I have (well the wife has) a 2002 SE7. We have right about 90,000 miles on it, and honestly its been great. We've had more problems with it than I'd like, but less than a lot of people with Tahoes, Blazers, Expeditions, etc. At 22,000 miles the fuel pump failed while we were on a trip in Louisiana, and I had the whole family in the truck at the time, which was the wife, and both (at the time) kids. It was late at night and Land Rover put us up in a Hotel, picked up the truck on a flat bed, trucked it back to Baton Rouge, repaired it, and trucked it back to us in two days, as well as picked up our meals while we were there. You cant complain too mucha bout that.
At about 40,000 miles basically the entire power steering system was replaced under warranty, but we had no symptoms, it was in for a Service, the dealership told us about the problem and asked if we wanted it replaced on the spot or scheduled. We had it fixed, no problems since.
It eats rear brake pads for snacks, and they are about 95.00 a set. The A/C speed sensor failed at 82,000 miles and was a difficult diagnosis resulting in two weeks in the summer with no A/C (I live in TEXAS...). at 15,000 miles and again at 72,000 miles, the driver side rear door lock and window mechanism was replaced.
Every other problem we've had with it was owner induced, we've bent a few wheels, broken some trim here and there, but all in all it has stood up well as our daily driver for four kids, a dog, and just about every thing else you can think of to put inside it over the years. We've camped in it, driven it all over the country, it's been hailed on, driven through high water after multiple hurricanes in the Houston area, (no corrosion issues at all, even though we lived on Galveston island with it for a year, and humid Houston for three).
Right now, it's still the wife's DD, she hauls the kids to school, chases groceries, etc. Its got a pretty pronounced tapping from the left rear side of the engine that I have yet to diagnose since I've been home from the Stan, and the interior stinks to high heaven after leaving the sunroof open last week.
We're about to replace suspension just due to age, and we're doing a 2-3 inch lift at the same time. Were keeping the 18" wheels as I said, its mostly a DD right now, but we do use it as the support vehicle for long camping trips, with the Landcruiser being the base station, we use the Disco to run for ice, food, water, etc.
The trans is somewhat famous for expensive failures, but ours has never even hiccuped, other than the tapping the engine has been great, the little electrics and electronics are great, and I have nothing really to complain about.
If the wife insists on keeping it, I may try to find a nice 2004 to be her daily driver, and convert this one to a second off roader since she's getting a little cosmetically challenged now. (the truck, not the wife). The 2004 is the best of breed for the Discovery II series, it has the 4.6, the CDL, the nicer interior and projector beam headlights. There were a few problems with 2003's eating oil pumps, and thus engine failures, but at this point, years later, I think those have mostly all failed and been replaced by now.
If you like the trucks, you cant go wrong with a 2004, mileage isn't so much the issue the naysayers would have you believe, three of the guys I drive with have over 150K on 2002-2004 Discoveries, and have had similar mechanical stories to mine. Just take care of it, its a big heavy, complex (electronically) vehicle, and if you remember that, grease things that need greasing, change the oil, and keep her clean, she'll go a LONG way.
Good luck.
