So I'm in a fix, and I'm wondering if anyone has some advice or opinions that might help me decide what to do.

I have a 2004 Discovery S, 105K miles. The car's in really good condition for the mileage, but the engine is shot. Two of the cylinders are misfiring, and there's a rattling noise coming from the bottom.

Now unfortunately I don't know much about cars, but my mechanic (whom I definitely trust) tells me that it's just not worth putting any more money into this engine, and he's recommending that we try to find a new / used / re-manufactured one.

ASSUMING he's right (which I do), would you think it makes more sense to buy a new engine and repair the car, or to sell the car as-is and buy a comparable used car?

I'm not sure where to find used / re-manufactured LR engines (but please feel free to direct me to places I should be looking..), but it seems I'll be spending at least $4K on a new engine. For that money, plus whatever I could get selling my truck as-is (anyone know how / where to sell a LR with a damaged engine?), should I not just buy a new Discovery?

Any input or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thank so much!

 

How much money have you sunk into your current vehicle? If everything else is in known good working order then it might be worth getting a new to you engine and rebuilding it. You could probably get maybe $2k on the high end for it depending where you are located. You can get an SE or better for pretty short money and probably lower mileage but you could be back in the same boat again. If you love your current Disco and dont want anymore engine issues get a new engine that has tophats, although that costs $$$

 

I would start with new spark plugs and wires.

Could you describe more of "a rattling noise coming from the bottom" ?

 

I agree with d7sec . Swap out the plugs and wires.

What did your mechanic tell you the pressures where in those two non firing cylimders?

 

When I was worried about my engine I got several opinions, luckily I was in a city with options. I talked to the dealer and four indy shops who were land rover specific.

Seriously two of them (including the dealer) wanted to sell me a new engine for 8 to $10k. One guy wanted the business desperately and offered the lowest price... two others (with busy shops) were honest and gave me real options at affordable rates.

I ended up having a failed camshaft which was causing the missing on two cylinders. The misfires were causing a light popping backfire through the air intake and a blinking SES light when under load.

I listened to the guys who correctly diagnosed the problem and told me they could put in a new camshaft, lifters, oil pump, timing chain, front cover, and a few other things for a reasonable labor rate and fair deal on the parts required. All in it did cost just under $2k.

Turns out I've put over 50,000 miles on it since.

Your guy could be right, but do yourself a favor and get a second and third opinion just for good measure.

Then again, this is how a whole lot of Discos are purchased on the cheap by those in the know.

So pardon me, but I'm skeptical when someone says someone told them they need a new engine.

 

I'm with these guys on getting more second opinions. I've bought 4 discos, all for under $2700 each, and all have had "bad motors"...from people in your situation with shops that they trust.

I also do some sales consulting to the mechanic shop industry. Most shops are good, but it's very tough to turn a profit on land rover work, and they honestly don't like messing with them because of the constant problems, and the fact that you can fix one issue (correctly), and another unrelated pops up shortly after, and then you have a royally pissed off customer asking for free work and threatening bad PR for you.

Most I've had to do on any of them (including an 03 in the death range) was some minor tuneup stuff.

These cars are funny, especially when you're buying/selling them. If you find the right buyer, you're going to get maybe $1500-$2k out of yours currently if you have a "blown engine". However, given some love, elbow grease, the right parts, and diagnostic/beer time, you can usually straighten them out.

That being said, there are many out there, (that I've passed on buying) that DO have blown motors, slipped liners, cracked heads, and what I would call "fatal wounds".

If you're just looking at it by the numbers, with what you can buy, then yep, sell it, get something else. You have to kinda love rovers to keep one of these things long term.

But man, when they run right, you gotta hand it to those limeys. They did good.

Good luck, and get more information. You need it. $4k is a lot of money to anyone. I'd bet this forum has people in all types of tax brackets, but $4k is $4k.