Hello All-

I'm still working on the fact-finding stage of looking for a Disco I. What I'm wondering about is the transmissions.

Are they pretty tough? All the auto transmissions I've had experience with (mostly VW) are a little fragile, while the manual transmissions (still mostly VW) are very strong.

I have seen a couple Discos offered with bad trannys, though even the toughest cars can have a part go bad.

So, is there a high incidence of Disco auto trannys going bad? How about manual? Should I let the transmission affect my search much? (other than the one I think I might like to drive...) Or are both rock-solid and not a big worry if it seems the truck has been taken care of overall?

 

As long as the person has followed the maintenance schedule for gear oil and transmission fluid changes and the transmission filter change then I hear these transmissions will go on forever.

 

That's exactly true. They're bulletproof if maintained properly.

 

Our trannys are ZF's and as long as they have had good services, they will last a long time. The D1 used a cable system to deal with shifting where the D2's had their own ECU.
If you plan on wheeling a lot, change the fluid every 20,000 miles.

 

That sounds very good. Do the DIs have any kind of trans ecu? It would be better in my book if not, one less thing to go wrong.

I'd kinda like a manual, but that isn't a game changer either way for me. I'm thinking of another VW too and it'll be easier for me to get the manual there.

 

I had a few VW's

92 Jetta
90 GTI Mk2 with 2.0 block and 1.8 head.
98 Jetta
96 GTI w 1.8t

 

No the DI tranny does not have a ECU, it is a plain old cable operated tranny, just like the one that was in your grandfathers old Caddy.
The only electrical part on a DI tranny is the temp sensor.
Change the fluid every 30,000 miles and the filter every 60,000 and she will run forever and a few days more.

 

The ECU of the d2's tranny is to die for when it comes to performance.

 

Until the battery or alternator go bad or it gets wet.
Granted when Andy swamped his DII he removed the trans ECU, drained it and dried it and it did still work after that.

 

I've never had a smoother shifting tranny.

I was once told why that is, but now can't remember.