2004 discovery worth buying
 

So I'm looking at purchasing a 2004 discovery se7. Wanted to know if this engine has issues like the 2003? Oil pump and piston sleeve becoming loose. Ive never owned one but am really wanting one. I've always loved the look of them and the capability of it. Just don't have enough knowledge of them.

04's should be fine.

You'll have the same issues as the 4.0L motor with a couple more things to fight (SAI, etc)

I had read something in the forums about staying away from the 03 discovery because of the oil pump and the loose piston sleeve. Someone had stated it's better off to look for a 2000 & 2001. Have you heard anything about this. I'm just trying to find out which discovery is the better one. I know that sound funny. I've always been a Jeep guy so this is a whole new ball game for me. Thanks

You should do your homework and read up everything you can on this forum. There is a ton of info on pros/cons of all years. When you do buy, hopefully the car comes with past documentation on work done. I wouldn't be afraid of the year, just the past neglect.

Robinson's Service has some very good info on all models of Land Rovers. They also have a good opinion on the Rover V-8 used in the Discovery and other Rover models. Here are a couple of links to their site
Land Rover buying advice


Repairing a 1979-2002 V8 engine with a dropped liner

That LR buying advise is a good read. I'm really surprised they praise Dex-Cool??? I don't understand that one.

Read the buying advice. These are super finicky trucks, know what you are getting into. If you cant fix your own vehicles these trucks will bankrupt you. They break, ALOT. Also don't buy a low mileage 03/04... prone to early failure so the higher-ish trucks have passed that failure threshold.

Thanks all for the advice. What kind of mileage should I look for to bypass the breaking point of the engine problems? I understand vehicles have they problems and always will. But as far as the more common engine issues that are the worse ones to deal with, if that makes any sense

"They break a lot"

I tend to disagree on that one. I've owned a lot of LR's from RRC, D1, D2, P38, to and an LR3 and not a single one of them has ever broken a lot!

I've owned LR's new off the showroom, used with 220k on it, a P38 with a supposedly dead engine (cheap 5.00 o-ring on the block/pickup tube), and many others in a lot sorts of various states of health when I bought em & not a single one of them has ever broken a lot or left me stranded on the side of the road.

That lovely part of my life spent broken a lot or on the side of the road = I was in 05 Jeep Wranglers (Rubicon & LJ) both with less than 50k on them. From cheap plastic bore brake calipers swelling up and locking up on the highway, transmissions as delicate as a paper cup, heat soaked #3 fuel injector problems, shifter linkage issues and many many other issues.

It all comes down to how the LR was treated before you got it. I have no fear at all jumping into my 02 228K Kalahari or my nearly 20 year old D1 & driving up to Oregon or Alaska.

If you are new to LR's take it to a LR shop & have them give it a good looking over.

I bought my 01 in 2011 with 58k mi. on it. It really hasn't given me much trouble other than the water pump started leaking in 2013, windshield wiper switch needed cleaning, drivers door window regulator failed, brake switch on foot pedal failed, and a few burned out light bulbs. I've found its pretty easy to work on and I've done everything myself including the CDL lever from an 04 and replaced the SLS air bags. It's my 3rd vehicle so I don't drive it much, at 73k on it now. Gets pretty bad mpg's at around 15 highway, 11 around town.