6 years and 40k miles: My off road review of the Land Rover Discovery 2 

The long awaited "Buyer's/New Owner's" guide is now live. Thank you all for your patience and you can find the video here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_UXfEtNjMfk.html

This is by far the best review of the discovery I have watched. Just straight shooting from a person who has walked the walk. Thanks.

The Land Rover Discovery II value has sky rocketed since your review. It is going to be the new Defender without the Defender's quarks. It is the off road/SUV version of Lotus Elise S2. Purpose built vehicles for a purpose built life.

Well spoken. D2 is the complete’ family ‘vehicle for “ discovering “ your world.

Got my td5 d2 chipped and a stage 2 re-mapped up to 200bhp! It is a BEAST!😁👍

A joy to watch, thank you. This guy is a straight shooter which is rare these days.

Okay, now I have to start looking for a Disco after watching this video and the Buyers Guide. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Been researching the Discovery. Great review, and all the specs you describe are what I have found in hours of research. Spot on!

I bought my 03 Discovery back in 2005, it's been great. My worst failure was a water pump failure at 120k miles, also replaced the valley pan at the same time, it was leaking. I have done mods similar to what you have done. Anyone can own a Toyota. Who wants to be a sheep and follow the herd? Do your own repairs, and it doesn't cost that much to maintain. If you are going out to the middle of nowhere, you should have the skills to fix your truck, if not, stick to the parking lot camp grounds. Nice review, thanks.

Great video mate!, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience. Cheers!

If the brakes feel weak you probably want to change them. Mine felt the same way when I first got mine. New Akebono pads, rotors, and a fluid change and the brakes felt worlds better. No more questioning if it would stop, now the question is how much will fly through the windshield.

I have 5 seater TD5 Disco 2 2001 model and i absolutely love it. I had to do ALOT of repairs on it even changing the engine (cheaper than a new head) however right now its a work horse around my house. I looking to changing my chasis to a galvanized one soon and once this is done iam gona be all set :P

As a Land Cruiser guy who's recently picked up a Disco II as a side project, you really hit home on the costs. The good deals on 80-series cruisers are gone. Rovers are the next in line when it comes to reasonable, classic, form-and-function off-road vehicles. Especially if you like a project that lets you get to know your rig, you can be into a Disco II gone over and tuned up for the price of a beat up 80. Great job on these videos. It's pretty rare that RU-vid can hold my attention for an hour. -A

Thats why most of us in Europe with our D2s are mainly diesel

It's been quite some time since you Made this video, however I live in the uk, and yes its wet allot of the time, and the sun roofs are an issue, and so is your, I can see the head lining has collapsed, I removed the headlining, and later recovering it, but i also removed the sun roofs, they were fixed in with double sided sticky foam, that only last for 10 years, I fixed the roofs back in with windscreen adhesive, problem solved, and a fresh head lining, also less noise because ther fixed in as they should have been in the first place, I hope this is helpful and if you still have this motor, I love my 2004 version. 👍 good video by the way.

I sold my 2004 Rubicon for my 2001 Disco. Love it more than the Rubi. Rip

Great vid! I’ve got two D2s (03 HSE7 & 04 SE) and I love the bastards. 😂 keep Rovering!!

Dude you are spot on with your review and yeah I have the same issue with my brakes even with new pads and rotors. I almost wonder if there's like some noisy ridiculous pads I could get that would grip super hard like with a weird finish on them. Also I'm rolling 285 75 16 and that makes even more leverage from the tire to the hub center working against my brakes. I've had that issue on a failed climb and I did have it in neutral and it was still unable to fully stop me it was just rolling super slow I did figure out that if I pumped them a couple times it would build a little more pressure but one time I had to just put it in park and let the parking gear grab which is a terrible sound but it helped for a second while I composed myself. I had it on a trail I probably shouldn't have been on without lockers. I live in Southern Arizona so there's definitely some places that test the Disco 2 even with bigger tires. Not like the Moab rocks but like the kind of mixed with dirt and the rocks that are falling apart a big chunky spread apart pieces. It's Charleaou Gap trail in Tucson Arizona. Very challenging. Also you're right about the power it's funny I'm a part of a Facebook group with all these guys from the UK and they think the V8 is so powerful and I'm like gosh I need to understand what the daily drivers must be over there because something that weighs 4,800 lb with 185 horsepower running optimal is just not that great and then they talk about towing a bunch and all this stuff and I'm like wow but if someone posts a picture of like an F-250 or something they jump all over it saying it's Overkill and I'm like no it's not it just has its place so does the disco

It’s a shame you guys in the states didn’t get the TD5, brilliant engine with tuning capabilities to rival the v8

Hello, I’m an 4x4 enthusiast and had SE7 myself among Wraglers ( 4.0 , 2.5 stick and automatic) , Cherokee’s and Grand Cherokee’s ( 4.0 , 5.2 , 5.9 ) , Ford 4x4 gas and diesel, currently have 2016 Suburban 4x4 , Samurai’s , Subaru’s ( legacy , Forester ( 5 Speed ) , crosstrek , Ml320 , Ml350 , ML430, 2003 BMW X5 3.0 and more that I’m sure I forget to mention....But ... When I drove 2003 3.8L Mitsubishi Montero Limited ... i fall in love instantly 😍😍😍 3.8L only after 2003 ... V6 ... central locker ... AMAZING ! The Best Traction Control System ( MATC - Mitsubishi Advanced Traction Control - I believe only on 3.8L 2003 + Versions) I have EVER experienced!!! 7 Passenger... Not to mention FAMOUS SUPER SELECT TRANSFER CASE 😊 From cons ... a little more power will be nice and as Discovery a little to long back part of the body. Reliable? Yes ... Never let me stranded 😍

Nicely done.

Great, informative, honest review. It seems everyone either loves or hates these.... With a PASSION, either way. Lol

Excellent positive video, thank you! The liners only slip if it's overheated. Keep the cooling system in top order and it'll be fine. It's all about maintenance in the end. Check it every day. I have a crap 2000 TD5, had nothing but trouble with it, but still love it and still trying to make it decent. Pay top dollar and get a pampered one. Try and go cheap and you'll still end up paying top dollar!

Good truck very nice I have a discovery series 1 1996 3.9 I use it daily to go to the hospital to work I love it in fb I'm like haflinger and pinzgauer from Guatemala there you can see the photos I also have a haflinger and a pinzgauer

Great review.

Great info. Just got my first Disco 2. 2004 . A little nervous but I’m hoping to learn what ever I need to keep it on the road.

My d1 has done 500k and it is really reliable

Nice review. Thank you for what sounds as an objective review of your Land Rover Discovery 2! (P.S. The Series II, IIA & III Land Rover 88" station wagons all had seven seats; three abreast in the front, with four individual fold-up seats in the rear compartment. Of course, with 77 HP (7:1 CR) or 81 HP (8:1 CR), these old Series Land Rovers, even in 88" wheelbase length, were quite underpowered on American highways. Still, however, I drove Land Rover 88" 2.25 liter petrol vehicles as my primary mode of transportation (even over the various Rover cars I owned) for about 30 years. As of this month, I've been driving a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon for ten years. Very interesting videos you've put out. Thanks again! Andy McKane.

I had a brand new 2000 Land Rover Disco II, What a great SUV really enjoyed the vehicle, But at 50,000 I reviewed the repair costs and as much as i loved Landy, I could not keep up with the repairs, the paint had huge faded areas, throwout bearing twice replaced, head gasket, the resister pack, the ABS, and Steering flailed, the rear U-joint clunked, the reliability was heading down hill, the head liner completely detached, for a vehicle of this caliber to have that much problems was (for me that is) very disappointing. However when the Landy II ran, holy cow it was the best Vehicle since sliding bread. Land Rover is still one of the best makes, if they could just make there brand more reliably the planet would be in a better place.

The center differential lock is humorous. I knew it was there but I did not know that the dash light work. Typical Land Rover!

Geat video! I have had four different D2's. Been driving them since 2006. Had issues with the first two but still sold them for a profit, rolled the third and finally got the hang of what to look for so the 4th one I bought in 20014bis a 2000 SE7, got it from Florida so it was spotless. I spent some money...and lots of time and curse words to replace the coils, valve cover gaskets, plugs n wires, Manifold gasket, and almost all the hoses. Fitted new air springs in the rear. Yanked the back seat out so I can fit my downhill bike inside the truck and still have the jumper seats if I want to carry four people. I live where there is snow more than half the year and I've had Audis and Subarus that are great but if you learn how to use the handbrake and have good tires, the rover can go anywhere. I still daily drive mine and am always keeping an eye out for another! (careful with the handbrake turns...learning the edge of what is possible cost me my 3rd D2...LOL)

you can go one size bigger on a 2inch lift without cutting the arches. You can fit a 255/85r16 (which is like 33.5) and you only have to trim a small piece from the front (standard) bumper :)

Looking forward to the buyers guide! Just bought my first 2004 Disco2 SE that has a new (used) refurbished engine (machined heads, new gaskets all around and new hoses, plugs and wire) and I just bought all the suspension bits (shocks, coils, hubs, ball joints, steering dampener, pan hard and steering bars, and new brake rotors/pads). So, I’m starting from a pretty good point to keep up with reliability maintenance, so I’m looking forward to your tips and thoughts. New sub!

Hello from South Africa....enjoyed your review. You understand the importance of keeping your hand on a Landy...what you put in you get out.. thanks.

Re your breaking issues, these were originally designed with manual gearboxes in mind as well as Diesel engines. Thus massive engine breaking and clutch control in all ratios.

Ferraris are exotics for road ,this rig is an exotic for offroad !😎

For your next tires try the Falken wildpeaks just an awesome tire.

even my local Land Rover dealer didnt know the Buick connection !

when talking about the brakes mine and yours are very different. if i put my foot down on the brakes it nearly pulls my face off. so id get that checked if i was you. also you should use HDC when going down loose gravel hills. it wil keep you from sliding down. even in reverse

your a star

My father had 3 discos, 1 200 TDI, and 2 300 TDI, Disco 1 in the US. Not a perfect car, or in other words not a reliable car as other carmakers, but a real true 4x4 and a genuine pleasure to own and drive. Fit any kind of lifestyle, a family car, a proper off-road, a workhorse (sometimes). The Disco 2, here the popular engine is the TD5 (Europe), a great engine with a lot of potentials to be explored. It's a torquey engine and fun to drive. I believe that was the last proper LR where the function overcame the posh style and luxury wannabe brand desires...

I am very happy I purchased my fzj80 in 2014. I just beat the rush

What do you think about the 1996 Land Rover Discovery SE7? The guy says it has the 4.0 in it. 185,000 miles on it. Is there any thing I should ask him before I buy it? it has a 2 inch lift and new AT tires,roof rack,lights in front and back and rock sliders. no winch. What do you think?

Great video and great info. I've owned them for over 4 years. Look into EBC brake kits with stainless steel brake lines. My 04 would lock up all 4 wheels on the highway when i'd slam them. Great content!

Here in Europe you dont see the gasoline version. We have the 200/300tdi 2.5l 4 cil for the disco 1 and the 2.5 td5 5 cil for the disco 2 coupled with a manual 5 speed r380. Both engine are very reliable. You can tune more the td5 because is an electronicaly controlled injection versus the bosh ve for the 300tdi but the 300tdi is better in the off road situations. I have a disco 1 300tdi with 240.000 km and i am the 5th owner. It starts right up, half a chey. They just go....

my 2002 v8 will do over 100 mph and it stops well I think you might need to investigate :) the brake problem is most probably due to larger wheel diameter, which gives the momentum weight more leverage over the breaking force

Hi. Greta Video. So I have a Disco II with the Td5. Year is 2001. What do i have to do and what parts do i have to get to be able to use the Center difflock?

If possible I would love the same buyers guide vid for a Disco 1

I still have a td5 2002 disco building it for off road all my m8s now want one after driving in mine with me and driving it so more to come after a few large bills to bring her to a better condition glade we get the option for a td5 in Australia

Hi there, does your ULTRA gauge work well? and how many sensors does it pick up on? or though I have a td5 disco 2

Just purchased a 2004 discovery II SE7 from auction. Pretty sure maintenance was not kept up with. Need to replace diagnostic module tank leakeage unit, as well as change multilpe circuits, and and change oils all around. Im feeling like it was a good purchase but i know a lot of work needs to be done. Any knowlege on the discovery II diagnostic tank? Can i make this car reliable again?

The transmission is that I can make it go in gear how can I fix it

Will the rear seat hold a rearward facing car seat?

The diesel-version (td5) gives good power and torque with a little tuning.

This might be too late but are you able to add the center diff lock on a 03 model with a dis1 transfer case?

what's the little monitor you have next to the gear ?

Where is the buyers guide video you keep talking about. Don't seem to find it anywhere

The best 4x4xfar

have the brakes been replaced?

Did the US market not get the TD5?

My ex wife and I bought two Discoverys the day before 9/11: mine was a 98, and hers was an 01. I felt both were very capable road trip and off-roading vehicles, but my 98 cost $$$$$ just to keep on the road. Her 01 was not as challenging, except for brakes!

Another tip: Buy the TD5 if you can.

How tall are you? I never sat in one and wondered what head room my 6'1" would have in there.

Discovery 1❤

buyers guide please!!

Have you ever driven an LR3?

same as mine

🔝✔️

Prices are going nuts on these things in 2022.

Link for buyers guide video?

wheres the buyer guide video you mentioned?

I know been a while since you uploaded this but.. just a few things here.. you do realize the hill decent control also works in reverse right?.. so no need to mash the brakes.. it will do the same forward with HDC as reverse.. now as my name suggest i too was a proud owner of a D2V8 but i am in the UK and we have the TD5 which came with a 10p engine 1999 until end 2001 and 15p engine with upgraded head dowels and ECU.. mappable instead of chip but i agree with the rest you said.. they need their care.. in the UK parts are cheap as chips and boy.. you americans miss out on the TD5.. mapped straight through exhaust stage 2.. hmm V8 will lose.. but sound wise V8 rumble takes it.. i had both.. Enjoy the motor and haters don't know crap about a D2 lol

That thing last 40k miles?

I feel really sorry for you yanks having to put up with that antique V8. As lots of people have said the TD5 is light years ahead. I absolutely love my Discovery TD5, no sunroofs to leak, airbags on the rear replaced with springs and no ACE. It's our daily driver, work vehicle and, well, a member of the family. I can fix it myself. We want to fit a galvanised chassis. If your brakes are that bad you need to look at them.

Mate you want slow try a 300 tdi D1

it "wheels".. you "wheel it"..?

TD5 s much better engine as fast as the v8 but not as heavy on fuel

It looks very strange seeing a British car converted to left hand drive

It’s only in America that Land Rover is not regarded highly

Great looks, worst engine, but very fun vehicles.

Can’t believe how many ppl actually love these vehicles when they are complete an utter garbage compared to most other vehicles you can overland in…. I would never take anything other than a Toyota or Lexus 100s of miles on back roads from the nearest town an than 100s more miles from that country road taking back roads into the wilderness… Let alone trusting a Land Rover lol 4 Runner or GX470 everyday

I had one of these. They are shit vehicles and I wish it had sunk the company. Why people like these and continue to purchase them boggles my mind.

I never understood the passion for offroading. U leave the comfort life u take ur vehicle tht u have invested in n then u ruin it n tear it to bits in the outdoor

I don't understand that, the centre diff lock is what puts the vehicle in 4wd, otherwise it's simply in Awd as it would be on say, a Suburu so how could they not have one at all on the early Disco 2s? I had the TD5 a while back and that was, without a doubt, the most unreliable vehicle that I've ever owned. I wouldn't dream of buying another one, but I'd love to get a cheap V8 and give it a go.