Here is a thread about the VIN:

 

I don't see it mentioned specifically on this thread, so I figured I'd toss it back in here:

In my travels around the web the last couple years, I ran across a thread, somewhere other than here, which no, I didn't bookmark...

which says that the 03 oil pump failure problem was finally pinned down to improper machining of the mating surface on the pumps (I'm pretty sure) from one specific OEM vendor.

If you already know that, my apologies for being Lt. Obvious.

 

Always thought it was mis-aligned dowels, and that units suffering from it died by 50,000 miles, and not all units in the VIN range suffered, just some of them.

 

Just a thought, bought I bought an 01 in good condition for $3000. I've had to change the MAF and did the 60k major fluid things myself. So total cost $3300 and aside some cosmetic blemishes, I have a great car. Don't see how an 04 is worth 9k+.

 

I believe Savannah is correct the alignment dowels were bored incorrectly in the block for the timing chain cover, putting stress on the oil pump gears. Anything other than that and LR would have just replace timing covers and not complete engines.

 

Running the engine with a bad pump would have caused other damage, so they would have replaced the engine anyway just to be safe from law suits about the issue not being repaired correctly under warranty.

One dealer tech post that they would take the old engines, put a new front cover on them and put them in their personal cars.

 

probably true, that's probably why new front covers are like $700.00

 

Ah, right. It was on the engine side.

My point was just that, when we were having these conversations in '09-'10, I don't remember that it had yet been pinned down exactly *what* the root cause was; at least not in any of the ones I read.

 

Maybe. Maybe not.

 

I love it when people trash talk the 03's as it keeps the price down on the more informed and makes for a great price.
Yes I have a '03 with 125K miles on it and I use it as a daily driver and for trails as well and I love it. Would any motor last this long if it had not been replaced ot fixed.
For those of concern the death range is all 2003 Discoverys ending with 3A771801 – 3A808362
Mine falls in this but so what