I got burned with my 2003. I bought it back in November, drove it for less than a week before discovering it had a cylinder liner that had slipped. These 4.6 blocks are prone to doing this if they have ever run hot or overheated. If you see an '03 or '04 and you test drive it...take it to a mechanic with a sniff tester and stick it in the coolant overflow. If it goes crazy, take it back and run away as fast as you can. An exhaust gas analyzer will pick up if there are any combustible gases getting into the coolant from either a slipped liner or a bad head gasket. I learned the hard way on this so please don't repeat my very expensive mistake!

 

all 2003 dont have CDL's and the oil pump vin range doesnt matter at all.... pumps fail outside the vin range also all the time... stay away from 03's... i know i have one!!!!

 

thanks again guys

 

There will always be folks that have been burned who will squeak the loudest. Bottom line is this:

Any vehicle can have an oil pump fail. There have been plenty of folks that have had to put new engines in 04s. I know plenty of folks that have been happy with their 03s. Use caution when buying any used vehicle, including rovers. I didn't before I bought my 03 and I have had some issues, but nothing specific to the model year. You will probably have to put money into any "new" rover you buy. As far as 03s being more common than 04s... I think that is more a result of 04s being the last model year and having factory CDL.

I love my 03 each and every day I get into it and go somewhere, whether it be work or the mountains. Even the days I have to spend giving it some TLC ( and you will have plenty of those). So buy one that feels right. If you find an 04 at a great price, go for it. But ALWAYS do your due diligence and have it looked over by a quality shop if you have one near by. And maybe try to avoid the problematic VIN range if going with an 03... Just so you will sleep easier

 

Heres the deal.. I have an 03 and I absolutely love it! I haven't had any problems with it and I got an amazing deal on it as well. I looked for this truck for quite some time. I have other vehicles so it wasn't a must have, i took my time, test drove about 15-20 discos, some rovers as well and found the right one. This happened to be the cheapest of the bunch and it was in the best condition as well. I was up in the air between this and an 04. Sure, the 04 has the CDL, but i asked myself, do I really do that much off roading?? NO, i sure don't.. So, here I am. I haven't replaced anything but the front drive shaft (which I rebuilt myself over a weekends time). I keep the fluids checked, I change my own oil (I use nothing but synthetic's in the truck, all of my vehicles actually), and i'm planning on doing all of my own maintenance. I bought the head gasket kit from AB some time ago because i thought i had a blown head gasket, turned out it was my A/C sweat leaking down after i turned the truck off..

I guess all in all, my point is this.. You have to take your time and find the right one, don't rush it. The Disco is like a lady, If you rush into a relationship with her, bad things are bound to happen in the end. On the other hand, if you take your time and find the right one, its going to be a long, lasting and loving relationship that both of you can enjoy (at least thats what you hope for, lol)...

Good luck on your Disco search and don't let anyone discourage you. If you find the right Disco for you, get it, but don't rush into it, you will regret it.

Regards,

 

You'd squeek too if you put as much money and time as I have into a vehicle you only got to drive for a week.

 

Point to Jim!

 

Just responding to the part about offroading with out a cdl.. I don't have one and I do a lot of trail riding on some pretty hardcore trails and I couldn't tell you a time I ever prolly needed it. The traction control works like sexy magic. I do a lot of rock, steep mountian rocky forest trails. I dontdo much mud so that may be why I don't see the need for cdl. The only thing that ever seems to stop my 03 is not having enough ground clearance. I wouldn't sweat the cdl stuff. But I will say this.. You WILL want that cdl if you ever drop a driveshaft or snap and axle on the trail. With cdl you can just lock in one axle and limp home. Without cdl you're stuck.

 

No reason to exclude 99-01's...I have a late '01...unfortunately no CDL...but in phenominal condition with very low miles...55K actually. We see them here in Texas from time to time. I replaced plugs/plug wires and had the front PS rebuilt. I'm working through the 60K service now and will be done by next weekend I suppose...The wife and I REALLY like this thing. I am however pretty handy and have no problems addressing the challenges that these things have from time to time. As you've already read, if you're good with tools (no, you don't have to be a professional mechanic) these things are a pretty good value IMO...