A helpful reddit user sent me to this forum promising you guys are awesome and can help me!

I have a 2004 Land Rover Discovery 2SE. Just purchased it two months ago for $6500. Put $1200 into it immediately and drove it under 1,000 miles before it over heated. Payed another $1000 for a new radiator and labor. After it was all finished the dealership told me I need a new engine. Awesome. Quote was $7000 for a used engine including labor.

Here's where I need help. What is the car worth if I sell as is? I can't possibly put MORE money into it.

Obviously it will be a huge loss. I'm coming to grips with it. I'm a young female who knows nothing about cars. The dealership thinks the guy who sold it to me put in thick oil and lied about the condition.

Any advice? Trying to make the best of this situation. Put in an engine or sell?

The car has 100,000 miles. The interior and exterior are in GREAT condition.
The initial fixes were breaks, temp control, and a few misc. things. The second $1000 radiator included an oil change with thick oil to help determine the engine problems.
Before this I always purchased new cars so I never had to deal with buying used from an individual. It's giving me so much anxiety!

The car is currently knocking loudly and this was not an issue prior to overheating.

Thanks!!!

 

Hi Megan,

Assuming the engine is indeed a bust....

The used market value of 2004 Discos is somewhere in the range of $6K to $9K depending on the condition and mileage. I would not get a used engine as the same issues may occur (i.e., prone to overheating resulting in slipped liners as you currently encounter).

My advise is to put top-hat liners on the existing engine or get a rebuilt engine with top-hat liners. This will run you about $4K to $7K. Therefore, selling your Disco in its current condition will only yield you a couple thousand $ at the most in my opinion.

Your post mentioned taking your vehicle to a dealership. You are paying top dollar for the recent fixes through a dealership. An independent Land Rover shop could help bring your repair costs down. Our forum members may be able to recommend some shops in your area. Perhaps some forum members may be able to look over your Disco to determine the full extent of the problem. A complete engine change may not be necessary.

The Disco is a fun vehicle when all things are working properly. However, reliability is not its strong suit unless it is routinely maintained. The vehicle is best suited to someone who is mechanically inclined and can perform routine maintenance and simple repair jobs.

 

You can get a new used Land Rover for $2,500 on Craigslist.
You can get a brand new car for $17,000 and tax.

You are out $7K.
And
You will be out $2,500 for a new engine for that Rover.
If you love it -

Buy another one - a 2003 or a 2004 if you can get it cheap enough
and keep one for parts.

A used engine - may cost $1,000 or more.
Installation will be $1000 or more.

Very unforgiving engine for overheating.
Cause the engine is aluminum
and they put steel sleeves into the engine.
Those come loose and the engine is shot.

The engine can be fixed. But it is not cost effective.

I mean - if you have $10,000 still in your account - I would sell this and get an LR4 or an LR3 and be done with it.

You can lose a lot of money in the stock market.
So, at least you still have the Land Rover. Even though the engine is shot.

 

Hi Megan I was the reddit user who recommended you post here and glad you did. So far you have a couple of good responses.

While the options to purchase another one at a much cheaper price sounds good but it could be another huge gamble. Also we need to think about if you even have the space in your home to store yet another vehicle.

As much as it sucks to say it if I were you I would try to get 3k out of that truck. Post it on Craigslist and hope an enthusiast would take it off your hands and at least you wont loose more money.

From your post I gather you're close to 9k into this truck. I know loosing over 6k is a major blow but throwing more money into this truck where you'll be at the mercy of mechanics can be lead to even more headaches.

Try to get the exact issues the engine has and list that in your for sale ad and hope for the best. These trucks are truly great and honestly I think they're the best looking trucks on the road but they can be VERY tempermental and super expensive to fix if you can't do your own work. Good luck to you and I hope you get as much money back as possible.

 

I do think a second opinion from a reputable but independent Rover shop is a good idea. Dealerships are frequently called 'stealerships' and with very good reason. It's almost never a good idea to take a vehicle to a dealership for any reason.

If your problem is bearings, they are cheaper to replace on this truck than on most. If you replace the bearings and fix the knock, you could sell for more money. But it may not be worth messing with. I'd bet it'll still be another $1000.

That said, whether you fix it or not you should sell. Rovers are wonderful in some ways, but they are somewhat expensive to keep on the road, and those costs quadruple if you aren't doing the mechanic work yourself.

I'm very sorry for you. I know I'd feel terrible if my sister bought a Rover without talking to me first. They are great to drive, but ultimately they are money pits.

 

When they said it over heated, do you have a slipped liner or internal engine damage, did they tell you any details? I mean, if you wanted to keep it, I'd say put an engine in it somewhere else than the stealership, but they are as said previously expensive to keep on the road, not bad if you do the work yourself, but that's not an option for you I guess. Although, a new engine is cheaper than a new car, but a new car is for the most part 20,000$+ for something that isn't a total cheapy POS, and you shouldn't have any issues with it.

 

first you need a second opinion fro a good independent mechanic that knows land rovers,
there as several reasons why it could be knocking and not all of them require the engine be replaced.
$7k for a used motor is absurd, when you can get a new rebuilt motor with a 3-years warrentee for $5900.
it does not say in your post were you are located, you maybe in an area where another member could suggest a location for a second option. So i would add your location.
after the second option you will know more and will be able to make an informative decision.

 

Just to give you some comparison, I just bought my latest Rover from someone in your situation.

Nice, 26ish girl and her fiance, neither knows much about cars at all.

74K miles on the truck, and some issues, none of which bother me, but my tool collection FAR outweighs what I've spent on the rover, and I like to work on cars.

I paid $2500 for it, and it was in very good shape, with new tires and a fresh radiator. She (the previous owner) was not thrilled with the sale price, but that is what one of these is worth with some issues.

At the least, take it to a good independent rover shop, and get a second opinion.

There are usually good ones in most major cities. STAY OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP.

And I agree, these are amazing vehicles, and, apart from my motorcycles, my favorite I've ever owned, but they're quirky, and need constant attention.

If you're not the type to want to mess with your car, it's time to part ways with it, or be prepared to spend a lot of money.

Best of luck.

 

You will not get any more than Official Kelley Blue Book New Car and Used Car Prices and Values

Buyers will use this against you.
They have done so against me and my 2001.

As a result, the value of my 2001 has dropped $1,000 just due to kbb and the roll from 2013 to 2014.

This is why is it important not to waste money on the 2004 land rover.

Plus it takes premium gas.
Plus it will get 15 mpg tops.
Probably 13 MPG in reality.

I keep my rover as I have had them since 1997 since I bought a 1997 new.

My 2001 is worth $3,000 to $4,000 now - what people will actually pay for it.
If my engine overheated I would donate mine to charity for a write off.
Or sell it for $1,000 or so to anyone.
I would not fix it.
Not cost effective.

I bought my 2001 as a project - knowing full well I could have lost most of what I paid for it.
I got lucky. For now anyway.

I don't drive it much.
Work and back.
That's it.
And it probably consumes $150 of gas a month or more.

 

Actually,
For the $150 of gas I spend, I could almost make a car payment on a new Honda which would take $50 of gas.

So, $100 "free" and that could go toward a new car payment.

Yet - you can't price the value of the "glory" of driving a Land Rover.
It is a tradition many swear by and swear at.