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newb with a few questions before purchase

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newb with a few questions before purchase - 4/27/2008 6:58:24 AM

doc1976

Posts: 8
Joined: 4/27/2008
Status: offline

Hey Guys,

I am looking at a 2003 Discovery SE7 and have a couple of questions. Do all of them have locking differentials? The truck has about 65000 miles on it and seems to be in excellent shape. The truck ran perfect during the test drive but I did notice about half way through the check engine light came on and stayed on for the duration of the test drive. The dealer told me this was common with disco's and not to worry. Also the breaks were pretty squeeky and the dealer said this was common as well. I am sure he is just trying to make a sale but with his salesman greasyness, not knowing if it had locking differentials and the other little things I decided to get more info first...

Thanks!!!

Post #: 1

RE: newb with a few questions before purchase - 4/27/2008 7:15:31 AM

meltdowndave

Posts: 97
Joined: 4/12/2008
Status: offline

Normal?

Ask if he thinks that failing oil pumps are normal, too. The '03 models, and I recently bought one, have a problem with oil pump failures. There's a VIN range floating around on this board somewhere. Make sure you check to see if yours is affected.

And I'm not sure about center locking differentials, but I think that was only standard on the '04s.

Do you have access to the maintanence history? Have you ran a Carfax report?

Out of curiousity, how much are they asking?

(in reply to doc1976)

Post #: 2

RE: newb with a few questions before purchase - 4/27/2008 7:22:57 AM

Disco Mike

Posts: 10489
Joined: 4/27/2006
Status: offline

03 don't have either diff lockers or a center diff lock in the t/case. Are you planning on doing some seriouse 4wheeling?
Do not buy the truck, until the service department reads the codes and repairs, make sure they tell you wahat it was.
As for the oil pump issue, get the vin and contact your local Rover dealer, ask if this vehicle falls into the list of potential pump problems.

_____________________________

Mike
Retired service manager. Member of the Solihull Society, NCLR club,past member of the SCLR club and Santa Barbara 4 Wheelers.
99 D2, 3" lift, lockers, H.D. axles, 4:11 gears, Custom front and rear bumpers, Warn winch, HID lights and an Engel 45.

(in reply to meltdowndave)

Post #: 3

RE: newb with a few questions before purchase - 4/27/2008 7:27:56 AM

Spike555

Posts: 5031
Joined: 6/22/2007
From: Grand Rapids MI
Status: online

Stay away from this trk. '94-'00? had the center locking diffs, then it came back in '04.
'03's have bad oil pumps and when they go out you can gernade the engine. The check engine light coming on is never normal nor is brake noise.
With the miles that are on that trk the oil pump is probally fine, it usually fails between 40-50k, but why risk it. It is a $7500 fix.
Keep looking.

_____________________________

If it ain''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''t leakin'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' it must be empty!
Yes, one man can change the world.
If the citizens are affraid then they are easier to control.

The "Storm Trooper",'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

(in reply to meltdowndave)

Post #: 4

RE: newb with a few questions before purchase - 4/27/2008 8:36:40 AM

doc1976

Posts: 8
Joined: 4/27/2008
Status: offline

Thanks for letting me know about the oil pump ussues. I checked the VIN and luckily it appears to be not in the affected range. They are asking 14k for the truck but I don't think I am willing to pay more than 12 for it. I really want a 7 pax version so I am looking for on with less than 70k 7 pax in that range...

The truck itself looks like it was taken good care of and living where I live it has probably never even been off road (knowing the people I usually see driving them around here). I will be using it mainly over flat terrain in loose sand and maybe a little mud now and then. No really serious off roading

(in reply to Spike555)

Post #: 5

RE: newb with a few questions before purchase - 4/27/2008 8:48:32 AM

Spike555

Posts: 5031
Joined: 6/22/2007
From: Grand Rapids MI
Status: online

It really doesnt matter if it was ever taken off road or not, these trks were born in the deepest darkest places on earth. That is what they were desighned for and is their sole puprpose in life.
Go to youtube.com and search for land rover camel throphy commercial and you will see what I am talking about.
What is important is if the previous owner used premium gas, these trks require premium. Why is the CEL on, have the dealer read the codes, dont buy it unless they correct the problem. Make them document that they fixed the problem with the CEL and the brakes, you want it on paper that it was properly fixed.
A seven pass will cut down on your cargo room and the rear most seats are only good for kids.
If it has the 18" wheels you cant take it beyond dirt roads.
Watch out for the air ride suspension, the air ride goes bad around 100k.

_____________________________

If it ain''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''t leakin'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' it must be empty!
Yes, one man can change the world.
If the citizens are affraid then they are easier to control.

The "Storm Trooper",'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

(in reply to doc1976)

Post #: 6

RE: newb with a few questions before purchase - 4/27/2008 9:10:30 AM

doc1976

Posts: 8
Joined: 4/27/2008
Status: offline

Spike, Thanks again for the info. I will not be buying it if they do not fix the problems I noted. I may also take it over to LR and pay for a once over just to be sure. I don't want to spend that much on it and have something major go bad on me.

How can I tell if the previous owner used premium fuel? With the price of fuel these days I wouldn't be surprised if that is the first thing people would do to save a few extra bucks. Will using regular fuel cause some tell tale engine damage that I can easily identify and steer clear of?

This truck does have 18 inch wheels which I was a little worried about. I did see that I could get some BF goodrich AT's to fit it and give it a little better off road traction. Do you agree?

Again, maybe a little mud and mostly just sugar sand with no hills rocks or really deep mud.

< Message edited by doc1976 -- 4/27/2008 9:11:13 AM >

(in reply to Spike555)

Post #: 7

RE: newb with a few questions before purchase - 4/27/2008 9:20:56 AM

Spike555

Posts: 5031
Joined: 6/22/2007
From: Grand Rapids MI
Status: online

Not using premium will blow up the engine. If you run a tank of regular 2-3 times a year it wont hurt anything, but these are high compression engines and require a min of 91 octane or it will reduce MPG and shorten engine life.
There is no way to tell if they used it or not.
You will be hard pressed to find a good AT tire in the 18" size. You can buy 16" rims and sell the 18"s.

_____________________________

If it ain''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''t leakin'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' it must be empty!
Yes, one man can change the world.
If the citizens are affraid then they are easier to control.

The "Storm Trooper",'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

(in reply to doc1976)

Post #: 8

RE: newb with a few questions before purchase - 4/27/2008 9:28:58 AM

Disco Mike

Posts: 10489
Joined: 4/27/2006
Status: offline

"Blow up the engine", where di yoiu get that information?
Worse case, it will carbon up the engine pretty badily, on older D1's and the early D2's, you could suffer a valve failure but not on an 03.
If you can buy it for $12,000 go for it, after all is fixed. Then get back to me and I'll walk you thru cleaning out the engine and heads so you won't have any problems. Also, there is no way to tell what the old owner ran for gas, so don't worry about that.

_____________________________

Mike
Retired service manager. Member of the Solihull Society, NCLR club,past member of the SCLR club and Santa Barbara 4 Wheelers.
99 D2, 3" lift, lockers, H.D. axles, 4:11 gears, Custom front and rear bumpers, Warn winch, HID lights and an Engel 45.

(in reply to Spike555)

Post #: 9

RE: newb with a few questions before purchase - 4/27/2008 9:44:13 AM

Spike555

Posts: 5031
Joined: 6/22/2007
From: Grand Rapids MI
Status: online

I guess what I meant by blow up the engine is valve damage and excessive carbon build up. I didnt mean literaly, sorry.
Is this the first LR that you have driven? If so you need to drive more than one.

_____________________________

If it ain''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''t leakin'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' it must be empty!
Yes, one man can change the world.
If the citizens are affraid then they are easier to control.

The "Storm Trooper",'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

(in reply to Disco Mike)

Post #: 10