I have seen quite a few new DISCO owners showing up here. Like a post COVID wave of ownership....That's GREAT!! Join the team... ask good questions AFTER doing some research. And we will all be happy to help out. But I have also read so many posts about people complaining about spending repair money or making cheap fixes. Seriously? you did see the manufacturer badge LAND ROVER...what that meant in the 60's, it does not mean now. It has been a 'luxury' brand since the 1980's and nearly all parts cost more. There are of course SOME good ways to save cash....for example, the Hyundai purge control valve for 25$ vs OEM for 60$ or more....but basically, if you REALLY love your DISCO, you better plan to spend the money. Either you will spend it up front buying one that has already been rebuilt for 20,000, or you will spend your money in the long run. SURE...some of us hit on a good one now and then for cheap, but do NOT let that fool you.....

On my drive in to work, I noticed that someone had purchased a golden 2003 disco. They had kids and a home, but probably did not have a lot of spare cash around. Well....the disco seemed to be a daily driver for about 4 months, and I would see it in and out of the driveway. Then, one day the disco was up by the side of the house with the hood up...next thing...a for sale sign in the windshield...then it was gone..... although I do not know the real issue, it was probably the usual head gasket fail. Moral of story......don't buy one unless you do your research.

On the other hand, if you are willing to cut a few knuckles and ready to spend at least what you paid for your 'inexpensive' DISCO in spares/repairs, then you are in LUCK. Because there are so many used and NOS and new parts out there for you!! You can do nearly ALL repairs at home, with the correct tools and time and effort. But those cost $$ as well......

READ THIS:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...sf0/edit#gid=0

notice his original purchase price?? 3000$...ooohhhhh that's seems soooooo NICE for a great looking truck, but then the cash starts flowing.....

it's from this great guy who had a long running thread, everything that could go wrong did, and how much time and money it took to fix just about EVERY bit of his rig. And I applaud him for his diligent recording of costs and his great thread on all the work he did:

https://landroverforums.com/forum/me...cvhyatt-73521/

you will not scrape by owning a disco 2 on a small budget OR without doing some work on it yourself. It is a great vehicle to learn about engines , electronics (and NANOCOM!!), interior/body, suspension and everything in between because you can do the work with a minimal skillset as long as you READ about how to do it. So be prepared......... !!!!

EDIT: here is the RAVE pdf for anyone who does not have it. Not my site. Not sure how log it will be available, so download your copy soon!
https://discoii.wordpress.com/resources/

 

The key is the willingness and time to do it yourself. If you paid a shop to keep one of these on the road. We daily our two discos but it's a constant battle to keep them running well and the timing is never great when stuff goes wrong but I do all of my own work and only have street parking...about to go change another water pump in the cold.

Another point to add is they are old. At this point it's not even Land Rover issues that can cause these to go down but parts failing due to age. You buy any late 90s into early 2000s vintage vehicle and you'll go nuts trying to make everything work as it should (heated seat elements broken from dogs or knees repeatedly abusing front seats or head liners or rusted out light connectors).

 

This is as great thread and thank you for getting it going. My 2004 is Disco #3 for me.

I'm not historically one that works on my own vehicles but I've done a fair amount of my own work and helped various mechanics find/fix issues. This forum is a wonderful resource and each reader can decide where their limits are and how "manage" their Discovery adventure.

All in all these are great trucks but old technology. They were built a long time ago in a far away land not really known for automotive excellence. Be patient, ask questions and realize that what works for one may not work for another for unknown reasons except that its a Land Rover. Oh, and we love them, right?

 

Bravo, xrad, bravo.

 

Excellent summary XRAD. What I find great about these trucks is that they are basically 80's technology with a few 90's tweaks. This makes them relatively simple to work on and because they have a dual purpose as not just a mode of transportation but also the ability to drive where there aren't necessarily roads, there's a large base of enthusiasts and suppliers which make ownership that much more engaging and to some extent, possible. At this stage of their existence these trucks are quickly moving out of the category of a viable mode of transportation (actually, have already moved out of that category for most people), and are becoming a labor of love for those of us willing to accept the challenges that come with wanting one out in the driveway. Or six, as the case may be. Since its inception I heard nothing but horror stories about the CEL, a mysterious light on the dash that was diabolically designed to come and go whenever it detected that your wallet was pressing too hard on the seat cushion. I'd spent the last 30 years with nothing but pre-OBD cars in my fleet, the Disco was my first exposure to the technology and I find it not only extremely useful but a welcome addition to the toolbox.

I think that buried somewhere in those two observations are some of the core tenets of Disco ownership. You are responsible for actively seeking out answers among the widely available resources when it comes to doing right by your wallet and your truck. Relying on someone else to do that (a shop for example) will surely result in disappointment in the experience, if not ruin for the entire relationship. And if doing battle with the OBC gods you puts you off, then you are likely not cut out for a good portion of what it means to drive a Disco. While not everything is OBC governed, since most states require a clean bill of health in order to drive it on the road then you'd better be prepared to embrace what it tells you and act accordingly.

In reality, it's much like owning a vintage anything. You do this not because it comes easily, but because there's more to it than the on-the-surface satisfaction of ownership. That's where people go wrong when they assume owning a Disco will be "cool".

 

So wait, we don't just take it to the dealer ?

Hahaha kidding enjoyed your post... owning one (or multiple) of these is a bit of a commitment indeed.

 

I never understood why people think 19 + year old trucks will just run, Toyota's and Jeeps of this age also have their issues an quirks. You need to be a bit OCD on maintenance to keep these happy, add to that many of us actively drive on FSR's and rough trails just makes things wear a bit faster.

 

I agree. My son has a 20+ year old Forerunner and he works on it as much as I work on my LR’s.

 

I like seeing that replies are from members with at least 200 posts! Serious Disco owners! They understand and commit to the challenge. I hope new owners keep doing what it takes to maintain their vehicles. And don't be shy. Ask us good questions....and get good answers!

 

This is true to an extent, but my 2000s GMs are very reliable. Specifically my '00 Tahoe. Has 305k miles, rust bucket, bought it flopped on its side for $600... but other than the work I did to get it back on the road when I first bought it, it's been rock steady for the last 30k miles. Only thing I've really had to do to it is exhaust (rust) and ball joints.

Also have a '97 Cherokee with 345k miles on it. That thing has also been great, save for one of the freeze plugs rusting thru and the rear end going out due to a leaky pinion seal and the PO not keeping it filled up. It was empty when we got it.

And come to think of it, the same is true for my '02 Silverado 2500 (gasser). I've also put 30-35k miles on it... now around 270k. It's had a couple issues like leaky exhaust manifold gasket and a seeping radiator tank, but I have worked that truck hard and it has also never let me down, again, save for the work I did initially when I first picked it up.

20 year old vehicles, and specifically the Disco's competitors, can be super reliable. To me, that's not a reason to not own a Disco, but it is a good reason to own supplementary vehicles unless you have either the cash or time to give the Disco the extra regular attention it demands.