First off, I work at a BMW dealership. We had a customer trade in an '02 Discovery II Se with 67k miles. The truck runs and drives fine. Everything works.The "service engine soon" lightis on. The valve cover gasket is leaking (passenger side). I'mgoing to check with our techs to see if they can read the code.

Is there anything in particular I need to look for. I looked through the forum and found, 60k service, head gaskets, oil leaks, etc.

My wife will be driving the truck. It will be her primary vehicle. We will also use it to go to NC mountains on occasion. Off roading will be limited to Forest Service roads. We tinker with old Corvettes. So, I'm used to, "Oh those (insert vehicle name) do that." I just not sure what "that" is on a Disco.

If I'm going to do this, I need to make a decision pretty quick. I have wholesalers lined up for the truck. Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

Any service history? Seems like that would be the biggest thing. If everything has been serviced on time that would be a huge plus. Of course find out what the engine code is.

As far as I know Disco II had big improvements over Disco I's (there is a thread below with a nice article in it https://landroverforums.com/m_41117/tm.htm).

 

Well, if this helps any, during the 60k services it is recommended you change out your ignition wires and plugs. The coils are difficult to reach unless you take off the air intake manifold, so you can go ahead and yank your upper manifold, and change out your rocker (valve) cover gaskets (go ahead and change both)at that time. You'll have to drain your coolant because to reach the passenger side rocker cover you have to remove a heater hose. So, since you'll be doing that, change out your t-stat, and if you want to get high speed go ahead and have the water pump changed out. Since you'll be taking your fan off to change your serpentine belt, change out your fan clutch and both of your idler pulleys. Keep your fan, but it is recommended you change out your fan clutch.

Underneath the truck, on your front shaft from the transfer case to the front diff, is a double knucle (aka cardon, aka Hooke's Joint) joint with two u-joints. Connected to the diff is another u-joint, with a grease fitting. The two u-joints at the knuckle do not have grease fittings, and fail, and should be changed out as soon as possible.

+1 on checking the service history. Discos require a little more maintenance than your average vehicle, but man they drive nice! Look good too.

Some prices for the above...
$100 Valve cover gaskets + screws
40$ T-stat - it is inside a plastic enclosure external to the engine housing
you have two choices with wires
8mm magnecor with busch +4, or, just gowith stock wire from dealer and some rover-onlychampions. It is really a matter of what web forum you go to as to what wires they recommend. I went with the magnecor and +4 fusion, because Ifeel that is getting the hottest spark possible and burning every bit of fuel in the cylinder. I've had them for 1500 miles, others on here alot longer.
Magnecor 8mm - 130$ plus 6 dollars a plug
$175-225 Front shaft u-joints. Take the shaft off yourself, carry it to a shop that specializes in drive shafts. They will do the work and balance it for around dollars, parts and all. Not a recommended DIY. Mine were starting to vibrate. I tried to do it myself. Bleah. I changed the clutch on my 318i. I would do that again before I try to mess with u-joints on that truck again. It fixed my vibrations. If they fail, they will slap your tranny to the tune of about 4-5000 dollars.

$150 (maybe more) Fan clutch - I bought one from Atlantic British, others recommend OEM; I recommend OEM too.If they fail, they will send shrapnel throughout your engine compartment. I changed it out just to be proactive.
Idler pulleys (I hadone failing on mine at 60K) 40 bucks for the left, 80 - 100 for the right.
$140 Water pump - bucks new at atlantic british. If you have the fan off, it is a simple matter of removing 8 or so screws to remove the pump. Howevah, the gasket is cemented on. I don't know what it was on my '03, but it took me about an hour and a half to scrape the mother-effin gasket off. I mention the pump, because if you go ahead and change it, you don't have to touch your cooling system for another 30000 miles.

All of the above change-outs can be done in one setting, and all in relatively the same location, and that list will pretty much rid you of alot of high-fail items and get some general maintenance out of the way.

Oh yeah, the radiator leaks quite easily. Check for leaks, especially where the plastic end pieces connect to the metal.

Sorry, edited for a typo, don't replace your coils at 60K.

 

That's exactly the type info I need. Thanks for the reply. BTW I can buy the truck for $8000.00 OTD. Does that sound cheap enough?

 

[quote]ORIGINAL: jkid
As far as I know Disco II had big improvements over Disco I's

I feel that thats over blown, PR to sell the new model.

 

Get the codes and get back to us. The vehicle is easy to work on and with your mechanic connections you should be OK.
By the way as per an erailer reply to you, you don't have to replace the coil at 60K and the v/c gaskets are not $100, call it a little mis information.
I am a retired service manager, sometime with Rover, so if you have any questions give me a shout.
303-862-7680
Colorado, 7 am to 8 pm

 

[quote]ORIGINAL: Landzu

X2. I have spent less and have never been left. My buddy has a 2000 and has dumped a lot for electronics. The shop he went to was a good shop, just one of those things. I think the main "big " improvement was that it is bigger.

 

Sorry, didn't mean to type coils in that earlier message, I meant wires and plugs. I don't think I've heard of them failing too often now that they are mentioned. And I paid 80$ or so at the dealer for new screws and valve cover gaskets. You can get them cheaper elsewhere.

 

Error code was P0455, Evap leak, per my technician. He cleared the code, checked the gas cap and told me to drive it to see if the code reappears. I'm going to drive it and see what happens. Wish me luck.

 

That sounds to me like it's in the right range. I got my 01 w/ 87K miles for 7 g's and felt a got a great deal. It's in very good condition and had no warning lights, weird noises, vibrations, leaks, etc... It had no service history either though. I got lucky though and found a couple dealer records, called themand found out it was dealer serviced it's whole life. As long as the check engine light isn't serious and your happy with everything else 8 g's seems like the right ball park.