Hello,

I am int he market for a 04 Disco (like everyone else). I am soling looking at an 04 for obvious reasons pertaining to oil pump failures on the 03 models. The problem is I found a 03 with 111,000 miles that has a failed oil pump currently. They are asking 2500.00 ( I think it is probably too high). Am I right to assume that this will be a complete motor swap to resolve the problem? If it is a complete swap I would think from the research I have done that I am looking at 3-5000.00 for the swap if I do it myself. Of course I would upgrade the front drive shaft while I am at it which will add some cost.

What I am wondering is, is it worth the trouble or do I keep looking for a single owner 04 with the maintenance records and possible major work already completed.

Opinions?

Thanks
Chuck

 

Keep looking man.

 

keep looking for low milage 04 with will already have a CDL on it

 

Thanks!

That is what i thought, I just wanted reassurance as such.

 

Before you buy one, make sure you have a pre-purchase inspection performed so you don't buy any surprises.
By the way, how mechanical are you?

 

Pre inspection will save you money in the long run and its always nice to find a truck with service record history. I think having a one owner with service records is what you should be looking for.

 

My parameters are one or two owners and FULL service records. White, maroon or silver.

Doing a Head gasket job is not too much of a big deal for me. I have not physically rebuilt an engine myself but I have R&R many and did a frame off resto on a Grand National once.

 

Just because it's an 03 with a failed oil pump doesn't mean its any different than any other year with a broken oil pump. It happens literally all the time and has nothing to do with the VIN numbers. You treat this just like any other D2 with a oil pump failure. find out when it happend and how long they drove it that way. might need a new camshaft/lifters etc. but new engine? I highly doubt it.

ANY 03 with the initial VIN # issue would have exploded long ago and either been repaired or had a new (04) 4.6 installed already.

If you are really concerned about an 03 in the "VIN RANGE" get the carfax info and find out if and when it had a new engine put in or how they resolved any issues it may have had way back then. Every instance of this was resolved by the dealer while still under warantee so it should be documented.

I'll repeat myself again. Worrying about buying a 100,000 mile truck over the VIN # issue that would have been worked out years ago is just ignorant.

Now if you would rather have a CDL, thats a good reason to avoid an 03, but about the only valid one there is here in 2012.

Rant off.

 

I guess we know who owns an 03

 

I guess so and he likes it