Looking at 2003 Discovery S

Hello all,
        Newbie here! My wife and I are seriously considering a very clean 02 Discovery S with 42 K.  We are in need of a very capable 4wd for long trips on snowy roads for my wife, towing and maybe offroading if my wife allows it. I do currently own a 01 Xterra with mild mods and wheel with it when we can.

      Is there any usual things I should look for and/or be aware of?
     
      Does the Disco have LSD Diffs?

Thank you,
Dan


 
    

The 03 has a few things that would keep me away from recommending one to you. First, you don't have a locking transfer case like the older model's or the 04's have, and they had some oil pump issues that ate up a number of engines before the problem was corrected by Rover.
How much are they asking for the 03? If you can send between the high $18,000 to maybe $22,000 and take your time, you can buy an 04 that is a far better truck and able to more things then you or you wife will need.
Get back to me if you are open to an 04, I see them every so often.

Dan,
 
I just bought an '04 Discovery S with 35,000 miles on it at a Land Rover dealer for $20,300 in Denver. It came with the balance of the factory warranty and a certified pre-owned warranty.
 
The choice of the '04 was for the reasons Mike just pointed out. It seems they are a more desirable as BMW got the kinks worked out for the 2nd year of the 4.6 engine.
 
Dave

Don't mean to rain on your parade, but BMW sold Land Rover to Ford in 2000. You have a Ford. Oh, and it is still the same basic motor, it is not a Ford 4.6.

Dan. All Rovers come with open diffs, thats why you want either an earlier model like a 99,2000 or early 2001 or an 04 so you get the locking t/case, then if you still want more traction you can dump in an ARB or a Detroit.

Thanks Disco Mike

They are asking $16,000 with 41K on it. It is has 2 scratches on the back hatch and a door ding, pretty clean. I have yet to drive it. The tires are cupped a bit.  I did go and crawl underneath it looks good. The front diff bolts look new, maybe some work was done. The oil pan is weeping from the front, but is not the front seal. Said to say, It does not have the dual sunroofs

Locking transfer case,,,,,,,Excuse my ignorance is that  where the transfer case directs more power to the axle depending what the driver selects? 

Thanks again,
 Dan

I wouldn't worry about new diff bolts, probably a good thing since originals were plastic.  how rediculous, a plastic drain plug, so dumb.

It had a plastic fill plug and a cast iron drain plug with a magnet on it.

A locking t/case split and locked the total engine power so there was a 50/50 distribution instead of letting the electronic traction control where to send the power, which could leave you with one tire in the air spinning and 3 on the ground with no power.

quote:

ORIGINAL: okdiscoguy
Don't mean to rain on your parade, but BMW sold Land Rover to Ford in 2000. You have a Ford. Oh, and it is still the same basic motor, it is not a Ford 4.6.

Whoops, I goofed on the timeline for BMW's sale of the marque to Ford. Thanks for catching my error. Not to hijack the thread, but I think 2005 is the year that Ford decided to use the Jaguar V8 for the LR3, correct? If so, I think that's where my confusion came from.
 
I did know that the Rover V8 was still being used for the '04 Discovery, and not the OHC Ford 4.6 V8, however. That would have ruined the bloodline of the vehicle so I'm glad Ford restrained themselves ;)
 
Dave

I know a few 03's had an oil pump failure, but my father-in-law has a friend who had a the same thing happen in his 99 model.   My Rover mechanic who is a multi-year dealership veteran told me he's worked on a lot of 03's and never seen it happen to any of his customers.  I'm just not worried about it, and I love my 03.  It gets me in and out of very soft sand at the North Carolina Outer Banks and performs perfectly in the snow of the Appalachian Mountains.  I've driven it almost 20,000 miles with minimal problems.  Obviously, if you have the specific needs of the 04's features, then go with that, but I don't think the 03 is evil, either.  Just another view from a satisfied 03 owner.

quote:

ORIGINAL: geotrash

quote:

ORIGINAL: okdiscoguy
Don't mean to rain on your parade, but BMW sold Land Rover to Ford in 2000. You have a Ford. Oh, and it is still the same basic motor, it is not a Ford 4.6.

Whoops, I goofed on the timeline for BMW's sale of the marque to Ford. Thanks for catching my error. Not to hijack the thread, but I think 2005 is the year that Ford decided to use the Jaguar V8 for the LR3, correct? If so, I think that's where my confusion came from.

I did know that the Rover V8 was still being used for the '04 Discovery, and not the OHC Ford 4.6 V8, however. That would have ruined the bloodline of the vehicle so I'm glad Ford restrained themselves ;)

Dave

 
 
You got it. The Jag supercharged V-8 was intro'ed on the LR3 I am still trying to figure out how to dump one in my 95...

I learning guys keep the ideas coming.......

Ok I went and drove it. Well I have to say I was quite impressed. The ride was firm and very solid feel to it. The power was right there. I can see how you guys love these!! The salesperson started it up and a little engine clatter at start up. I did notice it had a cheap oil filter on it and it could have been sitting. My Xterra's VG33 engine does it too under same conditions. I did notice there was a little drivetrain noise before it shifted into 2nd. Could be the same sitting issue.

I read some reviews online and people that complan about turn radius. I think they should park a H1 at Wal-mart and then be slapped very hard!  The only thing and this is just me is you sit really close the the door, but then again I am 6'2" and not a small guy. On the other hand it is most likely the way it was designed for visablity.

The wife and I am going back and Friday and taking it for the day. The good thing is the national forest is 8 miles down the road and we can run it down some fire roads. I personally think the lockable transfer case would be great thing to and I will look into that. Besides has anyone tried to fool these wheel sensors? I think if they were disconnected it might override it, but they are probably the ABS sensors too.

I thought I would post this pic for just fun. This pic was taked 2 weekends ago in Upper Michigan. I think the Disco has more articulation than my Xterra has.......

Footnote; I love my Xterra and I think there is enough love for a Rover too....



Thanks again guys,
Dan

My wife traded her 2001 Nissan XTerra SE that we had owned since new, for a convertible PT Cruiser. Needless to say that we very quickly found that we were missing the space that we didn't think we needed. This mistake allowed me to fill this dream I have had for over 10 years of owning a Discovery. For a while, I was still driving my Jeep, until the Rover was ready to be called and I say this very lightly.....reliable.
 
You cannot compare the reliability between the Nissan and the Land Rover. But the personality of the Rover is very, very hard to beat. Nissan tried hard, but it wasn't quite enough. Rovers are much more superior when it comes to interior comfort, and you actually feel like you are driving an S.U.V instead of the sit on the floor with your feet straight in front of you like in a car driving position of the XTerra.
 
Be ready to invest a couple of thousand dollars in the first few months, and if you don't expect it to be as reliable, and don't mind a leak here and there cause you cannot make it as dry as the Xterra, you have half a chance of being a very happy and proud owner. Just don't forget that on the streets, the Discovery is in a complete different social class too.
 
Those little girls checking you out in their pontiac sunfires when you drive the Xterra, will make way to ladies in BMWs. Not that I think this is worth anything, but its just something very obvious that I noticed myself. And to be honest, it's quite flattering!!!!!

 I am married so we can forget the chicks in the BMWs  In life you should impress yourself and not others!

Dan

I have a 2003 disco II (actually my wife has it  ) and it is great.  I put alot of love in to it (about 300 dollars in fluids, another 250 in plugs and wires, and 700 in new cooling components ((radiator leaked, changing out t-stat and water pump while I'm at it)) ) and it drives like a caddi.  On road, off road, it is great all around.  Expect leaks, it is a given.  The only one I'm trying to put a stop to is the coolant leakage, because that's just annoying.  Overall, we love it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jwfuller

I have a 2003 disco II (actually my wife has it ) and it is great. I put alot of love in to it (about 300 dollars in fluids, another 250 in plugs and wires, and 700 in new cooling components ((radiator leaked, changing out t-stat and water pump while I'm at it)) ) and it drives like a caddi. On road, off road, it is great all around. Expect leaks, it is a given. The only one I'm trying to put a stop to is the coolant leakage, because that's just annoying. Overall, we love it.

Have you found where your coolant leak is coming from? Have you done a coolant pressure test, this is guaranteed to find your leak.

I had a feeling when writting my last comment that I could very well be misinterpreted.  It's just that when driving, I've always liked the looks of a nice looking lady driving BMWs,Mercedes and Jags and would actually watch them as they would drive by and looking straigh ahead. Since I've owned the Discovery, I've noticed that they no longer look ahead when driving by, but they actually notice me too. I just found that to be curiously funny. I too am married and I'm not flurting with them, just enjoying the classy looks of a nice lady driving a Beemer. That's all.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Darover

I had a feeling when writting my last comment that I could very well be misinterpreted.  It's just that when driving, I've always liked the looks of a nice looking lady driving BMWs,Mercedes and Jags and would actually watch them as they would drive by and looking straigh ahead. Since I've owned the Discovery, I've noticed that they no longer look ahead when driving by, but they actually notice me too. I just found that to be curiously funny. I too am married and I'm not flurting with them, just enjoying the classy looks of a nice lady driving a Beemer. That's all.

 
I knew what you meant the first time I read it, and I figured someone would read it fast and nail you for being too pretentious. I too have noticed this happening, even in my 97. I could care less what others think, but I can't help but notice all of the looks I get.
 
Then again, I am extremely attractive....

quote:

ORIGINAL: okdiscoguy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Darover

I had a feeling when writting my last comment that I could very well be misinterpreted.  It's just that when driving, I've always liked the looks of a nice looking lady driving BMWs,Mercedes and Jags and would actually watch them as they would drive by and looking straigh ahead. Since I've owned the Discovery, I've noticed that they no longer look ahead when driving by, but they actually notice me too. I just found that to be curiously funny. I too am married and I'm not flurting with them, just enjoying the classy looks of a nice lady driving a Beemer. That's all.

I knew what you meant the first time I read it, and I figured someone would read it fast and nail you for being too pretentious. I too have noticed this happening, even in my 97. I could care less what others think, but I can't help but notice all of the looks I get.

Then again, I am extremely attractive....

 
I figured out as I drove my 02 Disco home that it was something special!..cause I'm one ugly SOB and noticed the ladies were check'in me out more in the Rover than when I drove my BMW325i or AudiA6.  I also notice Rover drivers tend to wave as we pass each other. 
GREAT Trucks! Great Owners!

I have an 03 SE7. Honestly if I had to do it over again I would have bought the black 04 HSE because of the CDL on the transfer case. Just go for the 04!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Disco Mike
Have you found where your coolant leak is coming from? Have you done a coolant pressure test, this is guaranteed to find your leak.

 
Yep, it is coming from the upper right hand corner of the radiator as you are looking at the vehicle.  It is leaking between the plastic and the aluminum.  I could possibly have gotten it patched but I found on on ebay for a good price.  There is also coolant gathering underneath some sort of junction that is over the right (once again, as you are looking at it) valve cover.  Some hoses come together to some metal device junction, I haven't looked it up to see what it is yet, and there is some coolant residue there.  Any thoughts on that?

I know the majority of the coolant is coming from the radiator tho.

With time, I hope you are able to learn all the general parts on your truck, it will be easier for us to help you and better for you when you have a problym.
I guess you are talking about a a coolant leak under the throttle body and above the drivers side valve cover, if so that is the preheat system Rover uses to warm the air entering the intake manifold. That should be fixed sooner then later and in the mean time keep you coolant bottle full to insure you don't over heat the engine.

Yep, I've been having to fill the resivoir.  Thanks, good information as always Mike.