Newbie - Disco 4 pre-purchase advice...

[FunJay20]

Hi AURLO,
I'm looking to purchase a 2013-2015 Discovery 4 HSE model (90,000-100,000KM) and wanted to ask a few questions that I can't seem to see any answers to in the forum.

The HSE comes with Windsor leather - anybody found it to be less durable than the standard leather? Thoughts about comfort also welcome.
Any major difference between the Harman Kardon (standard stereo) and the Meridian one from the later facelift models?
I will get a pre-purchase inspection, but any walk-away / don't even bother tips you could give me would be appreciated


Thanks (a hopefully soon to be a new disco owner...)
James
(FunJay20)

[speleomike]

Hi James

I have a 2013 D4 SE model. You will find either stereos superb. It's like the difference between 10 and 11 :-) I don't know about Windsor leather but like all leather you do need to look after it.

Your very lucky to find one with 100,000 km. That's low km for that age. The most important is a pre-purchase inspection and drive it. Even if your not a mechanic you can look, list and feel for things that might be wrong. Does it drive smoothly? Does it brake in a straight line? Change the gears into all the lower ranges and listen and feel for any harshness. Test low range also. Test the raise and lower of the suspension. Get someone to look for smoke out the exhaust. Look for any uneven wear on the tires. Even if you find problems they may minor and quite fixable and well worth it if the price of the vehicle is right. Look at the roof to spot hail damage. Look underneath to spot damage due to off roading :-) Open the bonnet and have a good look.

Others here will chime in with more tech advice. Make sure you get the two keys that it would have come with. Replacement keys are pricy.

My wife and I absolutely find our D4 to be fantastic to drive.

Mike

[INter674]

My advice...buy a petrol version😎

[StewG]

Funjay20 - My first Land Rover is a Disco 4 2013 SDV6 HSE bought for towing a 2.5T off-road caravan. It does that superbly, in quiet comfort and reasonably economically. The only downside is that the JLR dealers treat you like a billionaire when it comes to repairs. Do as much repair work (if any needed) for yourself or get a reliable independent LR specialist. Otherwise just enjoy the immensely capable vehicle. My wife loves the driver seat memory feature... [bigsmile1]

[DieselLSE]

My wife loves the driver seat memory feature... [bigsmile1]
Driver seat memory function? That be looxury. We had to make do with the poverty pack...

[AlexRS4]

Cambelt change due at 7yrs or 168,000km is pricey so ask if it's been done. $2500 or so from an Indy.

When you buy the car, get the trans sump changed to a metal one and replace all fluids - if it hasn't been done already. Will cost maybe $900 or so but worth it for peace of mind.

Water outlet replacement with an aluminium unit is recommended as they can fail abruptly and kill an engine. $650ish.

Blue smoke on hard acceleration is also normal as oil can pool in the secondary turbo, which gets blown through the engine when the turbo comes in. Doesn't hurt the car from what I've read, but if it bothers you a secondary turbo drain can be fitted for $1k.

[DieselLSE]

Cambelt change due at 7yrs or 168,000km is pricey so ask if it's been done. $2500 or so from an Indy.

When you buy the car, get the trans sump changed to a metal one and replace all fluids - if it hasn't been done already. Will cost maybe $900 or so but worth it for peace of mind.

Water outlet replacement with an aluminium unit is recommended as they can fail abruptly and kill an engine. $650ish.

Blue smoke on hard acceleration is also normal as oil can pool in the secondary turbo, which gets blown through the engine when the turbo comes in. Doesn't hurt the car from what I've read, but if it bothers you a secondary turbo drain can be fitted for $1k.
Good points AlexRS4. However, the OP is looking at 2013 to 2015 vehicles, so almost certainly the 8 speed ZF. There's still no steel pan for that and probably never will be. Yes, by now any car he's looking at will be due for a transmission service. $770 should cover it.
There's no way he'll find a 100,000km vehicle with the belts done, but the 2013 build vehicles are certainly becoming due and the OP needs to factor that in.
Good advice re water outlet, check the plastic one regularly.
I understand the oil pooling issue was corrected in the 2013 on 3.0L engines. Happy to be corrected.

[scarry]

Cracked inlet manifolds also an issue in those model years.
Any knocks when going over large bumps will be front lower control arms,another common issue at any mileage above 50K.
None seem to last much over 100 000Km.

I replace plastic coolant outlet at each coolant flush,easy to do,cheap OEM part.

Have a look at how worn brakes are,easy to see through wheels,most don't get to 100 000Km.

My Indie will do all belts for less than $2K,with body on.

[AlexRS4]

Good points AlexRS4. However, the OP is looking at 2013 to 2015 vehicles, so almost certainly the 8 speed ZF. There's still no steel pan for that and probably never will be. Yes, by now any car he's looking at will be due for a transmission service. $770 should cover it.
There's no way he'll find a 100,000km vehicle with the belts done, but the 2013 build vehicles are certainly becoming due and the OP needs to factor that in.
Good advice re water outlet, check the plastic one regularly.
I understand the oil pooling issue was corrected in the 2013 on 3.0L engines. Happy to be corrected.

Good point on the 8 speed [emoji106]

And yes you may be right - at a certain point the secondary drain was fitted from factory. I can't remember when that started.

[DiscoJeffster]

The secondary turbo replacement drain parts were less than $100 if I recall and took me a couple of hours of faffing on the ground trying to get the starter/alternator out (can’t remember which) to fit. Shouldn’t cost a grand!

[AlexRS4]

The secondary turbo replacement drain parts were less than $100 if I recall and took me a couple of hours of faffing on the ground trying to get the starter/alternator out (can’t remember which) to fit. Shouldn’t cost a grand!

I recall seeing another member or two post that it was in the high 900s-$1k fitted. That may have been dealer pricing.

Always cheaper if you can do it yourself of course. That goes for all the above pricing.

[Macboy]

Good points AlexRS4. However, the OP is looking at 2013 to 2015 vehicles, so almost certainly the 8 speed ZF. There's still no steel pan for that and probably never will be. Yes, by now any car he's looking at will be due for a transmission service. $770 should cover it.
There's no way he'll find a 100,000km vehicle with the belts done, but the 2013 build vehicles are certainly becoming due and the OP needs to factor that in.
Good advice re water outlet, check the plastic one regularly.
I understand the oil pooling issue was corrected in the 2013 on 3.0L engines. Happy to be corrected.

Some of the early 2013 builds did not have the altered turbo drain fitted and therefore suffered from the smoke issue (gee its impressive on a cold morning!). According to the relevant LR Bulletin the last of the VINs suffering the issue was DA676456, anything after that will be fine.