Advice for buying a 2003 Discovery Please?

nymptonite · Apr 2, 2010

I made a right bog-up of buying my gaylander, now I need a bigger car and am planning to get a 2003 disco, prob can't afford newer. So go for the older style or the new style, and what to look out for that can go wrong? Please?

wiltshire landyman · Apr 2, 2010

nymptonite said:
I made a right bog-up of buying my gaylander, now I need a bigger car and am planning to get a 2003 disco, prob can't afford newer. So go for the older style or the new style, and what to look out for that can go wrong? Please?

e

i may be wrong but the pre 2001 models have the lower tax band..
whatever ya get will be a vast improvement over the gaylander

johndenney · Apr 2, 2010

Dont do it! You know you will regret it......

I have had a 2004 TD5 for 4 weeks and spent well over £1500 and a full 2 weeks hard work to try and get it right! It has had 2 new engines since new (previous owner) and he has spent a fortune trying to keep it on the road. I thought all the work had been done on it - how wrong can you be!!!

Good points... it is a joy to drive.... and its BIG.
Bad points.... too many to list, but.......... think about air suspension probs, ecu loom, cylinder head, EGR, de-cat, rust (yes rust! - mine is going at the top of the windscreen), sunroofs leak, oil pumps fall off, re-map is needed to make it go well, injector seals go, etc... etc...

oh - and you get people on forums bragging that they managed to drive all day without a breakdown - unbelievable! ............ despite all this....
I love the useless piece of scrap and intend to keep it as a hobby... it is the only car I have ever HAD to carry a full toolkit with me in the boot!! Every journey is an adventure! You never know if you will get there!

Only buy one if you love tinkering with cars, have a comprehensive toolkit, and a VERY good sense of humour!

ps previous 4wd was a Toyota - had it 3 years and never had a problem - not one! (lent it to a friend and he wrote it off) hence the Disco 2.

keep smiling...

guvner · Apr 3, 2010

That is not the norm for td5 you was just unlucky mate

h12ssy · Apr 3, 2010

had to get rid of my p38 hgf dropped liner spent a fortune on it ...
bought my disco 2 td5 last oct . 1 previous owner from n wales 55 k on the clock. fsh. via conway landrover.
what have i spent on it ???
lhf window elecky mech
fuel pressure reg

what have i added at my own choice !!!
hid lighting kit
set of winter tyres (off the p38)
air horns
in the process of fitting a winch tray (g4 type)

what do i think
go ahead and buy one.
but dont forget the diagnostics, i owm a rovacom mk11 (every p38 owner needs one )
or find a friendly local who owns a rovacom/nannocom
good luck
regards
steve y

johndenney · Apr 3, 2010

Just to be realistic about advice to anyone considering buying a Landrover.........

They do have a COMPREHENSIVE list of faults and issues - just read this forum to see how many people have disasters and nightmares because of basic bad design and build quality. Landrover have had decades to sort out their vehicles but even the new D3's seem to be prone to all sorts of problems - again well documented on various forums.

If you want a car as a reliable means of transport then a Landrover is NOT the best choice.... however....

....if you want a vehicle with loads of character and is a joy to drive and rewards regular maintenance and care then a landrover is unbeatable. Just be prepared to get your hands dirty or get to know the local garage very well!

John

nymptonite · Apr 3, 2010

wiltshire landyman said:
e

i may be wrong but the pre 2001 models have the lower tax band..
whatever ya get will be a vast improvement over the gaylander

Hi, nice to see a fellow moonraker. 2003 becuz there is 3 proper seatbelts in the back seat to keep the rugratz car seats in place, no? I hear you about the gaylander...

johndenney said:
Dont do it! You know you will regret it......

Like I regretted the gaylander, but its 12 and fair play, have never ended up on the hard shoulder shivering in the rain (touch wood)

h12ssy said:
what do i think
go ahead and buy one.
but dont forget the diagnostics, i owm a rovacom mk11 (every p38 owner needs one )
or find a friendly local who owns a rovacom/nannocom
good luck
regards
steve y

thanks, Steve. Whats rovacom?

johndenney said:
Just to be realistic about advice to anyone considering buying a Landrover.............if you want a vehicle with loads of character and is a joy to drive and rewards regular maintenance and care then a landrover is unbeatable. Just be prepared to get your hands dirty or get to know the local garage very well!
John

thanks John, local dealer quake in their boots when they see me "oh God, its er again" cuz they fix things wronger than they started out. Having a Gaylander that someone memorably described here as "Being marketed and produced before they finished designing it" I get that...but
they just look so good and drive so nice.

So, old-style or discovery 3? Which has more space inside? Do the automatic gearboxes pack up readily?

Thanks, guys

:clap2::clap2::clap2:

BigJock2005 · Apr 3, 2010

This thread really cheers me up, as I bought an '03 TD5 yesterday for collection next weekend... But then having come from a P38 I do not believe it can be any more unpredictable.

I find Land Rovers are very different. It's almost like you need a bit of vehicle ESP... personally, I notice if an unusual light even flickers for a nanosecond, and I hear even the slightest new chirp or bump or rumble. If you keep your wits about you, you can really get to "know" your motor, and get ahead of any serious problems.

Of course, there are always major things that just "go" like air suspension and other systems, but I find usually you get some kind of warning.

You got to maintain them meticulously. Under the bonnet every weekend, looking around, sniffing, wobbling, tugging, scrutinising.

The amount of info on the forums, the availability of after-market parts, the extensive manuals, and the owners' clubs all make these cars easier to own if you are even a bit tech-savvy.

Jock

squizzel · Apr 3, 2010

Jock i dont think you will be dissapointed. I have had my 03 td5 about 5 weeks now, and had also traded in my p38. I spent a lot on my 4.6 range rover including engine rebuild, suspension rebuild etc, i had spent around £6000 in 4 years and it still was needing around another £3000 spent on it which i was willing to do because i loved the car but something else went wrong, and this disco came up at the time.
I find this disco more comfortable to drive and as you have said they cant be any more unpredictable than the p38, i have looked around at spares prices and if you are used to a p38 the parts for these are really cheap in comparison. My local land rover parts supplier mentioned the problems with the injector harness, but to be fair with the price of it it isnt mutch more than the price of a good set of plugs for the v8, so i can change it every 3rd service and it still works out cheap compared to the range rover.
All in all i am very pleased with my td5 its a great family car and it will get me around the shoot (when my wife lets me get it dirty) I think you will be very pleased.
Mark

johndenney · Apr 3, 2010

So, old-style or discovery 3? Which has more space inside? Do the automatic gearboxes pack up readily?

hmmmm.....

......if you really have to buy a Discovery,

I would suggest the latest Disco 2 model you can get your hands on..... history has shown that Landrover eventually get it "nearly" right by the end of a production run therefore a 2004 Disco 2 should have had most of the common problems ironed out (touch wood!). I have seen some absolute nightmare tales on the web about poor people who have bought a Disco 3!

I have a 2004 Disco 2 and I should have just about re-built it by the time you start having problems so I will be able to give you a bit of help fixing it!

My latest attempt to make the damn thing pleasant to drive down the motorway is a new set of gearbox mounts which have made a HUGE improvement... just hear wind noise now... bliss!

Good luck...... and if anyone on this forum lives near to you get them to have a look at any potential prospects first... may save you a small fortune!

John

nymptonite · Apr 3, 2010

So old-style then, thanks folks, and automatic gearboxes? If you drive an automatic what do you do if you need to drop down a gear to get some extra acceleration? Dumb question I'm sure, but never driven one.

thebiglad · Apr 3, 2010

nymptonite said:
So old-style then, thanks folks, and automatic gearboxes? If you drive an automatic what do you do if you need to drop down a gear to get some extra acceleration? Dumb question I'm sure, but never driven one.

On a TD5 auto, if you want some extra go just sink your foot to the floor and the box will drop one or two gears, depending on speed.

On a more general front, if you want a TD5 to go better, have it remapped.

Apparently it makes a night-and-day difference - I am counting my pennies as we speak !!!!!

nymptonite · Apr 3, 2010

Thanks, biglad, living in France? How jealous am I?! So automatic is ok?

thebiglad · Apr 3, 2010

nymptonite said:
Thanks, biglad, living in France? How jealous am I?! So automatic is ok?

Automatic is the only way to fly a Discovery !!! Makes the whole car feel a lot more special and nicer to drive - in town, on the open road and offroad as well. Towing is more straightforward too.

Only downside is slight reduction in mpg, about 2mpg on average.

Disco auto is the way to go though...........................

Incidently, be jealous 'cos it's lovely living in France

Swampey · Apr 4, 2010

Only advice im gonna give is three points... talk to the ppl that have one, and two, go and have a look at afew, test drive them so that u can compare.....

I have only ever drove the one Ive got... sometimes I wonder if mines drives like other do..

Thirdly... be aware that they can be expensive to repair if u are going to use a garage, ppl on this forum are great at giving advice and help if U need it.. but dont think that all owners have a barrel of issues with there dicso

nymptonite · Apr 4, 2010

Thanks biglad and swampey. Auto the way to go then. I figured it will cost a lot to fix, local land rover dealer is expensive and apparently pretty clueless, but they generally get it right third time round...

thebiglad · Apr 4, 2010

nymptonite said:
Thanks biglad and swampey. Auto the way to go then. I figured it will cost a lot to fix, local land rover dealer is expensive and apparently pretty clueless, but they generally get it right third time round...

My advice - don't go anywhere near your LR dealer if you value your financial sanity !!!!

I get the feeling that you will not be looking after the Disco yourself if you buy one. LR's are most definitely cars for the passionate and clinically insane - don't mean to be funny but do you fit the profile?

If you have to get the work/servicing done by paid "professionals", think long and hard about buying an LR - they are not like buying an ordinary car and need a lot more looking after which costs buckets if you can't/don't want to do it yourself.

My latest purchase is a classic example, she's a lovely car and I'm benefitting from the £10,000 plus spent on her by the previous owner.

nymptonite · Apr 4, 2010

thebiglad said:
My advice - don't go anywhere near your LR dealer if you value your financial sanity !!!! I know,I know. Wouldn't mind but they break more than they fix on the gaylander.

I get the feeling that you will not be looking after the Disco yourself if you buy one. LR's are most definitely cars for the passionate and clinically insane - don't mean to be funny but do you fit the profile? Yes to both, but full time job and two (nearly three) rugratz and no time, and it ruins your nails!

If you have to get the work/servicing done by paid "professionals", think long and hard about buying an LR - they are not like buying an ordinary car and need a lot more looking after which costs buckets if you can't/don't want to do it yourself. I know I know but *stamps foor* I want one! Can always bleat to Dad/brother.

My latest purchase is a classic example, she's a lovely car and I'm benefitting from the £10,000 plus spent on her by the previous owner. ouch!!

Thanks for trying to save me though.

thebiglad · Apr 4, 2010

nymptonite said:
Thanks for trying to save me though.

I promise you I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but you see it on these forums time after time people, buying LR products and thinking of them as cars and then getting fed up with the cost of garage bills and incompetant mechanics doing poor or non-existant problem diagnosis.

I love my Discos, my current 2002 TD5 auto ES is probably the best car I've ever had for fitting my current needs (this is a bloke who had Mustang convertible, Stag, 911 convertible 740 BMW etc etc) and making me feel great every time I go out in her - "Françoise" - but I do all my own servicing and repairs when neccesary.

If you simply can't live without one, be very careful what you buy and how much you pay for it, have patience and buy right. That way if things go tîts-up you will be able to get your money back.

Disco TD5 prices at the mo' are at an historical - if you can manage to wait 3 months you will get a MUCH better deal.

The very best of luck in your search

Dave

nymptonite · Apr 5, 2010

Thats encouraging, wasn't going to get one til the summer. I'm pretty sanguine about cars packing up, first 14 years of driving in morris minors (!) and then the old gaylander (after a brief fling with a peugot, ridiculouly reliable and cheap to fix!!).
Its very sweet to have a name for her!

Advice for buying a 2003 Discovery Please?

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