Guys,

It seems that every week there is another realtively new Discovery owner who just recently bought the Discovery of their Dreams (usually at a relatively high price) and suddenly they encounter problems that they just cannot seem to afford to fix.

Their Dream Disco soon turns into the Beast From Hell with problems they never envisioned then they are all bummed out over the repair costs, especially if they are dealing with dealerships or even the typical independent "specialist" or close friend who knows a lot.

I see threads all the time bemoaning the expensive problems they face, but then they want to sell it to someone else and get mad that they were only offered a measly thousand dollars or whatever for a vehicle that they are wanting to bail out on. Like the next buyer should basically refund their dollar output for the damn thing soi they don't loose their shirt on their investment.

I am wondering how many such "active" owners are currently in this boat.

This may not be the correct group to post this under but it seems to be the largest ownership group and also the one with the most of this particular population. If it belongs in a different section, please move it.

I want to pick up another Disco, and i might be willing to take on one somebody is ready to give up on, but the cash value of such a vehicle is not very high in my opinion.

And as we all know, when you do start fixing anything on one that has not been maintained real well, a small fix can grow to be a real monster.

So I guess I would like to know from this group, how many of you have a running driveable Disco that you are happy with compared to how many have a DEAD or Dying Disco they wish they had never bought?

Wonder what that ratio is?

 

I just bought a 04 DII 4 months ago and pulled my block today...I have owned a few of these animals. from now on when i buy ...i willl be imediatly be pulling the drive train and rebuilding it... Then i have nothing to worry or bitch about.. i will be looking for a DI and will be doing a TDi 300 this winter...

 

I have a 2002 with 58k, bought it almost a year ago and am doing great. Just had to replace the fuel pump, my belt and an idler pulley.

So i am a somewhat happy disco owner!

 

I bought my 2000 with 83K about two and a half years ago with a bad engine. I installed a used engine with about the same mileage. Next weekend it will be turning 100K. The only mechanical problem I have had was the PAS pulley walking forward on the pump shaft. I replaced it with the PAS pump from my old engine. Every other repair I have done has been normal maintenance (including front shaft rebuild with grease-able joints), and upgrades (CDL, front brush bar, OEM auxiliary lights, remove the running boards).

I don't know if the head gaskets on the used engine were original, or had been replaced already, but I check the coolant level every week, have never had a leak, and am flushing it before summer is over. If and when the head gaskets fail, it will just make for a long weekend.

I will get rid of it either when something breaks that I myself am not able to repair (which is nothing that comes to mind readily), or when gas gets so expensive that I can not afford to drive it (and I then may just get an econobox to drive daily, and keep this for weekend fun).

 

I used to have a D1 until it got totalled by a tractor trailer. I knew the risks involved with buying a D2 but figured if the price was right I would buy one. Well I got one (cheap IMHO) and don't mind working on it. Once you get all the "fluff" out of the way, it's just another internl combustion engine... to me anyway..... If it doesn't work out then I have a good parts vehicle.

Eric

 

I think a lot of it has to do with the level of care the previous owners exercised when they had it. If you buy one that was neglected or abused you can expect a lot of problems.

It does seem like a lot of people have bought one that maybe they shouldn't from some of the threads I often see. If you are careful and can do the work yourself, most of you guys sound like you are enjoying it.

I bought mine with very little other than a short test drive and a good once over. It did sit for a while when I was going thru the brakes, primarily becuase of the cost of calipers and my wife giving my son money that I was planning on using on the Disco. He had lost his job and has 5 young kids and we couldn't say no when he would call for help.

I finally got the things replaced on mine that were keeping it grounded and I am enjoying it daily.

I would like to hear from the guys who have one that is currently out of commision and what they plan to do as well as those happy owning a running one..

 

2003 Disco 2 with about 130,000 miles now- no problems to date
Bought about 8 months ago for $5K at 118,000 miles (it is in the dreaded vin range ) - might not have purchased if had visited this site before buying
Did all DISCOMIKEs 60K service
Rebuilt front drive shaft with greasable U-joints
New Magnacor wires and Bosc +4 plugs
Do not think engine has been replaced but am not having any problems right now (how would I know for sure?)
Installed oil pressure guage
Using Mobil 1 10W30 Full Synthetic Oil and Mobil 1 filter

I recently took it on a long trip 300+ miles with following stats:
Oil pressure warm at Idle 14-15 psig
Oil pressure at 1500 rpm 38 - 40 psig
Oil Pressure at 2000 rpm and up 48 psig

Ran mostly highway at exactly 60 mph (almost all interstate)
I got 17.8 mpg which I think is pretty good for this car.

(DISCOMIKE - I'd be glad to hear your opinion with these stats)

Is it possible I got one of the "rouge" good engines? It would seem to me that if the oil pump was going to go it would already have done so by 130,000 miles or is that just wishful thinking? I am keeping a close eye on the oil pressure especially at idle. It seems the numbers I am getting are nearly new car spec numbers and thats with the Mobil 1 full synthetic.

My experience has been very good so far (knock on wood). I figure with the price I got it for I could probably drop in an engine and still be about right but would prefer not to. I'd love to get what I did on my 1994 Disco 1 - 251,000 miles with never having to have replaced the head gasket or any major repairs. I don't really expect that good an experience but I'd love to get another 50K out of this 2003 without having to do too much major work.

 

I bought a 98 D1 last January after 6 months or research and selection criteria. I finally found an ex California car in fantastic condition that the PO spent $8000 on repairs (good records including a new oil pump). I had a 2 hour mechanical inspection by a knowledgeable shop that confirmed all the good work that was done on the truck. At the point of purchase I felt I had little to do. However I did not have the oil pressure checked. POS, that was the problem and I missed it. I’ve cleaned out the bottom + new bearings with a small gain in oil pressure. This is now to be my winter project, so it is parked for now.
My plans are to try to save the V8 at minimal cost, if not out it goes and a 300 TDI goes in. Get on with it.

 

I bought a 2003 HSE Disco II with 48,000 in October of 2007 for $12,500. Currently in Aug of 2010 have 88,000. Now that I see what these other people have paid, maybe that was too much. Previously my car was dealership maintained.
After a Stealership 0'2 sensor debockle for $1700. I have learned to work on my own Rover and read the forums like a commited Christian studies their Sunday school lesson! Yep my dad is a retired minister. I just fixed my Rover again by my own diagnosis with bad rear 0'2 sensors.

I Did all DISCOMIKEs 60K service @ 63k b/c it was winter in Indiana

• Rebuilt front drive shaft with grease able U-joints, use Mobil 1 Full Syn grease. Cost $345. Probably could have bought a TomWood for that much!

• New Magnecor 8mm wires and Bosch +4 plugs ....Now using E'3 Plugs Runs great! + Crankshaft sensor...elective surgery because I found a good deal.

• I have a digital oil pressure guage ready to install, but have not gotten to it yet. Also I run ScanGaugeII to monitor water temp and cold air temp. Normally runs 188 to 205F in the summer.
• Replaced A/C condensor fan this month. Must have been not working for over a year. Only noticed it not running afer listening to my girlfriends moms Discovery car running with the A/C on!
• I use Mobil 1 10W40 Full Synthetic Oil & K&N 3001 Long Filter with a FilterMag. Change every 5000 miles on the dot.
• Just installed Volo-Fuel Saver Chip tonight will post with updates after 500-800 mile break in. If that is even true. Now using Gas Book on the iPhone to track exact mileage. Currently getting 11.9mpg on city driving. That is idling in the parking lot checking my email. So a little 0mpg in the mix. Not bad for a 7 year old rover.
• See my Signature for all the other Mods. Mostly all preventative maintenance and fun Armor form Botorff.
• Just keeping my fingers crossed when it my turn for big fix.
• The hardest part about owning a Rover is diagnosing the problems it has~! Definitely a labor of love

 

Perhaps it was the years of Sunday school, vacation bible schools, and the like that gives us the patience to work on these things. (I was a P.K. also- my dad is in the process of retiring- Lutheran minister)