New purchase

Hello Everyone,
 
 
   I am new to the forum and would like to ask some advice from the Disco veterans. My wife and I are looking at a 2003 and I was wondering what to watch out for. I've always maintained my own vehicles so I have some common knowledge but what I really need to know is what are the things that arent easy to find just by looking but will cost me a fortune to fix. I did some reading on the forum and see that some Disco's are prone to head gasket and overheating problems, does this year apply? What years had the best engines? When will I need a transfer case rebuild ( if not abused)? I hear mileage is bad, how bad? Thanks - Ralph. 

If you are looking at an 03, get an 04.  They were the best built. You can get a locking T-case, no oil pump failures, and the last year they made them. If you get the 03, watch your oil pressure, I hear they loose oil pumps.
 
Mileage will be from 13 to 15 in town and 15 to 18 on the highway. It will not be good, so be prepared for that.
 
Good luck on your purchase.

Thanks for the reply. The 4.6 in the 04' model, is that the ford engine from mustangs and explorers? Also how are the trannys in these things?

OOOUCH!........Yeah Okdiscoguy!,which is it? a Mustang or an Explorer engine???

Couldn't tell you. I hate Fords. I would go with explorer since they lost a lot of oil pumps. I didn't know it was a Ford engine. I bought an 03 Expedition and it developed a tapping, it got pretty severe, almost like a typewriter. Dealer wrote it up 5 times, but said it was normal. Even took it to Dallas to get a second opinion. Long story short, I traded it in on a new GMC.
 
Both bought new, both kept 2 years and under 30K. Lost $3000 on the Ford, made $2000 on the GMC.
 
Not sure on the tranny either. Mine is a BMW.

Darn!...he didn't bite!

Ok, I am curious..... What was I supposed to bite at?

the series 2 discoveries were built when land rover was owned by BMW and i know the 2.5 td5 has the bmw motor in it, so wouldnt that also make the rest of the series 2 discos use bmw motors also ?

If you have a choice, do go for an 04, they don't have the oil pump issues, better traction because of the t/case and much better resale down the road.
By the way, the 4.6 is still the old Buick engine from the early 60's and our t/caes don't fail much if any so don't be to worried about them. As for the head gaskets, they all have this issue sometime in their lifetime and Rovers don't overheat unless you have a coolant leak. I have had my Disco running trails or idling in Death Valley all day long with no overheating issues.
Hope this helps you.
Mike

Ford picked up Land Rover in 2000.

Land Rover V8's are built from a old GM motor, a Buick as I recall.
No 4.6L Ford motors here, good or bad.
.
The LR3 has used a Jaguar derived motor. Jaguar owned by Ford.

Land Rover is number nine in customer satisfaction , number ten was Acura.

So as far as Ford goes they may have helped.

The last Ford I had was in 1982 with the first new H.O. 302.

I like history.