Seven steps to buying Land Rover Discovery 1
The overlooked Discovery is a bargain way into a classic Land Rover – for now.
Words RICHARD DREDGE
Photography JOHN COLLEY
Seven steps to buying Land Rover Discovery 1
Buying Guide The Land Rover Discovery is perfect if you’ve missed the Range Rover boat
How to dodge drama when hunting down a Disco How to dodge drama when hunting down a Disco
Values of classic Range Rovers are soaring as the world wakes up to the pure appeal of the world’s first recognisable SUV. However, if you fancy that combination of rugged simplicity, saloon comfort, pioneering image and classic appeal, there is a tempting alternative for a lot less – and it’s still a Land Rover.
The Discovery 1 used the Range Rover’s platform and hardware, but as that car got plusher, the Disco was closer in spirit to that of the early Range Rover – a go-anywhere, do-anything vehicle capable of having its floors hosed down. But prices, especially for early G-registered cars, are on the up. And unrepeatable Nineties combinations like white two-door bodywork with turquoise compass decals, typical of an early Disco, are hot property. To help guide us to a bargain, we spoke to specialists John Wright of Jake Wright Ltd, Tixover, & Julian Lamb.
Which one to choose?
Launched in 1989, the original Land Rover Discovery was based on the Range Rover but with cheaper, simpler, more rugged specification. The 1989 cars were two-door only, with four-door option following in 1990. Choice of three models: the MPi with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, the 200 2.5 TDi diesel, and the 3.5-litre petrol V8 – the latter got fuel injection in 1990.
Engines need a new cambelt every 48k miles or five years, whichever soonest It’s the trim that takes the most time to source for a resto, but it’s all out there. The Disco 1 blends the utility of the Defender with the comfort of the early Range Rover. Many Discos have been neglected, but there’s a burgeoning collector scene for cherished cars now.
In 1991 automatic gearboxes were made available as an option, while a luxury HL model brought alloy wheels and air conditioning. MPi was dropped.
The Discovery was heavily overhauled in 1994, with the practical Conran-designed interior replaced with a more luxurious ‘soft-touch’ theme largely lifted from the Rover 800. The 200 TDi was replaced with a 300bhp 2.5-litre diesel, and the 3.5-litre V8 with a 3.9-litre. It was replaced by similar-looking but heavily-overhauled Discovery 2 in 1998.
Bodywork
The Discovery 1 is effectively a two-door Range Rover Classic with very little changed aside from the outer skin. Thankfully, as with all Land Rovers of this era, all body panels unbolt and are far easier to replace than those of a conventional car.
However, the inner roof is aluminium and the outer skin is steel, so corrosion is highly likely; check the seams all round. Replacement roof panels are scarce unless you can source an identical car from a scrapyard. If you find corrosion around the windows you’re looking at a £300 repair bill.
These cars are often neglected. The Disco is fitted with several aluminium panels and electrolytic corrosion is likely, especially on the edges of the doors, wings and lights. The door shells are steel, though, and they tend to dissolve, while their hinges wear if not lubricated, so see if they’ve dropped. Doors are held on with simple pins and are easy to replace – second-hand ones typically cost £100 each. Expect rot in the rear inner wings – get underneath and look for evidence of bodged repairs or recently applied underseal. The sills and wheelarches are likely to have seen better days so feel for filler in the latter; where the former are concerned tap them with a small hammer or screwdriver and listen for a hollow ringing sound which suggests all is well. If there’s a dull clang they’re probably full of filler. If they are, repairs will set you back £450 a side. The Discovery sits on a separate chassis that doesn’t tend to give too many problems because it’s so substantially constructed. But you still need to check it for corrosion prompted by grounding.
Engine
Quite a few V8 Discoverys have been converted to LPG; such conversions might be worthwhile if you’re planning to use the car regularly but it’s not clear how well these engines handle such fuel. If you’re buying a Discovery that’s already been converted, make sure the job has been done properly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Ask to see a receipt and ideally a certificate of installation because you might need these to get insurance.
The V8s tend to last no more than 80-90,000 miles unless meticulously maintained. The 3.9 can suffer from cracks in the cylinder bores, leading to a loss of coolant along with the oil and coolant mixing – more likely on cars that have been converted to run on LPG. All V8s can suffer from a worn camshaft and followers; regular oil changes are the way to avoid this. Also check for failed cylinder head gaskets, often caused by missed coolant changes. Rover V8s are expensive to rebuild – budget £5000 to do so.
Of the diesel engines, the 200Tdi is the most reliable because it’s all mechanical (there’s a throttle cable and mechanical fuel pump, for example); it just needs regular servicing. The 300Tdi is easier to service but is significantly more complex – it has a drive-by-wire throttle. There’s also a gasket at the front of the engine (known as the P-gasket) which fails. This leads to coolant leaks, overheating, then head gasket failure, but the gasket is easy enough to replace. The 300 also costs £5000 for a pro rebuild. The turbodiesel engines are fitted with a cambelt that Land Rover recommends is replaced every 60,000 miles on the 200Tdi and 72,000 miles on the 300Tdi. It’s better to renew it every 48,000 miles on regularly used cars but in most cases, they should be replaced every five years, regardless of mileage.
Gearbox
Until 1994 the manual gearbox was Land Rover’s LT77 unit; later cars got the R380. The earlier gearbox needs to be filled with automatic, rather than manual transmission fluid, or expect a stiff gearchange. Cars used for towing will probably have a tired transmission, so listen for whining and feel for clutch slip. High-mileage cars are likely to have worn synchromesh, with second usually the first to go. With so many Discos being broken, there’s no shortage of used parts, so gearboxes can be picked up cheaply. A reconditioned one, fitted, will cost £600.
Steering and suspension
The Disco’s weight takes its toll on the suspension so expect tired dampers and worn bushes; the latter is given away by clonking over uneven surfaces. The steering might also feel vague and if there’s rear-wheel steering on the over-run it’s because the rear radius arm bushes need to be replaced – not an expensive job and the replacement parts cost just £10 each. Brake discs can corrode from the outside edge towards the centre; it’s more of a problem at the rear. The brake pipes are also prone to corrode; putting the car through an MoT test should pick up on this. The steering should be precise; if it isn’t it’s probably because multiple components in the system have worn. Often, the worst culprit is the swivel on either side, which can be fixed relatively easily for £350. If the steering feels stiff, it’s probably because the column needs lubricating. All Discoverys have power steering and while it’s generally reliable, it’s worth checking for leaks.
Trim
All early cars had cloth trim; leather was optional on facelifted models from 1994. It’s all hard-wearing but if there have been water leaks into the cabin it’ll wreck the trim. Water damage is the most common issue, rectified for roughly £260 per discoloured seat plus a £70 headliner kit and a day’s labour to fit it. Just bear in mind that the 200 and 300 trim parts are different – the dashboard, headlining, console, steering wheel and seats were all changed, although they are interchangeable between the early and late cars. However, some facelift cars have airbags so swapping dashboards is tricky.
Most cars are seven-seaters but it’s easy to convert from five to seven seats. However, with the third row being side-facing fold-down chairs with a lap belt, there’s no way to fit approved child seats.
Electrics
The electrics on early cars are primitive – they’re less complicated than an MGB’s. Earthing issues are the most likely you’ll encounter but later 300s are more complex because they got ABS and traction control. Central locking was available from the outset and this can malfunction but if air-con is fitted (rare on the 200) it tends to work because it’s a simple system.
‘A Disco can tackle nearly every off-road obstacle a Defender can’
‘Unrepeatable ’90s colour and livery combinations are now hot property’
What to pay
Rough, rusty diesel Discoveries can be found for as little as £2000, but they’ll need extensive work at that price. For a respectable running 200 you’ll need at least £3000, with the very best 300 diesels making £6000. MPi two-litres command similar prices, although they’re so rare they’re hard to properly value.
V8s and ‘G-WACs’ are a different story, with scruffy ones starting at £6000 and the best low-mileage historied cars fetching £11,000.
There’s no real price difference between 3.5s and 3.9s.
Owning a Land Rover Discovery
Julian Lamb
Julian Lamb has been into Land Rovers for 30 years; he started with a 1962 SIIa then moved into Range Rovers. He has owned and restored a dozen Discovery 1s including the car shown here. ‘In my collection are two G-WACs [pre-production prototypes, referred to as such for their registrations] and four other Discovery 1s plus a pre-production five-door Discovery — one of just three survivors,’ he says. ‘I run the CVC Register which preserves and researches cars that were used by the Land Rover factory on press launches or as prototypes. Anybody can join via Facebook.
‘I find there tends to be two types of Land Rover Discovery 1 you’ll typically find for sale in a classic context; the restoration to original spec and the upgraded for hardcore off-roading. The latter is the most common but as the number of early cars diminishes it’s the former category that will dominate the classic market. The sky is the limit with modifications because you can upgrade just about every aspect of a Disco, but parts quality varies and it’s easy to sink a load of cash into a car that you’ll never get back. ‘G-reg cars are now being hunted down by collectors and restored; these are far more sought after than H-reg cars or newer. Such restorations aren’t difficult because parts availability is excellent; there’s more new-old stock available than you might expect and if you can’t get something new it’ll definitely be available used.’
Luke Petch
‘I have two Disco 1s,’ says Luke Petch. ‘The one shown in these pictures is in better condition than mine. They have some rust, but not as bad as some of the others I saw – most were really rotten. My 200Tdi feels like a classic Land Rover and is a bit more retro than my 300Tdi. At around 31mpg, it’s economical to run. I’ve sold a few Land Rovers but I’m holding on to the 200Tdi. Arguably it’s a cannier buy – it’ll hold its value better and may even appreciate. They’re basically the same; but the 200Tdi is tougher and much simpler to look after. ‘It sounds less refined, but it’s comfortable, cruises happily at 70mph and can tackle nearly every off-road obstacle a Defender can, while hauling a huge cargo. Its biggest flaw is the front sunroof, which can leak and soak the driver’s seat. But as a do-it-all modern classic, the Disco ticks every box – and is very simple to maintain, too.’
Sponsored by Carole Nash Insurance
Peter McIlvenney of specialist classic car insurer Carole Nash says, ‘In late 1989 the Discovery changed the 4x4 market forever, filling a gap between utility workhorses and the upmarket Range Rover. Today it is rightly regarded as a classic and values are rising, varying according to condition and rarity. Early three-doors are now very sought-after, along with any special edition, but watch out for lookalike fakes. Today a rough example might set you back £1000 with top values at around £8000, but £5000 should get you a solid useable Disco. That should give you miles of off-road fun and a healthy return on your investment in five or ten years’ time.’ Classic car insurance quotes: 0333 005 7541 or carolenash.com
1997 Land Rover Discovery — £2500
Discovery 1 Arden Special Edition 300tdi manual with MoT to November 2021. 1997 ‘P’ Reg with 169k, drives nicely. Good condition for age and in regular use. Just had an oil change/new filter plus recent battery. Great opportunity for a rolling restoration of a rare unmodified Disco 1. Unusual Metallic British Racing Green, clean interior (except for headlining).