Happens all the time. There is this site, landroversonly.com, discoweb.com

People talk about DIY "pinning cylinder sleeves" because of the relentless tapping noise it makes and Johnny jones doesn't want to spend $4500 on another USED motor as he just spent $4500 on the new-to him 2004 D2. People talk about thermostat and cooling system modifications because Danny ******** thinks 210F is too high engine temp and is worried His cyl sleeve is going to come loose now. This is over half of what we discuss. Doing everything we can to keep the engine we have in it. If the 04 you were looking at is "like new" then just buy the thing and gear yourself up to DIY about $1000 worth of mods and maintenance before you really start driving it and keep your fingers crossed. Your welcome and do some research on here, use the search button with keywords we discussed, check the other sites I mentioned to confirm patterns, and so on.

 

I do not think the 04 D2 is the best D2 ever made IMHO.

They don't come standard with oil coolers, they all but a very slim few have SAI, and the plastic headlights although sexier looking are more troublesome with fading and fogging up.

The 04 IS NOT the only D2 to ever have a diff lock installed. It is however the first D2 to roll off the factory floor with SLABS programming, and a linkage to use it. Earlier 99-01 had the CDL nipple, but no means of engaging it (BMW thought people didn't really take their D2's off road so they left out the linkage). You can buy a 99-01 with the CDL (some early 02's had it as well just depends on the actual build date) throw on a linkage from the UK or get an actual 04 Linkage off a wrecked 04 D2 along with the 03/04 SLABS unit and be all set. Late 02/03 D2's didn't even have the CDL nipple on the transfer case at all! The later 03's did have the SLABS unit for it though.

The 04 is by far the most popular D2 because people that aren't familiar with the D2 have no clue that earlier models actually had the CDL on it from the factory as well. So of coarse 04's also have a higher asking price.

Personally I'd rather buy a 99-02 with the CDL nipple on the transfer case (easy to check), buy an 04 linkage and SLABS unit and call it a day. The SAI isn't that problematic but it's just one more thing to work on and when doing any repairs on the engine it's just another thing in your way.

Would I buy an 04 myself? I've owned an 04 before and it was fine, but I just didn't see what all the fuss was about so I sold it. I turned around and bought my 02 Kalahari Edition D2, slapped in the 04 CDL Linkage, SLABS unit, and I even added an 03/04 grill after installing my TF Low Profile Bumper. I absolutely love it, and I was able to buy the Kalahari for much less than I sold my 04 for so I was able to build it up to being a better vehicle than my 04 for just about the same amount of money as the 04.

Things to check on any D2:

Rear Frame for serious rust
Ticking at startup/idle
Once warm monitor coolant temp (at idle and driving at 70MPH)
Look for any signs of head gasket work (marks or paint on head bolts)
Stained Headliner by the visors or wet front carpet (signs of leaking sunroofs)

I'd also run away no matter the price or the condition of the Land Rover if anyone has gone and installed a bunch of aftermarket stereo stuff, LCD Monitors, or AMP's because you DO NOT want someones wiring disaster!!! I've seen plenty of clean D1/D2's ruined by the **** poor install of aftermarket crap that leaves the vehicle killing alternators, draining batteries overnight, or possibly causing it to die going down the road. Unless it's stuff you can cleanly remove I highly recommend walking away.

 

You should take an OBDII code reader along on any test drive period.

For the reasons explained above.

It is the only way to know what is really going on.

 

Or sadomasochism, still has an '03 in work.
......

 

All of this being said, A new owner of a Rover with questionable past should expect to pay up to $2000 per year on routine maintenance and upgrades if they don't do some of the work themselves.

Once you get caught up, count the years with less maintenance costs a bonus and buy something extra for it.

If you are cool with this then you will be a worthy Rover owner/driver/maintainer.

 

I'm doing everything I can to keep the SOB on the road. What has me really bent...the ball-joints I replaced just last summer after I bought it, lower is already faulted. Grease boot deteriorated and everything. I spent 2 days and the $ on most expensive units out of NAPA. Ordered a set of genuine pink and greens to be here on Wed/Thurs. I was shopping for another hood before I came across this lowly site checking O2 sensor connections as #1-bank2 decided to quit working for 1 day (raining) then showed back up to work and clocked-in as if i didn't notice he was MIA. Pssshh stupid Rover.

 

As I new owner of a "mechanics special d2 " yet never owning anything 4wd despite owning nearly 20 cars, I can say that from what I have read on these forums, some of these repairs and failures are inevitable. That being said, for the quality of vehicle, if you are somewhat mechanically inclined you are getting a lot of car for the money. I had budgeted for more, but wranglers have seen a spike in popularity and thus resale over the last few years, and I don't really care for the ride or interior. After owning many BMW's, which have somewhat of the same stigma, I can say that the parts for these cars are really priced quite reasonably and they seem easy to work on. Add to that the abundance of parts cars out there and it doesn't seem like a bad bet for what you are getting. True, a new engine can be pricey, but if you are in a pinch, you can probably find a donor car for a couple grand and sell off the rest of the parts to offset the cost should that issue arise. I have kept many an old BMW alive by doing just that and would be doing that if my d2 didn't have frame rot. I know it's a matter of time before mine gives up the ghost, but so far I love it even though it needs a lot of work (it's only been a week) and I can already see that I probably won't ever be without a discovery after this. As far as off road capability with civilized road manners and timeless styling, you can't beat it for the price. I bet any wrangler for the same amount of money would be almost unbearable, have higher mileage, and having you wishing that IT'S engine would kick the bucket so you had an excuse to get something better. I have a 135i and 335i also at the moment, and have been driving my old 308k mile d2 everywhere besides one short trip this past week...and I don't mind it one bit. There is something to be said for that

 

Wrangler JKU ride vs a D1/D2 = A HUGE JOKE!!!

The JKU backseat might as well be made out of a pallet, and a Wrangler no matter what you do to it will never have decent highway manors unless you trade the JK/JKU in for a Grand Cherokee. Land Rover put a lot more thought into their vehicles as far as on/off road ability.

My wife doesn't understand why I have 3 very nice running Land Rover's and one for parts vs just having one. For the price D1/D2's are at right now I scooped up as many good ones as I could find.

I truly love older LR's up to 04. They just have a quirky English quality/charm that no other 4x4 SUV offers.

My advice is do your research, line up a few to look at, and using the tips on this Forum you should be able to walk away with a decent LR for a good price and with a little TLC you'll have a great and unique vehicle.

 

Thankfully my wife is pretty understanding . She is constantly searching Craigslist and ebay for cars and parts and can be a bad influence

 

LR4

or GLK250 diesel

D2 = pain