Hello,

New member here hoping for some guidance. A bit about me, I really enjoy driving a series III when I get the chance to go to a family farm in Africa. Being in the US, anything similar here is too expensive for me at the moment. I hope to one day own one Possibly source one from South Africa in the future.

In the meantime, I'm considering a 2003 Discovery II SE with 185k for $5500. It has a clean carfax with 5 previous owners. The person selling it has had it for 6 years and only put on an average of 3k a year on it. It has been exclusively serviced by a 'master' land rover mechanic center in those 6 years. It recently had a new water pump and thermostat put in. That is the only major work according to the Carfax.

The VIN is in the range of the VINS to avoid thread; but I'm not sure what the issue is.

I work from home so I wouldn't be driving it excessively. In the event that it needs a part, it could sit for a bit. For $5500 I would be hoping that it would last about 5 years or more and to not have to put more than 2-3k into it in that time frame (excluding regular maintenance).

How realistic is this? Looking for general opinions on if someone would recommend this or not and if it's a fair price.



Thank you

 

@AdriBushBaby Look at this way it is an 17 year old truck you might get away with that you might not. I am just doing head gaskets, that is 3500.00 - 4500.00 job here in Canada IF you pay someone.

You need to be a bit realistic this are maintenance heavy vehicles, more so at this time of their life.

I do not know where you are but frame rot can be an issue anywhere that uses a lot of salt in the winter ,east coast for example.

But things that may come up :

Shocks, springs, shock towers
Front Driveshaft
A variety of water leaks

Things you should ask when they were last done

Diff fluids
Transfer case fluid
Transmission service
Exhaust

Any ticking

Finally any overheating at all this is an aluminum engine, overheating will mean warped heads at the very least.

 

Isn't the '03 VIN ranges to avoid primarily having to do with exploding oil pumps? I don't have one (an '03) so I'm not certain but in my readings that's what I've heard. So maybe ask about the oil pump?

 

Supposedly the front cover bolt holes were not aligned correctly and there could be oil pump issues, something to that effect.
Regardless, that was a vin# range with certain 03's possibly having an issue, and there was a recall.
Considering it's been 15-17 years, unless you stumble upon a low mile 03 barn find that's been stored since new...there's a 99% chance that all the bad 03's have already blown up, or were factory repaired years ago...and have since blown up, lol.
I wouldn't worry about that.

 

I say buy it sounds like it’s been maintained
get yourself a ultraguage to constantly monitor coolant temperature and get a 180 thermostat from Atlantic British to keep those coolant temps around 195-205
they are great comfortable and fun to drive

 

I buy, restore, and sell Discos for a hobby. The last one I sold for $5500 was a mint 99 with 121k on the clock. I currently have a completely restored 02 with an 80k engine that has been spoken for - priced it at $6500, and an 03 in excellent condition with 170k with new HG etc., etc. that has been spoken for at $7k (one is pending remote delivery, the 03 is pending completion of a HG job). For an 03 with 185k on the clock $5500 is a reasonable price if it is in very good shape and has had recent hg (it probably has).

Good luck!

Oh, and check the frame rust!