Any reason to avoid an '03? (assuming it is outside the range...)
 

if the VIN suggests "all clear" on the oil pump issue?

how can u determine the pump issues according to the vin?
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There are rumors going around that there are a few '03's outside of the "doomed" VIN range have suffered the oil pump failure problem (and even some '04's)...but some '03's inside the VIN range have been just fine.

Other than the normal issues and '03's don't have CDL.

again...
 

Look at it this way..with all the problems these trucks have why would you push the envelope and get a year that really had problems....If you can afford to drop a new engine in fine but without knowing....i have a 04 and my engine took a crap....they got worse with age...my 95 RR went to 300,000 with alot of maintence....this one craped at just over a 100k...what does that tell you....;) Find a DI and fix it up.....

NO Center diff lock stock on 2003s. If you plan to off road at all, you'll want to have that. 2004 has it stock. 99-mid01 it can be added easily.

2003 is widely considered the worst year of the Disco.

Its a long sad story that you'll hear much more of if you ever buy a DII...
Some 2003s were cursed with bad oil pumps, so we usually tell people to stay away no matter what.

As a 03 owner with a current failing oil pump, I don't recommend 2003s OR 2004s. You can buy mine? Its for sale $6000 with intermediate oil lights and failed headlight bulb switch.

I am looking in the classifieds for D2 2003 with broken engine or other really serious damage to buy it cheep and replace engine and mechanics with diesel.So far I didn't find any and I am looking hard.Which tells me that there is more talk than reality.

Def not more talk than reality, it was a HUGE issue for LRNA and really bad PR for the company. LR did everything they could help the owners who got stuck with the problem so alot were replaced already. But some havent had the problem so your not completly out of luck.

If there are no engine problems now, there will be rust problems eventually. (I can't believe how most everything rusts on my '99 D2, except where there are oil leaks, of course.)