Discovery II Questions

[Storz]

Hey all - some might remember me, I had a '96 Disco I about a year ago and posted quite a bit on here. I ended up selling it and buying a really clean 05 Jetta TDI (50mpg!)

My wife and I recently got a boat, and realized how handy it was having the Disco around in general, as well as needing a tow vehicle. So we are planning to purchase another one, albiet newer, in a couple weeks and I just had a few questions about the Disco II

I am looking at the 03+ with the 4.6 (BMW?) motor, as I understand it the only year the Disco II had a locking center diff was 04? Does the Disco II have the really low range transfer case like the Disco I? They do have low range right?

I don't really plan to wheel it much, however I definitely want to be able to cruise the beaches here in NC, even without a locking center diff they go well in sand correct? My understanding is that the traction control tries to do what the locking center would do mechanically?

Thanks! Looking forward to being back in a rover :wings:

 

[Z O O R O P A]

yes they have LR and the 2004 has the CDL ( locking diff )

you'd be better off with a 2004 for various mechanical reasons, especially since there is little price difference

consequently, if you're interested we are just about to sell/trade our 2004 silver on black leather, SE7, winter package, HSE wheels, new major service, 60K miles, pristine condition, rust free, lots of tread, never taken off the beaten path unless you call New England roads 4x4ing , originally a Florida truck, spent a year in New England

we are either going to sell it on ebay starting next week or just trade it in on a Highlander Hybrid or a Honda Pilot for her and I'm searching for Defender 110 for me =)


good luck, love the NC coast and the Blue Ridge!

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Yeah, just get an 04, for a lot of reasons besides just the CDL. Yes, the Low Range is quite low. 3.3:1, I think? Whatever the number, in low range 1st gear with the 4.6L engine,the truck has all the power you could want at the wheels. Climbing a really steep rock face requires little more than a brush on the pedal in first gear. In fact, I normally force it to hold in 2nd gear during technical off-roading, I find first a little too low. The only time I use first is during steep descents, and tricky steep climbs where I *want* to go really slow. On any kind of easy off-road trail work, I force it to stay in 3rd. The D2 has a neat feature (not sure this is on the D1?) where, when in low range, you can push the "mode" button on the transmission, and it enters a Manual mode where the gearbox is locked in whatever gear you put it in. So, you could put it in 4, and it will stay in 4, no matter what, even from a stop. Similarly, if you put in 1st, no matter how fast you go, it'll never upshift. And if you change gears while rolling, it changes gears NOW, and hard, so you have to watch that. It really takes away one of the last remaining advantages of a manual transmission. So tricky climbs in 1st gear, without having to worry about clutching... just makes it too easy.

I did a teeter-totter last year, and I'm watching all these older Series and Defenders having to really try to balance on it. With the D2, it's a joke. They were joking about if I had a "Teeter Totter Mode Button".

 

[Ronct110]

Hey Storz, welcome back to Land Rover ownership.

I have a 2004 DII today and so far very solid vehicle for the last 3-4 years for me (bought it used w/60k miles on it). I am doing more DIY so replacing the front driveshaft, dealing w/the three amigos aka ABS problems, locking door actuator problems, etc.. doesn't scare me (google DII and common problems - important for you to know); I get the 4x4 use/performance out of this Land Rover, and willing to deal with these minor problems.

Plus I tow a 19.6 Glastron sports boat with my 04 DII occassionally (used to tow the same boat with my old 98 D1 (now sold); the 4.6 in the 04 DII is an improvement over my old D1 as far as towing)

I am looking at the 03+ with the 4.6 (BMW?) motor, as I understand it the only year the Disco II had a locking center diff was 04?

4.6 engine on the 03/04 DII is not from BMW; you are probably thinking about the 2004 Range Rover w/4.4 BMW engine. Nonetheless, improvement IMO over the prev 4.0 Gem engine in DIs and early Bosch engines in DIIs.

The 04 DII came standard w/center diff locking (CDL). As a side note, earlier DIIs e.g. 1999, 2000 also has the CDL, but Land Rover didn't provide the linkage/proper shifter to activate CDL (easy to check by going under the chasis, and checking for the nipple on top the LT230 front output).

The 03 you are considering truly has the non-locking LT230 so you can't just add linkage/shifter. Have to convert it using e.g. Toddco kit + proper shifter noted below if want to add CDL.

Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, I've seen 03 DIIs go as low as $7500 to reasonable high $10,500 (anything more is overpriced IMO) vs 2004 DIIs as low as $9500 w/same trim and mileage.

The $2000 difference is big in this economy, and can see 03 being attractive prise wise. And not having CDL now - can be added later; check out "Toddco Suspension Company" kit; cost $399.95 (seen it on sale from time to time) + you have to source out matching shifter e.g. from 04: http://www.toddcosuspensions.com/diiilodi.html

But if you are not a DIY and want CDL eventually later, I would sugest find a good deal on 04 DII. To pay a shop labor + parts (LT230 w/CDL) to add/do the swap on a 03 DII is going to cost more than the difference.

You also have to becareful w/early 03 DIIs, known to have block casting and oil pump problems! Fixed in the later release of 03s, and non-issue in 04 DIIs.

Does the Disco II have the really low range transfer case like the Disco I?

Yes, they do have low range right.

Not familair with the type of sand terrain you will be driving on; in Pismo Beach, CA, I can cruise on sand beach my 04 DII in low range fine, but my 04 DII performs great w/CDL locked and shifting between low and high range to get me up and down deep sand/dune.

Here's a fun video of Land Rovers in N. Cal; all the vehicles had CDL (vid taken by Keptin): http://kep1.com/images/Site Media/Videos/Pismo 2006 Low Quality.wmv

My understanding is that the traction control tries to do what the locking center would do mechanically?

Tries to do, but not the same performance in med to difficult rock crawling, deep sand, mud or snow.

 

[SeaRubi]

For playing around on the beach and in sand, the traction control system is probably robust enough to not need to bother with CDL. I know of a couple DII's w/o CDL that made short work of some climbs that I bumped on my rear locker for in the Jeep.

Unless you were in heavy dunes or planning on venturing out to ORV parks, it's probably not anything to worry about for your intended use of the truck. Aired down there's still a fair bit of challenging terrain the DII is capable of taking on even without the CDL. It just takes a bit of patience, adjustment of your driving style, and some experience behind the wheel to get the most out of the ETC system.

cheers,
-ike

 

[Storz]

Thanks for all the great info, my bad on the BMW engine thing. So it sounds like it's best to go for a 99-02 skip the 03 or get an 04? The beaches here in NC are all flat, and if you're down in the tide wash area you could almost drive a 2wd vehicle out there, its just that getting on and off the beach gets really rutted out and loose sometimes. That being said my father was able to go really anywhere down on the beach with a stock Trailblazer.

 

[Storz]

Found a minty clean 02 with only 67k miles, should know later today if its all going to work out

 

[lake_bueller]

The '02 won't have the CDL either. I'm not 100% certain but I think the infamous "nipple" was removed from the transfer case in mid-2001.

 

[JEFFSGTP]

You are correct Lake_Bueller, I have seen 2001's with the nipple there and others without it, not sure what production month they removed it but it was definitely 01...have not seen an 02 with it unless it was installed afterwards.

 

[Storz]

Well I bought the 2002 I went and looked at today!! Not having the CDL is not really that big of a deal to me, I am sure it'll do just fine on the beaches without it. The truck is super clean, full maintenace history and best of all only has 67k miles on it! Pictures soon!

 

[jeff_wright]

Great looking DII! I think the Zambezi Silver is my favorite. The ETC is capable, I just see the mechanical use of the CDL as always reliable in comparison to worrying about the three amigos.

 

[Roverhound]

Get one of these. You'll need it.
http://www.rswsolutions.com/

 

[R_Lefebvre]

True enough. Without the CDL, WHEN the ABS/TC system craps out (and it will), your mobility will be more limited. I'm driving around right now with no ABS/TC. I've thrown a code, got 4 Amigos, but at least I have CDL. For you, it'd be that much more worthwhile to carry one of those devices for when the inevitable happens. I'm just waiting to get one myself so I can tackle my problem.

Truck looks nice though.

 

[Storz]

A standard OBDII scanner won't clear the codes? I have one of those already...

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Not for the ABS/TC system. It's proprietary. That guy selling the ABS Amigo cracked the code I guess.

OBDII laws only protect for the consumer's right to repair on the powertrain. ABS, TC, body controls, all that new stuff, we're not protected. We need a new law, but that's a bigger discussion...