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I recently bought my third used Disco 5 Td6, years 2017, 2019 and now a 2020. Makes an excellent tow vehicle for a 3000lb travel trailer (caravan) which has now accumulated over 90K miles since Feb 2020.
The diesel option is important because it make my 22 gal fuel tank bigger. 16 mpg US when towing at 60 to 67 mph, max range per tank about 340 miles, or no tow 28 mpg and over 600 miles cruising at 70 mph. Finding a low mileage, less than 30K, Disco 5 Td6 is becoming harder. Importation to USA of Td6 stopped in 2020. No rumors of when Defender diesel might arrive. BMW discontinued X5 diesel in 2018. Also VW stopped selling diesel SUV's. An alternative would a Range Rover Sport Td6 which was imported until 2021. Typically $8000 more than an equivalent condition Disco5 and rarely have the Low Range option and Tow pack. Adding OEM tow quoted about $2,000 by LR dealers. The 2020 Disco I just bought did not have a tow bar. They usually do, 75%. Fitting quoted $1,850 by dealers but back ordered, unknown delivery date. So, even OEM tow bars from recycling yards are now expensive. I paid $950 with shipping (90lb) from Massachusetts, plus $100 for fourteen new stretch bolts, installed it myself and paid dealer to update on board computer.
Last year my towing road trips included Imperial Beach (SW California)), Key West (SE Florida)), Cartwright (NE Labrador) and Prudhoe Bay (Alaska). Four corners of N America reachable by road without a using ferry. Some 2000 miles of that was gravel roads.
Anyway, my third Disco 5 had only one key. Three dealers quoted $800+ to make a copy of that key. Bought GAP-Diagnostic ODBII scanner for checking and resetting Fault codes. $515 is expensive but necessary solution.
More importantly, a copy key function is included. Successfully copied working to a used key which was $53 on eBay. That has an already engraved key blade. Then I bought a "new" key with blank blank blade for $33. But, it failed to program. Tried several times, It would communicate with programming process but was rejected.
Does anyone know source for "new" keys that have been successfully programmed? I know now that used keys can work but they are selling for $90 to $180 currently on eBay.
Planning for three working fobs and two blades. I can buy a blank blade for $12 on eBay and I am researching who can cut a copy from my original key's blade. I plan to hide a correct blade somewhere on the outside of my LR in case the battery fails in the key without a correct blade; it will still work when held against the steering column. Also, hide a working FOB without blade and with its battery isolated for emergencies.
I recommend the GAP-Diagnostic tool.
Discovery 2017 somewhere in Alaska
Discovery 2019, Northwest Territories, Canada
Discovery 2019 Tuktoyaktuk, NWT, Canada
Discovery 2020, headed for Alaska with travel trailer again this summer
Amazing pictures! I somehow managed to find a CPO TD6 with HSE for a reasonable price, and I'm super happy so far.
I am in the PNW as well and would love to hear more about the road trip to Alaska. It's one of our bucket list drives and hoping to do it with D5 next summer.
I recently bought my third used Disco 5 Td6, years 2017, 2019 and now a 2020. Makes an excellent tow vehicle for a 3000lb travel trailer (caravan) which has now accumulated over 90K miles since Feb 2020.
The diesel option is important because it make my 22 gal fuel tank bigger. 16 mpg US when towing at 60 to 67 mph, max range per tank about 340 miles, or no tow 28 mpg and over 600 miles cruising at 70 mph. Finding a low mileage, less than 30K, Disco 5 Td6 is becoming harder. Importation to USA of Td6 stopped in 2020. No rumors of when Defender diesel might arrive. BMW discontinued X5 diesel in 2018. Also VW stopped selling diesel SUV's. An alternative would a Range Rover Sport Td6 which was imported until 2021. Typically $8000 more than an equivalent condition Disco5 and rarely have the Low Range option and Tow pack. Adding OEM tow quoted about $2,000 by LR dealers. The 2020 Disco I just bought did not have a tow bar. They usually do, 75%. Fitting quoted $1,850 by dealers but back ordered, unknown delivery date. So, even OEM tow bars from recycling yards are now expensive. I paid $950 with shipping (90lb) from Massachusetts, plus $100 for fourteen new stretch bolts, installed it myself and paid dealer to update on board computer.
Last year my towing road trips included Imperial Beach (SW California)), Key West (SE Florida)), Cartwright (NE Labrador) and Prudhoe Bay (Alaska). Four corners of N America reachable by road without a using ferry. Some 2000 miles of that was gravel roads.
Anyway, my third Disco 5 had only one key. Three dealers quoted $800+ to make a copy of that key. Bought GAP-Diagnostic ODBII scanner for checking and resetting Fault codes. $515 is expensive but necessary solution.
More importantly, a copy key function is included. Successfully copied working to a used key which was $53 on eBay. That has an already engraved key blade. Then I bought a "new" key with blank blank blade for $33. But, it failed to program. Tried several times, It would communicate with programming process but was rejected.
Does anyone know source for "new" keys that have been successfully programmed? I know now that used keys can work but they are selling for $90 to $180 currently on eBay.
Planning for three working fobs and two blades. I can buy a blank blade for $12 on eBay and I am researching who can cut a copy from my original key's blade. I plan to hide a correct blade somewhere on the outside of my LR in case the battery fails in the key without a correct blade; it will still work when held against the steering column. Also, hide a working FOB without blade and with its battery isolated for emergencies.
I recommend the GAP-Diagnostic tool.
Discovery 2017 somewhere in Alaska
Discovery 2019, Northwest Territories, Canada
Discovery 2019 Tuktoyaktuk, NWT, Canada
Discovery 2020, headed for Alaska with travel trailer again this summer
I can’t help with your key fob woes, but have an unrelated question. How has your experience been with the TDv6 in the Disco 5? They’re getting quite cheap and have been eyeing a few with 50,000 miles.
My Third Disco 5 diesel and copying keys
