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Looking at an ‘04 HSE7 with 130k miles for $5200 and I’m new to the world of Land Rover. It seems to have had everything done that is recommended – rear coils, ignition upgrades (wires and such), lower temp thermostat, front end done with zerks, etc.
Are the rear chassis rails toast?
There seems like a lot of fluid/oil in this area:
Exterior is in good shape:
Any feedback from what you can see in the pics would be very much appreciated!
Nice truck, lots of options, to bad the underside is starting to look like that.
I'd wonder about the coolant. If there is a way you can fill to the proper level and then go back and look at it to see if it drops a couple days later.
As a personal note, I stay away from anything after 02. Could have gotten an 04 cheap few months ago but decided to skip.
Coolant is a big issue with the Discovery due possible overheat problems and all the associated issues around that. An near empty coolant tank is not a good sign, it could be simple bad hose or rad or something far more serious and expensive.
That is a lot of fluid on the under carriage so you are looking a replacing a gasket or oil seal somewhere.
Given the coolant tank issue it would be good to monitor the temps - a cheap ELM 327, Torqueodb and a smart phone makes it easy. But you need to drive for about 20 minutes.
Get a code reader or ask if you and the owner can take to a local mechanic and have the codes checked.
The gas tank look like it has been hit and repaired - you need to ask about that (your 1st picture)
Finally check every single switch for function, and I mean everything. Open the sun roofs and close them. Check the seat heaters etc.
Big thing to be aware of parts are a bitch in Canada, you are generally buying from the US so factor that in.
I love mine and it is the same color but I found a few gotcha's after purchase nothing serious other than a water leak into the cabin and a bad oil seal.
Yeah the empty reservoir isn't a good sign. I bet that sucker gurgles from the heater core upon a cold startup. It could be loosing coolant from all sorts of weak spots, but common area's are the HG's, TBH, line to the radiator, heater core, and the radiator itself.
Frame doesn't look all that great. It's probably getting covered in 80/90w from the TC. The black goo by the throttle body/intake is unusual. Also it must have have or had an amp or something installed at one time or another because that red larger power cable running thru the engine bay is not stock. The blue line in the rear under the D2 is also not stock (not sure what that is unless it's another aux power cable).
Sometimes you can't tell what level the coolant is until your close up so check out the level by looking into the reservoir
i just paid 5 k for a 03 with 119,000 km but my rear seal is leaking just like yours is
you can probably get that price to 4 k
not a lot of people are after these trucks specially with the price of gas
but if the thermostat was done and temps are under 200 f wires are done go for it
Forgot one thing what colour is the thermostat- it should be grey or very close to black. otherwise it could be anything - there were some bad greenish white thermostats kicking around.
Looks snazzy! Good thread. I second using the $4 ELM327 to review the engine codes with your smartphone (it uses bluetooth to communicate).
And yes, you want to verify however you can that it isn't losing some large amount of coolant. Top it off, drive it. Let it cool off. Check the level if possible.
If she's driving fine and isn't losing coolant then you are ahead of most of the game.
Life can't be perfect, but you can cover some of the big items.
I also have an 04 that I got from BC a couple years back. My underside looked like that, try to figure out if the coolant leaks from the back. You will know as it will likely drip on the cats and smell sweet after a minute of running, if it comes from the back like mine, likely head gaskets... (I'm in the middle of doing that job now). I still love the truck, they are lovely to drive! You just need to be ready to give it some ''intimate love'' from time to time.
Thanks for the feedback all! I've just heard back from a reliable repair centre who did a pre-sale inspection, and this was their findings:
-VALVE COVER GASKETS LEAKING.
-ENGINE NEEDS GOOD CLEANING.
-TRANSFER CASE WET AT FRONT OF CASE.
-LOTS OF SURFACE RUST.
-LEFT REAR TRAILING ARM MOUNT AT THE FRAME HAS BEEN REWELDED.
-FRONT OF OIL PAN SOAKED IN OIL.
-POWER STEERING HOSES WET.
-COOLANT LOW (NO OBVIOUS LEAKS).
-BATTERY WEAK.
-DOES THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT HAS GREASE FITTING ON - NO.
I asked for a compression and leak down test, and they told me it wasn't worth it based on their code readings (they're a BOSCH shop). The owner did say that he had the oil plug replaced recently, so not sure if that's why the front of the oil pan is soaked.
Any red flags here for anyone?? What's required to deal with the transfer case - new seals?
Considering an ‘04 - help!
