Hi,

My name is Saar, I own a Jeep Cherokee XJ for the last 10 years and lately I started to think of replacing it with a Discovery TD5.
I'm trying to figure out what should I expect in terms of maintenance and cost.
I understood that there are few known issues:
1. Oil in the injectors harness
2. Air bags tend to blow (the suspension's ones)
3. ACE system???

What else?
(people here are being terrified by hearing the name landrover and I'm trying to understand is that for a real reason or just rumors.)

How hard is it to get the parts? can they be found online (eBay)?
One important thing, I'm maintaining my car alone, no mechanics/dealers.


I'm not driving a lot, my Jeep is doing ~8000km/year, I guess a D2 would do some more.

Any thoughts are welcome...
Thank you,
Saar

 

re: people here are being terrified by hearing the name landrover

Same here in the US, where we manage to keep our petrol ones plodding along. Air bags can be replaced or the system modded to coil springs only. ACE can be removed. The diesels seldom make it to the US. Many of us would love to have one, warts and all. You'll find more articles on the diesels in the UK based forums.

 

Hi,

Thank you for the answer, the petrol ones hardly got here...
What do you mean can be removed? "just like that"? won't the ECM (the main conputer, right?) go nuts due to that change?
Thanks,
Saar

 

Parts disconnected, different serpantine belt, dedicated ECU for the ACS powered down, etc. Fuse 15 in under hood fuse box is a start. May have to use a shop computer to reprogram other modules for non-ACS equipped mode.

 

Not sure why anyone would want to get rid of their ACE. I understand that people who don't really know what it does or haven't had a chance to experience the difference in control might want to just write it off, but believe me, people who have them, won't part with them. On and or off road, a stock D2 with ACE will out perform a stock non-ace truck any day, you even get nearly an extra 1.5"s of articulation.

 

I'm with you Mike. People want to add it, which is not very practical. And if you have it, just get it repaired.

 

What is going wrong there?
(I don't have it, as I wrote in the first place, I'm considering replacing my XJ with a D2)
Thanks,
Saar

 

If you are asking why the disco has a bad name, here you go:

1) The frame is sealed like crap. If yours isn't rusted through in a mere 10 years, best to clean it up and put/spray some kind of sealant. Lots of posts, like old oil, waxyoil, etc. I'm planning on Rust Bullet for mine. It was a CA car and saw no salty roads so is in good shape, just at least 1 Utah winter. I don't intend to put it through another until it is fully painted.

2) Mainenance, maintenance, maintenance. Inexcusable stuff like exploding drive-shafts (sealed shafts) or maintainable shafts that need to be removed every 3,500~5,000 miles in order to grease the center ball. I won't go much into the gas/petrol engine since you are looking at a diesel, but the engine was top-notch for 1960, it has a nice torque curve for off-roading, but other than that it's 1960s reliability at it's finest ie: junk. Consider yourself lucky to get over 100k miles without a cylinder lining dropping and just baby it until it fails. Pinned engines should be better but still only 15mpg for hardly any ponies.

3) Interior build quality. Headliner sags, Leather seats aren't noted to wear so hot, etc.

Now that I've bashed on Rover, here is why I keep mine:

1) Driving dynamics. It's bigger than my old ZJ, but the 100" wheelbase means it actually maneuver's off road more like a TJ and less like a Cherokee. It is just *fun* to drive.

2) Easy to work on. As far as the maintenance I've done so far, and between the free RAVE and this forum, it is one of the easier cars to work on.

3) It's different. I'm in Utah. Everyone has a Jeep. Not everyone has a built Land Rover.


Maintenance on a Land Rover, even a Gas one isn't that BAD, it is just time consuming. If you love the truck, dynamics, and design, then it's worth it. It's a fun hobby. If you aren't in love with the Disco, look at another vehicle.

 

Re: It's a fun hobby. If you aren't in love with the Disco, look at another vehicle

Good words to live by.