Talk to me about DII's

[Mean Green]

I sold me 3.9 Vogue SE RRC last week and am now on the look out for something else.

The Disco 2 has grown on me and I think I might quite like one.

It would probably be a fairly early "T" or "V" plater with the TD5.

So what are the pro's and con's..

What are the problem areas and what should I be looking at. Are there any problems with the TD5 that I should be aware of, particularly higher milegaes etc

I am just looking for some advice before I start to search out the perfect example.

[Orange]

I can't give you much information on the problems to look out for, but I have been extremely happy with mine since I got it a month or so ago. Very comfortable and a pleasure to drive in my opinion - and the wife's as a matter of fact (she suffers from a bad back!!) so it's a winner!

I'm going to try towing with it this weekend, so I'll let you know if there are any major issues, but I don't expect there to be!! Graham (Rocker) has had his for a while now and says it's a pleasure to tow with - his is an auto though!

I got mine for a reasonable price from a main dealer. 2002, 02 plate (pre facelift) TD5 manual with 16k on the clock. The only gadget I have is Climate control - which is good when I have to foot the bill when anything goes wrong!! Apart from a 3 week delay, it was hassle free! Autos are fetching £1-2k more on the resale front. I wasn't overly impressed with them and I like having something to do when I'm driving!!

You do need to shop around though!! I found a couple of right dogs for sale at silly prices and the sellers think they've got the best example in the country, so won't budge on the price!!

Just a couple of thoughts!

[Divster]

Greg,

I took the plunge this week and bought a fairly high mileage (110,000) 2000 plate TD5 D2 after nearly 10 years of solid series/defender ownership.

When looking at the vehicle I made all of the usual enquiries regarding HPI, MOT tracability, service records and recalls.

Besides this check for obvious slop in the drive train, excessive smoke/ rattling from the engine, inoperative back door locks, fault lights appearing on the dashboard.

There was a buyers guide that appeared in LRO a couple of months back. I'll see if I can dig it out and post it up for you.

Dave (A Discovery forum virgin)

[al cope]

Had 2 TD5's, a GS7 and a Landmark (now on D3), both 60k miles in 2 years on each. Only real problem was a leaking rad on the first one, replaced under warrenty. No major things to look out for, other than a couple of well documented issues, these being:

very early ones had some issues with flywheel, buy should have all been sorted under warrenty.

And oil leaking into the injector harness, and ultimately into the ECU, but again, if your buying a later one, should be sorted.

Dont get too hung up on getting ACE, as a D2 corners/rides much better than a D1 due to wider wheel track. Get one with Climate control/air con. All 7 seaters have rear air suspension, and do give a strange feeling when towing (but a great tow car by the way).

Good luck - go for it.

Al

[Mean Green]

Thanks for all the replies.

What about higher mileage examples? Are there any problem come with 100k + mileages?

Are there any problem areas - such as Sills, shaggy headlinings etc etc

[Divster]

Thanks for all the replies.

What about higher mileage examples? Are there any problem come with 100k + mileages?

Are there any problem areas - such as Sills, shaggy headlinings etc etc

Obviously more prone to leakages. I've found a weep from the transfer box on mine. Also found that because the vehicle has probably never been in low box since it was made, the control cable had seized up. It would go into low box but wouldn't come out. This will be resolved when I re-instate the diff lock with the kit from Ashcrofts.

Other problems with mine that I've found so far; wheel bearing squeak front n/s, diesel filler cap release has been disabled for some reason (investigation required), air con either needs investigation (possible re-gassing required), slight spongyness in the brakes (nothing to worry about at the moment)

I've found the LRO buyers guide and scanned it, but can't seem to post it up. PM me your e-mail address and I'll send the article across.

Dave

[Top90]

slight spongyness in the brakes (nothing to worry about at the moment)

Dave

Hi Dave

Didn't early D2's have recall over brakes?

My 99 one I had a couple of years ago had work done to the brakes while in for a service, but they never told me it was done.

Richard

[Divster]

Hi Dave

Didn't early D2's have recall over brakes?

My 99 one I had a couple of years ago had work done to the brakes while in for a service, but they never told me it was done.

Richard

I'll have a check. Thanks

Dave

[Divster]

Hi Dave

Didn't early D2's have recall over brakes?

My 99 one I had a couple of years ago had work done to the brakes while in for a service, but they never told me it was done.

Richard

I think I've found the recall notice:

Recall Notice R/2003/180

Land Rover Defender (where ABS is fitted) and Discovery II built between

1/10/1998 to 1/12/2003

POSSIBLE LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKE

A potential fluid leak from the brake modulator may result in a reduction in the efficiency of the service brake or, in the worst case, complete failure of the service brake system.

Remedial Action

Recall all potentially affected vehicles and fit stronger valve covers to the brake modulator.

Vehicle Id

XA900016 and XA201612 to XA907213 and YA846241

XA162896 and YA600000 to YA199999 and YA671407

__________________

Just got to find out whether mine was done

[Orange]

Just got to find out whether mine was done

Likewise.........I didn't think it affected 02 models, but I'll be checking now!!

Cheers for the info!

[muddyplugger]

I can give you my experiences with my 1999 TD5 Disco. (I have owned it 4 1/2 years)

It has now done 128,000. The bug bear for me has been the wheel sensor (ABS/HDC/TC), I still havent fixed it yet but, they are prone to throwing spurious signals from the wheel sensors/a wheel sensor which lights up the dash and then can fail the MOT. Obvious check though when buying.

The was an inherrent fault on the radiators in the early models, recognised by LR but not recall.

New Rad for me was £100.

The fuel pump wore out about 3000 miles ago, bit of a pig to get to (not as bad as the defenders), but pricey item £200 odd if I remember correctly.

I've had a new viscous fan about 5000 miles ago, dunno if its specific, just my experience.

It required a new starter motor at about 110,000, again could just be an age thing.

Otherwise, its been pretty reliable! Apart from the missus filling it with petrol last month, but it recovered.

Oh yes, and the aircon packed in about 80,000, but thats what windows are for eh? B)

[Andy]

only problem i can think of that hasnt been mentioned is the TD5s habit of throwing an oilpump bolt & killing the engine. mind you if it was gonna happen ive have expected them to have blown up by now as they started threadlocking them once the problem came to light.

[dirtydiesel]

The recallfor the abs was just to fit two reinforced caps on top of the abs modulator.

[Divster]

Had 2 TD5's, a GS7 and a Landmark (now on D3), both 60k miles in 2 years on each. Only real problem was a leaking rad on the first one, replaced under warrenty. No major things to look out for, other than a couple of well documented issues, these being:

very early ones had some issues with flywheel, buy should have all been sorted under warrenty.

The flywheel on mine decided to give up the ghost last week. My vehicle was outside of the original recall notice for flywheels. Unfortunately lack of time meant that I had to put it in to the local specialist for them to do. Total cost including new flywheel, clutch and labour = £750.00 (Half of the bill was labour).

Having spoke to the fitters, they have seen a few vehicles outside of the recall notice with fairly high mileages where the flywheel has started to de-laminate.

[BogMonster]

I have had my D2 since new (four years) got about 30k miles on it now, and I am very pleased with it, I am not looking to change any time soon.

Only significant problems with mine have been a new diff (faulty assembly - it was making a clattering noise when brand new - new diff under warranty), the steering box bolts came slightly loose (badly made bracket inside the chassis allowing flex of the chassis where the box bolts on, bolts done up VVVFT and not been a problem since!), a couple of viscous fan units, an occasional water leak into the interior (cross threaded bonnet hinge bolt, took ages to find it too ) and a very minor oil leak from the rear crank seal which is not bad enough to worry about fixing and has been there for a couple of years now. I have occasional bursts of Christmas tree lights from the ABS/ETC lights (about four or five times I think) but there has never been anything replaced so I don't worry about it. Likewise there is a slight coolant loss (fill it up to the mark and it loses a small amount) but it goes to about 1/2" below the mark and never any lower so I don't worry about that either....

I deliberately went for non ACE and non SLS because I don't like whizzy electric bits stuck underneath where they get permanently plastered with water and cr&p, and given that a vehicle I know that is the same age as mine has had problems with both systems, I don't regret that decision I have never found the lack of ACE to be a problem, the S2 is much much better than the old one I had even though that had uprated springs and gas shocks fitted, and in fact I prefer the non ACE as I have driven them back to back on the same roads and I found the ACE vehicle had a noticeably more "fidgety" ride which I could only put down to the stiffness of the bars.

The V8 is wonderful and the auto box, while it has some odd quirks (torque converter lockup is too early in my opinion and you really want a button to inhibit it completely as sometimes climbing long hills it is annoying), generally matches it well.

Talking about Td5s though, having driven both manual and auto I would go for manual every time as I think the auto Td5 is revvy and seems underpowered but others disagree. The main things to look out for have mostly been covered, just check all the electrics work (windows & central locking) as water leaks into the fuse box control unit can lead to some odd things getting blown up and a full set of new door lock actuators ain't cheap...

I really do recommend the S2 as an excellent all-rounder and frankly the only thing that regularly annoys me about mine is the poor turning circle. Four years on it still has the Grin Factor for me despite an 88% increase in petrol prices over that period

[Cal]

Did LR not do a fix for the turning circle?

[BogMonster]

Did LR not do a fix for the turning circle?

The lock stops have always been "something I was going to check" but as mine came with 16" alloys on it I assume it has the smaller ones anyway - the bigger lock stops were for the factory fitted 18s I think. It may be possible to grind them down a bit though, but Discoverys have always had a carp turning circle, my Series 1 was not good either, it is one of the (IMHO very few) massive improvements with the D3, the things really can turn on a sixpence compared to the old ones, don't know what the difference is but it feels much much tighter.

[range366]

Hi Greig,

I have just bought myself an 03 plate Disco, 40,000 miles,Td5, auto. Have had it 3 weeks now.

It took me at least 3 or 4 attempts to be able to bring myself to actually sell the P38 range rover, (one of your wedding cars!) but in saying that the wallet is definately heavier now!

Bought it from Shields and was glad I did cause its been back 3 times for repairs, steering box was leaking oil, top of the rear door n/side was letting in water when you used a hose on it to wash it, rear step would not stay up, slight oil leak at the transmission box and one of the cup holders wouldn't close properly,

Now, have to say, landrover aftersales service has been first class all faults repaired and its like a brand new car at the moment, faultless, but these should of been picked up pre delivery.

Anyway, after 7 years of driving V8 Range rovers it is taking a bit of getting used to, the noise from the engine when cold and the poor turning circle are two downsides to it.

But it does drive very well, comfortable seats also surprisingly spacious when adults are in the back.

With the two kids in the jump seats at the back, the bicycles attached to the spare wheel it makes for a practicle car for holidaying in, so I think we will be having it for the forseeable.

We took it away on holiday to Yorkshire there and I had a play with it at Langdale Quest off road site and tried out the low box, HDC and everything worked ok.

So it gets the thumbs up from us so far.

Gordon Sellar.

[cols110]

Did LR not do a fix for the turning circle?

I thought the DII turning circle was pretty good, especially when your used to driving a 110.

[al1991]

I would recommend it, my dad swapped in his evo 8 for one and has never looked back! It's a facelifted version, late 2002, bonatti grey ~ B)

Just returned from a 700-mile round trip from Scotland and it never missed a beat. Was perfect, returned 30MPG, even with all the big hills, kept a steady 70MPH on the twisty roads, reasonably quiet and VERY comfortable. It's getting taken off-road soon

It's a non-ACE truck but it feels feels very solid, and stable throught the corners, and the only person I know with one that's got ACE had problems with the system! Mine's a manual, which is just as relaxing as the auto, but with better fuel consumption and a lil extra oomph when you need it at junctions and the like...although he hankered for an auto at first.

My advice is that it's a practical, comfortable and very capable Landy that is reliable and best of all reasonably cheap to run, compared to an evo at least..

The earlier ones represent the best value for money, too.