Discovery 4 purchase

[DeRiecroft]

Evening all,
I’m about to finally join the Land Rover owners family! I have a few saved vehicles I’m going to view soon, my question is what year Discovery 4 is the one? I have a few 2011 models I am interested in but there is also 2010, and a few 2012? Is there in difference in the three years? Or is it just a manufacture plate?

Thanks all

[loanrangie]

Depending on your budget i'd be looking at a 3.0ltr with 8spd box which i believe is 2012 MY13.

[scarry]

Although the D4 2.7 seems less problematic,if you want a few more KW,a tune will sort it.

[INter674]

Def get the 8 speed and make sure it has been serviced..or get it done after buying.

Really nice box which makes the car easier to drive and towing is much smoother and keeps vehicle speed up without excessive shifting.

Also try to get one with some additional features eg higher spec stereo.. cameras...tow pack..etc 2014 models and up are nice.

[DeRiecroft]

I am leaning towards a 2011 MY11 TDV6 2.7, It has full service history and a few extra accessories which compliment it nicely. Is there anything to watch out for when going over one of these? Things to look out for?

[INter674]

Look to see what has been replaced eg turbo..manifolds
..gear box?..at least hopefully the gb would have been serviced..k's..not too high hopefully...lower control arms done?....warranty?

[theelms66]

Timing belts?

[CraigE]

Your budget will be the determining factor as it was with me. I could only afford the 2.7 6 speed, but got a 2011 as it had heaps of extras, like leather, better stereo / sat nav etc. But still a great car.

[scarry]

I am leaning towards a 2011 MY11 TDV6 2.7, It has full service history and a few extra accessories which compliment it nicely. Is there anything to watch out for when going over one of these? Things to look out for?

Run front wheels over a large bump or kerb,see if it knocks,that will be front control arms worn.Or if badly worn will knock under brakes.

Check when timing belts were done,and as others have said,check when auto was last serviced.Might need doing

Also plastic piece in cooling system needs to be replaced if it hasn't been done.Replace coolant bottle as well,cheap OEM part.Float loves to play up every now and then

Check auto doesn't shudder under hard acceleration.

There is a coolant hose that runs close to one of the pullies left hand front of engine,check this.It has a clip on rocker cover that holds it in place.You will need to remove engine cover to see it.

A BAS tune will help it along considerably and get rid of a lot of turbo lag.

Inlet manifolds cracking are not an issue on the 2.7l.
Both my Indie and Dazza on here, have never seen a broken crank in a D4 2.7l,so you should be OK there.
The problem with the AC compresser valve also only seems to occur on the 3.0l,so that shouldn't be an issue.


Good luck with your purchase.

[PerthDisco]

YouTube (https://youtu.be/4r25Cf8fnxw)

Just seen this and not a bad general guide

[DiscoJeffster]

I am leaning towards a 2011 MY11 TDV6 2.7, It has full service history and a few extra accessories which compliment it nicely. Is there anything to watch out for when going over one of these? Things to look out for?

The D4 2.7L is the most sorted Disco. Engines are problem free unlike the 3.0L.

Get the gearbox serviced if it hasn’t been recently.

[DeRiecroft]

I’m going down to look at a D4 on Saturday morning it looks promising but there is just a couple of things which I think seem a little weird but then again I don’t own a Land Rover so this may be a normal thing haha this D4 has 135,ish KM on the clock but has had the torque converter replaced already the owner also said it has had the auto serviced (has receipts) he also said it’s had the 160k major service which involves the timing belts? My question being is it an underlying problem for the torque converter to have already been replaced? He didn’t mention if it has or hasn’t been used for towing.
Is there anyone who can shed some light on if this is a red flag or Land Rover D4 normality?

[discorevy]

Yes , normal if it's the 6 speed for the torque converter to be replaced at those kilometres if it has been towing heavy and the trans wasn't serviced , owner didn't tow in sports mode etc.

[DeRiecroft]

Yes , normal if it's the 6 speed for the torque converter to be replaced at those kilometres if it has been towing heavy and the trans wasn't serviced , owner didn't tow in sports mode etc.

Thanks! Unfortunately the bloke was hesitant on selling and isn’t “ready” to part with it which I don’t understand why you would display something for sale if you don’t want to sell it

[INter674]

You probably asked too many questions and frightened him out of selling to you😃

Don't worry there's a lot out there to choose from. Took us over a year to get our SC V6 petrol at the right price.

[DazzaTD5]

IMHO...
My pick BELIEVE IT OR NOT...
A Discovery 4 2.7lt, but even the 3.0lt is still in my pic of vehicles.

*A disco 4 is a good improvement over the disco 3, it just seems to do everything more elegant.
*A D4 2.7lt seems to be engine failure free, if thats possible. I've not changed an engine out on one.
*I have picked up a few 2010 D4 2.7lt recently for customers with high km's (260K) and got them for $15K - $17K.
*My opinion is once they have got to these km's they have dodged that engine failure bullet.
*I also did give them a list of what I recommend should be done when they buy it, full service, driveline fluids, auto service, egr/tune, timing belt, brakes, lower control arms etc etc.
*Average cost estimate was round say $6K, when the vehicles got to me, most went out finished at round $3K depending on what needed doing.
*I have quite a few customers with D4 2.7lt models that also have high km's and going great.

*Even the D4 3.0lt realistically seem to have less engine failures than when the D3 was the same age.
*But a D4 3.0lt if it does fail is going to cost big dollars to fix.

*Another point (i dunno maybe) is I've not personally had any of my customers have engine failures if I have been servicing the vehicle since new or near new.
*So its not that I am so dam clever at changing oil, my point is that after all the bluh bluh about big long service intervals and how great oil is nowdays, it doesnt seem to gel in the real world. 10K servicing is what I'm always going to recommend regardless of what the manufacturers say. Manufacturers and dealers simply can't be trusted when it comes to anything regarding the extended life of your vehicle.

*There is not really many vehicles out there for sale at the moment and I don't see this getting any better. People arent buying new cars and seem to be holding onto their current vehicle. maybe a case of the devil you know.

[gofish]

The 2.7 D4 is great once sorted out [tonguewink] although 8 speed would be nice.

[DiscoMick]

IMHO...
My pick BELIEVE IT OR NOT...
A Discovery 4 2.7lt, but even the 3.0lt is still in my pic of vehicles.

*A disco 4 is a good improvement over the disco 3, it just seems to do everything more elegant.
*A D4 2.7lt seems to be engine failure free, if thats possible. I've not changed an engine out on one.
*I have picked up a few 2010 D4 2.7lt recently for customers with high km's (260K) and got them for $15K - $17K.
*My opinion is once they have got to these km's they have dodged that engine failure bullet.
*I also did give them a list of what I recommend should be done when they buy it, full service, driveline fluids, auto service, egr/tune, timing belt, brakes, lower control arms etc etc.
*Average cost estimate was round say $6K, when the vehicles got to me, most went out finished at round $3K depending on what needed doing.
*I have quite a few customers with D4 2.7lt models that also have high km's and going great.

*Even the D4 3.0lt realistically seem to have less engine failures than when the D3 was the same age.
*But a D4 3.0lt if it does fail is going to cost big dollars to fix.

*Another point (i dunno maybe) is I've not personally had any of my customers have engine failures if I have been servicing the vehicle since new or near new.
*So its not that I am so dam clever at changing oil, my point is that after all the bluh bluh about big long service intervals and how great oil is nowdays, it doesnt seem to gel in the real world. 10K servicing is what I'm always going to recommend regardless of what the manufacturers say. Manufacturers and dealers simply can't be trusted when it comes to anything regarding the extended life of your vehicle.

*There is not really many vehicles out there for sale at the moment and I don't see this getting any better. People arent buying new cars and seem to be holding onto their current vehicle. maybe a case of the devil you know.British Off Road is also recommending 10,000 km services.

[PerthDisco]

British Off Road is also recommending 10,000 km services.

6 monthly oil change *was* the D3 2.7 LR factory interval and is what mines had since new. IMHO 12 monthly came in only to try and match the comparatively low Tojo Cruiser service cost.

My average km interval is 9,000 with 8,000 to 13,000 as the high low range. On this basis even if you accidentally missed one you’d be only at today’s “recommend” interval.

I think that correlates well with an ‘arduous’ duty cycle of city driving. Totally agree that the dealer has no incentive to service in a way that will extend life and minimise parts replacement.

I hope The Prince of Darkness @DazzaTD5 is correct. 222k km and counting. [emoji1696]


YouTube (https://youtu.be/GnqxxTPD-UU)

[scarry]

IMHO...
My pick BELIEVE IT OR NOT...
A Discovery 4 2.7lt, but even the 3.0lt is still in my pic of vehicles.

*A disco 4 is a good improvement over the disco 3, it just seems to do everything more elegant.
*A D4 2.7lt seems to be engine failure free, if thats possible. I've not changed an engine out on one.
*I have picked up a few 2010 D4 2.7lt recently for customers with high km's (260K) and got them for $15K - $17K.
*My opinion is once they have got to these km's they have dodged that engine failure bullet.
*I also did give them a list of what I recommend should be done when they buy it, full service, driveline fluids, auto service, egr/tune, timing belt, brakes, lower control arms etc etc.
*Average cost estimate was round say $6K, when the vehicles got to me, most went out finished at round $3K depending on what needed doing.
*I have quite a few customers with D4 2.7lt models that also have high km's and going great.

*Even the D4 3.0lt realistically seem to have less engine failures than when the D3 was the same age.
*But a D4 3.0lt if it does fail is going to cost big dollars to fix.


And if the D4 2.7 happens to have a Tune,it certainly loses quite a bit of turbo lag,and gets a long well.
Not as powerful as the SDV6,but more than enough for normal driving,unless of course you want a race car.

My Indie suggests D4 services every 12000Km,6 months.
Mine generally goes once a year,sometimes its done 10000Km,the most its ever done is 14000Km.
I have had the oil tested at these intervals,and its fine,retest in another 5000km,they advised,but i get it changed each service regardless.

[ATH]

I change my D4 3.0ltr every 10K about. Went a bit longer when I was on a trip and a bit shorter on another occasion as I was bored at home. Every 20K I get the independent (normally DazzaTd5) to change and do what's necessary otherwise.
I'm a bit of a fanatic about clean oil which may stem from the fact I worked in a place moons ago where the boss actually employed a bloke to just keep his race car running..... that bloke convinced me the cost of an oil change was well worth it for an engine/g/box/diff etc longevity. :)
Plus I used the free to me company oil .......
AlanH.

[BradC]

Mine generally goes once a year,sometimes its done 10000Km,the most its ever done is 14000Km.

I just do 10,000 or 12 months. Whichever comes first. These days it's 12 months :(
Oil is cheap.

[DeRiecroft]

So I committed and I have purchased a silver 2010 TDV6 2.7l with 124k on the clock, outside and inside was near perfect great service history with a few standard parts everyone hear had said check, which had already been done so all in all very happy and now part of the green oval club

[INter674]

Nyce..there's a lot to like about the D3/4 and you have relatively low ks too!

Enjoy!

[DeRiecroft]

Anyone know of a reliable mechanic near Toowoomba QLD?

[gavinwibrow]

Anyone know of a reliable mechanic near Toowoomba QLD?

Not sure if he has retired/sold his business yet but Don is a long term LR and RR man who drove a Rangie 322 last I heard. He has also been on aulro for many years, but quiet recently. I can't recall the name of his Indie business in Toowoomba, nor find his number, but someone there will know.

Don Radke [donradke@gmail.com]

[DeRiecroft]

Not sure if he has retired/sold his business yet but Don is a long term LR and RR man who drove a Rangie 322 last I heard. He has also been on aulro for many years, but quiet recently. I can't recall the name of his Indie business in Toowoomba, nor find his number, but someone there will know.

Don Radke [donradke@gmail.com]

Thanks mate, I did find him and his business is call RAD Rovers!

[gavinwibrow]

Thanks mate, I did find him and his business is call RAD Rovers!


If you do use him, give Don my regards - I bought my LSE TD5 from him (his personal car) after he converted it and before he started RAD Motors.
Flew over, hopped in it and drove it straight back here no hassles.