I have a 2000 4.0v8 with 230,000kms. Meticulous servicing is key. I change the oil and filter every 7k. More about preventative maintenance rather than letting it develop
I have a disco 2 and love the thing. Had it for 13 years. Basic maintenance is all that is needed. As said before, I would take a $3500 disco over a 40k Toyota any day of the week. I replaced my front drive shaft as a matter of preventative maintenance. I think it came to less than a couple of months payments on an over priced new 4x4.
Because it is a popular thing to do it seems, in the same vein as shouting how all Toyotas are the most reliable things ever created. My DII has no issues, I grease my U-Joints regularly, replace worn parts, replaced the head gaskets at 100k miles (preventative maintainence) and the truck keeps going. Maybe I should just get a Jeep Wrangler, so I too can be part of the crowd lol.
actually as long as you aren't a typical car owner and ignore routine upkeep items (as in getting your oil changed at the interval) they run for a long time. my 04 D2 ran fine with the only non upkeep repair being head gaskets 1x at 95k. Had 162k on it when i swapped it for a LR3. It wasnt babied either. Took it on plenty of trails, mud, water and deep snow
Bought mine with a bad motor,put a 4L in and have not had any issues. Dont let them get hot you won't have any problems. And they go anywhere. Now if the fuel mileage could be fixed.
If you can fix them, there amazing vehicles. I was driving mine in central Nevada with the surround sound going, heated seats, and the suspension was the best I have seen off road. The Jeep Cherokee that was passing me was bouncing along and everyone was wearing hooded sweatshirts. They also looked fridged.
I've bought one of these 2 months ago. Looked into all this stuff and replaced it all and some. I spent $900 in parts... These aren't actually money pits if you know what you're doing. Judging by the comment section I would think no one here does.
Yep I can vouch for that. I have two a 1999 and a 2004. Both are awesome trucks. As long as you have some some sort of mechanical know-how they are fine. I like to say they're high maintenance but not unreliable.
Most people have never figured out how to go to the forums and read the “common problems” sticky. There’s also a few really good books on how to maintain rovers.
That's basically what it is. Every story of a failed Disco ends up involving someone that refused to put a few dollars of preventative maintenance into it, or did some sort of backyard hackery. They're ridiculously easy to work on and parts are cheap. But if you don't put the time or money into it they will make you pay.
I have a 2000 Discovery II it's expensive, it's not reliable, it's a crap in gas mileage, but for me that's the beauty of the car, being repair by my self and sometimes repair by a mechanic, the time and attention the car required it's like a scape for me is something that i like and enjoy. Here is the deal the car sucks but the experience..... ¡ just on another level !
I've had my 2003 Discovery II since 2006. Love it! Never lets me down. Yes, I have had some mechanical issues but what 15 year old vehicle doesn't?????
I bought one of these for a resonable price ($2k) good paint job, immaculate pleather, good engine. I was driving 70 mph down a highway and suddenly the D2 slammed itself into 4L and immediately dropped to 20 mph. After I trailered it to my house, I found out that the transfer case had popped the pin that switches it from H-L. When it slammed itself into 4L, it popped the pins in both differentials. So, I found a dead D2 with 40k on it, bought the transfer case and both diffs off of it. 8 hours of work later I had a brand new-ish drivetrain and I was out $900. All in all, not a bad deal. Shortly after that the neutral safety sensor went out along with the upstream O2 sensor. The neutral safety switch I just unplugged, as it is not necessary to drive. The O2 will certainly need replacement as it directly affects the fuel/air mix. Also the rear wheel speed sensor went out, which I am going to have to replace as well. And I am bout to have to do a tune up. But other than that...all good. Good buy. Solid truck. Just gotta show it some love. Oh and use Rotella 15w40 oil, due to the zinc content. And the Bosh oil filter.
Ok here comes the whine from another Disco owner. You forgot about the thermostat and cooling system leaks, failure of door actuators, window regulators, valve cover and oil pan leaks, sagging headliners, and frames that rust. I have a 2004 disco 2. I love it but I also do my own mechanical repairs. The key to owning these cars is to do the regular maintenance such as oil changes, transmission fluid changes, greasing of the parts that can be greased, change out all the fluids such as the diffs, transfer cases, brake fluid etc at regular intervals. I have found if you maintain them the known problems do not occur. Driving on the beach or in the mountains off road is amazing. Center locking diff with traction control pretty much blows away any Jeep out there. I've had a few Jeeps and for the time period they do not rate when it comes to the Disco. I did love my Jeeps too. I've owned several Ford F150s and they also cannot be compared as they are too different to compare. Disco 2s are also very cheap to buy and own if you treat them properly. I bought mine for $900 dollars with 119k miles on it that had a leaking head gasket, valve cover leaks, and coolant leaks. I fixed every known problem and upgraded the wheels and suspension, added roof rack and made it a well running overloading vehicle for under $7k. Working on them is pretty simple as well. I have seen maintained Discos with well over 250k miles on them with the original engine and transmission. Or just buy a Toyota or Lexus but just don't look as cool, lol. I also own an LR3 but just not as fun as the Disco that was part of the Camel Trophy races. So many cars out there but too little time to own them all ;-)
The biggest problem with the Land Rover brand is other 4x4 owners rubbishing them and making stories up, I bet most of the People commenting on here and saying about how rubbish they are haven't even owned one! They aren't without problems like any vehicle but we have owned ours since new (18 years) and it's been a great vehicle!
why dont you list the things youve replaced or repaired in that time so we can make a more informed judgment then, instead of just trusting your claim.that its "great"
shonuffisthemaster so you would believe that then? You've already said it's a lie but now you want me to go back through 18 years of service records...
Iv had defender 110s for 21 years now and only one of them let me down when a uj on the rear prop let go (down to my poor maint) .most reliable vehicles iv owned!
Pill Sharks I’m afraid land rovers are shit. No I haven’t owed one. Worked in a euro car garage and and say hand down land rovers are the worst thing since aids
I have a 98 discovery 1. 3.9v8i auto. Its had minor issues with window mechanisms breaking, vac hoses perishing and fluid leaks. But it was sat in a mechanics yard to be sold for a year or so, so you’d expect some age related problems. I’ve had it nearly a year now and driven all over Australia, it suffered 3 months in the outback driving on nothing but washingboard dirt roads, its been driven up to double island point which is an 85 mile journey along a beach with water crossings, and has been taken offroad, bogged and filled with water/mud in the footwells ect. And generally not treated with any respect or care. The thing just goes on. Only problem i had was the serpentine belt stripping because a stick wedged in the pully
I have a 2003 with close to 250,000 kms here in Canada. It is lifted on 36" super swampers and I beat on it like it owes me money, because it does. It is strictly for off-roading so suspension and drive train components take a pounding, not to mention the toll our harsh climate can take on a vehicle. I added the centre locking diff as it was not available in North America for that year. I perform all the maintenance and repairs myself including transfer case, both differentials, wheel hub bearings, break pads, thermostat, power steering pump, ignition tumbler, shutter calve on ABS module, wheel speed sensors, and regular fluid replacements. It has never left me stranded and I can go places most people could only dream of. I would not recommend one of these vehicles to anyone who is not inclined to wrench on their own vehicle, frequently.
FinallyMe78 majority of 4x4 vehicles leak and they leak more if you run off-road hard. It’s a fact of life. The discovery 1,2 are based on an older engine design from the 60’s and if you recall they did leak more.
@guy proulx there resale value is better than any jeep !! 😁 Over 70 percent of land rovers since production are still on the road today (fact) Please tell me of another manufacturer that can better that ?? 🤔
"Land Rover - The company that's been turning owners into mechanics for 70 years." I literally LOL'd at that one! I want that on a t-shirt! The work never seems to end. Definitely an enthusiast’s kinda vehicle. Heaven knows I’ve put some hours in on mine.
They are really fun SUV. If you are willing to learn how to fix them you will save money and love them. I own one and I’m currently looking for another one.
There is an awesome community of Land Rover worldwide and local groups make you feel like family. Always are events in each area and national events. Fun for the entire family. Very nice people who will help answer questions and teach you everything. All machines break and it’s an older 4x4 it’s going to break. Any large 4x4 you run hard will break. The community involved is awesome actually.
Im rockin a disco 2 td5 its had a lot of issues because previous owner was a dick and i had to pay big time $$ to get it fix, they are a beast off road running a 3inch lift boosted big mud tyres straight pipe bla bla...... its been love hate. But my mate has one and its had next to no probs we drive bush all the time mud snow river crossings. Honestly don't think i will buy another once im done with the big green machine. I have other freinds who have some td5s that are weapons!! Sitting on 35s all engineered absolute beasts here in Aus.
The ABS module is same as used in the Hummer H2 I think, of about same era. Also the transmission is same as BMW used in their 7-series (ZF, German made) - tough but should be serviced, despite claims that autos are "sealed for life" - The 4.6 engine was more prone to the cylinder liner slipping, so the 4.0 is the more reliable choice. Avoid the 2002 model year if you want to properly off-road, as that model was missing the locking centre differential. Earlier models have it, and can be retro-fitted with the engaging shifter.
I own a 2004 Disco 2, going to the Arctic Circle next year on to Finland-Baltic States-Poland-UK-home I have no worries about my Land Rover. Do not knock something to you try it!!! To be honest that goes for anything:-)
I was looking for something for my daughter. A safe and slow vehicle. A good starter car. Preferably a amphibious exploring vehicle. Would you recommend this vehicle?
Dude, 2003 SE7, whats not to love. Brute strength to go anywhere you want... Redid the cylinder heads 3 times already plus a replacement engine at 120,000 miles. Front draft shaft replaced with a heavy duty Mercedes Benz shaft, power steering pump replaced, 3 amigos wont go off, Rear bumper disintegrated on touch, roof liner fell down so I took out the entire tray and scraped off the liner, repainted it its natural colour and reinstalled it. Better than new. Left rear door doesnt open, And passenger front window regulator fell apart so window doesnt work. Replaced the two Secondary air pumps, rain water coming through the top right corner of the windshield, fixed with silicon sealant behind the weather strip. The two a pillar plastic pieces blew off the truck at 70mph. 13 mpg plus a current oil leak....But hey I love the damn thing and will never get rid of it. And I dont go off road with it either. ( no Rock climbing or trails).. I drive around town and take it to the property as well. Its a great work truck to do anything and go anywhere. Pulled out a 18 wheeler that was stuck in sand believe it or not. Landy is forever.
@@acemoto2319 Liner sagged and was droopy because of the Florida heat. It was a chore to remove it because of all the hidden screws but if you google Land Rover headliner removal there is a tutorial on how to remove all the screws. Be careful as the plastic parts coming off are brittle and may break. When you finally pull out the entire tray from the rear of the truck, scrape off all the foam underneath the liner, and paint and reinstall it the same way it came out, you feel a sense of accomplishment as it looks better painted than with he liner attached. Oh and I used low odor, matching colour, house paint with a roller and rolled it on. Home Depot matches the colour to a tee.....Two coats....Beautiful.
@@alfa_romeo55yush82 Ok great thank you for excellent liner info.... I'm going for that sense of accomplishment too 😂 can't wait to follow your method... I may add star 🌟 dust, metal flake paint and strips of Led lights to give ceiling luxury look 😊 That roller paint 🎨 method is great 👍 idea 💡 especially for humid 🥵 regions. Continued success & blessings 🙏
Head gasket failure is due to not replacing the coolant. Avoid this by changing your coolant every 1.5 -2 years. Drive shaft is fine has to be rebuilt with serviceable u joints and obviously then has to be serviced regularly. Oil pumps were a defect affecting certain 03 Discos, check your vin. Yes things break in these trucks and they need to be replace just like any other 18 year old vehicle. Plenty of information online and these trucks are reliable if you maintain them properly.
I love your comment" Land Rover the automobile that's been turning drivers into mechanics " My son has a 99 Toyota and Believe it or not it's having the same effect as the Land Rover just not as expensive so the good thing is he's learning how to fix Toyotas not the engine just every other damn part on it because it's very susceptible to rust especially in the snow belt of Wisconsin ;⛄
That ending, LOL. Gotta love Landies man. Just go for a holiday at any coastal town, I guarantee you will find mostly landies everywhere. It is what it is. One life, Live it. Life's too short to drive boring cars.
I have a discovery2 with 208,000 miles I floor it constantly and it has never had a head gasket change. The thermostat and maf have been the only parts needed replaced. This car is easier than shit to work on and parts are abundant.
After diving Disco 2's for 12 years here's my list: Rear air suspension bags leaking, suspension height sensors not knowing how tall they are, front sunroof motors burn out when the drainholes back up, door lock solenoids die frequently, fuel pumps are a pain, power window motors eat their regulators, rear light clusters turn into goldfish bowls, the R380 manual gearbox requiring a rebuild every 50k miles and don't get me started on the TD5 injector looms leaking oil into the ecu..... but apart from that they are fantastic work horses. So strip out all the fancy electrical stuff and the Defender ( OK old Rangy ) bits underneath work very well. ;-)
I have had my 04 for 8 years now and replaced pretty much everything and I mean everything.... head gaskets 3 times, 2 water pumps, 1 rear differential, front prop shaft, blah, blah ,blah.... probably $16,000+ in parts, some preventive others reactionary. I love my Disco and it’s a part of the family. How do I justify it? The same way people with pets justify a $2-$4000 vet bill... I could put it to sleep but I love it too much. Own ng these is not a financially responsible decision- purely emotional.
No, the rover engine doesn’t do well long term being operated over 200 degrees. You start having issues with slipped sleeves and head gaskets. Basically differences in thermal expansion/contraction with dissimilar metals.
@@andrem7718 ok great 👍 thanks for info... I'm going to carefully watch cooling system and properly maintain it's efficiency. I recently tested coolant quality with those $2 tube floating balls testers. Only 1 ball floated out of 5 so that means proper 1:1 coolant water ratio may be needed, though coolant color appeared normal. Thank you again
We had a 2004 from new... until 140,000 miles (crashed). Rare SE with no sunroofs... leftover on lot, cost less than a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. Besides head gasket (known issue as you said), it only needed wear parts (besides 1 coil pack behind engine, and 1 abs sensor built into front hub). I know ours is an outlier (very well maintained by me), it did use more oil than any vehicle I have ever owned (switched to 15W-40 to mitigate loss), but in my experience (not common) was a great vehicle. I got it up to 115 MPH at one point driving to Canada [downhill run], felt solid. 2004 had non lock t-case so traction-control would kick in, as I recall 2005 had lockout capability to power through low-traction situations.
2004 had the locking center diff (transfer case) and traction control. 100% agree with what you said. These are WAY cheaper than a Jeep, more comfortable, heated seats (and heated windshield), and just as capable offroad. And for anyone doubting the offroad capability, look them up on youtube (Discovery 2 vs land cruiser).
I meant to say the traction control couldn't be turned off, so if you wanted to power through mud or snow it would go into traction control mode and cut power. From what I understand the 2005 had a traction control shut off.
I drove a land Rover discovery series 2 up Africa and it broke down 9 times. In rough order, Fuel pump wiring snapped (left us standed in the desert of Namibia) Distributor broke Fried the electric regulator for the distributor Distributor rotor broke needing replacement Battery died from hard to start engine Aluminium sterring column connector stripped (left us stranded on a mountain in Malawi) Same steering column part stripped again (impossible to replace in africa) rear Brake pads melted rear Shocks competely blown Having said all that the car was incredibly capable offroad with diff locks as standard.Think muddy roads, sand and rough roads for 15k and you can expect problems. If you know what you are doing mechanically they can be good play cars. Just Don't buy for any other reason.
@@wingsofimmortal1ksubgoal122 looking at the Wikipedia it seems that the US discovery series 2 were fuel injected, while the export versions shipped to other countries (including South Africa where we bought the car) had distributors. From th3 wiki "the 1996-98 US models with 4.0-litre engines had the same displacement as the 3.9-litre engines fitted to the earlier 1994-95 US models; the differences between the engines involved improvements to the block rigidity and pistons, and a change from the Lucas 14CUX engine management to the distributor-less Generic Engine Management System ("GEMS"). In earlier 3.9-litre US engines, the fuel injection computer (14CUX) did not control the ignition, which was instead controlled by a traditional system with an ignition coil and distributor made by Lucas."
@@wingsofimmortal1ksubgoal122 WINGS OF IMMORTAL 1kSubGoal The Landrover discovery series 2 I drove was a "facelift" from the discovery series 1. The car was a 1998 so it spans across the time period when one model was ending and another begining. The "facelift" models were called a series 2 and the UK versions which I guess where shipped to South Africa had the v8 petrol engine with a distributor. Though the differences between the two were pretty small. The car I drove had a v8 petrol engine with distributor and was a "facelift" series 2. I even checked some of the old photos I had to confirm the indicator lights were from a series 2. You may be right that about GEMs in the US, but the 1998 series two "facelift" version outside the US still had the v8 petrol with distributor.
I came here to see if I should buy one, now I'm even more confused. Lol! Seems like its 50/50 on the reliability according to what people say. But not a bad choice if you don't mind doing all the maintenance yourself. I guess I have to keep doing my research. Wish me luck!!
Well they are all at least 20 years old now so if you don't know one end of a wrench from the other you have no business buying one. In regards to the issues mentioned: Head gaskets - they don't actually blow or cause you to get stranded, they just start leaking usually around 100k miles. Replace them and drive another 100k miles. Driveshaft - makes a lot of racket before it breaks, just replace the u-joints with ones that have grease fittings and keep them greased. ABS units - it's a little embedded circuit card that cracks. You can bypass it with $2 worth of wire and a couple of crimp fittings. Oil pump - was only a specific date range, 2003 I believe. Most have already been replaced. The DIY stuff has all been figured out and is on RUclips so if you're handy with a wrench you'll be okay.
Bullet proof off road. Great snow vehicle (I live in Colorado) traction control and good tires and it will go just about anywhere. Most problems are with seat controls, seat heater and door mechanisms. Gas hog, no matter how you tune them.
BrentMB79: would u know if there is an best engine or coolant temperature range ? Someone mentioned that after market temp guage may be needed to accurately read temperature. Cheers
@@acemoto2319 I had a 1998 D1 that overheated and died a quick death so I learned the hard way. As soon as I got my D2 I replaced the radiator, all the hoses and belts, upgraded to a new high flow water pump and put a 180 degree thermostat in. On my ultraguage (which is a necessity to have ) I run about 190 degrees f. in the winter and about 198 degrees f. In the summer. On rare occasions with the AC on it will go as high as 205 f. Hope that helps
@@BrentMB79 ok great 👍 thank you for excellent info to keep engine cool. I just got a 2000 LR Discovery 2 and going thru engine checklist ✅ I should have gotten newer one 😊 since RPM stays above 3000 even when driving 30-50mph but then downshifts to below 2000 when decelerating under 20mph. I suspect engine may over heat if driven above 3500 rpms. Thank you again and continued blessings 🙏
These aren't the money pits people make them out to be. Biggest problem is the cooling system. The motor is sensitive and a cooling system in bad shape will kill it. As for the ABS module, it isn't the module, there's a $15 switch that goes bad. Replace it with the upgraded part problem solved. It kills driveshafts as fast as any other vehicle, they last forever. They give an ton of warning before failing too. Drove mine a few hundred miles through the mountain on a seized joint. Basically its a vehicle that runs fine and is reasonably reliable, but if you ignore a minor problem it will turn into a major problem fast. I had to put a few thousand into mine when I bought it. Reliable since then, other than a driveshaft that decided it didn't want to driveshaft anymore. They are very capable off roaders that weren't really built for the soccer mom/hipster crowd, you have to treat it like a high maintenance vehicle. Compare it to a Wrangler, they're just as (un)reliable as Discos.
Great info 👍 thanks... May I ask if driveshaft issues are caused by high heat from nearby catalytic converter ? Someone said heat causes driveshaft U joint to dry prematurely and thus seizes shaft. Also is it ABS brake relay switch that goes bad ? Thanks 👍
You sir save me 6k$ on 2004 Range Rover discovery at the dealership and as I approached the vehicle, the salesman pitch me for it and decided that I could walked it off with the vehicle for 4K and I almost close the deal but I noticed this is the only suv that is so cheap I mean so cheapppp and I felt something is fishy because I noticed a Chevy Tahoe right next to it and Ford Explorer too, they were way above 5k and this Range Rover discovery is a luxury brand so I told the salesman that I’m going to have a talk with my wife and see if we can close the deal and no I don’t have a wife. I use that line to get the hell out. I check this video and damn you got my like and I subscribe you.
Yeah " regular servicing" don't make me laugh look at the land cruisers or nissan out there they are built like tanks unlike those pile of junk "land" or " range" rover so stfu
Bought my 2nd Discovery, a used '01 Disco in '03 and it is a love-hate relationship. My '97 Discovery did not give me half the worries as this one. It was totaled b/c a TTT t-boned me. Hoping to sell this one to another enthusiast. They are good sturdy trucks. I can attest to that.
The only issue with the Disco 2 is the shite old Buick based V8, the automatic gearbox and a lack of competent maintainence. The manual TD5 is an amazing machine. Reliable, easy to work on if you're a competent mechanic. 40mpg and great off road.
For those of you that really want a land rover my suggestion is to do an LS swap and drivetrain. They're cheap reliable you can drop a manual if you chose plus you can generally find replacement parts at your local auto parts store.
Owned a 2004 Discovery II since 2007. Upgraded the cylinder sleeves and engine overhaul at 98K miles, replaced ABS shuttle valve at 120K miles. Currently at 129K. That is it. $1M in gasoline receipts!!! Lol. Kidding aside. This truck isn't for everyone, giving it in my opinion lots of character. When I see one down the road while I'm driving mine you get the mandatory Land Rover nod or a wave. I then think after it passes by, why is his Disco II still running? Hahaha! Cheers!
The problem with shafts broken it´s not because of the shaft it self, but the problem with V8 Disco-2 is that the U-joint is too close to the catalizer, and the U-joint in Disco-2 are sealed, so you cannot grease it. So in time, the heat of the Catalizer dry-out the grease, and the U-joint seized, causing the failure of the shaft and so on (This is not the case in TD5s, because the only exhaust pipe is on the other side). But this has been very well known in the Land Rover community, so you have to be aware that the U-joint don´t last much more than 100K miles, and replace them before that. The other way is to put replacement with U-joints serviceable, wich are available in USA market.
Hey I really like these types of informational videos. Cars have so many problems of course but it is the fatal flaws you need to tell us about. Mercedes has a bunch. What is it with the failures of cylinder head gaskets? Is this purposeful? My personal mechanic would always tell me stories of what not to buy because looks are so misleading.
I have a 2002 se7 landrover and I'm wondering if I may ask you for a little advice? You mentioned the landrover makes a owner a mechanic..I personally have to say anything is better then the chevy blazer..hence the name blazer , is what I want it to do is blaze!!!. Anyway, i can not figure out WHERE the ecm goes. The mechanic says its behind the battery but that place has a sensor that looks like a water sensor to me.. if you have the time I would appreciate a piece of your knowledge concerning this vehicle. I truely need this 4x4 ...please and again Thank you for your time
Yeah but guess what, if you can fix the common issues yourself, these cars are the ballsiest 4x4 on the road; even more so than a brand new 4runner for far less$$. Just slap a lift and some at tires and youre golden.
Um correction...the 2003 Range Rover you pictured does not use the same motor used in the 03/04 Discovery II, The 03 RR motor is from the BMW 4.4L V8 series as the vehicle was designed while owned by BMW.
'all you need to know' means cover the positives & negatives, not just feeding the fears of prospective buyers. whatever, I'm not married to it, I'll take my shots, drive what I love 'till I can't anymore, then replace it. yup, just like relationships.
Avoid the 4.6/4.2. For some reason the factory headbolts can be suspect, replace with ARP. Done right and correct coolant, steel shim headgaskets don't give trouble. Oil pump on its own doesn't give issues, if it does it generally indicates the favorite pastime of Landrover owners, no maintenance, I mean why change the oil if there's still oil in there right? Standard timing chains get loose, and not unlike other V8s, cam and lifter issues, often due to crappie oil. Remember lifters run a preload.
The Series 1 is way stronger and tougher than the II with floating axles and Defender underpinnings with Range Rover suspension. Less rear overhang as well. Having owned several and built and rebuilt several... The Series 1 was best for off-road, the Series II was best on-road or overlanding because no CDL. However the BEST was 2004 with the locking CDL and the Traction Control with the 4.6L. The Series II was plush compared to the Series 1. But the series 1 is overbuilt in every way because it was built from parts. Rover van windshield, roof and alpine windows, Defender running gear and frame, Range Rover suspension. Tough. But in every way, Odd. The stepped roof became a hallmark but it's just because it was cheaper to use the roof panel from the Rover Van then to make a new one in the short time and Zero budget rover had. And you'll find in cases like this over time and around the globe we got the best cars this way. MacGuyver engineered cars. And let's not forget the thump thump thump sound of released cylinder sleeves. The oil pressure issue is on 100% of the engines. Guaranteed. These are Flat Tappet engines from the 60's. and people switch to oils with no zinc the pump wears out quickly. Use MB Spec oil or even better oils with higher viscosity for Diesel engines (which are flat tappet engines). The ABS pump issue is with the shutter valve, a $75 part that is a PITA to fix and results in the "Three Amigos" issue!! Series II only issue. But off-road and on-road they drive better than anything on the planet!!
You're incorrect with your statement on the mechanicals on the D1. The D1 chassis, suspension and running gear is a Range Rover classic, pre-air bag suspension. The only parts that are common with the Defender is the LT230 transfer case, LT77 and then R380 manual gear boxes, the engines and the stud pattern. D2 also has fully floating axles and also has stronger CVs. The CDL existed in the D2, although the selector mechanism was not attached. There were a couple of years where no CDL mechanism existed in the transfer case. The D2a brought back the selectable CDL. The most common cause of the 3 amigos is a dry connection in the ABS module, leading to a shuttle valve fault. This can be fixed via what is called 'option B' which bypasses the issue with modified wiring. Costs about $2 and 30min.
Well I own one. I can say the newest of them is 15 years old up to 20 years old. Not a brand new vehicle by any stretch of the imagination and I expect some parts to go bad. Plus you’re talking an off-road truck that’s not had a gentle loving life in most cases. The drive shaft you show would happened off-road not cruising to the supermarket. Any off-road truck is going to fail when put to the extreme conditions. Most the head gasket failure is people not watching temp and not changing coolant AKA poor maintenance issues. Many aluminum blocks suffer the same it’s not unique to Land Rover and they can last fine If maintenance is kept up, do the cooling systems over regular and use aftermarket gauge to watch temp and when it cracks past 200f regular its time to fix cooling. Easy enough.
You nailed it!. They are so pretty but mine suffers from every single issue you described other than driveshaft, at 122k miles, but it's pretty, it's rare light blue. Heck keep it as a cool display?
Breaking balls absolutely buy one. All cars break. All machines fail. Land Rover community is ultra helpful and tight knit willing to help you learn to diagnose and self repair very cheaply anything that does. You would make new friends and have a blast. Or you could stick to something boring.
I’ve had my Disco almost 20 years now and still love it! You get out what you put into them - these are great vehicles if taken care of properly.
Glad to hear. Just purchased a 2004.
@@barbarafritchie2000 Welcome to the cult😁 There’s a great community of disco owners out there!
Yes very true
@@barbarafritchie2000 same
Exactly right
I have a 2000 4.0v8 with 230,000kms. Meticulous servicing is key. I change the oil and filter every 7k. More about preventative maintenance rather than letting it develop
The car that has been turning people into mechanics for 70 yrs xD you killed me with that pun 😂
I have a disco 2 and love the thing. Had it for 13 years. Basic maintenance is all that is needed. As said before, I would take a $3500 disco over a 40k Toyota any day of the week. I replaced my front drive shaft as a matter of preventative maintenance. I think it came to less than a couple of months payments on an over priced new 4x4.
I'm thinking of buying one. Would you say go for it? (18yrold senior in highschool)
I own a Discovery 1 and I never had too much of an issue with it, I don't know why people complain a lot about it
Because it is a popular thing to do it seems, in the same vein as shouting how all Toyotas are the most reliable things ever created. My DII has no issues, I grease my U-Joints regularly, replace worn parts, replaced the head gaskets at 100k miles (preventative maintainence) and the truck keeps going. Maybe I should just get a Jeep Wrangler, so I too can be part of the crowd lol.
Love mine. Been good to me.
You are in denial.
Jealousy.
@@maxxweber4336 stick with your Kia mate 😂😂😂
actually as long as you aren't a typical car owner and ignore routine upkeep items (as in getting your oil changed at the interval) they run for a long time.
my 04 D2 ran fine with the only non upkeep repair being head gaskets 1x at 95k. Had 162k on it when i swapped it for a LR3. It wasnt babied either. Took it on plenty of trails, mud, water and deep snow
people dont normally consider an engine that needs head gaskets every 100k to be reliable.....
Bought mine with a bad motor,put a 4L in and have not had any issues. Dont let them get hot you won't have any problems. And they go anywhere. Now if the fuel mileage could be fixed.
If you can fix them, there amazing vehicles. I was driving mine in central Nevada with the surround sound going, heated seats, and the suspension was the best I have seen off road. The Jeep Cherokee that was passing me was bouncing along and everyone was wearing hooded sweatshirts. They also looked fridged.
I've bought one of these 2 months ago. Looked into all this stuff and replaced it all and some. I spent $900 in parts... These aren't actually money pits if you know what you're doing. Judging by the comment section I would think no one here does.
I know. Mines never had to go to a shop as I’m the shop. Love these vehicles! Great community out there. :-)
Yep I can vouch for that. I have two a 1999 and a 2004. Both are awesome trucks. As long as you have some some sort of mechanical know-how they are fine. I like to say they're high maintenance but not unreliable.
LOL
Most people have never figured out how to go to the forums and read the “common problems” sticky. There’s also a few really good books on how to maintain rovers.
That's basically what it is. Every story of a failed Disco ends up involving someone that refused to put a few dollars of preventative maintenance into it, or did some sort of backyard hackery. They're ridiculously easy to work on and parts are cheap. But if you don't put the time or money into it they will make you pay.
I have a 2000 Discovery II it's expensive, it's not reliable, it's a crap in gas mileage, but for me that's the beauty of the car, being repair by my self and sometimes repair by a mechanic, the time and attention the car required it's like a scape for me is something that i like and enjoy.
Here is the deal the car sucks but the experience.....
¡ just on another level !
What was your mpg in city-highway? Thanks
I've had my 2003 Discovery II since 2006. Love it! Never lets me down. Yes, I have had some mechanical issues but what 15 year old vehicle doesn't?????
a toyota
I bought one of these for a resonable price ($2k) good paint job, immaculate pleather, good engine. I was driving 70 mph down a highway and suddenly the D2 slammed itself into 4L and immediately dropped to 20 mph. After I trailered it to my house, I found out that the transfer case had popped the pin that switches it from H-L. When it slammed itself into 4L, it popped the pins in both differentials. So, I found a dead D2 with 40k on it, bought the transfer case and both diffs off of it. 8 hours of work later I had a brand new-ish drivetrain and I was out $900.
All in all, not a bad deal. Shortly after that the neutral safety sensor went out along with the upstream O2 sensor. The neutral safety switch I just unplugged, as it is not necessary to drive. The O2 will certainly need replacement as it directly affects the fuel/air mix. Also the rear wheel speed sensor went out, which I am going to have to replace as well. And I am bout to have to do a tune up. But other than that...all good. Good buy. Solid truck. Just gotta show it some love. Oh and use Rotella 15w40 oil, due to the zinc content. And the Bosh oil filter.
Ok here comes the whine from another Disco owner. You forgot about the thermostat and cooling system leaks, failure of door actuators, window regulators, valve cover and oil pan leaks, sagging headliners, and frames that rust. I have a 2004 disco 2. I love it but I also do my own mechanical repairs. The key to owning these cars is to do the regular maintenance such as oil changes, transmission fluid changes, greasing of the parts that can be greased, change out all the fluids such as the diffs, transfer cases, brake fluid etc at regular intervals. I have found if you maintain them the known problems do not occur. Driving on the beach or in the mountains off road is amazing. Center locking diff with traction control pretty much blows away any Jeep out there. I've had a few Jeeps and for the time period they do not rate when it comes to the Disco. I did love my Jeeps too. I've owned several Ford F150s and they also cannot be compared as they are too different to compare. Disco 2s are also very cheap to buy and own if you treat them properly. I bought mine for $900 dollars with 119k miles on it that had a leaking head gasket, valve cover leaks, and coolant leaks. I fixed every known problem and upgraded the wheels and suspension, added roof rack and made it a well running overloading vehicle for under $7k. Working on them is pretty simple as well. I have seen maintained Discos with well over 250k miles on them with the original engine and transmission. Or just buy a Toyota or Lexus but just don't look as cool, lol. I also own an LR3 but just not as fun as the Disco that was part of the Camel Trophy races. So many cars out there but too little time to own them all ;-)
Great review with practical upkeep tips! Thanks!
Sounds like all cars to me, all machines need servicing, and I had a disco.
Correct..and nurturing words does not hurt either.04 too..got a good one, but I stay up on EVERYTHING! lol
@@roycefaggotter6860 Kinda like a WIFE
The biggest problem with the Land Rover brand is other 4x4 owners rubbishing them and making stories up, I bet most of the People commenting on here and saying about how rubbish they are haven't even owned one!
They aren't without problems like any vehicle but we have owned ours since new (18 years) and it's been a great vehicle!
why dont you list the things youve replaced or repaired in that time so we can make a more informed judgment then, instead of just trusting your claim.that its "great"
shonuffisthemaster so you would believe that then? You've already said it's a lie but now you want me to go back through 18 years of service records...
Iv had defender 110s for 21 years now and only one of them let me down when a uj on the rear prop let go (down to my poor maint) .most reliable vehicles iv owned!
@ Pill Sharks The disco II is a *Piece of Shit.......* and by the way, I've owned one. :-?
Pill Sharks I’m afraid land rovers are shit. No I haven’t owed one. Worked in a euro car garage and and say hand down land rovers are the worst thing since aids
I have a 98 discovery 1. 3.9v8i auto.
Its had minor issues with window mechanisms breaking, vac hoses perishing and fluid leaks.
But it was sat in a mechanics yard to be sold for a year or so, so you’d expect some age related problems.
I’ve had it nearly a year now and driven all over Australia, it suffered 3 months in the outback driving on nothing but washingboard dirt roads, its been driven up to double island point which is an 85 mile journey along a beach with water crossings, and has been taken offroad, bogged and filled with water/mud in the footwells ect. And generally not treated with any respect or care.
The thing just goes on. Only problem i had was the serpentine belt stripping because a stick wedged in the pully
I have a 2003 with close to 250,000 kms here in Canada. It is lifted on 36" super swampers and I beat on it like it owes me money, because it does. It is strictly for off-roading so suspension and drive train components take a pounding, not to mention the toll our harsh climate can take on a vehicle. I added the centre locking diff as it was not available in North America for that year. I perform all the maintenance and repairs myself including transfer case, both differentials, wheel hub bearings, break pads, thermostat, power steering pump, ignition tumbler, shutter calve on ABS module, wheel speed sensors, and regular fluid replacements. It has never left me stranded and I can go places most people could only dream of. I would not recommend one of these vehicles to anyone who is not inclined to wrench on their own vehicle, frequently.
You know it needs oil when it stops leaking.
FinallyMe78 majority of 4x4 vehicles leak and they leak more if you run off-road hard. It’s a fact of life. The discovery 1,2 are based on an older engine design from the 60’s and if you recall they did leak more.
@guy proulx there resale value is better than any jeep !!
😁
Over 70 percent of land rovers since production are still on the road today (fact)
Please tell me of another manufacturer that can better that ?? 🤔
They don't leak, they mark their territory. :-)
@@steakandchips9046 honestly, Jeep Wranglers depreciate really slowly compared to every other vehicle. The rest of the jeeps though..
STEAK AND CHIPS Toyota did it better. And are you insane? They are 70% on the road because people keep buying the made in china shit boxes.
Lol yes! I learned how to repair cars by fixing my Discovery.
Me too!
"Land Rover - The company that's been turning owners into mechanics for 70 years." I literally LOL'd at that one! I want that on a t-shirt! The work never seems to end. Definitely an enthusiast’s kinda vehicle. Heaven knows I’ve put some hours in on mine.
Spike Motorsports I had to replace the water pump on mine. $600 in parts and had to order them from a supplier in california.
I know they are a pile of shit but I still want one for some reason.
They are really fun SUV. If you are willing to learn how to fix them you will save money and love them. I own one and I’m currently looking for another one.
They are awesome! Quirky just like me
mine has been extremely reliable and i love it
There is an awesome community of Land Rover worldwide and local groups make you feel like family. Always are events in each area and national events. Fun for the entire family. Very nice people who will help answer questions and teach you everything. All machines break and it’s an older 4x4 it’s going to break. Any large 4x4 you run hard will break. The community involved is awesome actually.
Show of right
Disco 2 owner here! I’m on my 3rd one!
JUKE179r hats off. Love the disco 2. Best vehicle I’ve owned.
Im rockin a disco 2 td5 its had a lot of issues because previous owner was a dick and i had to pay big time $$ to get it fix, they are a beast off road running a 3inch lift boosted big mud tyres straight pipe bla bla...... its been love hate. But my mate has one and its had next to no probs we drive bush all the time mud snow river crossings.
Honestly don't think i will buy another once im done with the big green machine. I have other freinds who have some td5s that are weapons!! Sitting on 35s all engineered absolute beasts here in Aus.
Within a year?
Vtec Banger That'd be about right
Third one as well. Bought 2nd and 3rd for parts but ended up fixing them up. It's a bad habit. So easy to work on these old Buick engines.
The ABS module is same as used in the Hummer H2 I think, of about same era. Also the transmission is same as BMW used in their 7-series (ZF, German made) - tough but should be serviced, despite claims that autos are "sealed for life" - The 4.6 engine was more prone to the cylinder liner slipping, so the 4.0 is the more reliable choice. Avoid the 2002 model year if you want to properly off-road, as that model was missing the locking centre differential. Earlier models have it, and can be retro-fitted with the engaging shifter.
low temp thermostat and 15-40 oil extend lifetime of those discos ,love them
I own a 2004 Disco 2, going to the Arctic Circle next year on to Finland-Baltic States-Poland-UK-home I have no worries about my Land Rover. Do not knock something to you try it!!! To be honest that goes for anything:-)
I'm taking mine to the moon and be the first one to circumnavigate a full circle, will need a lot of fuel and a lot of oxygen
Have a lr2......amazing suv....0 problems.... In 11 years, the front axle was adjusted 2 times minor repair. Amazing !!!! I bought another one. 😜
I was looking for something for my daughter. A safe and slow vehicle. A good starter car. Preferably a amphibious exploring vehicle. Would you recommend this vehicle?
Plenty slow, she will have to push it.
I wouldn't go with ford if you want a reliable vehicle. So, no. Dont get this.
I'm driving one and no don't buy one for her .. they are actually not very safe and expensive as hell to fix
As a Land Rover discovery enthusiast myself I’d say no. You really want a smaller vehicle for her.
@@Phantom-darkness why? The discos crash rating is still very solid even when compared to modern day crash tests.
Yeah you guys scared me off, Godspeed
And best of all, I repair it. Impressive engineering!
Dude, 2003 SE7, whats not to love. Brute strength to go anywhere you want... Redid the cylinder heads 3 times already plus a replacement engine at 120,000 miles. Front draft shaft replaced with a heavy duty Mercedes Benz shaft, power steering pump replaced, 3 amigos wont go off, Rear bumper disintegrated on touch, roof liner fell down so I took out the entire tray and scraped off the liner, repainted it its natural colour and reinstalled it. Better than new. Left rear door doesnt open, And passenger front window regulator fell apart so window doesnt work. Replaced the two Secondary air pumps, rain water coming through the top right corner of the windshield, fixed with silicon sealant behind the weather strip. The two a pillar plastic pieces blew off the truck at 70mph. 13 mpg plus a current oil leak....But hey I love the damn thing and will never get rid of it. And I dont go off road with it either. ( no Rock climbing or trails).. I drive around town and take it to the property as well. Its a great work truck to do anything and go anywhere. Pulled out a 18 wheeler that was stuck in sand believe it or not. Landy is forever.
Alpha Romeo55 Yush: did roof liner come off because of ceiling water 💦 leak ? Painted liner is a great fix idea 💡 👍
@@acemoto2319 Liner sagged and was droopy because of the Florida heat. It was a chore to remove it because of all the hidden screws but if you google Land Rover headliner removal there is a tutorial on how to remove all the screws. Be careful as the plastic parts coming off are brittle and may break. When you finally pull out the entire tray from the rear of the truck, scrape off all the foam underneath the liner, and paint and reinstall it the same way it came out, you feel a sense of accomplishment as it looks better painted than with he liner attached. Oh and I used low odor, matching colour, house paint with a roller and rolled it on. Home Depot matches the colour to a tee.....Two coats....Beautiful.
@@alfa_romeo55yush82 Ok great thank you for excellent liner info.... I'm going for that sense of accomplishment too 😂 can't wait to follow your method... I may add star 🌟 dust, metal flake paint and strips of Led lights to give ceiling luxury look 😊 That roller paint 🎨 method is great 👍 idea 💡 especially for humid 🥵 regions. Continued success & blessings 🙏
Head gasket failure is due to not replacing the coolant. Avoid this by changing your coolant every 1.5 -2 years. Drive shaft is fine has to be rebuilt with serviceable u joints and obviously then has to be serviced regularly. Oil pumps were a defect affecting certain 03 Discos, check your vin. Yes things break in these trucks and they need to be replace just like any other 18 year old vehicle. Plenty of information online and these trucks are reliable if you maintain them properly.
I love your comment" Land Rover the automobile that's been turning drivers into mechanics " My son has a 99 Toyota and Believe it or not it's having the same effect as the Land Rover just not as expensive so the good thing is he's learning how to fix Toyotas not the engine just every other damn part on it because it's very susceptible to rust especially in the snow belt of Wisconsin ;⛄
That ending, LOL. Gotta love Landies man. Just go for a holiday at any coastal town, I guarantee you will find mostly landies everywhere. It is what it is. One life, Live it. Life's too short to drive boring cars.
Owning one of these is a love/hate relationship - My Discovery loves to hate me!!!
I have a discovery2 with 208,000 miles I floor it constantly and it has never had a head gasket change. The thermostat and maf have been the only parts needed replaced. This car is easier than shit to work on and parts are abundant.
that noice at 2:40 actually scared me lol I was listening to it VERY loud haha
I have an 03 with 60k miles and it is a lot more reliable and cheaper to repair than everyone claims , also did just catch on fire so there’s that
Wtf how???
I'm on my third Disco 2. So much fun!
4th now!🤷🏼♂️
After diving Disco 2's for 12 years here's my list: Rear air suspension bags leaking, suspension height sensors not knowing how tall they are, front sunroof motors burn out when the drainholes back up, door lock solenoids die frequently, fuel pumps are a pain, power window motors eat their regulators, rear light clusters turn into goldfish bowls, the R380 manual gearbox requiring a rebuild every 50k miles and don't get me started on the TD5 injector looms leaking oil into the ecu..... but apart from that they are fantastic work horses. So strip out all the fancy electrical stuff and the Defender ( OK old Rangy ) bits underneath work very well. ;-)
I have had my 04 for 8 years now and replaced pretty much everything and I mean everything.... head gaskets 3 times, 2 water pumps, 1 rear differential, front prop shaft, blah, blah ,blah.... probably $16,000+ in parts, some preventive others reactionary.
I love my Disco and it’s a part of the family. How do I justify it?
The same way people with pets justify a $2-$4000 vet bill...
I could put it to sleep but I love it too much.
Own ng these is not a financially responsible decision- purely emotional.
Paul the 180 thermostat and ARB headbolt studs will go a long way to solving your head gasket issues.
@@andrem7718 Hi is 180 thermostat a low temperature 🌡️ type that allows coolant to flow faster after warming engine ?
No, the rover engine doesn’t do well long term being operated over 200 degrees. You start having issues with slipped sleeves and head gaskets. Basically differences in thermal expansion/contraction with dissimilar metals.
@@andrem7718 ok great 👍 thanks for info... I'm going to carefully watch cooling system and properly maintain it's efficiency. I recently tested coolant quality with those $2 tube floating balls testers. Only 1 ball floated out of 5 so that means proper 1:1 coolant water ratio may be needed, though coolant color appeared normal. Thank you again
We had a 2004 from new... until 140,000 miles (crashed). Rare SE with no sunroofs... leftover on lot, cost less than a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. Besides head gasket (known issue as you said), it only needed wear parts (besides 1 coil pack behind engine, and 1 abs sensor built into front hub). I know ours is an outlier (very well maintained by me), it did use more oil than any vehicle I have ever owned (switched to 15W-40 to mitigate loss), but in my experience (not common) was a great vehicle. I got it up to 115 MPH at one point driving to Canada [downhill run], felt solid. 2004 had non lock t-case so traction-control would kick in, as I recall 2005 had lockout capability to power through low-traction situations.
I have 2001 SE and 135k and only changed coil packs and both Head gaskets :) bought and did work under 3k $
2004 had the locking center diff (transfer case) and traction control. 100% agree with what you said. These are WAY cheaper than a Jeep, more comfortable, heated seats (and heated windshield), and just as capable offroad. And for anyone doubting the offroad capability, look them up on youtube (Discovery 2 vs land cruiser).
I love mine. Always looking to buy more as I want to own one for life. :-)
I meant to say the traction control couldn't be turned off, so if you wanted to power through mud or snow it would go into traction control mode and cut power. From what I understand the 2005 had a traction control shut off.
you had a head gasket go before 140k and are claiming its reliable? thats a pretty major repair to have in the 100k range....
I have a 2018 Land Rover discover HSE luxury white and it’s amazing
I drove a land Rover discovery series 2 up Africa and it broke down 9 times. In rough order,
Fuel pump wiring snapped (left us standed in the desert of Namibia)
Distributor broke
Fried the electric regulator for the distributor
Distributor rotor broke needing replacement
Battery died from hard to start engine
Aluminium sterring column connector stripped (left us stranded on a mountain in Malawi)
Same steering column part stripped again (impossible to replace in africa)
rear Brake pads melted
rear Shocks competely blown
Having said all that the car was incredibly capable offroad with diff locks as standard.Think muddy roads, sand and rough roads for 15k and you can expect problems. If you know what you are doing mechanically they can be good play cars. Just Don't buy for any other reason.
Let me get this straight.... You were in a discovery 2.... With a distributor? Care to elaborate?
@@wingsofimmortal1ksubgoal122 looking at the Wikipedia it seems that the US discovery series 2 were fuel injected, while the export versions shipped to other countries (including South Africa where we bought the car) had distributors. From th3 wiki
"the 1996-98 US models with 4.0-litre engines had the same displacement as the 3.9-litre engines fitted to the earlier 1994-95 US models; the differences between the engines involved improvements to the block rigidity and pistons, and a change from the Lucas 14CUX engine management to the distributor-less Generic Engine Management System ("GEMS"). In earlier 3.9-litre US engines, the fuel injection computer (14CUX) did not control the ignition, which was instead controlled by a traditional system with an ignition coil and distributor made by Lucas."
@@forestjack4933 that's still a discovery 1. No D2 was fitted with a GEMS. The discovery 2 waa introduced in 1998 in the UK and 1999 in the US.
@@wingsofimmortal1ksubgoal122 WINGS OF IMMORTAL 1kSubGoal The Landrover discovery series 2 I drove was a "facelift" from the discovery series 1. The car was a 1998 so it spans across the time period when one model was ending and another begining. The "facelift" models were called a series 2 and the UK versions which I guess where shipped to South Africa had the v8 petrol engine with a distributor. Though the differences between the two were pretty small. The car I drove had a v8 petrol engine with distributor and was a "facelift" series 2. I even checked some of the old photos I had to confirm the indicator lights were from a series 2. You may be right that about GEMs in the US, but the 1998 series two "facelift" version outside the US still had the v8 petrol with distributor.
I came here to see if I should buy one, now I'm even more confused. Lol! Seems like its 50/50 on the reliability according to what people say. But not a bad choice if you don't mind doing all the maintenance yourself. I guess I have to keep doing my research. Wish me luck!!
Well they are all at least 20 years old now so if you don't know one end of a wrench from the other you have no business buying one. In regards to the issues mentioned: Head gaskets - they don't actually blow or cause you to get stranded, they just start leaking usually around 100k miles. Replace them and drive another 100k miles. Driveshaft - makes a lot of racket before it breaks, just replace the u-joints with ones that have grease fittings and keep them greased. ABS units - it's a little embedded circuit card that cracks. You can bypass it with $2 worth of wire and a couple of crimp fittings. Oil pump - was only a specific date range, 2003 I believe. Most have already been replaced. The DIY stuff has all been figured out and is on RUclips so if you're handy with a wrench you'll be okay.
Accurate. Love my D2, but they can be a hassle if you’re not into wrenching.
So can my wife
Vladimir , you described that perfectly !!!! well said
The frequent uploads are nice!
Bullet proof off road. Great snow vehicle (I live in Colorado) traction control and good tires and it will go just about anywhere. Most problems are with seat controls, seat heater and door mechanisms. Gas hog, no matter how you tune them.
Good luck trying to find one. They're getting rare!
They are excellent cars but they need ro be kept cool and oil changed. If you dont mind the maintenance which is basic and fairly easy.
BrentMB79: would u know if there is an best engine or coolant temperature range ? Someone mentioned that after market temp guage may be needed to accurately read temperature. Cheers
@@acemoto2319 I had a 1998 D1 that overheated and died a quick death so I learned the hard way. As soon as I got my D2 I replaced the radiator, all the hoses and belts, upgraded to a new high flow water pump and put a 180 degree thermostat in. On my ultraguage (which is a necessity to have ) I run about 190 degrees f. in the winter and about 198 degrees f. In the summer. On rare occasions with the AC on it will go as high as 205 f. Hope that helps
@@BrentMB79 ok great 👍 thank you for excellent info to keep engine cool. I just got a 2000 LR Discovery 2 and going thru engine checklist ✅ I should have gotten newer one 😊 since RPM stays above 3000 even when driving 30-50mph but then downshifts to below 2000 when decelerating under 20mph. I suspect engine may over heat if driven above 3500 rpms. Thank you again and continued blessings 🙏
@@acemoto2319 i would focus on getting an ultraguage and a low temp thermostat. The other stuff you can do a little at a time.. glad to help
These aren't the money pits people make them out to be. Biggest problem is the cooling system. The motor is sensitive and a cooling system in bad shape will kill it. As for the ABS module, it isn't the module, there's a $15 switch that goes bad. Replace it with the upgraded part problem solved. It kills driveshafts as fast as any other vehicle, they last forever. They give an ton of warning before failing too. Drove mine a few hundred miles through the mountain on a seized joint.
Basically its a vehicle that runs fine and is reasonably reliable, but if you ignore a minor problem it will turn into a major problem fast. I had to put a few thousand into mine when I bought it. Reliable since then, other than a driveshaft that decided it didn't want to driveshaft anymore. They are very capable off roaders that weren't really built for the soccer mom/hipster crowd, you have to treat it like a high maintenance vehicle. Compare it to a Wrangler, they're just as (un)reliable as Discos.
Great info 👍 thanks... May I ask if driveshaft issues are caused by high heat from nearby catalytic converter ? Someone said heat causes driveshaft U joint to dry prematurely and thus seizes shaft. Also is it ABS brake relay switch that goes bad ? Thanks 👍
You sir save me 6k$ on 2004 Range Rover discovery at the dealership and as I approached the vehicle, the salesman pitch me for it and decided that I could walked it off with the vehicle for 4K and I almost close the deal but I noticed this is the only suv that is so cheap I mean so cheapppp and I felt something is fishy because I noticed a Chevy Tahoe right next to it and Ford Explorer too, they were way above 5k and this Range Rover discovery is a luxury brand so I told the salesman that I’m going to have a talk with my wife and see if we can close the deal and no I don’t have a wife. I use that line to get the hell out. I check this video and damn you got my like and I subscribe you.
Did u buy it for $4k instead of $10k ?
Waoooo. Good presentation. God bless you sir
So what diesel you'd suggest can be good for Disco swap?
Shame you guys can't get the TD5 - with regular servicing it's virtually bullet-proof.
You should see the repair bills for mine... gave up after the ecu fried when it filled with engine oil. :-(
Yeah " regular servicing" don't make me laugh look at the land cruisers or nissan out there they are built like tanks unlike those pile of junk "land" or " range" rover so stfu
Jonathan Dosser Yes, i have it and i will never sell it ! 1999 model and 130.000 miles runs as new !
@@carholic-sz3qv He said the diesel version is bullet proof the petrol engine is straight trash....
I have my td5 for 8 years now. Just love the car....
Bought my 2nd Discovery, a used '01 Disco in '03 and it is a love-hate relationship. My '97 Discovery did not give me half the worries as this one. It was totaled b/c a TTT t-boned me. Hoping to sell this one to another enthusiast. They are good sturdy trucks. I can attest to that.
How do I acquire a landrover Discovery and which type is so good
The only issue with the Disco 2 is the shite old Buick based V8, the automatic gearbox and a lack of competent maintainence.
The manual TD5 is an amazing machine. Reliable, easy to work on if you're a competent mechanic. 40mpg and great off road.
Do u have any info on the first gen Range Rover Sport? 2008 models
Lol don’t know about mechanic but by far one of the most easy things to work on 😂😂 for me as a v8
Is the TD5 option of the car any better?
Around 1:38 RnW enters another dimension talking about the head gaskets.
BEST SUV IVE EVER HAD SITTING AROUND.
1:18..DII engine is bosch/buick & L322 is bmw/jag
You gotta mention "the three amigos"!
For those of you that really want a land rover my suggestion is to do an LS swap and drivetrain. They're cheap reliable you can drop a manual if you chose plus you can generally find replacement parts at your local auto parts store.
Frankie M Sooo engine, transmission, transfer case, shafts and both axles? Piece O Cake. How does emission testing go?
By the time you do the ls swap you could have bought a Toyota Land Cruiser or 4Runner.
Owned a 2004 Discovery II since 2007. Upgraded the cylinder sleeves and engine overhaul at 98K miles, replaced ABS shuttle valve at 120K miles. Currently at 129K. That is it. $1M in gasoline receipts!!! Lol. Kidding aside. This truck isn't for everyone, giving it in my opinion lots of character. When I see one down the road while I'm driving mine you get the mandatory Land Rover nod or a wave. I then think after it passes by, why is his Disco II still running? Hahaha! Cheers!
The problem with shafts broken it´s not because of the shaft it self, but the problem with V8 Disco-2 is that the U-joint is too close to the catalizer, and the U-joint in Disco-2 are sealed, so you cannot grease it. So in time, the heat of the Catalizer dry-out the grease, and the U-joint seized, causing the failure of the shaft and so on (This is not the case in TD5s, because the only exhaust pipe is on the other side). But this has been very well known in the Land Rover community, so you have to be aware that the U-joint don´t last much more than 100K miles, and replace them before that. The other way is to put replacement with U-joints serviceable, wich are available in USA market.
I’m here in 🇨🇦 buying these part for my D2 in 🇸🇴...the struggle is real bro
Hey I really like these types of informational videos. Cars have so many problems of course but it is the fatal flaws you need to tell us about. Mercedes has a bunch. What is it with the failures of cylinder head gaskets? Is this purposeful? My personal mechanic would always tell me stories of what not to buy because looks are so misleading.
I have a 2002 se7 landrover and I'm wondering if I may ask you for a little advice?
You mentioned the landrover makes a owner a mechanic..I personally have to say anything is better then the chevy blazer..hence the name blazer , is what I want it to do is blaze!!!.
Anyway, i can not figure out WHERE the ecm goes. The mechanic says its behind the battery but that place has a sensor that looks like a water sensor to me.. if you have the time I would appreciate a piece of your knowledge concerning this vehicle. I truely need this 4x4 ...please and again Thank you for your time
Good stuff. I’m considering buying one.
I really like my 96' D1 SD - it has no sun roofs and has cloth and manual seats - keep up the maint. and it is pretty reliable
I know the d1is bullet proof
Yeah but guess what, if you can fix the common issues yourself, these cars are the ballsiest 4x4 on the road; even more so than a brand new 4runner for far less$$. Just slap a lift and some at tires and youre golden.
American perspective yes I run 33’s and lift. Very capable machine.
Enjoyed. Thanks for sharing Subscribed
You really showed that tree who's boss!
Um correction...the 2003 Range Rover you pictured does not use the same motor used in the 03/04 Discovery II, The 03 RR motor is from the BMW 4.4L V8 series as the vehicle was designed while owned by BMW.
And they were junk.
@@atx-cvpi_99 Agreed. All older BMW X5's are extremely garbage, even the 3.0i with the six-cylinder engine.
Wow, that's so accurate.
Really like your videos.. keep up the good work
nice vid i have a discotd5
does it have the same probs ?
'all you need to know' means cover the positives & negatives, not just feeding the fears of prospective buyers.
whatever, I'm not married to it, I'll take my shots, drive what I love 'till I can't anymore, then replace it. yup, just like relationships.
I’m looking at one of these w 111k miles (2004), and has a slight leak. Owner wants $6k. Should I bargain or move on?
Can you review the engine in the protege5 or later models protege? it is a 2.0 ford engine
Hey man I’m really thinking about buying a Saturn outlook. Would you be able to make a video with information on them?
Don’t buy one
Avoid the 4.6/4.2. For some reason the factory headbolts can be suspect, replace with ARP. Done right and correct coolant, steel shim headgaskets don't give trouble. Oil pump on its own doesn't give issues, if it does it generally indicates the favorite pastime of Landrover owners, no maintenance, I mean why change the oil if there's still oil in there right? Standard timing chains get loose, and not unlike other V8s, cam and lifter issues, often due to crappie oil. Remember lifters run a preload.
The Series 1 is way stronger and tougher than the II with floating axles and Defender underpinnings with Range Rover suspension. Less rear overhang as well.
Having owned several and built and rebuilt several... The Series 1 was best for off-road, the Series II was best on-road or overlanding because no CDL. However the BEST was 2004 with the locking CDL and the Traction Control with the 4.6L. The Series II was plush compared to the Series 1. But the series 1 is overbuilt in every way because it was built from parts. Rover van windshield, roof and alpine windows, Defender running gear and frame, Range Rover suspension. Tough. But in every way, Odd. The stepped roof became a hallmark but it's just because it was cheaper to use the roof panel from the Rover Van then to make a new one in the short time and Zero budget rover had. And you'll find in cases like this over time and around the globe we got the best cars this way. MacGuyver engineered cars.
And let's not forget the thump thump thump sound of released cylinder sleeves. The oil pressure issue is on 100% of the engines. Guaranteed. These are Flat Tappet engines from the 60's. and people switch to oils with no zinc the pump wears out quickly. Use MB Spec oil or even better oils with higher viscosity for Diesel engines (which are flat tappet engines).
The ABS pump issue is with the shutter valve, a $75 part that is a PITA to fix and results in the "Three Amigos" issue!! Series II only issue.
But off-road and on-road they drive better than anything on the planet!!
You're incorrect with your statement on the mechanicals on the D1.
The D1 chassis, suspension and running gear is a Range Rover classic, pre-air bag suspension.
The only parts that are common with the Defender is the LT230 transfer case, LT77 and then R380 manual gear boxes, the engines and the stud pattern.
D2 also has fully floating axles and also has stronger CVs. The CDL existed in the D2, although the selector mechanism was not attached. There were a couple of years where no CDL mechanism existed in the transfer case. The D2a brought back the selectable CDL.
The most common cause of the 3 amigos is a dry connection in the ABS module, leading to a shuttle valve fault. This can be fixed via what is called 'option B' which bypasses the issue with modified wiring. Costs about $2 and 30min.
Yes
Glad here I Australia we get either the v8 or the better td5 diesel mine is a 2002 td5
Range Rover engines were BMW sourced 4.4 engines from 2003-05, they weren’t the same in the Disco 2
And they were really bad too. Timing chain guide failures are common on BMW V8 engines with Vanos.
Great drive best handling smooth td5
never owned a land rover, but love to start with the discovery 2004 model
What do you think about the 2005-2008 TOYOTA SEQUOIA or the 1995 BRONCO?
I have a friend with one of this Discovery II and we call it Land Problem
Short answer: no.
Long answer: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Well I own one. I can say the newest of them is 15 years old up to 20 years old. Not a brand new vehicle by any stretch of the imagination and I expect some parts to go bad. Plus you’re talking an off-road truck that’s not had a gentle loving life in most cases. The drive shaft you show would happened off-road not cruising to the supermarket. Any off-road truck is going to fail when put to the extreme conditions. Most the head gasket failure is people not watching temp and not changing coolant AKA poor maintenance issues. Many aluminum blocks suffer the same it’s not unique to Land Rover and they can last fine If maintenance is kept up, do the cooling systems over regular and use aftermarket gauge to watch temp and when it cracks past 200f regular its time to fix cooling. Easy enough.
Hi great 👍 info .... May I ask if aftermarket temp gauge is a replacement to OEM gauge or added separately ? Blessings
@@acemoto2319 oem is impossible now on D2.
@@Phantom-darkness Hi okay thanks for info Desert :-) Good to know, I just got my first D2 :-)
You nailed it!. They are so pretty but mine suffers from every single issue you described other than driveshaft, at 122k miles, but it's pretty, it's rare light blue. Heck keep it as a cool display?
“Turning owners into mechanics for 70 years” 😂😎
Soooo... don't never, ever ever ever, buy this car is what your saying
Breaking balls absolutely buy one. All cars break. All machines fail. Land Rover community is ultra helpful and tight knit willing to help you learn to diagnose and self repair very cheaply anything that does. You would make new friends and have a blast. Or you could stick to something boring.
@@Phantom-darkness I have owned two Disco 2's and I love them. So much character. Fun and simple to work on really.
preach landy for life
Picking up a new 01 Disco this week. One life live it right?! 😂👍🏻🏴
Us Disco owners are almost cult like in our following lol..... Stockholm syndrome at it's finest
The Range Rover you show at the start of the VT is an L322 with a BMW V8 not the Rover V8, the last RR to use this was the p38 👍