No other major differences. The quality of the headlights and tail lights is a fair bit better in the '99-'02s. Headlights are glass and the tail lights are a much better plastic vs that of the '03-'04s. You will not find an '03-'04 without cracked tail lights today, and no replacements are manufactured. That said, I am still partial to the facelifted D2s.

Correct on the CDL. As for HDC/TC/ABS, all D2s from '99-'04 had those.

The drains are the issue, but it requires dropping the headliner to clear them and the barb that the hose slides onto is notorious for breaking. Poor quality plastics are also notorious on Disco 2s.

 

I’m pretty sure that LR has never sold a diesel vehicle anywhere in North America.

 

Looks like I got my wires crossed and its true that LR never sold D2 TD5 in Canada but you might be able to import one (check your local laws & regulations, blah, blah, blah) for less than a bmw diesel swap.

 

@gecko951 you can import a Spanish LHD D2 to Canada without issue - BUT it will run you about $16000 last time I checked about 13000 for an 04 and 3000 for shipping - and they are pretty much all manual transmission

 

You guys are killing my dream of moving to CA for the beautiful women, free healthcare and diesel Land Rovers!

Next stop, AU or SA?

 

Just come to Europe, we have plenty TD5's and next to none V8. And we like them manual.

Wouldn't mind having a V8 as a sunday drive tho, but definately as a manual.

 

I am really considering moving to europe! I would absolutely love to have access to the vehicle selection out there! I'm working on getting my italian citizenship, so might be an Eu pass holder soon enough. Always wanted to travel there, so figure might as well do it as a citizen! Who knows i might just stay, haha. Lots of good health care in europe too i hear :P

 

Having had D1 and D2 ... I'd get a D2 without question. Better driving experience, better looking, less rust issues.

Good god do not get a P38

 

i don't know. i've had all three, a D1, a D2 (several actually) and a P38.

i'd buy and drive any of them again.

D1 and D2 will go anywhere. ****ing mountain goats.

the P38 on air is just a pleasure to drive.

all three are fairly simple and easy to work on.

 

A couple additional observations after some very good input:

- You mention a “tall” family. How many and how tall? I’m 6’7” and I fit like a glove. Headroom is great and leg room is just enough- if maybe a scoshe small, but I’ve done many multi thousand mile trips in D2s and not been torn up from it. The back seats are good ish. 6’+ and you start to get tight. And if you get a 7 seater, small kids only- I sat back there once and it took me a few minutes to get in and out. The second row is best for kids to teens (who aren’t apes). Front seats are heaven. Lumbar support can be adjusted and they rock for long drives and not having a step over to get in is wonderful. The steering column doesn’t adjust as much as I’d like, and I have to get in with my right leg first to get under the wheel, but after you get the entry drill down, it’s not hard at all and easier than my lifted Jeep (with a step over), or my S4 (just friggin low).

- How good are you at wrenching and how hard core is the off road you are planning? A D1 is more simple but parts are getting harder. A D2 is still pretty old, but parts are easy to get. I ask about wrenching because although they are wonderful machines that can be made to be very reliable, and are quite robust for off road, they are still a relationship. This is not a Toyota or even a Jeep, and it will take time to learn the platform and perform the work. It took me a year to get my last D2 right, and I ended up selling it because the boss was tired of all the time I spent on it.

The off road part gets into straight up dimensions. Are you rock crawling, mud, desert? I’m assuming rocks if you want 33-35” tires. The longer overhang and overall dimensions can make the D2 a bit more to handle than a D1. I’ve seen videos of both D1 and D2 on the Rubicon, but it’s slow going and damage certainly occurs. Also, take into consideration those size tires, the gears required, and probably lockers, and I’d start to get concerned on skinny pedal application.

- Diesel conversion. We have an OM617 powered G Wagen, so I can see the affinity for the power a diesel delivers. However, drive a D2 in 4 low and you’ll see that engine (4.0 or 4.6) has similar torque delivery and smoothness characteristics. In my opinion, it’s really not worth it, unless you don’t mind this being a long term project. Plus with diesel fuel costs being where they are, and the time it would take to adapt something- even a Rover TDi- it’s too much effort.