I am currently deciding to buy either an 04 or 03 discovery, however I have been put off buying the 03 because of the information on this forum about bad oil pumps. Here is the scenario: The 2003SE has just 48k miles from an independant "corner shop" style dealer, and the other is a 2004 with 70k miles from a large dealer who has put it through their shop and repaired everything that required it (gaskets, new belts, new tire etc.)
Both vehicles I can get for the same money. Which one should I chose ?
By the way here is the VIN# for the 2003 SALTY164X3A808711

Many thanks!

 

'04 hands down. Take it an run, even though the '03 has fewer miles the '04 is the better truck. And you have a larger dealer to back it up.
Just dont buy a extended warrenty.

 

Thanks Spike ! Why do you say dont bother with an extended warranty ? (I do have a friend of mine that is an excellent mechanic he said he would help me with issues that came up, in my mind there's my extended warranty!)

 

Most extended warrenties are overpriced and dont cover crap.
You are better off opening a Money Market account and saving the money for any major repairs.
With the warrenty if you have to finance it with the truck then you are paying more than the agreed upon price for the car, because the finance amount will be higher your payments will be higher, you will pay more in interest over the life of the loan which means you keep less of your money.
If you read the fine print on some of those warrenties you cant change your own oil, you can't make any mods of any kind, you have a deductable and you have to use their approved shop. If you are out of town when something happens heaven help you.
Now this is not true with all extended warrenties, but it is with alot of them.
Bottom line read the fine print and understand the rules and stipulations.
With your mechainc friend you can keep your truck running for cheap for a long time. As long as you stay on top of stuff parts are not that expensive and major repairs can be avoided.
www.atlanticbritish.com for parts and accessories.

 

The 04 for sure. As for the warranty, at 70,000 miles you won't find a warranty worth buying.
Spend some money on a complete maintance when you get it and go from there.

 

Yep.....What the others saidIn fact, I know that you knew the answer. just needed to hear it...right ????

So...since the other 2 guys are basically new to this forum and therefore their word is hardly worth anything[8D]........I say go with the 2004

 

I guess I just needed some reassurance from people that have had more experience with Discoverys than me !! Thanks.

Can you point me in the right direction for what is involved in a "complete maintenance"- discomike
It's probably gonna be in the owner's manual right ?

 

In fact, do a search on 60 000 miles service and you'll have it all there. Its a pretty long list, so maybe you should make sure of what's been done to the vehicle before you start.

Found it...here you go:


This is the parts list for a 60,000 mile service or a high mileage used truck, the way I do it.
1 Oil filter, K&N 3001
1 Air filter
6 Qts of engine oil
12 Qts of ATF
7 Qts of 80/90W gear oil
2 Qts of Brake fluid
2 Qts of synthetic Power steering fluid
2 Gallons of OAT, orange coolant
1 Bottle of Lucas Power Steering additive
1 Bottle of Lucas Transmission additive
1 Can of Spray Carb. Spray
1 Can Of Brake cleaner
8 Spark Plugs, I use Bosch Platium Plus 4's
1 Set of Magnacor 8mm plug wires
1 Serpentine belt if not yet replaced
2 Bottles of SeaFoam


60,000 Mile Service or Major Service for High Mileage Used Vehicle just purchased
Bleed the brakes
Flush and change the power steering fluid adding one bottle of additive
Service the tranny adding one bottle of additive
Flush the coolant system
Do an engine flush before changing the oil
Do an induction cleaning
Clean the throttle body
Add fuel additive to full gas tank
Change both of the diffs fluid
Change the t/case oil
Replace the plugs and wires
Replace the air filter
Lube all the drive shaft grease fitting including the 2 slip shafts
Do full inspection of brakes, hoses, bushings etc.

 

I have 2 2003 Discovery's, both VINs fall out of the Oil Pump TSB. I have had no problems with either, just regular maintenence. One has 60K and the other has 50K. I would personally go with the one that has the best service records and seems to have been taken care of, but lower mileage is always better too. I think the only difference between the 03 and 04 is the CDL. I think mechanically and cosemeticaly they are the same (except for the roof bars). Ihave seendiscos that are not in the VIN range have the oil pumpproblem, there have been 04 that have the issue as well. I would also not waste money on an extended warranty, these message boards can help you fix just about anything on them.

 

So ..... what is the VIN # range of this '03 oil pump tsb of which you speak?
Every time I come here I learn something new ...