Just bought my Land Rover Disco 2003 SE7 from M and I motors near Chicago in Aug. of 2013 88,000 miles on it from Kentucky. I started noticing over heating, and a loud ticking noise when idoling. I took it to my local land rover dealer in Wisconsin, he tested it and said there where many problems with the engine... Thermostat stuck closed, exhaust gas leaking into cooling system, warn out oil pump, dropped cylinder sleve inside engine block, bad valves, and piston problems. I don't know what to do I still owe $7,000 on it, the mechanic said I need a new engine, and estimated the cost with labor at $14,000.00. I can't believe there are this many problems with the engine, I only put 6,000 miles on it since I have owned it, and did everything by the book. What should I do? Travis

 

Buy a used low mileage 4.0 motor. They go for around 1000-1500 here in CA. Another 1000 to have an independent mechanic install it.

NEVER GO TO THE DEALER.

 

Thanks, is it normal to have this many things go wrong with the stock engines? I don't know much about cars, I always wanted a land rover, but I need something reliable. I thought you could get close to 200,000 miles on an engine. My headlights also just stopped working, the brites work and the bulbs in the lights are fine, but they won't turn on. I checked the fuses they are good.

 

2003 is notorious for engine problems, many were changed under warranty. Sorry, but don't buy a discovery if you want maintenance fee reliability. Great cars, but need love, lots of it.

You might have recourse with M and I as they sold you a lemon.

 

The headlight issue might be your light stalk needs rebuilding.

 

Thanks for the info. I do like the vehicle, I just wish I would have done more research. I will talk to an independent mechanic and see about an engine. Illinois lemon law doesn't cover used vehicles.

 

The truck overheated because your thermostat was closed, it may have blown a headgasket, cracked your block, or both, either of which will increase the chance of slipping a cylinder liner, which in turn will also give you bad compression (piston problems). Bad oil pumps comes with the territory of the 2003's and the other model ford owned Land Rover Discovery II models. It was kind of a chain reaction.


IMO, you owe more than its worth right now even if it was in running condition. My advice is to sell it as is to someone who may want it for parts, part it out, or junk it. Just cut your loses and move on. Its not worth the trouble to fix it, you'll just put yourself in more debt for a truck that is still going to require a lot of love down the road.


I am truly sorry about your truck,
good luck,
Dane.

 

Hate to be a downer and know that you really wanted an LR, but I got to side with Dane on this one. Even if you dropped a new engine installed for about $3k, there are still no guarantees that it will be trouble free. Truly a bummer that all this happened to you. It is a tough call - to plow more money into it or cut your losses. Just depends I guess on two things: 1. If you've got the money to pop a new engine and other maintenance issues that will invariably arise, then hang onto it. 2. Unload the truck as is and simply continue making payments on the truck until paid off.

 

So you have approximately 94kmi and the dealer is saying you have a worn out oil pump? Did you search your VIN to see if it falls into the "bad oil pump" range? Maybe someone here knows of a good independent shop that you could take it to for a second opinion. Can't believe the dealer wants $14k! You could get a 2005 LR3 for a lot less!
I agree with Dane!'s assessment though... if it's truly shot, part it out and move on. If you really want a Land Rover then maybe look for a D1. Just don't buy a Freelander!

 

Like Dane said, the engine is failing because it has been allowed to seriously overheat at some point recently. Any engine is in danger of failing if it overheats of course, but these aluminim block engines are even more sensitive to it. Otherwise, I've found them to be quite durable with many people I've talked to getting well over 200,000 miles out of them.

Also, yes, the dealer is the absolute last place you want to take it (or any other car that's out of warranty) for anything. Find a reputable local specialist shop. Around here there are two or three specialty Land Rover shops that do excellent quality work and are a fraction of the cost of the dealer. (example: complete engine overhaul with limited lifetime warranty, $5,500. Head gasket job, both sides, $800, complete brake job including rotors, $750... Etc)

I'd also suggest trying to take it back to the dealer where you bought it, under the complaint they sold you a (sorry, never mind, I notice you bought it last year, so returning it withought a fight will be unlikely)

I love mine, very capable and comfortable, but they are more complicated and labor intensive to maintain than many 4x4 vehicles. That has to be taken into account.