300Tdi Auto Disco - what to look out for?

[repton]

I'm on the hunt for an auto disco as an engine/box donor for my 110, probably a 300Tdi. Given I've never had a diesel or an auto Landy before I don't really know what to be looking at when I look at one. So what are the common faults to look out for? I'm obviously most bothered about the engine and box as those are the bits I want but anything else I could use to beat the price down would be useful too.

Ta,
Paul

[bandiflip]

Rust is the main thing really....the rustier the better for you.
Sills are common
Boot floor
Rear body mounts
All 4 inner wings and arches
They're the main culprits..... All those points are bad but good for you if all you want is the running gear.
If ure putting bigger wheels on I'd recomend swapping ure 110's transfer box onto the Disco auto box assuming your 110 has a 1.41.
If you contact Matt Boothroyd who is a member he has 2 300 Tdi autos in stock for breaking......

[Matthews]

Make sure you don't get one of the silly late electronic drive by wire ones.
Matthew

[repton]

If ure putting bigger wheels on I'd recomend swapping ure 110's transfer box onto the Disco auto box assuming your 110 has a 1.41

My 110 is a 1.6 so it's probably too low, I'll need to try and find a 1.4 as I assume the 1.2 that comes with the disco will be too high for my 110 with 235/85 tyres.

Paul

[repton]

Make sure you don't get one of the silly late electronic drive by wire ones.

At what age did that come in? I'm considering going for a look at this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251198730712

Is it just me or does that look lifted?

Paul

[Matthews]

N regish on I think but not all of them were like that, easy way to tell is to look at the injector pump as it's different and has a big wiring block on it , also there's only a kickdown cable , on the non electronic ones you'll see an accelerator cable and a kickdown cable going to the pump(bad description I know but I'm not sure how familiar you are with the standard TDI injector pump).
Matthew

[Matthews]

That one seems a bit pricey just for the E+B. Could be either btw

[bandiflip]

Looks rather dear to butcher it really.....you'll probably find them around the 5-600 mark.....on't ebay

[repton]

That one seems a bit pricey just for the E+B. Could be either btw

I think I probably will swap the back axle as well (will need a longer prop though). I had thought that one thing in that one's favour is the leather interior that looks fairly tidy which I would hope would sell for sensible money. I would guess although they're asking £990 they would take £800 or maybe even a little less if I turn up with a pile of £20 notes...

I'll have another look at eBay but they all looked knackered or at the other end of the country last time I looked.

Paul

[repton]

Looks rather dear to butcher it really.....you'll probably find them around the 5-600 mark.....on't ebay

I'm struggling to find any that cheap on your favourite site Phil, here are some of the ones I've seen that have ended recently:

This one has an engine issue and 6 months MoT and ended at £795:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321078747762

This one admittedly is low mileage with full MoT but went for £1295:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150998708509

This one with a long MoT fetched £1120:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330873908934

This quite badly rotten one with no MoT went for £1850! (Low mileage though):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190799832189

Where are all the cheap ones? The only cheap 300Tdi Auto I can find on eBay that sold recently was a non runner all the way down in London that sold for £485. Obviously at that distance away it is going to cost me a fair few quid to get it back up here so it probably wouldn't work out that cheap all in...

Paul

[dave willard]

Looks rather dear to butcher it really.....you'll probably find them around the 5-600 mark.....on't ebay

I'm struggling to find any that cheap on your favourite site Phil, here are some of the ones I've seen that have ended recently:

This one has an engine issue and 6 months MoT and ended at £795:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321078747762

This one admittedly is low mileage with full MoT but went for £1295:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150998708509

This one with a long MoT fetched £1120:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330873908934

This quite badly rotten one with no MoT went for £1850! (Low mileage though):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190799832189

Where are all the cheap ones? The only cheap 300Tdi Auto I can find on eBay that sold recently was a non runner all the way down in London that sold for £485. Obviously at that distance away it is going to cost me a fair few quid to get it back up here so it probably wouldn't work out that cheap all in...

Paul

Hi
I have been keeping a look out for a disco to use auto box with 300tdi for 6 months

I agree with your findings

Are you looking for the none drive by wire which is about pre 96 pre N reg
If you get one with the later electronic injection pump you will have more work fitting the ecu or fitting the mech pump& injectors

I prefer the mech fuel pump as the reliability & cost of the electronic is in question

I prefered to pay a bit more for a disco with an mot so it can be fully tested prior to purchase & used until it wont pass an mot.

The engine/box to be removed can then be advertised & the buyer can road test it

As I have purchased a 300tdi 90 I am no longer looking for an engine/box & selling my 90 after 17 years
Dave

[repton]

Hi Dave,

Yes ideally I want a manual pump one, if I end up getting a later one I will probably convert it back to manual.

I agree about the MoT point, it would be nice to get one with some MoT, even if it is only a few days, as it means it can be driven home and any faults can hopefully be spotted before the transplant into my 110.

Paul

[repton]

Does anyone know anything about this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221196804436

Looks like it has been local all its life. The bloke says he wants £1300 for it. I'm off to have a look at it tomorrow I think, although the price seems a little high unless it's very tidy.

I know it'll have the electronic pump at that age which isn't ideal but I'll either live with that or convert it back to manual.

Paul

[bandiflip]

There's one on eBay finishing tomorro.. At £670 at the moment...

[repton]

There's one on eBay finishing tomorro.. At £670 at the moment...

Is that the one I've linked above? I've had a drive of it today and it drives well, no oil leaks or smoke, bodywork isn't very clever though and there are even a few patches on the chassis which I wasn't really expecting at that age.

Paul