My daughter has 200k and is going strong, good oil pressure, no leaks. Now, it has had the headgaskets done due to her overheating it (someone mentioned the common faults thread - it would be good to read that).

Well taken care of it could go 300k, the problem is while many were well taken care of by their original owners (read: rich suburbanites who could afford LR dealer rates), the dropping value put many in the hands of people who have not taken good care of them.

To me the longevity faults are the poor block/head/head gasket design at the bottom corner - just too little metal there to ensure good sealing at high (read overheating) pressures; and the lowish oil pressure coupled with crappy oil pump and pcv system design (plugged pcv system degrades oil quality due to build up of crankcase gases. Had one 130k mile Disco would barely pull 7psi oil pressure idling with 20w50 and 2 cans of STP - current 130k mile Disco idles at 50 psi and runs 60 down the road (I know, I didn't think they went that high because the bypass spring opens before that - I think this one was modified).

As others have said you will have to maintain it - poor quality plastics throughout result in numerous faults and failures.

Regarding the trans, had a buddy who was a BMW drivetrain engineer here at the Greer plant in SC. Had him ask the resident ZF engineering rep how long the trans should last (same trans as in BMW's basically) - his reply was 400+

WAY better than a Jeep on road or off from a drivers perspective - maybe not from a mechanics perspective though.

 

The Jeep 4.0L is a great motor. I owned several Jeeps with that engine, and while I never had any major engine related issues the thing with a Jeep is the engine may last to 300K, but the rest of the Jeep will not!!!

I've owned plenty of LR's with mileage on them from 32K all the way up to 162K. I honestly never replaced any major engine parts and not a one every left me stranded. I know LR's get a bad rap for being unreliable, but if taken care of with regular maintenance it should last you a good amount of time. I find a LR's weakness here in TX to be the interior/paint. Plastic gets brittle, headliner sags, and the paint will fade if it isn't kept in a garage.

I've owned Mitsubishi Montero's, Land Rovers, Jeeps, and Hummers. Out of all of those my 08 Hummer H3 Alpha, my 98 D1 LSE 50th Anniversary, and my 04 D2 have been my favorite for sure.

If you get a LR that has been maintained vs just sitting on one of those No Credit Pay N Go Car Lots, and you're mechanically inclined to keep the maintenance you should be fine.

 

Hi

I have an acquaintance that owned a Jeep Liberty from new and had gone through two engines before finding it needed a third. He got rid of it and bought a Ford Explorer. I like Fords... I have a Ford E350 RV that is ultra reliable and, despite being 20 years old walks through smog always with very good figures.

But I also have a 2004 SE with 120,000 that I am fixing a head gasket on. Whether it will reach 300,000 is a matter of conjecture but I will maintain it and see where it gets to, while enjoying a really comfortable drive in a very capable vehicle.

 

I miss my old Jeep's engine. Drove the truck to the end of it's life (25 odd years) and the only thing I ever did for the engine was oil change and one set of spark plugs (on a whim). Went to the wreckers with all the power intact.

I don't understand why they dropped it, used to be rumoured that it was why Chrysler bought the company.
I guess they made no repair money on it.

I do not expect the LR to last anywhere as long as she did.

 

Emission Laws is what killed off the 4.0L They had squeezed out all they could, but it just couldn't meet new emission laws. The 4.0L also cost more to make vs the 3.8L V6.

 

My car has 135K. I only really drive it in winter in the snow and salt. I'm pretty sure they never did the head gaskets. I wonder which will happen first: head gasket failure or failed inspection due to chassis rot

 

My son has a 2004 Pacifica with 270,000 miles on it. runs like a champ, every option available on it,and is scrapping it out because the K-frame is rotted out on the pass side, it will cost more to fix it than he paid for the car. Too bad as it has heated leather seats (front and rear), DVD player, pedal memory, nav unit behind the speedometer, power everything... Chrysler had a campaign to replace the K-frame but they said his has too many miles on it to be covered.
When it failed, it pushed him onto oncoming traffic and he barely got it off the road with the motor inches from the ground. No warning, just Bang.

Would love to find him a nice Disco1 to drive.

 

OP, it will cost you twice as much to go half as far in the LR

 

IMO the D2 and many other LR's are great provided you throw dosh at them either at a shop or home repairs/servicing. The Rover V8 has a reputation for being a sluggish, underpowered and 'thirsty' beast whatever vehicle they fitted it into.

 

These rigs aren't purchased for economy. We will be getting these rigs cheap for a while yet due to the younger generation not having a clue what a wrench is, and more D2's being parked.