Hi all.
Its been a long while.

After 16 years of owning a 2004 D2 and 120k miles during my ownership (167k miles total) Might be time to retire it mostly due to rust and likely in need of $4000 to bring it back to what it should be, that's just my estimate in parts doing most on the work myself.

Looking at this 2015 LR4 with 119000 miles in it priced at 5000$ because it needs work. Seller stated it's burning oil. Went to check it out and pulled the codes with the Torque app.
1) rattle, clunk noise and rough running
2) codes P0301 (red) cylinder one constant missfire
3) P0303 (green) cylinder 3 intermittent missfire.
4) P1315 (green)
5) Long term fuel trim Bank 2 went up to 20%
6) the rest of fuel trims somewhere between -6 to 6%
7) Coolant was kinda low and looked murky.
8) someone must have reset the check engine light? since some emissions tests were complete
9) light smoke from exhaust. Not coolant smell, owning a D2 I can smell it a block away.

All the numbers below at idle. Did not get to drive it.

Posting screenshots from Torque App.

Walk away or go take another look?

 

The rattle is the timing chain or its guides. 2 day job and 2K or 7k at the Shop. The cylinder 1 misfire is a little freaky so you are looking at head gaskets but owning a D2 like me, it is not hard to do. I always look at the items which can stop you getting home and if that chain goes, the engine is ruined. I am in the same boat as you, save the #1 piston, and I know the PO put in spacers to fool the (probably ) full Cats and the code which would come from the same. .

 

RUN. Don't walk.

 

It's the clunking that worries me the most.
I know a missfire rattle, there is no clunking with a missfire, unless it is a 70s motorcycle which I have rebuilt 4 of those.

 

Yea find another one, there is no cheap on LR4's, every one of those things is a major read flag. Remember these are complex modern engines not nice simple pushrod V8's.
My bet is timing chains and head gasket

 

Now its the clunking... But it may be the start of a very slippery path.
Depending on the level of care and maintenance, and it doesn't sound good. Codes were cleared?? No test drive??
Transmission internals,
PTU internals,
Diffs
Engine internals
Brakes brake lines, , epb, suspension,
was the coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid ever changed??
Get ready for the full overhaul/refurbish.

 

I got carried away,. And it's black on black not really my color choise, but it seemed like a good deal with decent service records on car fax and most service by dealer.

I figured buying cheap knowing it needs work, I would be better off and have peace of mind, instead of paying retail price and have timing chain or head gasket issues two weeks later and have to pay more.

Being relatively simple to work with in its another reason I haven't given up on the D2, which threw 4 codes today. Used to guess, I don't even get upset anymore.

I am also getting turned off but the idea of starting another project. Got 1 CB750 about to wrap up, another CB750 spread all over my garage and one r1200GS on the lift that I need to start.
Thanks all

 

I was lucky with the used car dealership I purchased my 2016 from in that they gave me a full printed up accounting of all of the presales work that was done to it. It had at least 10k worth of presales work and that's after I looked at the carfax history which I thought looked solid but apparently wasn't enough to judge it. It needed chains and a bunch of other stuff which they took care of before selling it to me. I feel like to buy one it needs to have a lot done before you drive it away and to me it's worth paying a little extra if they've done that. I ended up paying 15k for the 2016 in the spring. It went back twice since then for issues but they fixed them both times without charging me. Good luck with finding one. It's risky imo but I hope you're lucky. In the spring I was tempted by a few that were listed in downstate NY and even in Virginia but I didn't want to make the trip. I think there's value in buying from a good dealership that you're within a reasonable distance of so you can bring it back if needed.

 

I wouldn't mind getting a project class D4 needing head gaskets, or timing chain, both is kind of iffy but the clunk and lack of fire in the #1 hole make me think there is more wrong in there, like cracked valve or a really bad HG that's let the block erode. You'd want a boroscope on that before deciding, and TBH for that at $5K and not being the one you really wanted you were right to walk away.

 

Leaning towards keeping the D2.
Major items are
Rear frame section and frame undercoat
Whole exhaust. Got my cats stolen a few years ago and the welds on the after market have failed a few times.
All new suspension, maybe bushings.
Likely a head gasket.

And a bunch of service items
Transmission filter and fluid
Power steering leaks.

And reupholster driver seat and other cosmetic things.

Thanks