About to purchase my 1st disco. Coming from Japanese cars, there were usually upgrades you can do that would just bolt on, or require very slight mods to use parts from newer/different cars to get slight upgrades for cheap and be OEM quality. Things like bigger brakes, diffs, suspension components, etc. Is there anything like that for the discovery, and if so, is there a list somewhere to see what they would be? Thanks.

 

Two obstacles you will be up against are the Disco2 is the last of the body on frame trucks, as well as the last of the GM-derived V8 aluminum engines. The successors were all uni-body used more modern engine designs. While this doesn't unilaterally rule out any parts compatibilities, I for one have not seen this as a common practice. I'm sure others here have a better grasp on what might be an option for you but I wouldn't be expecting a very long (or fun) list. The D2 was the last of the breed for the kind of things you're talking about.

 

You can use the lower coil spring seats from a D1 onto a D2 for about 1/2 an inch of lift, you can use a u-joint rear drive shaft from a RRC/D1 onto a D2. 94-02 D1/D2 had glass headlights and can be used on either D1/D2 only difference is Chrome or blacked out circle lens. Sunroofs are identical between a D1/D2, dashes are the same minus color/airbag design, water pumps are interchangeable, steering wheels can be flip flopped around between them (just have to move some pins for the horn), floor mats, cup holders, center dash bezel, console lids, grills (with slight modifications), AC compressors, transfer cases (slight differences but can be made to work on either application).

The D1 & D2 are different animals but "some" stuff can be mixed/matched, but anything after 04 = is not even in the same league. LR3/LR4/Discovery 5 = night and day.

 

Thanks!

 

D2 is a D2 is a D2. Option sets from the factory are the primary differences. Things like ACE, rear air bags (suspension), Harmon Kardon Stereo, rear AC (LOVE it), front heated windshield, and parking sensors (only ‘03-‘04) are those options. They are total erector sets. The facelift models (‘03-‘04) will have the different headlights and tail lights, and ‘04 has the CDL from the factory. From ‘99-‘01 you can add the CDL, and it works best if you get the SLABS computer from a ‘04 with it to make the most of having real 4wd.

There are crazy special models like G4 Challenge, Trek, and then some other rare ones like the Kalahari (‘02 only I think), and the Trail Edition. Some of those go for unobtanium cash, and some are just trim packages with some mildly interesting aesthetics.

Some fun stuff to do is US spec machines come with heating elements and wiring already installed for heated seats and you literally just plug switches in and they work. I did this with my ‘04 HSE that didn’t have them from the factory and sure enough, the 18 year old elements worked perfect. As it was a SoCal machine, it also didn’t have a heated windshield. Again, the wiring is all there and I added it in. Now that one you have to program with a Nanocom, but it’s a very useful feature where I live. You could add something like ACE, but it is horrifically expensive to fix and to upgrade it to an existing truck is a frame off exercise, so a huge amount of work. The airbags in the rear used to be popular to remove, but adding them back in isn’t a big deal and don’t believe the naysayers as it’s a wonderful system easy to fix. You could add 7 seats if you wanted as well. Prior to facelift models you can get cup holders just below the HVAC that pop out. The main and well known cup holders in Discos are some of the best in my opinion, but those 2 extras have come in handy a number of times. I’ve not read about parking sensors being retrofit, but the OEM bumpers are hideously expensive for them and the system is hit or miss on function. I also added the OEM tow harness. It’s super cool as it will show a trailer blink on the dash to confirm the lights are working (unless you have a trailer with all LED lights like I do now, so there isn’t enough of a load for it to display).

Brakes are the same. Chassis are the same. Engines went from 4.0 to 4.6 with the latter being the face lift models. Different camps on which is better, but minimal difference to me other than a slight butt dyno bump in power to the larger displacement.

I generally like my D2s optioned to the hilt from the factory as I like buttons and toys (my HSE even came with an early GPS head unit- totally useless and I’ve obviously replaced), but as I say they are erector sets. They are a total addiction and a hoot to play with. I built a relay box and used cruise control switches with fog light faces in one of mine to add off road and back up lights for a factory look and there are lots of other options you can play with. Depending on how good of an example you pick up, you’ll spend a year making one right if you get the bug.

 

Thanks, are there any places to download manuals, wiring diagrams, etc?

 

Find any post by WaltNYC on this forum. He has a link in his signature to all the manuals. (He's more in the D1 section of this forum, but also frequents D2 as well as P38 Range Rover).

 

It's a sticky at the top of the D2 Section