Hey guys if you had to choose between a 2003 Disco or a 2004 Disco (both SE) versions which one is better? Is the 2004 arguably the best disco, does it have a CDL? Looks aside, because I personally like the D1s. I found a good deal on either a '03 for $3k or an '04 for $4,500. Both in decent running condition and under 160,000 miles. My friend has access to dealer auctions and I'm thinking of possibly selling my Disco 1 and getting one of these. There is also one going for $1,200 that has engine problems. How much money could you get back if you part out a 2004 Disco good exterior condition but with engine problems?

Appreciate your comments everyone.

 

I would not buy a LR from a dealer auction. That means no maintenance history for one thing. If you do buy a Disco from a dealer auction, expect the worst possible and consider anything other a bonus.

The prices you have listed would be fair for a well sorted truck with an extensive maintenance history including head gaskets properly done and cooling system in good order.

If you must buy one from a dealer auction at the very least have them turn the key to position one and make sure all the dash lights illuminate and take an OBDII reader. If they refuse to let you scan for codes, walk away.

 

X1 ............... personally I prefer diesels, the TD5, 3 cylinders less to go wrong but the US government doesn't like them too much. So if a V8 go with the good advice above, look around there are plenty of D2's to choose from. The 2003 is OK and more than adequate but the 2004 has the CDL returned by popular demand but in 99% of the cases it's never used and certainly not for the highway in ordinary use only in thick snow where you are far better indoors in the central heating.

 

2004-CDL. IMHO, if your D1 runs great and you know its condition, better stick with it. Get a roof rack and it will look as if your truck can go expeditions, lol. Why spend extra for a truck you need to fix $$$? Unless, you want a 2004. We deal with engine problems in any car anyway but as long as the disco you want has no tick. Tick is just so anoying. Cheers

 

I wouldn't go for an SE. Go for an S..... no sunroofs and 16 inch wheels already. You can always swap in SE seats like I did and you have the best of both worlds.

 

2003 vs 2004 = Get the 04 as it will have the CDL as standard equipment. I myself however have come to preferring 99-02's. Most already have the CDL nipple on the transfer cases, and the 4.0L isn't as delicate as the 4.6L.

Now if you get an 03-04 D2 I'd swap out the thermostat with an OEM Grey 180F unit, then I'd invest in adding an oil cooler (99-02's had them 03-04's don't). Then I'd replace the one piece fan blade/fan clutch with a separate unit out of a 99-02 model (Auto Zone 620-112 Fan works as a great replacement & then a fan clutch).

The bad news is all of the above should have been done when it left the factory and sadly it wasn't so finding an 03-04 without slipped sleeves, ticking, or head gasket problems today is very hard to do especially if the owner didn't properly maintain it.

Now if you get an 03-04 cheap enough you can install a good rebuilt 4.0/4.6L and add all the parts above and have a reliable D2 if you keep up with it's maintenance.

I recently purchased a OD Green 04 D2 for 850.00 with all sorts of off-road parts on it. It ran and drove, but the head gasket was leaking at #6 and it sounded like a Spitfire. I drove it home 70 miles, and looked it over. All of the important stuff had been properly fixed and maintained before the head gasket developed a leak on the #6 cylinder. All the windows, doors, sun-roofs, remote, no 3 amigos, A/C, Heater, Cruise Control, no fault codes besides P0306, and the rest of the mechanical stuff was perfect. To bad the previous owner had gone all out on painting it OD Green inside and out.

I removed all the off road parts and transferred them to my 99 D2, then I took all my stock parts and transferred them to the 04. I vacuumed it out, parked it up by the road with 650.00 cash on it and I sold it in 1hr (with a clean title).

Had I had the time I could have made that 04 into a very reliable/clean inside D2 and sold it for probably 4-5K. I however got at least 1.5K worth of off road parts off of it so letting it go for 650.00 that quickly was fine with me.

 

I found an '04 Disco that has bad ticking. Haven't seen it in person yet but the owner claims it's not overheating. I'm already assuming it has a slipped liner though. He wants $1500 O.B.O.. I know there will be a lot more variables to consider but if everything else checks out ok is it worth the money?