Faults:

This is a partial list!

4x door lock actuators.

2x front springs cracked.

Suspension compressor.

1x suspension airbag.

Steering box leaking.

Brake pipes.

Injector seals.

Gear selector switch (known as the XYZ switch).

Various suspension bushes.

General Comments:

When it was good, it was great.

Go anywhere, do anything, carry anything.

7 seats - which were used regularly.

But:

The auto box was dismal. Would drop in and out of torque converter lockup. Lock comes in, inconveniently, at 52 mph and drops out at 48 mph, which is an utter pain when you're on a 50mph road. So you had to go over the speed limit to get the lock in (reduces revs and better economy) only to have it drop out the second you slowed down slightly.

Door lock actuators are made from toffee and are extremely difficult to repair being sealed units. They are also a pig to remove without dismantling most of the door (there is a way... which involves bending the edges of the holes which are too small to remove the unit).

Suspension compressor - not up to the job judging by the number that get replaced. Ditto valve blocks leak causing sagging suspension.

Injector seals leak - due to the poor design of the injectors. Stops the engine as exhaust gases get into the fuel rail.

Rear brake pipes rot where they pass over the chassis. Never spotted at MOT, but suddenly one day you have very soggy brakes until the fluid runs out.

Steering box fluid leaks - they all do that.

Gear selector switch would occasionally throw a wobbly, leaving the car in limp mode and preventing the box from going into lock up. Another piece of great design located under the air con drain... it would reset if you turned the car off for 30 seconds. It's a pig to replace.

Fuel consumption from the auto never got above 27mpg even on a long motorway run to France and back, and mostly hovered round 24mpg.

Other common issues are fuel pressure regulator failure and fuel cooler leaks.

As I said, it was superb when it was working, it just needed fixing far too frequently.

Faults:

My head gaskets were on the verge of letting go.

Had a bad coolant leak from the water-pump.

Had a misfire with the engine.

ABS, TC, and HDC lights were illuminated.

General Comments:

In the year and a bit owning this Discovery Series II, I have nothing but good things to say about it.

I purchased it with 194,000km for a very fair price, and at 218,000km, I just got it back from a major service. My Landy has never let me down, and has never left me stranded, even while slowly dying due to poor compression, engine misfire, and coolant leaks.

I recently had the head gaskets done, heads machined, all new hoses, alternator, battery, CPS, ABS sensors, Oxygen sensors, spark plugs wires, ignition pack, water pump, and so much more all done in this one service. I'm very happy with the results, and I know my reliable Land Rover is even more reliable and it is something to be proud about when owning a vehicle such as this.

A big factor with owning a Rover, is definitely keeping up with the maintenance. If you don't you will for sure get bitten. However, if you love and enjoy the rig, and are willing, as well as have the funds, it is truly unstoppable. I drive a lot, off-road, travel and explore. I've always been around Rovers, even when growing up, and when you sit down and think about it, it really is a great vehicle.