I'm just looking to post some info that I could not find. Maybe I am missing something obvious to others. I replaced the timing cover on my 2000 discovery with one from a 2001. The part was listed with a VIN number and mileage. Everything fit up but the sender leaked badly. I bought another sender at Napa for a 2000 discovery and it was also the same metric thread with female plug.

Regardless of year or anything else, the covers with a sender on the top use the male plug with 1/2" thread and the covers with a bottom plug use the M12 with female connector.

 

So will the 02-04 front cover fit the 01 D2 ? They look the exact same but I can’t find one that specifically says 01 timing cover

 

It will not work, because the relief valve for the oil cooler is open all the time. You don't get oil flow through the cooler in a '01.

Front cover for a '01 D2: https://www.roverparts.com/engine/fr...ers/LJR105040/