In the market again and looking HARD at the 2003-2004 discos. This will be my first LR and am concerned about some of the "dependability and electronic" issues I've heard about through the years. Any input please would be appreciated, like years to stay away from........options to make sure to get........and ones to stay away from.

Wanted to get any/all advice straight from the horse's mouth!

Thanks in advance,

DuckTruck

 

Sorry for the double post.....sticky mouse.

DuckTruck

 

I put 65,000 on a 2002 Disco II and never had any "reliability" issues. Build quality is another issue. Some of the switch gear is not up to what you might expect. Random ***** falling off (overhead lights, seat controls. cup holders, ash tray ejector springs) and exterior trim falling apart (roof gutter trim, wind shield wiper valence) can be frustrating. There where no major design changes in the Series II run. The only significant change was the flip floping on the center diff lock. With the advent of traction control, LR thoought that the central diff lock was uneccessary. Early II's had the internal parts in the transfer case but no way to engage it from the cabin. By the time my '02 came along, even the internal parts where gone. This caused such an outcry that by "03(?? certainly '04) the old disco I system had been revived with a manual engagement of the diff lock via the T - case gear lever.

Some early D II's had problems with noisy valve tappets and a self destructing accessary belt tension. In all I cases that I heard of, these where repaired under warrenty. The ACE system is not to everyones taste, drive models with and without before you decide. I don't mind body roll on an SUV, I expect it! The ACE system seemed to disconect one from the driving experience. Likewise, the self leveling suspension gets complaints for a harsher ride.

Biggest thing to look out for is to not overpay. Used disco's have never done well on the resale market. LR ran massive lease promotions for base models, these are now coming back. Insist on a good deal.

 

So KWLR3.....would an '03 or '04 Discovery II have a "manual" center diff lock?

Also, thanks for the heads up on the reliability issues......I see a lot of Disco's on the road so your response doesn't suprise me. However, it does concern me about the build quality. I had a 01 Grand Cherokee that was slightly lifted and very capable off road.....sold it b/c I got sick and tired of paying for something that was consistently falling apart right before my eyes. Did you have these build quality issues on your '02!?! Because, if so, that's scary to think all of those happened within 65K miles.

Any other input would be great.....thanks again.

DUCK

 

Anybody else???

DUCK