Bought a 2001 Discovery SE7 for $3000.
Had it checked out at The Shop in Norcross, GA as they were a referral from an Atlanta dealer who stocks newer Land Rovers. I'd recommend these guys' great service but I just want to throw some things out there and see what input the board might have on these issues and prices.

The bad:
Light paint scratches on every panel
Rock induced paint chips on the hood
Missing plastic trim above rear bumper cover on driver's side
Hood looks a little bent on passenger side, wouldn't close until greased up
Battery terminals worn
4 of 5 tires @ wear bars
$800 Michelin m/s2
Valve gaskets, slow leak
$750
Transfer case seal, beginning to fail
$640
Bolt missing from exhaust flange
Wipers shot
Back window scratched significantly
No front mats
Dome light button missing
Throttle body heater dripping $130
Grommets leaking on master cylinder
Driver's side mirror doesn't hold position at highway speeds

The good
Interior near perfect
Factory heated windshield
Everything works inside but the heated seats
Head Gaskets have been done
Serviceable front drive shaft done
New motor mounts
Wheels are blemish free
New wires, hoses & vac lines
Someone treated the frame with some type of rust preventative while new
Everything aluminum looked just as it should, bronzed looking and free of grime
Free repair manual!

I'm happy with my purchase, any input you may have to these issues as to their importance or priority lemme know!

 

aesthetically, i go with the "chicks dig scares" motto. mirror can be had new or cheap from dismantler= no biggie. a little tightening does wonders for a vc leak. 1/4" copper= throttle body bypass, you are in GA. that exhaust flange bolt vibrates loose on these, yours probably had more vibs, since it sounds like your motor mounts were bad. new hg and all is nice.

 

Don't pay $750 to do your valve gaskets

 

I actually transposed the prices between the valve gasket and the seals.

Valve gaskets $680 including wires, $550 without

Transfer case seal is $750
That sound a little better? Or were you inferring its an easy/moderate job that I should compete myself?
Thanks man

 

Thanks brother! My wife & two daughters are in love with it even more than I am, so you got a solid theory there.
These are definitely soccer mom scars tho, maybe they'll cover up with the buffer.

 

there are good scratch removal products on the market, i found some mothers 2xscratch that works pretty well. might be good on soccer mom scratches, but did not do much for the ones that still have tree branches, sticking out of them.

 

valve cover gaskets and plugs= 2 hours max labor(skinny hands with long fingers = less than 1hr). material =less than $200
so depends on what your time is worth and if you don't mind getting in there.

GASKET VALVE COVER V-8, PLM035, LVC100260 - Rovers North - Classic Land Rover Parts

 

The gaskets cost about $10 ea.

May have to take the intake off on a D2, but that's still not worth $500 of labor IMHO.

 

Thank you dusty & pinky.
I'll recon doing my own valve gasket job & it'll help compensate for the tires' expense if I have the tools.

Anything additional you suggest completing/inspecting while the intake is off?

 

New plug wires, test the fuel pump pressure (test port under top half of intake - won't ever be so easy to get at again). Clean out PCV system which vents the oil fumes from the valve covers.

Be prepared what what you might see once valve covers are off. If rocker arm assembly looks bad, it can be removed with four bolts, and soaked in cleaner (I used Berrymans), The rocker arms slide on the shaft and are held by springs, so you can clean out holes, etc. Even use some 1500 grit sand paper to remove mild wear marks. Of course anything you can feel with a fingernail and you'll want to look at more parts.

If playing around under the valve covers, make sure original parts go back in original places.

Many valve covers leak and need to be snugged up with 8mm 12 point skinny socket. Some put a dab of the weakest locktite on these bolts. That might be worth a try first. When you think about it, they normally would have been done along with the HGs, the whole kit of gaskets is like $90 - $120. If they were not, and only the HG were done without machining, etc., then maybe the HG job was cheap and less than complete. It would be a good sign if heads are mucho cleaner than the block, as they would have been hot tanked by the machine shop. So at least were checked for flatness if not also machined.

You'll want your own copy of the shop manual, called the RAVE, free in links below. Owner manual and electrical plans also there.