Is it really that bad?

[Ultralite]

Anyone else with additional thoughts I certainly welcome any ideas, I do want to say "thanks" for all the replies so far. This has definitely expanded my search and moved Land Rovers to the top of my list. I grew up in a domestic car only family and migrated to Japanese, German, and domestic over time with no real experience with British makes.

One advantage to being in Atlanta (if I haven't said this already) is many folks buy LRs for the status so there is a sizable 2nd hand market of vehicles maintained by a dealer. With your information I'm much more confident moving in this direction.

 

[bri]

Head gasket issues really only affect D2's from 99-04 and some P38s in the same time period (although not as prolific).

Rover V8s prior to the D2 were known to be a 200K mile engine largely...

Although you might be right, this is not what I have hear. In fact I have had great running 89, 93 in the 195k range that ran better than my D1 at 108k. What I have heard is if they live through infant mortality and then you keep them cool and full of fluids, they will go forever.


I've hand Honda, Subaru and one D1 change head gasket in their life. Subaru had 2 H.G. changes.


IMO, head gasket, although a PITA is not the REAL issue with the D2. But this is just from my interest in purchasing one, talking to a pile of D2 owners and resorting to D1 for simplicity and reliability.


From my discussions... D2 suffer cylinder liner issues (cracks and slips) that can ruin head gaskets and if the liner really is the problem, you can eat through them.

I have deliberately avoided D2 for 2 reasons... Don't really like the initial models of 99 and 00 and late 01-04 are the ones with cylinder liner issues. Of course all of this is a crap shoot because I have known people to drive late model D2 with a nearly obvious slipped liner for years. Great do it yourself project would be to get an '04 D2 with ruined engine from slipped liner and dump a earlier low mileage P38 or D2 engine from 99 or 00. There are plenty of good used sources out there so a project like this really is not that hard and many are prepared to drop ship engines, transmissions and other large parts B2B.

Anyway YMMV and I am only talking from what I have heard on the D2 engines. The more I talked to people the more I strayed away, if only because I did not wish to do another engine swap.

 

[bri]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
But can cause problems if bodged.

I think you mean "botched"

 

[Ultralite]

Oh man, why did I have to see the Defenders with the pop top?? That are of course not available here....:drool:

 

[bri]

I gave up drooling over a defender, but I do kick myself for buying a new 95 disco when I did. D90 was same price.

Anyhow, this is cool, if you are into that type of thing.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/83282-6x6-defender-off-road-camper-build

 

[Ultralite]

I gave up drooling over a defender, but I do kick myself for buying a new 95 disco when I did. D90 was same price.

Anyhow, this is cool, if you are into that type of thing.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/83282-6x6-defender-off-road-camper-build

Yep, I saw that, I wish I had time to build (I do know how to weld). But maintaining what I have keeps me plenty busy...

 

[PhD_Polymath]

Yes, it is that bad...if you don't stay on top of maintenance. As everyone has essentially supported, Land Rovers are great vehicles if you are willing to tinker. Rovers will usually let you know when something is going wrong when you listen closely. You have to develop your ear for Rover intuition and perceive the signals as they emanate from your rig. Sometimes they are subtle, infrequently they will strand you. Most of the time, they are just pesky problems that are a minor inconvenience. I feel like a kid at Christmas every time I drive my Land Rover Discovery Series 2, but I know that is kind of stupid (or so my significant other says). With a solid attitude of Volkswagen service under your belt, I would say you will not have any rude surprises with a Landy. They were not deliberately designed to fall apart and the problem areas have a plethora of solutions just waiting to be plucked from any Google search. Once again, the water is fine!

 

[optimusprime]

I think you mean "botched"

Nope ,i mean bodged.

 

[MLu]

I bought an old but well-serviced TD5 Disco 2, my first Land Rover. I absolutely love it, it's my daily driver and it still feels like a treat every time I start it up. That being said, I've spent more money on it in repairs over the past half year of ownership than I did in total over seven years of owning a succession of two old (-87 and -94) BMW 7-series cars. And the 7-series isn't exactly known for being cheap to maintain.

That being said, I don't have a workshop because I live in the middle of a major city so everything has to be farmed out to the only Land Rover specialist around. I still read the service manuals just for the hell of it.

 

[optimusprime]

I do have a ScanGauge I use with my modern vehicles and it provides codes which I then typically look up online. I wonder if that would suit? What are the "3 Amigos"?

The "Three Amigos" is a short description for a symptom of driving along and all of a sudden the ABS will activate and three dash warning lights come on; Hill Descent Control, Electronic Traction Control, and Anti-Lock Braking System (HDC/ETC/ABS). Usually the problem may be with a sticking shuttle valve within the ABS unit, or ABS wire . Any visit to the LR Dealer (will bring monetary pain) and either they will try to fix the problem (shuttle valve, wires, etc) or replace the modulator and throw new parts at it until it fixes itself.
- See more at: http://forums.roversnorth.com/showthread.php?1209-The-Three-Amigos-are-Gone!!!!#.dpuf

 

[jerdog53]

It has been said that the only reason the British never built televisions is because they couldn't think of a way to make it leak oil....

Seriously I can't really speak to this because in the year I have owned my Discovery 3 I have had zero issues! Electrical, oil leakage or otherwise...

 

[A.J.M]

As Mater from Cars 2 put it.
If there ain't no oil under them, then their ain't no oil in them!

Now, there are 2 methods of dealing with the above line. Which being British myself, is 100% accurate.
It really only covers models upto 2004 really. After 04 they they don't leak. Mine doesn't anyway...

1. Accept it leaks, check the levels often and top up as needed, also learn to park over bits of card board etc on driveway or you will have some stains on it...
2. Invest the GDP of China into failing to find where said oil is leaking from and then get annoyed.

If you accept that Landys love a bit of maintanence every now and again and hate neglect then you will be fine.
There are very few things that will render a landy totally immobile so they will get you home.

It's joe down to budget, what you like and what your requirements are for the car.

 

[rlynch356]

I drove my 95' defender as my main daily driver and off road toy for 6+ year and 80K miles.. they are fine - just mind the care and feeding and keep up with the maintenance and they are great.
They leak, but most 20+ year old trucks do.. you an get them to stop (mostly). they are very easy to work on with plenty of room and erector set like builds.

If anything breaks, or you want to say convert from a 2 door soft top into a 5 door hard top (or 130 4 door pickup..) you just need more parts.

 

[jerdog53]

If there ain't no oil under them, then their ain't no oil in them!

I thought that was true of helicopters and hydraulic fluid.....

 

[MrWesson]

I love the look and performance(off road at least) of land rovers.

I have been in the market and aggressively shopped for them on 3 or 4 occasions. The first 2 I was shopping for Disco's and LR3's the last 2 and I wen't jeep or kept a jeep each time(Grand Cherokees)...

I cant seem to overcome the "fear".