Land Rover Discovery anyone???

[Monza_dh]

Any Disco owners out there?

Need good technical info on '97-'02 Disco's ie: which yrs to avoid, what to expect, etc.. I need a second hand 4 wheel drive truck for towing, snow/sand travel, etc and have seen a few local Disco's for real cheap.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=255790172&dealer_id=63624817&car_year=1999&rdm=1229359490381&model=DISCOV&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=25&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=ROV&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=02061&advanced=&end_year=2002&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=6

$3,800: cheap!


I have read about the obvious issues with D1's, D2's and can wrench on them if needed. Heard about the head gaskets, u-joints, electrics, etc. Even

Any Discos lovers or haters out there want to chime in with comments and or advice?!?!?!?

[vash]

my sister's came apart at the seams...

she offered to give it to me..i declined. on the bright side, i couldnt ever get that thing stuck.

[tcar]

Had a '94 for 165k miles. Bulletproof.

Other than normal maintenance the only thing I had to replace was the alternator and a window switch.

I've heard the 94, 95 were a lot more reliable than later discos.

They are almost impossible to get stuck.

www.discoweb.org

[whiskyb]

Bought my wife a 98 Disco1. It was the last year for the 1's I think. 200kilometers, besides normal wear and tear items (brakes, oil etc) the only thing it needed was an alternator and a fuel pump. Both super easy to do and about the same price as any other. Their are a few good forums for them

Whiskyb

[crustychief]

I have an 03. good car as long as you keep the maintenance up, there is a lot more maintenance to keep up on though. There is a problem with the ABS computer that intermittently lights up the ABS, Hill descent, and traction control lights but does not affect the function of them, they call them the "three amigos" I am pretty sure all 97-02 have that problem. mine has about 70,000 on it right now and is in great shape but there are a bunch of them that just go to heck after 60,000 like it is a milestone. Gas mileage sucks though, mine gets about 12 hwy, and it is pretty gutless. Off road it is a monster, I would say second only to the AM General HMMWV. I would be careful about what you tow with it though they are pretty short coupled ( wheelbase )
I like mine despite its flaws, I like its "lord of the manor" looks.

[crustychief]

discoweb is a great forum.

[JavaBrewer]

Visit Disco Web for all your Disco information. FYI - don't post another "Should I buy..." thread there. Instead spend a morning cup of coffee reading what's already there. Just like Pelican the search function will uncover any/all info you need.

Pre 1999 Disco were series I. They carried a locking center differential (LCD) stock and were easier to work on.

1999-2004 was the Disco II. Some early 1999's and all 2004's had a LCD. The others got by with LR's Enhanced Traction Control (ETC) which used the ABS modulator to limit power to slipping wheels. Works great when it works... Disco II has known issues with ABS lovingly referred to as "The Three Amigos" (for the warning lights in the dash) which can be very spendy to fix. The Disco II uses Bosch (vs Lucas) electronics and overall is much nicer equipped and finished than the series I.

LR is not known for reliable vehicles. It seems though that the harder you beat on them the better they do. My wife started with a '97 series I, then moved to a 99 series II, and now drives a '03 series II. We love them but readily admit they are a love/hate relationship. If you really like them then the rig you linked sounds like a good deal. Definitely have a PPI first and the more service history on it the better.

[JavaBrewer]

Forgot to mention that LR products don't like to hold onto their fluids. Note my custom drip pan...

[/QUOTE]

As crusty noted they drink premium gas at 10-12 mpg helpings. For all that you get a very unique vehicle that is a pleasure to drive. My wife won't trade hers for anything.

[Monza_dh]

Thanks for the respones! I have searched and read thru a number of posts on Landroverforums.com and definitly know about posting the dreaded "which one to buy" as the first post. Discoweb looks like a gopod place to lurk.

The gas mileage is pretty scarry since I have been all six cylinder cars (911-flat six, 330i, straight six, wife's ML320, V6) and average over 20mpg for all. But when a v8 and center locking diff is needed I guess there's no substitute!

Thanks again!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Don't go drive one, I did and almost bought one. Fortunately David talked me down. They have character in spades, and aren't as gutless as you would think.

[Macroni]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

they are a love/hate relationship.

This summarizes how I feel about mine. I love everything about it except.....gas mileage which I hate. I had a BMW 745i prior to taking my wife's disco. 745 was a pain in the a** as a city car. With the disco you do not worry about anything and it is great looking; very classy.

[JavaBrewer]

The single best improvement I can suggest for a Disco II is to ditch the stock Goodyear Wrangler tires for quality rubber like the BFG AT/KO. It is a night/day improvement over how the Disco rides and sounds.

If I could redo the purchase of our '03 I would definitely get the '04 with locking center diff. I am finding them with 60K miles in the $10K range locally. The '04 is arguably the best Disco from LR...like the '89 911 was the best from Porsche...

[MichiganMat]

My D2 is heavy and its milage sucks... and the radiator just went out.

But I love it: Stockholm Syndrome?

[MichiganMat]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

The single best improvement I can suggest for a Disco II is to ditch the stock Goodyear Wrangler tires for quality rubber like the BFG AT/KO. It is a night/day improvement over how the Disco rides and sounds.

If I could redo the purchase of our '03 I would definitely get the '04 with locking center diff. I am finding them with 60K miles in the $10K range locally. The '04 is arguably the best Disco from LR...like the '89 911 was the best from Porsche...

My '99 D2 came with a CDL too but those inbetween years were lame. The D2 also has weak point in the wheel bearings, they aren't serviceable from what I've heard and are expensive to replace.

Other than that, the D2 is just a glorified English tractor.

[Paul K]

I say go drive one. The only cure is ownership.

[jwhcars]

I have driven LR'S since the late 80's and yes it is a love hate thing - 9 to 12 mpg is the norm.
My wife loves them and there is nothing like having a 3 ton vehicle in heavy traffic. If you can get into an LR3 it tows better and will ride better.

[SLO-BOB]

A friend of mine had one. I tried to talk her out of it. Ten MPG on premium fuel - yikes! But she bought it anyway and loved it. Right up until she spun it on a highway curve and slid sideways into the corner of a stopped car. Two things - the Disco spun, it didn't roll - impressive. Second, it took the shot at the drivers door - as in, the corner of the parked car poked the door right where she was sitting. Broken arm, ribs, and punctured lung, but had it been a whinpy or low car, she wouldn't be here.

She replaced it with a LR3.

[crustychief]

They are pretty dang tough to beat as far as crash damage goes. + 1 for the tire change, mine is on a set of Michelin synchrone 4x4's nice, quiet and smooth. The thing that I hate the most about mine was the depreciation! holy cow! But it is a very nice car.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by SLO-BOB

But she bought it anyway and loved it. Right up until she spun it on a highway curve and slid sideways into the corner of a stopped car. Two things - the Disco spun, it didn't roll - impressive. Second, it took the shot at the drivers door - as in, the corner of the parked car poked the door right where she was sitting. Broken arm, ribs, and punctured lung, but had it been a whinpy or low car, she wouldn't be here.

The LR Disco carries a lot of weight down low in the chassis. You'd be surprised what it takes to roll one given the high profile the body has. My wife totaled her '97 avoiding a mini van that ran a red light. The wife swerved hard right at 45+ mph, off the road and down a steep 10' embankment contacting a full size Dodge PU in a parking lot, rolling on into a heavy utility truck and pushing it into a building. Front of the Disco was demolished and my wife and then 2 year old daughter walked away with no injuries. The doors still opened normally.

I have always warned my wife to hit brakes & steer straight in emergency situations to avoid classic SUV roll. That time it worked out and I'm 100% positive the mini van occupants would not have survived if she hit them broadside.

Depreciation...well look at it this way...they can't get much lower Hopefully you bought your Disco used.

[2.70Racer]

I was one of the Land Rover skeptic's, until I worked on my son in law's '98 Discovery.
The rollover switch connection to the fuel pump had corroded, blocking voltage.
Since I new little about Disco's, it took me sometime to find and fix the problem.
I learned the wiring going from the front to the back runs up near the roof from the front of the vehicle. Somehow calling it just car is a disservice.
The suspension is really built like a tank, and designed for rough roads, no roads and water crossings.
Unfortunately my son in law isn't one who understands the need for preventive maintenance, so the Disco with a little over 100K miles was in rough shape.
The local Land Rover dealer is a waste of time.
I got some great help from the local Land Rover club president.
It is an English car, so it does need to be tinkered with.
Odd very large lug nuts, wrapped in sheet metal that really don't like to be removed. I don't remember the size exactly, something like 30mm.
It required my impact wrench to replace a wheel.
The supplied lug wrench simply wasn't up to the job.
There was no way the supplied lug wrench would offer enough torque for even a big strong man to loosen at the side of the road.
I bent the wrench standing on it.
It's like some great features along with some serious short comings.