Long Term TD5 Report (150000 miles)

Back in 2007, I wrote an article on this very interwebsite, happy to have completed 100,000 miles in my Discovery 2. Now 7 years old, and at 150,000 miles, I thought you may be interested in sharing my experiences of driving 150,000 miles over 7 years in a Discovery 2 TD5. The vehicle was bought new by me in March 2002.

The first 24,000 miles were completely faultless, other than a cracked windscreen, caused by an airborne stone.

However, just after the 24k service (April 03), the vehicle developed a gearshift problem. Just when cold for the first few miles, it was almost impossible to select 2nd gear, but once warmed-up worked fine. I suggest the garage had serviced the car and put in EP90 rather than MTF94. The garage’s response was to change the whole gearbox! I suggest the garage is to blame, rather than a Land Rover fault.
Again – another period of total reliability from 24000 miles to 60000 miles.
At it’s 60,000 mile service (and the last service by a main dealer – after this, once the vehicle was out of warranty servicing was done by a local independent LR specialist), the rubber bushes on the front shock absorbers were replaced under warranty.


Since then, another pile of repair-free miles until 70,000, when the originally Michelin 4x4 tyres (road bias) were replaced with BFG All Terrain. These BFG, are still doing good service at 150000 miles.
At about 70,000 miles, I also had the car fully waxoyled underneath at a local garage. The job was OK, but not as good as a professional would do. I top-up the waxoyl myself at least once a year where required. As a result the chassis is still in great shape with no real rust yet.

Then, all hell broke loose at 94,000 miles. A long list of problems:

• injector harness change (the oil ingress problem)
• rear nearside ABS sensor failed
• upper ACE accelerometer sensor replacement
• rear diff oil seal weeping (replaced)
• transfer box weeping oil (re-sealed)
• All this, then the starter motor failed a week later.
• Both front rumbling hubs (when cornering) were also replaced at a cost of £560 inc vat.

Another period of reliable running ensued.

At 102000 miles, the rear brake pads and disks were replaced for the first (and still the only time) time (I did this myself).
At 107000 miles, the front brake pads & disks were replaced for the first (and still the only) time – again I did this myself.

142000 miles – I noticed oil under the front of the car – it turned out that the power steering pipe had been hit by something, rusted though and was weeping. Replaced.
144000 miles – the fuel pump failed - but the car did get me home (with a top speed of 45mph up hill!
At 7 years and 148000 miles, the MOT inspector was concerned about some rust on the rear brake pipes. These were replaced with copper pipes whilst the car was in for a service.

There have been a few other things of interest:

• The MPG has averaged 30.92 across many tank fills since new (not checked every time, just random). I can get 34 mpg on a run, and under 30 mpg when towing, commuting or light off-roading.
• It still uses hardly any oil – approx. 1 litre between 12,000 mile services - I always use good quality oils.
• Overall wear and tear is minimal, a few stone chips on paintwork, and the drivers seat is looking tired (thinking of recovering the front seats - next time I'll get leather from new), otherwise still looks and drives as new.
• Front hubs are grumbling again, and will need replaced soon.

All in all – FANTASTIC! Since the vehicle’s getting older there have been a few more niggly problems you should expect of a car this age, such as the fuel pump failing, and odd bits of pipework corrosion. I haven’t done the maths yet, but the £ per mile must be exceptional – with such great brake/tyre wear, the overall cost of ownership will be minimal. A top vehicle – glad I bought it.
Future plans? Well I’m about to decide between a FL2 or an XC70 for hobby and work (probably a TD4_e for the extra economy). For longer journey's (I did 400 miles yesterday in it), I just find it a bit slow, thirsty and noisy. Also wifey fancies something sleeker/faster. I’ll be keeping the Disco as a second car, especially as I have some work ahead which involves lots of towing and load lugging. There’s also a few green lanes I fancy…

Hello Martin, I found your report very interesting and thought provoking.

For 150,000mls I reckon your relatively short list of problems to be quite reassuring. I'm not sure how it would compare with the likes of a Toyota Land Cruiser, but that's another debate altogether.

I get the sense that the vehicle is mainly/predominently used for "car" duties - would that be fair?? If so, then a comparison with a medium luxury saloon might be interesting? Something like a 5-series diesel for example, similar price??


I note that you don't propose to have another LR product??

Thebiglad - yes you are correct, most of the 150k miles have been "car duties" with some light offroading/greenlaning thrown in.

However, the Disco frequently pulls trailers (up to 2 ton), and hauls loads that a "normal" car would struggle with...

MartinK said:

Thebiglad - yes you are correct, most of the 150k miles have been "car duties" with some light offroading/greenlaning thrown in.

However, the Disco frequently pulls trailers (up to 2 ton), and hauls loads that a "normal" car would struggle with...

Click to expand...

Hi Martin, I wasn't in any way implying any criticism in my "car duties" comment, just asking for clarification.

I think that 150,000mls and 7 yrs ownership with the small list of faults/problems you encountered is small - but just not the best.

For example, I have a mate who has had a series of japanese cars, the latest being a Mazda something or other, he kept the vehicle for 5 yrs and in that time he had to replace .................NOTHING !!!

Nothing broke, nothing wore out out, not a single piece on the car faltered.

Your experience with Land Rover was obviously, in your eyes, a satisfactory one, there are a number of other owners who have not been so lucky and for the ones who purchased pre 2002 the record is much blacker.

I'm a very patriotic man and I love the essence of my country but in a manufacturing sense, we do not lead the world. Not by a long chalk.

However, I do not in any way wish to douse the flames of your excellent report, I enjoyed reading a positve Land Rover story.

Incidently, I am not in the position to buy brand new LR products, but I do enjoy our two Discoveries very much indeed and have taken on some quite large tasks with them, in this country and elsewhere.

Yes, luck of the draw sometimes.

When I bought my Landy in 2002, a mate scoffed at "British unreliability" and bought a Subaru Forester.

After countless problems, including 3 gearboxes, he dumped the Subaru after 3 years...

I once owned a VW Jetta. In 3 years and 90k miles, it never needed a single repair outside normal servicing.

Luck of the draw, and plenty of TLC!

MartinK said:

Yes, luck of the draw sometimes.

When I bought my Landy in 2002, a mate scoffed at "British unreliability" and bought a Subaru Forester.

After countless problems, including 3 gearboxes, he dumped the Subaru after 3 years...

I once owned a VW Jetta. In 3 years and 90k miles, it never needed a single repair outside normal servicing.

Luck of the draw, and plenty of TLC!

Click to expand...

bought a T plate Zetec Mondeo with 7K on it - put 180K on it over the next 3 years, NO servicing other than topping up oil (very little) and water - water pump bearing failed at 120K, and that's all

same with everything if you look after things they'll last