My wife has decided that she also wants a Disco. After some searching, I've found a 2003 Discovery 2 (the owner lists as HSE7), I knew HSE was used as a designation for the Range Rovers for highly optioned Rovers, but I had not seen the designation on Discos until this one.

The '03 has 141K miles, 2nd owner, and does have a lot of optional additions. The current owner does not have any history of head gasket replacement, cooling system replacement, or any other service history, so I am a little afraid.

For piece of mind, I'm considering just replacing everything, cooling related, head gaskets, and even front timing cover/oil pump related. Apparently there was an issue with the dowels for mounting the timing cover that cause premature oil pump failure on some of the '03 discos, I don't know if this one was affected, but I've come to understand that this is not a problem to be ignored.

I have driven the '03, and the 4.6 is quieter than the 4.0 in my '99 Disco, close inspection of the cooling system showed no leaks, and the underside of the '03 is clean, and there weren't any warning lights on, on the cluster. I did not connect a code scanner, so I don't know if there are any errors, with disabled bulbs.

I'm assuming that things like the front drive shaft would be first on the list, second would be the cooling system, and then on to the head gaskets and oil pump, just to be on the safe side.

What other "gotchas" should I be on the look out for? If I were going to be the primary driver on this '03, I would just drive it until something needed attention, but my wife has an unlimited capacity for ignoring warning lights & trouble symptoms on her 328i Convertible, which I'm sure she would demonstrate on this Disco.

I'm also a little disturbed by the $4000 price on this truck. I can't figure out if there is something secretly wrong with it, or if the current owner has just decided he wants something newer.

 

do a check on the vin and see if it fell in the 03 failure zone,
that could explain the hg not being done yet.

 

Since the current owner has no service history, and I can't tell by just looking at the engine, I don't know if the head gaskets have been changed, or the oil pump. I'll check the vin before purchase, but that won't tell me if it was serviced for that problem will it?

 

The most favored mode of fixing the 03's that had the dowell issue was to replace the block. You would notice that your engine is not original by a small green/silver service tag on the front metal above the grill and under the hood.

Of course by now ALL OF THEM with the issue HAVE BEEN FIXED. Again usually with a new engine.

As in my case that happened at 38k so just about 135k I started noticing the signs of failed head gaskets. slow coolant leak from the rear of one of the heads.

If the HG's have been recently changed correctly (in the last 10k or so) you should notice the sides of the heads being brighter aluminum and a distinctly different color than the rest of the block. I say correctly because some people just change the gasket without machining the heads which cleans them up to like new.

Look for drips of coolant at the joint between the head and block nearest the firewall on both sides.

Sounds like a good truck, I would not be worried about proactively changing the HG's, just keep in mind you will be spending a few thousand on that if you don't want to do it yourself.

Watch your coolant level like a hawk and make sure the front drive shaft is upgraded to a serviceable one.

 

checking the vin will tell you if the engine was possibly replaced

 

I got an 03, not knowing anything about Rovers at all. I was kind of worried at first, but after a year and 9000 or so miles on her, getting the maintenance up to date she has been very reliable. I did the 180 gray thermostat and started Rotella oil, the temps went down and the light ticking that was heard sporadically went away. I also did the abs option b mod, replaced all the rotors and brakes(only because a new set became available at a fraction of original cost), and replaced all 4 sensors(again found new set of bosch for 30.00 each). I also added the oil cooler, that LR decided to leave out during that year(to me, cooler oil = happier engine).
Unless it is just a dog, I think you will be pleasantly surprised, I was.

 

If it's got that many miles on it the engine is fine. Most failures were before 25K. I had an 03 SE7 that I bought with 25K on it as a certified LR used car. I never had a single engine issue with it. I sold it with just under 135K on it, and unless the engine was torn down, replaced, repaired before I got it (didn't look touched) it never had head gaskets done on it as I never had any problems.

I say get it, replace the thermostat to a LR 180F unit, and just check all the fluids, and drive it. If the motor was gonna mess up with the oil pump issue it would have certainly done it by now!

 

So thats good news. I am currently looking for my 1st Disco and had been glossing over the 03's. Guess they can be considered since none of them have under 35K

 

Very risky if she is going to ignore warning light!

You can run a carfax on it and it will show most of the service history if the work was done at a dealer (likely if only two owners). You can call the dealer and impersonate the owner and they will send you the service history (tell them you are selling the car and need the history for the buyer).

Also, relatively easy to check the oil pressure during an inspection - you can get a drain plug at advance auto that fits the oil cooler plug location - drill a hole in it and tap it to accept a mechanical oil pressure gauge and you can replace it within about 2 minutes when you go look at the truck.

 

Hey, new guy here. One thing I would strongly recommend, is take a good look at the frame. I thought I did. But it turns out it has bad rot. This as I was told by an expert, is becoming more common. I now have to make a very expensive repair. Hope this helps.