Hey guys I am considering buying a 95 discovery off ebay. It has 120K on it and they say after prolonged idle the engine makes a noise they think is a lifter. I am considering offering $1000 because 5 speeds seem to be rather rare and I wouldn't mind a project car for the summer. If it was a Ford I would jump at it but I am unfamiliar with rovers. What is the parts availablety and how much $$ would I be getting into to rebuild the heads assuming I did the work myself?

 

www.atlanticbritish.com for new parts and www.roverlandparts.com for used parts.
You probably dont need to do anything other than a engine flush, excessive engine sludge will clog the oil passages and starve the heads of oil.
Also the oil pick up tube gets clogged with sludge.
These engines are prone to sludge if you dont use premium gas.
Premium gas is required, even says so in the owners manual.
Buy it, flush the engine and drop the oil pan, clean the oil pick up screen and drive it, she'll last another 150k with no major problems.

 

For $1000 you can afford to fix the engine problems, barring needing a new engine of course. If it's just a lifter a new set of lifters should fix the problem if it's bad enough to warrant spending the money. Usually lifter noise is heard right at start up, not after idling. But it could still be a lifter.

I agree with everything Spike said, as hard as that is to admit. The engines are prone to sludging up with regular gas. If you buy it first thing you need to do is go through the 60k service list by Disco Mike. Make sure all your maintenance is current before you start on it as a project.

5 speeds are very rare here in the states. I believe 95 was the last year the 5 spped was an option. Be sure to get the VIN and spend the money for a carfax report before you commit to buy it.

 

Thanks Guys
The more I hear about rovers the better they sound. No one seems to want to bid higher than $600 but the reserve is not met. I don't have time to look at it before the auction ends. Hopefully it is re-listed.

 

Rovers get a bad rap as being unreliable. They are maintenance intensive but far from unreliable. My 97 has never left me stranded.

 

Mine either.
My most expensive repair thus far was all four front wheel bearings for $200 with tax.

 

I sure hope that included labor. Parts should have been under $60 total.

 

Exmark, I'm with them.

Regarding Ebay, In your case (unknown reserve), think about what this buy is worth max to you, bid that as your max. You may exceed reserve, outbid all others, if not, walk away.
If reserve doesn't get met, the seller may give you a second chance.

Once you get comfy with all the stuff (mechanical) on these D1's, they're actually fairly easy to work on.

The engine tick is common & per disco mike, I've flushed mine with trans fluid (4-6) times in the last 2yrs.(Previous owner never heard of maint.)

Its still rattles for 2sec on startup but runs excellent

Free shop manual on line (called Rave cd)
Excellent document

luck,greg