early'00s Land Rover Discovery

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cfz2882

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Probably will buy this truck from my neighbor-I think it is a 2004,and it needs several repairs:several coolant leaks on the engine(and possibly some of the major engine problems this model is known for)front diff seal leaks,some hail damage.Runs great,so hopefully will not have to get too deep into the engine.Has an American style 4.6 v8 engine featuring aluminum block and heads to propel ~4600 LB curb weight.Frame looks very stout.I know reliability reputation is generally not good,but this is a very neat passenger truck and I think I can deal with the problems :) Anyone here have/had one of these or know anything about them ?
 
The engine in this vehicle is more or less a computer-controlled (either Bosch or Lucas/GEMS, though this will probably be Bosch) version of what Rover was producing from 1960 onward. The engine was actually a "revamped" Buick 215 V8, produced as early as 1953...

It will be best to checkout some of the Land-Rover's Owner Forums for more information, but if you've got cooling system issues, it will be prudent to ensure the famous cylinder-liner issue isn't at play, or worse yet, the other issue related to the engine block behind the liners corroding away.

From what I've learned about this engine, the later Bosch fuel injection system runs hotter than the original GEMS style, which exasperated the slipped-liners issue. Provided the block is still good, a common modification to resolve this issue is to use "top-hatted" cylinder liners that cannot slip.

The Land-Rover Discovery 2 was, and still is, a very versatile and highly capable 4WD / Large SUV style of vehicle. As ANY car will have their own personalities and niggles, if you can get this car at the right price considering its mechanical trouble, I'd say it *might* be worthwhile.

Really, its a shame the USA was never treated to the Rover TD5 or even the older TDi turbo-diesel engine. Powerful, economical, VERY emissions-friendly and far more reliable than the alternative V8, particularly in its latter years.

The V8, like many petrol equivalents from the USA and otherwise, simply converted Petrol into smoothness, "burble," emissions and a hefty cost at the fuel station. It wasn't really all that powerful and not all economical.
 
Money Pit

One of my neighbors has two of these. One white and one black. He bought the white one new. Started to have major issues with it when it only had 90,000 miles on it. Transmission, engine, electrical. At the 12 year age point he found that it was very hard to find parts, so when he did they were a fortune. So he found one on craigslist with low mileage to use for parts. Long story short, they are both parked in his garage with about 3" of dust on them. Both toast. He is thinking about selling them for parts, and then scrap metal. It is really sad because both have beautiful leather seats. Totally loaded. Everything that makes the SUV "go" is crap.
Perhaps you can find a great one.....
Best of luck!
 
The engine

is not the same 4.6 modular V8 as in Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, or F-150's.
It is like the one used by Jaguar, and in the Lincoln LS, and last T-bird.
 
engine

I think you have the Range Rover engine in mind-the Discovery kept on with the older,originally buick design,cam in block engine.If I get this truck,will have a look at the front driveshaft too as I hear they can come off and knock a hole in the transmission case.Yeah,hopefully does not have the famous slipped liner problem-that would get quite involved...:)Some engines also got out of the factory with oil pump locating pin holes miss-drilled-causing the pump to bind and seize...
 
the GM aluminum 215 V8

debuted in the '61 Buick Special, I had one. Excellent engine in theory and found in Buick, and Olds F-85/Cutlass (who made design improvements like more Cyl head bolts and better combustion chamber, Olds even made a Turbo version). GM used it from 61 to 63 then sold it to Rover due to production expense, large number of rejected blocks, and fact it was cheaper to make an iron V6 or V8. The engine was basically sound but expensive to build, and in general Rover has had the worst repair record of ANY make for probably the last 40+ years back to the TC-2000 and 3500. My friend who is a dealer mechanic has one and wouldn't recommend one to anyone who is not a professional mechanic, he has to work on it often to keep it going, and parts can be a bitch to get... Buy an old Trooper or Xterra if you want a real off-road capable vehicle with actual reliability ( I have one of each, one 18 yrs old 205k, one 10 yrs old. 155k). or a Toyota Land Cruiser. Just my $.02
 
alternate SUVs

this Land Rover is the only SUV I am interested in-really like the look,shape,capability,of this vehicle plus it is interesting and made in England:)There are negatives for sure besides the potential reliability problems: for a short but bulky vehicle as wide as an American mid-size pickup,it really isn't all that roomy inside and owner says it does swill gas-no real suprize there though :)My current SUV is an '89 dodge raider(mitz Montero rebadge)With 245,000 mi. it is rusty and faded,but one tough truck!it mostly is used for winter duty now with ocaisional summer use just to keep things in shape.A co-worker has a '95 jeep and that has been dead reliable despite jeeps reliability reputation being only a little better than Land Rover's.Looking over the Discovery,could not find any Lucas or Smiths parts-quite a bit of bosch,some Japanese,a little GM,a French alternator,and instruments look like they might be Japanese...
 
From what I've seen, owning just one Rover product will cure you of ever wanting a British car/SUV for life. What Brent(A440)said is all too believable. But some people have to touch the stove.

Years ago, a friend bought a Sterling, which was the North American name for a Rover-built, Acura-based car. He reasoned that all the important parts were Honda and how bad could it be? The answer was, every single thing that was not sourced from Honda!
 
Every current

vehicle manufacturer uses parts from abroad. Japan still makes some of the best, but they are only used in higher priced marques, such as Lexus, Acura, Infiniti.
Proof of poor materials are locally made Takata air bags.
Notice how many makes have them.
From brake rotors which are too light to save weight, but warp easily, to poorly engineered or specified sensors, servos, switches, pumps, vacuum lines, etc.
Every maker has recalls. Many have been open for several years.
Wether parts come from VDO, Bosch, Federal Mogul, Delphi, Meritor, Eberspacher, or the many other suppliers, lifespan and failure rates are higher than a decade and a half ago.
As more vehicles of older model years are held onto longer, it's just a matter of time.
However, I've seen brand new Toyotas with burned out tail and or brake lamps.
Talk with people who keep cars a long time. You'll find that Kia and Hyundai owners have had fuel pump problems.
 
John,

I had a Sterling! I loved that car. I must have been lucky and bought a good one. I bought it from a Credit Union "Repossessed Sale" of cars. It had about 7,000 miles on it and the price was so good that I could not resist. It was Maroon on top and grey on the bottom. Beautiful grey leather seats. I never had any issues with the car besides regular maintenance. I heard horror stories from so many that had this car. I was lucky! Sold it to a friend when it had about 135,000 miles on it and he kept it for quite some time.

Funny how you can luck up with a car.
 
When Honda

owned Rover, the parts were all Honda. Honda had one of the highest quality ratings then, and still does. Honda's are still built in Swindon UK.
 
the Xterra...

looks very like the Disco, is every bit as capable of and on road, the VQ dohc vvt V6 engine is one of the best ever made (longer on Ward's 10 Best Engines list than any other engine), and in general has typical Japanese reliabilty, with a couple of easily dealt with minor exceptions. And it is not made in England - thank God!

Owning Rover products has been described by some auto scribes as an advanced degree of masochism... "some people have to touch the stove" LOL - well, you pays your $$$ and you takes your choice! Enjoy!
 
Nissans are

in fact built in the UK. Their version of the Maxima is the Primera. I forget the city where the plant is, south of Newcastle.
They may not build the Xterra though.
 
I'd love to have a Rover and swap out the engine with a 4.6L modular Ford/Lincoln V8 or a Triton V8..now those are good engines!  We've had them in our Lincolns and they always held up well.  Same with a Jag.  If I could stick one of them in a Jag I'd have another one.  Otherwise I'd run away from a Rover or Jaguar.
 
Sunderland, England

is where the UK Nissan plant is. It currently builds the Leaf, a versa variant, and Juke, as well as a Murano variant.
Greg, the J/A V8 has timing chain tensioner problems with higher mileage, usually above 80,000. That's about it though, and if the repair is done soon after the noise begins, the engine is saved. Otherwise, the entire top end must be rebuilt. A serious misfire caused by valve failure can also damage the block, or crankshaft.
I'd absolutely rather have to replace a heat damaged Modular V8 intake manifold.
I still have memories of bad Windsor 400 small block valve seal leaks, and worn guides, so Ford has always had certain engine issues. Those motors ran like shiza after 40,000 miles.
My uncles backfired from day one brand new. Something with the emission control air pump. it couldn't have been good for the vales. He had the heads done at about 50,000 miles, and by ninety thousand, they were bad again.
My dad had a '64 Country Sedan and, it's 292 V8 fried a pushrod at 55,000 miles.
That was the old Y block, replaced by the Windsor 289 in the Galaxie line the next year. His next wagon, a '70 Chevy Kingswood 350 4 barrel never had one engine problem.
 
Xterra

was not built in UK, but was built in several world locations, including Brazil, Iran, China, Smyrna TN, when mine was built, and Canton Mississippi, 2012-2015.

IMO its functionally a superior off and on road vehicle to the Disco, and at least 5 US car mags named it the best "real" off road - as opposed to soccer-mom car-based - SUV while it was in production. I just wish that the diesel version had been sold in the US.
 
When Honda owned Rover????????

 

 

Mike, you REALLY need to get your facts straight BEFORE you post....

 

Honda <span style="text-decoration: underline;">NEVER</span> owned Rover!!    Honda and Rover had a <span style="text-decoration: underline;">joint venture</span> agreement together, this created the Rover 800 (in the UK) and Sterling line (in the US) and these models were based on the Acura Legend.  

 

Getting back on topic... I would have to agree that the Land Rover Discovery, while a VERY capable vehicle off road, will be an absolute money pit if you expect to use it as a daily driver!   My ex-brother-in-law found a great deal on a used Discovery and bought it.    It needed mechanical work when be bought it, which he took care of.   He enjoyed the vehicle until it kept having to go back to the mechanic EVERY month or two.  He has poured thousands ($$$$) into it for repairs and keep it running.   It's one problem after another.

 

So CFZ2882, unless you are a total glutton for punishment and have AAA's premium towing package, I wouldn't waist your time and hard earned dollars.   It WILL be a money pit!

 

Kevin

 

[this post was last edited: 6/16/2016-11:39]
 

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