Buying my first Disco

[MattM1990]

Hi Guys,

Im new to the forum so hopefully im doing this right.

I come from a family who have had Range rovers for years but they dont know anything about them at all.

Currently i have a high powered Wagon and a beat up but reliable 4x4 ute for my toys and weekend which im wanting to consolidate as the 2 insurances, regos etc are annoying.

I am not a heavy 4wd guy i like taking my dirt bike to state forrest and the odd vic high country ride. I have a 2.5tonne boat i tow as well 4-5 times a year.

I love the Disco 4 look than the newer ones but To be honest people tell me LR isnt the most reliable brand.

I have seen a few 2015 Disco 4's with around 50k kms on it for $50kish and 2017 disco 5 with 40-50kms around $70k. Also i have seen the 2l 4cyl models for sub $70k now for base model

What are they like at this age and what $$ am i up for on repairs on these cars with these kms (i know fairly low).

Sorry for the general message but i am very nervous buying these european cars without warranty and the airbag suspension expenses i have heard and really pricey!!

Any help would be great.

[DieselLSE]

I did over a weeks worth of solid research before looking to buy a D4 three years ago. I was particularly concerned with the sorts of things that could go wrong in remote or rugged places as I expected the D4 to go everywhere my previous Landrovers have gone (although I was quite prepared to forego ridiculously deep river crossings). I've maintained my Landrovers for over 40 years and intended to do all my own servicing on the D4 (which I subsequently have done). I've had no mechanical issues and the car has run like a clock, but I hate to think what it would have cost me to have others service it and install all the accessories.
But I can't advise you. Personally, I wouldn't have a D4 (to take to remote places on my own) if I couldn't understand how it works and be able to repair or bypass problems. But that's just me.
What I would advise you to do is to search through this forum for threads regarding choosing the right car for you.
Start with these relatively recent ones.
Newbie - Disco 4 pre-purchase advice... (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/279176-newbie-disco-4-pre-purchase-advice.html)
What D4 to go for? (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/278064-what-d4-go.html)
Out with an old D3 and in with a 'new' D4, advice welcome (and needed) (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/276723-out-old-d3-new-d4-advice-welcome-needed.html)
Discovery 4 purchase (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/277215-discovery-4-purchase.html)
The D4 is a brilliant vehicle. It's sublime on a trip, great around town and supurb in the bush. Pre-Covid I regularly had to travel to Sydney. I much preferred driving the D4 than flying.
Good luck.

[rocket rod]

I would stick with looking at D4 models with under 100k on the clock and check their service history. Find and Indy repair shop in Sydney if you don't want to do the servicing yourself. I do all the A services and the Indy does the B and any other the major stuff.

A lot of the threads on this forum are about problems but that's not a bad thing. This place has a vast amount of intelligence you can learn from and don't be fooled by the Japanese manufacturers marketing that you can get their brand serviced anywhere. The remote places usually don't know anything about electronics that all the modern cars have.

[DiscoJeffster]

My female friend drove my D4 on the weekend. Mine’s nearly 280,000km old and has worn out control arm bushes. She said how lovely, comfortable and enjoyable it was to drive, which did surprise me as she was coming from an Audi Q7.

They are a beautiful drive.

[INter674]

The D4 8 speed is the pick of them all inc the D5s IMHO.

Better still if diesel issues worry you..EGR... DPF..turbos..dodgy air filters etc..and such concern applies to just about all modern diesel engines plus rip off fuel pricing...get a petrol engine like I did.

Best car I've ever owned by a country mile and soo cheap for what you get. Yes resale is crap but this one will see me out😃

[Dagilmo]

After 7 years in a '05 D3, I bought a '15 D4 with 80k on the clock 12 months ago. I haven't had any issues at all in this time. NB: I did a transmission flush for preventative maintenance a few months ago.

I wouldn't pay much attention to the reliability comments. It's a bit of the standard stuff from the Land Cruiser crew (my brother included) but the D3 and D4 are pretty reliable. Also, don't read to much into the number/content of threads on here regarding reliability. Generally we only post when something goes wrong. Most of the time we are all driving around without problems. The forum however, is an amazing source of knowledge and assistance.

You are going to need to consider standard consumable parts like brakes and lower control arms but with 50k on the clock that should be some time away. Having said that, it seems to depend on the car and the driving as some seem to last longer than others.

For what you are going to do with it, the D4 is a fantastic car.

[speleomike]

Hi

I bought a D4 SE, MY 2015, 8 speed auto in May 2018 and like you was a bit nervous about what might befall me in repair costs if it was a lemon. I had always liked them. Had 130,000 km on the clock then and its now coming up to 200,000 kms. It turned out to be a good car and my wife and I really love to drive it. Its great for long trips and can tackle bad roads.

Sure, its had lower control arms replaced, oil a few times in the intercooler to be removed, and new brake disks, a rear tail gate motor went (fixed that myself), a left door motor. But any 2nd hand car of that age will likely have some problems over the years. That's why its good that you have joined this forum as you will have seen the good advice that available here.

I'm certainly very happy that I got my D4. Best wishes in looking around. As always get an inspection on one and take it on a careful test drive, testing everything.

Mike

[Arapiles]

If you're paying $50K - $70K for a late D4 or early D5 then it should come with some form of warranty. A D5 would have a factory warranty at that age, or be eligible for an official extended one.

We bought a 2014 D4 for mid-$70k with about 50k kms three years ago and one of our criteria was a warranty. That's because although I understood from research that the D4s were reliable it was the most I'd paid for a car and I wanted the backup. As it happens we've had three years without issues, only problem was a failed door actuator just out of warranty. I'm relaxed about that because it's no more issues than I've had with any of my Mazdas or Hondas. With the difference being that the D4 is wildly more capable than any of our old cars : we did Melbourne to Dubbo with three kids in one day and my wife commented afterwards that it was effortless and non-tiring - very quiet, lots of space, good suspension, effortless torque and overtaking power and it also got 10l/100km. Our D4's overall fuel economy is actually less than our CR-V's average fuel economy ....

[MattM1990]

Really helps.

I think i am sold on the D4.


Love the box look and sticking around the 50k kms mark.

I would love a british racing green one however none around in those kms. Are there any places that wrap them that are pretty close to making it look like original paint job?

[MattM1990]

Bought a 2014 TDV6 for $42500 today

Gun metal grey, side steps roof racks 55k kms

Inspection came back all OK and the owner just spent over $5k on major service and control arms.

anything else i should watch out for at this age?

[loanrangie]

Bought a 2014 TDV6 for $42500 today

Gun metal grey, side steps roof racks 55k kms

Inspection came back all OK and the owner just spent over $5k on major service and control arms.

anything else i should watch out for at this age?

Just drive it an enjoy.

[rocket rod]

Bought a 2014 TDV6 for $42500 today

Gun metal grey, side steps roof racks 55k kms

Inspection came back all OK and the owner just spent over $5k on major service and control arms.

anything else i should watch out for at this age?
Most people on this forum do their own servicing or get their cars serviced at an independent mechanic that specializes in Land Rovers, so ask the question of others here or find one locally that you're happy with.

Don't be shy asking questions here if in doubt.

[Briar]

Bought a 2014 TDV6 for $42500 today

Gun metal grey, side steps roof racks 55k kms

Inspection came back all OK and the owner just spent over $5k on major service and control arms.

anything else i should watch out for at this age?

As yours is 6 years old or a bit over you will be be up for timing belts soon. For normal use they are due at 182,000 or 7 Years. That will cost you a couple of grand. Getting a 6 year old D4 with only 55,00o is very good. If it was mine I'd consider changing the gearbox oil. You will get varying opinions here but most seem to recommend a complete flush every 60-80K. I do a complete flush of all fluids about every 70-75K (diffs, gearbox and transfer case). Get it done when you do the belts next year??? I get a full service every 10K at a local indie, about 1/2 the price of a dealer. Enjoy.

[speleomike]

Hi Matt

Congratulations with your D4 purchase. Most users here are keen to see pics too :-)
Depending on what suburb of Sydney your in there are quite a few good independent service places.

Best wishes and have a lot of nice fun driving it!

Mike

[Arapiles]

Bought a 2014 TDV6 for $42500 today

Gun metal grey, side steps roof racks 55k kms

Inspection came back all OK and the owner just spent over $5k on major service and control arms.

anything else i should watch out for at this age?


Congrats, that's low ks for the age. I wouldn't've thought that there was much to do at 55,000 kms - ours is a 2014 with 90,000 kms and next year it needs timing belts (as it's 7 years old) and a transmission service (100,000 kms), and there might also be work to do on the ball joints and the secondary turbocharger.

Our car is a HSE we bought second-hand but there's not much on it, either in the standard HSE spec or in the lots of options the original owner ordered (by my count, about $30ks worth), that I'd've ordered myself - I suspect that if I know what I now know, if I'd been buying new I'd've got the TDV6 plus the rear aircon, the rear diff and the winter pack.