Advice for buying a 2003 Discovery Please?

I paid £8000 for mine in october 2008. TD5 03 auto 7 seat 57,000 miles on the clock.
YEP - we have had a couple of problems.
1) switch in gear box. paid for by dealer. first week after buying.
2) Mass air flow sensor - 29.99 inc. p+p off Ebay. Last week.. 89.99 from LR
3) intermittent problem with n/s suspension air bag:doh:

BUT .... I would not change it for anything. I knew what to expect and so far haven't had half the problems posted on here by some people.
I might have just got lucky.

GET ONE, DRIVE IT AND YOU WILL LOVE IT.

I'm on the hunt for a 2004 Disco2....As from 2002 the build quality is a lot better....I'm plumping for the v8 though and not the Td5....Have found 1 on ebay at 9k ,2 owners,40k on the clock with full dealer history...good luck with your search for a Td5

I have owned a 2003 TD5 for 3 years now and found it to be outstanding. Used everyday with a few offroad jaunts, I love it. The best piece of advice I have seen on this topic so far is the one "look after any vehicle and it will look after you". Keep looking after it and whenever you can and find out more about it. Yes things will break, fail , bend etc but like all things mechanical / electrical, they are fixable and this forum will certainly save your brain cells and wallet when consulted......enjoy and best of luck on whatever you decide.............

WolfyDave said:

I'm on the hunt for a 2004 Disco2....As from 2002 the build quality is a lot better....I'm plum ping for the v8 though and not the Td5....Have found 1 on ebay at 9k ,2 owners,40k on the clock with full dealer history...good luck with your search for a Td5

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Thanks, WolfyDave.

tiswas said:

I have owned a 2003 TD5 for 3 years now and found it to be outstanding. Used everyday with a few offroad jaunts, I love it. The best piece of advice I have seen on this topic so far is the one "look after any vehicle and it will look after you". Keep looking after it and whenever you can and find out more about it. Yes things will break, fail , bend etc but like all things mechanical / electrical, they are fixable and this forum will certainly save your brain cells and wallet when consulted......enjoy and best of luck on whatever you decide.............

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Tiswas is yours a Discovery 2 or 3?

nymptonite said:

Thanks, WolfyDave.


Tiswas is yours a Discovery 2 or 3?

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Final production run of Discovery II was May 2004, so you'll almost certainly find Disco II's registered up to back end of 2005.

nymptonite said:

Thats funny they were running the two models simultaneously. Thanks.

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Exactly the same happened with with Disco I and Disco II. Disco I finished production in July 1998, but TDi 300's can often be seen with a 1st reg date well into 1999.

Also Disco II TD5's can seen reg in 1998.

It's the same with most car manufacturers when they change models - would you want to buy the old model when you can buy the new one with all sorts of supposed improvements? So loads of old model cars are left in storage yards waiting customers whereas the new ones fly of the shelves.

mastiff said:

2) Mass air flow sensor - 29.99 inc. p+p off Ebay. Last week.. 89.99 from LR
.

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oh dear

thebiglad said:

Exactly the same happened with with Disco I and Disco II. Disco I finished production in July 1998, but TDi 300's can often be seen with a 1st reg date well into 1999.

Also Disco II TD5's can seen reg in 1998.

It's the same with most car manufacturers when they change models - would you want to buy the old model when you can buy the new one with all sorts of supposed improvements? So loads of old model cars are left in storage yards waiting customers whereas the new ones fly of the shelves.

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I wouldn't buy an old model when I could get a new one, but then I'm yer averij dumb punter and don't know any better. Still, France...yer jammy sod!

And whyzit "oh dear" about the ebay kit? My brother got me window diners off ebay when the gaylander trapped the rugratz in and wouldn't let em out!!

Discovery 2.

nymptonite said:

Thanks, Mastiff. That sounds like a good deal from a garage. Is there any point in paying extra for a land rover approved one, do you think?

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Mine was from a private dealer selling all makes. I would never ever buy a second hand car from a main dealer mistakes made in the past.
I know I am probably painting a big target on my back for saying this but keep an eye out on Ebay. Two 4x4's and two caravans with no major problems can't just be down to luck.

mastiff said:

Mine was from a private dealer selling all makes. I would never ever buy a second hand car from a main dealer mistakes made in the past.
I know I am probably painting a big target on my back for saying this but keep an eye out on Ebay. Two 4x4's and two caravans with no major problems can't just be down to luck.

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I always buy privately and make sure I pay only the right money - or I don't buy.

Re LR extended warranties - read a thread recently about a D3 owner who was paying a £1000pa for a warranty, was having to have it serviced at an LR dealer plus he was getting ENORMOUS repair bils, like £1800pa !!!

Look carefully, don't be in a rush to buy, drive loads so you build up experience of how they feel and do not under any circumstances pay the asking price.

Mines a yr 2000.

In the last 3 years had the head gasket, auto box fluids changed,Fuel pressure regulator, starter motor, aux drive belt and general servicing every 5k.

So over 20,000 miles not too bad (had vehicles from other makers which were far worse!).

This weekend shes getting new front pads, all oils changed and the drivers side engine mount replaced.....and I enjoy DIY mechanics!

All i would say is, choose carefully, get it checked out by an indi (worth paying them an hours labour) and you'll get a brill vehicle that one min can be up to it's axles in muck then the next blasting down the motorway........oh and it get it re-maped, makes a massive difference

Thanks, mastiff and biglad. We have a 4x4 centre (no sales) but the guy is a real enthusiast, maybe I could pay him to have a look when I find one.
jsb whats remapping?

nymptonite said:

Thanks, mastiff and biglad. We have a 4x4 centre (no sales) but the guy is a real enthusiast, maybe I could pay him to have a look when I find one.

jsb what's remapping?

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All cars that have an ECU to control the engine have a set of parameters to ensure smooth and efficient running, this is called a map. Re-mapping is the process of re-setting these parameters to optimise the engine performance.

This is possible as the manufacturer has to take into many factors that the second hand owner does not, so leaves room for improving performance.

Little update, I broke the budget and got a discovery 3, expensive tax band, and from the main dealer.

Loving it! (ducks to avoid custard pies being thrown).

Thanks guys for all the help.