Hi Everybody, Looking for some opinions on a possible purchase. 2001 Disco 2 SE. 130,000 miles. Been kept in Garage when not being driven. Is in very good condition, inside and out. Over $3k spent at Dealership to fix various engine seals. Headliner has been replaced, and sunroof drain tubes are connected properly. Reason I am interested in this vehicle - It has the 'Off-Roady' bits that I wish I had on my LR3 - Full expedition roof rack, aftermarket front and rear custom-fabricated metal bumpers, rear swing-out tire carrier with gas can, lifted suspension (air suspension has been replaced with Coil system), nice big chunky tires with a lot of tread left, and some roof-rack mounted lights. Price is $4000. Known issues - AC does not work at all. Don't know why. Has never worked for as long as current owner had had the vehicle (about 3 years). If it wasn't for this, I would be much more interested, but I do not have the time for another 'project'. I would like to think it just some more AC gas, but I very much doubt it will be this simple - my gut feeling tells me there must be a leak somewhere in the system, and diagnosis and fix could get quite expensive, right? May also need new AC Compressor I suppose. Driver window does not work - This is probably a cheap fix, less than $100, and an hour or 2 of my time. I think there is a pretty good Atlantic British how-to-fix video. Brakes are a little soft, with intermittent low brake fluid warning light. Needs a top-off occasionally. Suggesting that Brake Lines may need to be replaced. Initial test drive was good - No weird noises or engine / transmission / drive train issues. No vibrations. No suspension knocks or clunks. Although it has the Off-Road components, it has almost definitely not been driven in hard conditions. I don't see any signs of dried mud underneath. Has basically been used as an occasional weekend camping vehicle. What do you think? The price seems very fair to me, considering the additional components. I do my own wrenching unless it involves the skill and tools needed to handle engines, transmissions, differentials. I do not know a local mechanic who is familiar with these Disco's. Reason I am considering this vehicle is because I want an additional Land Rover that is more Off-Road ready than my LR3. The alternative is to put thousands of $ into the LR3 (Bumpers, Roof Rack, bigger Tires, etc). Talk me out of this please... Cheers, Simon in Madison, WI.

 

Normally I use a Magic 8 Ball to make most life decisions, but this will work too.
If it's Heads you buy it.

 

FWIW, every vehicle that's over 10 years old is going to be a project. $4000 into the LR3 would make it offroad capable and then some. A roof rack doesn't help you get through a trail. Suspension, tires and good driving technique will get your further. A winch is pretty much needed if you ever go out alone.

LR3 lifts are like $75 or so for a set of lift rods. Tires can be bought for $1000. Winch and mount would be $800. If you decided to do bumpers, you're looking at a couple grand for them.

My vote is make the LR3 what it's supposed to be, and leave that D2 for someone who wants a project

 

Don’t do it.

 

If it has dex cool itll need head gaskets soon....and if your worried about fixing an AC system this probably isnt the truck for you.

 

I think a 130k D2 is going to be a project no matter which way you look at it.

 

I have to agree old is old - it may run beautifully for a couple of years or be a can of worms.

But you already have a brake issue to sort out, a leak to found and resolved.

Could be simple as replacing 4 rubber brake lines or a much more complex problem cost a lot more.

But what else has not been addressed brakes are a critical component if that has been ignored other issues may have also been left to get worse.

I would pass - of you did your own work then it is a maybe but even then I would be iffy.

 

 

Yeah, so I called the seller this morning and said no. Kind of bummed, but I think it's the right decision. If I had some spare space and time to work on it, and store it, I would have probably picked it up. It has had the head gaskets done. That was part of the three thousand dollar repair bill at Fields Land Rover here in Madison. Thanks everybody for helping me make sensible choices, I really appreciate this community. Next on my Land Rover list is a few LR3 repairs - going to rebuild the air suspension compressor (researched, repair kit arriving in a couple days), noise from one of the components attached to engine belt(s) - clearly I have a bearing starting to go, have swapped out most of the tensioners and pulleys within the last year, so perhaps it's the a.c. compressor or alternator. Not going to drive it until I've diagnosed it. And my gas gauge (physical and digital) have finally died, after being temperamental for the past year or so. Almost definitely caused by dented gas tank, which has messed up the internal gas level sending units inside the tank. There are 2 of them, one at either end of tank. Have researched, and I will be getting a whole new gas tank. Apparently not too difficult to swap out. I will probably also get a metal gas tank protectoon plate, to avoid doing the same thing again. My LR3 does have the G4 factory installed Warn winch and Mantec front skid plate, which is one of the reasons I will just stick with this one, and gradually add other off-road components. Thanks Again, Cheers, Simon.

 

We love our DII's, but you will not find anyone here with the illusion that they are a low maintenance vehicle or cheap to maintain properly.