Seems like you guys have a great forum going on here. I'm excited to contribute and continue to learn from you guys. I had a 97 Vitesse RR 6 or so years ago and that was a pretty bad experience over all. Air suspension failing, sun roof failing, basically nothing electronic working when we sold it. For some strange reason I still loved the car. After a hiatus into the BMW world for the past five years I just picked up an '03 Disco. I do not know the service history of the car at all, but it was a deal I could not pass up. It has 74k on it and apparently came off lease and was driven to GA from CA.
I picked it up last weekend and am loving it so far, but my 5 days with it have not come without questions or problems.
1. I got the car home and rolled down the window only to smell oil burning like no other. I did not notice this on the test drive at all, which was surprising. Either way, I parked it and in 5 mins there was a 4 in diameter puddle of oil under her. I was disappointed and anxious to say the least. I got it up to the shop and 10PM and it all seemed to be coming from a hand tight 22 mm bolt right next to the oil filter. I am not sure at all what it is there for, but it definitely has some pressurized oil behind it. Pulled it out, I noticed the sealing o-ring was a solid as a rock and had a chunk missing. I replaced it and no more oil from there! I cannot tell if there are other leaks because that thing was leaking so much (about a drip per second) that all the oil has not dried/gone from its damage. Either way, when I was under the car I noticed a few things that I wanted you guys opinions on:
3. When the car is in a drive gear (1, 2, 3, D, or R) and at a stop there is a humming/rattle from under the car. Putting it in N or P stops it and so does simply driving. I have not clue what this is. Any ideas?
4. The top end of the engine seems untouched except for the air box to MAF connecting tabs are broken. Any clue how much another air box top is? I mean it is pre-MAF, but still...
5. Finally, I am obviously concerned with how this car was maintained and I do not want the fall into the same trap I did with the RR. So what should I do as preventive maintenance? I will obviously do plugs and wires and the U-joints if you guys suggest them. What else?
I picked it up last weekend and am loving it so far, but my 5 days with it have not come without questions or problems.
1. I got the car home and rolled down the window only to smell oil burning like no other. I did not notice this on the test drive at all, which was surprising. Either way, I parked it and in 5 mins there was a 4 in diameter puddle of oil under her. I was disappointed and anxious to say the least. I got it up to the shop and 10PM and it all seemed to be coming from a hand tight 22 mm bolt right next to the oil filter. I am not sure at all what it is there for, but it definitely has some pressurized oil behind it. Pulled it out, I noticed the sealing o-ring was a solid as a rock and had a chunk missing. I replaced it and no more oil from there! I cannot tell if there are other leaks because that thing was leaking so much (about a drip per second) that all the oil has not dried/gone from its damage. Either way, when I was under the car I noticed a few things that I wanted you guys opinions on:
- The oil pan has RTV around it. Still has a gasket, but definitely has been RTVed also. Now, whenever I build a motor I always RTV the pan even when using a gasket, but I have NEVER seen an OE do it. It makes me think the pan has been removed. My car DOES NOT fall into the oil pump recall VIN range. Any ideas?
- I also noticed the exhaust manifold has been gray RTVed onto the mid/down pipes.
3. When the car is in a drive gear (1, 2, 3, D, or R) and at a stop there is a humming/rattle from under the car. Putting it in N or P stops it and so does simply driving. I have not clue what this is. Any ideas?
4. The top end of the engine seems untouched except for the air box to MAF connecting tabs are broken. Any clue how much another air box top is? I mean it is pre-MAF, but still...
5. Finally, I am obviously concerned with how this car was maintained and I do not want the fall into the same trap I did with the RR. So what should I do as preventive maintenance? I will obviously do plugs and wires and the U-joints if you guys suggest them. What else?
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