3rd Sep 2008, 09:52

I have a trusty UK V8 Land Rover Fiscovery II.

If your going to buy one, do yourself a favour first buy a good tool kit, some axle stands, a good trolley jack, a wheelie board to lay on, and some time, so give up your day job too.

Alternatively you're best to have a bottomless bank account.

Mine first started its problems when I took it to a garage for a service, after buying it second hand with 70k on the clock.

A day after it was returned, the throttle body gasket went and dropped all the coolant, causing the engine to overheat. This was then looped out, but then as fresh water had been used to get us home, the radiator a week later gave up; this was replaced and 2 weeks later the matrix radiator went, meaning I had to remove the whole dash after de-gassing the aircon. Eventually the water issue was resolved, but had damaged the engine so badly that one day it seized.

All in all, the ACE pump has died four times, the PAS pump once, two ACE valve blocks, 7 pairs of front disks, second set of front calipers, one rear ABS sensor, new front shocks, the rear SLS air spring sensor went, which caused the SLS pump to pump the car up only on one side at the rear, to a point where I thought the car might roll. This one I took to the Land Rover garage, and as soon as they plugged the testbook in, the rear already over inflated airspring exploded like a bomb going off; at this point two new air springs a new SLS compressor and two new sensors.

And somewhere in the middle of all of that, the UJ went on the front prop. shaft whilst driving down the motor way. By the time I got to my turn off, the prop UJ completely broke and wrenched the transfer box off the gearbox, and the spline from the transfer box that is driving from the gearbox caused the gear box to fail. So a new transfer box, new auto box new prop and front diff.

Other minors are central door lockers, tail gate and rear passenger.

I have replaced both leaking sunroofs only to find they still leak.

Drivers seat motor died, so I pinched one out of the passenger seat.

The catalytic converter went. I also nearly forgot to mention 4 sets of Lambda sensors.

Two LPG conversions, although this one can't be blamed on LR.

I'm sure there is more I can't remember.

Trouble is I love my Land Rover to bits, and when it does work, it is the best, a very capable car. I can't help thinking that 50% of what was repaired above by a LR garage was not done correctly or they never investigate the proper root cause of problems, which evidently caused further problems or the replacement of the same component more than one time.

I now repair everything myself - parts are very cheap and your own labour is free, and the same thing doesn't break twice.

John Chalmers (sharky)

23rd Jan 2010, 21:27

A couple of years ago, I bought a 99 Disco 2 from a private owner in California for around 6000 dollars. Till this day I don't ever regret my choice in a vehicle. It'll go where no other 4x4 can reach. I even drove it from Oregon to south Carolina. A coast to coast drive. It never complained once. Currently it's at about 190,000 miles, and I've only had to replace the alternator, a couple of coolant hoses, and most importantly the fluids.

Now a Land Rover isn't for every one. I thinks its important to know how to loosen and tighten bolts and get your hands dirty. This will save you from the anti-Christ Land Rover dealerships and their exorbitant prices.

I called the dealership to order a new alternator. They wanted 738 dollars!!! What's even worse is I asked the lady behind the phone if it was gold plated. She said she would check! No wonder every time you go to the dealership, your car leaves with more problems than it came with. The only time I went to one is when I just bought my Land Rover and it started to make strange new noises I never thought a truck could make. The guy there told me the best way to solve this was to turn the radio up. Vest advice I ever heard. Three years later and still every morning my Land Rover makes a new strange noise.

Yes it's not economical. Yes it's not the most practical, but to drive one is an amazing experience. I haven't met one 4x4 yet that has the feeling, durability or personality of the Land Rover Disco 2.

12th Mar 2010, 21:16

I have a 1999 Discovery Series 2. It's expensive to play, but well worth every cent. I love my toy.

11th Feb 2013, 22:27

I just purchased a 99 Disco II and feel a bit in over my head. It runs and drives really good, but it runs hot, because I think I put the wrong type of coolant in it. I really like the truck, but the wife is afraid it'll drain our accounts. She knows I'll get under the hood to figure things out without hesitation. She just thinks it's too high-end, so parts will cost us too much. I just want to know, are we giving the thing a chance?

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