles/hour)
My consumption : Holliday on summer : 8,9 l / 100 km. In winter : just under 10 l / 100 km
But make sure you makes all the necessary cares in time (oil changings, campbell tensioning and changing…)
And please give the engine the chance and the time to get at speed.
I wish you very good luck !
Kind regards,
PierroDisco

Winter or summer, always one steady engine temperature !