I’ve had my ‘03 Disco 4.6L for over 3 years now and I always just thought my Rover V8 was a very rough engine. I thought they just didn’t balance it right at the factory because they didn’t care near the end. My engine also had slipped sleeves by 83,000 when I bought it. I’ve driven the Range Rover HSE P38 and that same engine in the Range Rover is 10x smoother. My Disco idled rougher than my flat plane crank V8, but not bad enough for two different Land Rover master tech to notice over 3 years.

For the past week the Disco started throwing MAF codes. I tried cleaning it and this morning I finally changed it out for a brand new $20 eBay MAF. Instantly smoother idle. Not Range Rover P38 quality or smoothness, but now better than a flat-plane crank V8 engine at idle. Wish I did this 3 years earlier instead of just always cleaning the MAF. Big, big difference for $20 and 10 minutes of work.

 

Glad to hear that!

 

I was thinking of getting a cheap MAF from ebay as a spare. Good to know they work, wonder how long they last. I get 50k+ out of a Bosch.

 

I keep my old MAF and old fan belt as spares in the truck for those just in case moments.

 

The Bosch MAF I took out looked original (89,000 miles) and the eBay MAF had a slightly longer wire. For $20, I don’t mind changing it out every year as long as it keeps the engine idle smooth. I’m also keeping the old Bosch MAF as an emergency spare just in case.

 

If you had a scan tool to reset the adaptive values in the ECM it would probably smooth out even more.

 

This is a definite must!
Good call @GCBurke !

 

Same results for me, but with the Bosch MAF. Totally worth spending that money.

 

I had wet black sludge at the exhaust at cold start, but no codes and the engine ran always smooth. I replaced the O2-sensors (new Bosch) half a year ago, but that didn't fix the sludge issue. A new MAF sensor (new Bosch 0280218010) made the difference. No more sludge and fuel consumption improved by about 10% consistently (city, hwy). It pays for itself after about 5k miles, worth replacing a 15 year old MAF sensor, although it didn't make any real trouble.

 

do you have a link as to where you bought it?