I'm in the process of purchasing a 99 Disco II with 150K miles. I've been scouring the forums and boards in hopes of getting up to speed on what I'm getting myself into with purchasing such a vehicle. I can confidently say I have already learned a great deal and have quite the list of things to check for and ask the dealer when I go to look at the car this weekend. As a final step I wanted to check with the experts for any last minutes words of wisdom they would like to impart upon me. What things should I be looking for or asking about for a such a vehicle with so many miles already on it?
Where is the truck located, how much are they asking for it and does it have all it's service records?
Get us more information for us, especially the price.
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Mike
Retired service manager, member of Solihull Society, SCLR, NCLR and the Santa Barbara 4Wheelers clubs.
99 D2, 3" lift, CDL with Detroit,T.T. lockers, 4:11's,H.D. axles, custom ft/rear bumpers with sliders, a 9500 HSI Warn winch and 5 HID's.
Wow...Disco Mike...your reputation precedes you. :-) The truck is located in Tennessee, they're asking $5K for it and not sure about service records yet but definitely one of the first questions I'll ask when I go look at the car this weekend. Any initial reactions? I've definitely seen lower prices for the same year vehicle with MUCH less mileage.
Brakes - what are the condition of the rotors and pads Engine - any leaks around the valve covers or underneath. Check where it is usually parked for spots. Coolant - ask it ever got hot or overheated - check coolant level - does it look like it leaked anywhere. Get it pressure tested if you want to confirm no leaks. Oil - Check the level and condition - does it smell burnt what does the dipstick look like, any discolorization etc.. Any lights on - check engine light or service engine soon or any ABS related lights. Bring an OBDII scanner and scan it for fault codes. Or else they will come on just as you leave the lot as they have been reset and not fixed. Tires - do they look like it needs an alignment / excessive wear - driven hard. Service History - is this the type of LR owner that got the 30, 60,000 maintenance done? Are there any service stamps in the manual? Headliner - check to see if there has been any water damage near the drivers side corner or dome light area. Leaky sunroof/Apost/drainage tubes. Functionality - push every button every knob - you don't want to find out it is broken later. Is there a Carfax?
These seem petty and minor but a second generation owner of a 99 DII I believe it has experienced what most 99's will (above list). You don't want to buy your new love and have it need $800 in brakes. Many of these post's start out "I was on my was home from the dealership, when the following problem occured".
These items are also a true tell of the previous owners commitment to service, the most important thing to confirm. Most people sell there 99DII cus it needs sooo much work. Find out the REAL issue as to why they are selling it. They won't tell you the real reason and you can't take what they tell you on face value, "owned by a little old lady..." . Assume it has issues that you need to find out first. If there are none you have found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
In the end you will love this vehical and it will be a great experience owning it. Just know it's a labor of love.
Boom! DM and DD2 in the same thread. LOL. Thanks for the response DD2. Is it a faulty assumption that the dealer would provide me with a carfax report for the vehicle upon request?
Update: I'm planning to check out another 99 disco II tomorrow morning in Atlanta, GA (home). Similar profile as the other vehicle with 130K miles on it. Assuming the truck is worth an overnight, does anyone have suggestions on a good trustworthy shop where I could get it checked out?
My 99 has 162k on it and still runs just fine...Bear Valley Land Rover is somehwere in GA, not sure if they would give it a look on short notice though.
It really comes down to maintenance, was it maintained and was the usuall stuff done to it. Remember people only sell there cars when there is a problem with it, rarely otherwise.
I think that price is a little high for the mileage @3500-4000 for a truck that high. Here are some other options. If you can spend 5000 i would try to go with a 2001-2ish. Just options for you. I am a bargain hunter for sure.
These are under $5000 - which means they will take $4500.
Wow. Thanks for the suggestions DD2. I definitely don't see myself paying $5K for one that has 150K miles on it. I'm certain I could fine with less miles for cheaper if not the same price. What is it about those 99s that are just so appealing??? I've effectively counted every other year out except that one but perhaps I should be more open-minded :-).
As an update to my update - I intended to go check out the truck in Atlanta today and instead went into Global Imports BMW to get one tire replaced (probably 40-45 minute job) on my 5 series and ended up leaving 6 hours later with 4 tires and an alignment. (Huh??!! Just another negative service experience to add to all the other one's I've had at that place.) So anyways they completely threw of my schedule. So, I'm going to go up tomorrow and check out the truck. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes. Definitely on the hunt for MY LR...
99 was the first year DII and was appealing for many reasons, it is also CDL equiped (not active) and that is appealing. Each year has it's quirks and there are some improvements year to year - but basically the same vehical (minus cosmetics) for all the years. If you sit in a 99 it's hard to tell what year it is...compared to say a 2002...I'm sure others feel differently but that's the basics.
UGH dealerships! - The EXACT reason why I do my own work (when possible) and I'm thrifty.
To give you an idea for comparison, I picked up my 99 with 144k on it for $2900. It's got its share of little issues but mechanically it runs and drives out great. Hold out for the right deal, don't rush into them...these things are very picky - not treated right they will make you go crazy. You don't want to be "chasing issues" forever! Good luck.
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99 DII, lots of miles, various funny smells and the underside is well (and self) lubricated.
"Naw, it's not leaking...it's marking its territory!"
"Quick, take a picture, there's no lights on the dash!"
I own a 99 D2, and have a pretty good idea what they sell for. With 150K on the clock and no service history, if it were really clean and checked out by a mechanic, $3000 would be a good price. I have seen them as low as $1000, but even pristine with only 50K on the clock, I would have a bit of a hard time got to $5000.
Whatever you do, have it checked by a mechanic and make sure no warning lights are on.
__________________
Mike
Retired service manager, member of Solihull Society, SCLR, NCLR and the Santa Barbara 4Wheelers clubs.
99 D2, 3" lift, CDL with Detroit,T.T. lockers, 4:11's,H.D. axles, custom ft/rear bumpers with sliders, a 9500 HSI Warn winch and 5 HID's.
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Questions about a 99 Disco II w 150K miles
Good luck.
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