Well, friends, I decided to write a review about my Diskarika. That's how I affectionately call my Land Rover Discovery 2 series.

My name is Nikolay. I myself live in the southern capital of Kazakhstan, in Alma-Ata. Auto driven from America in 2007 I am the second owner in Kazakhstan.

Before him, I had a lot of SUVs. And somehow I came across the film Camel Trophy. Well, I looked, well, I thought everything was on it. No, damn it. Something stuck inside. And as an ordinary layman who thought that Land Rover was "fragile trash", he began to read forums, watch videos, etc. 80 percent of motorists believe that LR is complete crap with its confused electronics, fragility and expensive service staff. I won't prove anything to anyone. I will say one thing, the lion's share of dissatisfied LRs are people who have never exploited it. Okay, let's finish with the lyrics.

And so, the last SUV I had before the LR was a 1997 SURF with a 2.7 engine. I traveled on it for exactly a year. Well, this is not my car, I did not get used to it! Thinking about changing horses. I met an old friend and he had an LR Discovery 2 with a 2.5 diesel engine. He offered to drive a Disco. I got into it, damn it, everything is different somehow, I got used to the Japanese. I made a circle around the territory of the base, went out onto the road, got used to it a little. We chatted with him, climbed into Surf and moved on on business. Food and feel pipets, uncle, you've arrived! After Diskar it's not the same at all! In short, LR fell seriously ill.

Let's pop ads, call, watch. There was nothing suitable. There were just dead cars from all angles. Got upset. And somehow I saw this little white miracle on the classifieds site. Only 3 photos. Auto 2000 But he was in the city of Temirtau, it is 1200 km from Alma-Ata. There is no way to watch it live. Let's bomb on the bodies of the owner, ask what and how. Phone - phone, you need to look. Found a friend 30 km from Temirtau. He agreed to drive and see the machine. Damn, it was a sleepless night. By noon the next day, a friend called back. I say: "What's with the car?" He said only one phrase: "If I had money, I'd buy it!" Everything, damn it, was an explosion of emotions! I called the owner and begged him to wait a week. In short, he waited for me for 2 weeks, answering calls from me 5 times a day. Surf put up for sale, but this is a long business, and Diskarik is waiting. Went to bow to the boss. He listened to me, twisted his finger at his temple, said: "Yes, you ... beaten to the head! How can you buy a car from a photo?" In short, I left upset. In the evening, the chief called and said that I would come for the money in the morning. EU!!! Phoned the owner, said he found the money. It was a crazy night, I didn't sleep at all. In the morning I drove into the office, took the money, (low bow to the boss) then rushed to the station for tickets for the locomotive. We decided to go with our son together. My wife was hysterical, she thought I was crazy. But nevertheless, after dinner, the wheels were already knocking and the car was carrying away to the north, to Karaganda. We arrived at 9 am. Cold. April 3, strong wind. We went to the station square. Diskarika I immediately saw in the parking lot. Damn, a handsome white man stood out from the gray crowd of cars. The owner and a friend were standing by the car. Let's go to Temirtau, from Karaganda it's about 30-35 km, sort of. I sat in the passenger seat with my son in the back. When you're not driving, you don't really feel anything. We rushed to the city, climbed the whole car, everything was arranged, shook hands and forward, deregister. The paperwork was finished by 3 pm. Thought to go home in the morning, but unbearable! Moved after 4. After inspection, the first time I sat behind the wheel!

And so we set off. First impression - WOW!!! Under the hood 8 buckets and 4 liters. volume. Fuck! Dynamics is not transferable! In short, we go, we get high with our son.

Ergonomics at height, everything is at hand, everything is thought out to the smallest detail. Everything is somehow aristocratic, everything is purely in English. Leather interior, 2 hatches, rear pneuma - this is generally a song! The only thing that bothered me was the mirrors that were not proportionate to the car. But I'm already used to it. Filled full tank. Looking ahead, I’ll say that on 1168 km of the way back we burned only 110 liters of gasoline !!!

We left Temirtau, passed Karaganda quickly and flew out onto the track. Here the Discaric opened up. I could not believe that a frame SUV with continuous bridges could keep the track like that! The steering wheel sounds great. Stability at height thanks to the rear air suspension. V8 is a thing!!! Accelerates amazingly, it is very useful when you need to quickly overtake. We reached Alma-Ata in 15 hours. They returned tired, but happy as cats, overeating sour cream.

The weekdays of Diskarika have begun. It so happened that the official car got into an accident and I had to work for a month on Diskarika. To be honest, I got high from driving around the city on it. Seats mega comfortable with electric drive, heated. Visibility is top notch. You don't get tired of driving at all. Yes, and on the road somehow treated with respect.

When I took the car, the ABS did not work for it and, accordingly, TC is Traction Control. I have a Discaric with no transfer lock. TS only. The Shuttle Valve on the ABS unit was not working. And one of the ABS wheel sensors was faulty. I made a jumper on the shuttle valve, replaced the non-working sensor. Everything worked!

Summer is here and we are off to go fishing. The track is a buzz on Diskarik, we turned off-road, 55 km along salt marshes. Pneuma perfectly eats bumps. Before leaving home, there was a heavy downpour and the salt marshes were carried away. In short, 55 km of "soap" were provided. I have regular road tires. In short, what he did in the mud is fantastic!!! Pneuma, lifting the car by 12 cm and the vehicle is a great thing! No blocking is needed. In general, 2 stuck Prados and 1 Pajero drove around along the way. Then, a few hours later, these stuck guys caught up with us and one from Pradik was very surprised on what wheels I drove through the salt marsh. His friend said, “Why be surprised? It's Discovery!"

I myself was shocked. When I go fishing, I usually take a boat and a motor with me. There is a trailer for this. So Diskarik does not feel it at all. Enough dope. When you turn on the turn on the panel, the green silhouette of the trailer blinks pleasantly, reminding you that there is a cart behind. Consumption on the highway with a trailer is about 13 liters. I installed the Multitrinics on-board computer, it shows fuel consumption very accurately. Some will say that the V8 is a big gas mileage, but I get high on the passes with a trailer, without straining and ready to pay for it! And who wants to fart and smoke on a weak engine - flag in hand!

I had one trouble with Diskarik. Himself to blame. Arriving from fishing, I saw a twig sticking out of the radiator. Well pulled, antifreeze dripped. Damn, it's good at home. Closed the gap. I didn't want to solder. I ordered a Belgian radiator NISSENS, there is a new one, it came in just 2 weeks. The price is ridiculous, $215 including shipping. For 2 years of ownership Diskarikom, it was the most difficult breakdown. Ugh 3 times!!!

A year later, 2 front lambda probes failed. In our city they are 100%. I ordered from England for only $96 and that's for both! Also in the first winter began to leak brake fluid reservoir. Replaced. Issue price $65.

For the winter I have a second set of tires on R18 wheels. Summer - R16. In winter, it's generally super on it. Ice keeps as nailed, warms up just very quickly. In summer, air conditioning is a pleasure! In short machine thought out to the smallest detail! Praise to the British engineers!!! The machine is very unpretentious and unkillable. Yes, there is nothing to kill! The most important thing is timely service and replacement of all consumables, so that skeptics do not say - Land Rover This is LAND ROVER !!! The next one will be Discovery 3.

After the resounding success of the first Discovery, the British began to think about consolidating the achieved results and began working on the creation of the second generation of the British premium SUV Land Rover Discovery. The novelty, which debuted in 1998, has become a truly revolutionary product of its time: almost 90% of new design details, electronic control of the all-wheel drive system, unique assistance systems for driving in various conditions, a higher level of comfort and other "goodies" in one moment made the Land Rover Discovery 2 a segment leader.

It is noteworthy, but, despite the global renewal of structural elements, the appearance of Discovery II almost completely copied its predecessor. The work carried out by the designers looked more like a point restyling, and there is a logical explanation for this: marketing research has shown that potential buyers of Land Rover Discovery 2 are categorically against serious changes in the appearance of the SUV, which forced the developers to keep the same body contours to the maximum.

But the dimensions have changed a bit, thanks to which Discovery 2 has become noticeably larger. Now the length of the body was 4705 mm, the width was 1885 mm, and the height was 1940 mm. The length of the wheelbase of the SUV is 2540 mm, the height of the ground clearance of an unladen vehicle is 253 mm.

Salon Discovery 2, in comparison with its predecessor, has become “more passenger”, which has improved comfort for all passengers, but the conservative design style has been preserved.

However, in 2002 the car underwent restyling, which included a new instrument panel, other finishing materials and other innovations that made the interior noticeably more attractive.

Specifications. Under the hood of the 2nd generation Land Rover Discovery, you can find three power plant options: two gasoline engines and one diesel engine, which was especially popular in our country.
But let's start with gasoline V-engines. The youngest of them had 8 cylinders with a total displacement of 4.0 liters, which made it possible to develop up to 185 hp. power and about 340 Nm of torque. The engine was aggregated with a 4-speed automatic transmission, or with a 5-speed manual transmission, it was highly reliable and tolerated low-quality fuel, but the consumption of the latter left much to be desired - in the combined cycle, the engine ate about 17.0 liters. A more powerful gasoline unit had a working volume of 4.6 liters and a power of 220 hp. This power plant is little known in Russia, as it was intended mainly for the American version of the SUV.

Now about the diesel. This is the most popular engine, it had 5 in-line cylinders with a working volume of 2.5 liters, a turbocharging system, a direct fuel injection system through pump injectors and a heating system for fuel pumped back into the tank, which made it possible not to be afraid of fuel line freezing in winter. The power of this engine was 138 hp, and the peak torque was at around 300 Nm. In terms of reliability, the diesel engine was slightly weaker than gasoline engines, but it compensated for this shortcoming with acceptable fuel consumption: the average consumption in the combined cycle was 9.4 liters with a 5-speed manual transmission and 10.3 liters with a 4-band “automatic”.

Land Rover Discovery 2 was based on a frame chassis with dependent spring suspension front and rear.
The SUV was produced only in an all-wheel drive version and was equipped with continuous axles mounted on two trailing arms, as well as a center differential and a 2-speed transfer case.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the center differential, which became free, and from now on electronics, led by the ETS traction control system, were engaged in blocking it. But buyers did not like this scheme, who subjected Discovery 2 to harsh criticism - and already during the restyling of 2002, the mechanical differential lock was returned to the SUV.
We add that in the older trim levels, the rear spring suspension was replaced with a pneumatic one, supplemented by the Self Leveling Suspension system, which changes the clearance height within 40 mm, as well as the Active Cornering Enhancement system, which eliminates body roll when cornering.

The Land Rover Discovery 2 was completed in 2004, when it was replaced by the even more revolutionary Discovery 3, which marked the beginning of the modern history of this model.

At the time of the debut of the second generation Land Rover Discovery, SUVs were still capable of many useful things. Such cars were purchased not for the sake of emotions, but for real trips off the highway. Hence the prowess that all-terrain vehicles from the 90s were famous for.

Discovery 2 is much smaller than its Japanese rivals. However, not everyone needs a huge car.

At the same time, customers wanted their cars to be at least a little civilized - they allowed them to comfortably overcome long-distance routes. These two, at first glance, contradictory characteristics and tried to unite the British. The result was the Land Rover Discovery, which was more cultured than the Defender, but less luxurious than the Range Rover.

Initially, Land Rover did not even think about creating the next generation of Discovery, deciding to limit itself to a regular update. But the modernization was so deep that it was decided to classify the model as the next generation. Changes have affected many areas. The body was almost completely redesigned, with the exception of minor details. In the first Disco, the entire body, except for the roof, was made of aluminum. The successor also received steel doors.

Discovery 2 has become longer by 18 centimeters, most of which went to increase the trunk. But the main drawback remained - a small wheelbase (only 254 cm). However, the high-mounted rear seats aren't as cramped. Additional centimeters above the head were carved out by slightly raising the roof. However, tall passengers may experience discomfort, as the eyes are at the level of the bulkhead between the door and side skylights. Another problem is narrow doors.

Among the proposals, you can find 7-seater modifications. The third row is not very comfortable. But for short trips, it's fine. True, if you do not use it for a long time, the backs of folding chairs cease to be fixed in the correct position.

Wealth and aristocracy

It is not difficult to find richly equipped specimens on the market. Still, this car was bought by British aristocrats to go hunting. Inside you can find: leather upholstery, climate control, a Harman Kardon audio system, cruise control and full power accessories, including power seats.

Restyled models (after 2002) are distinguished by double round reflectors of the front optics (instead of one rectangular one), new rear lights, redesigned brakes (although their efficiency has not changed), thicker roof rails, improved acoustic comfort (due to new door seals, silent blocks, a second exhaust silencer and a less noisy transfer case).

Everything is fine as long as it works

One of the curious elements of the Land Rover Discovery 2 is the all-wheel drive system. Her "modernization" is a real puzzle and proof of the complete chaos that was going on during the design work.

Torque is transmitted constantly to all four wheels through the center differential. Until about 2001, a lock was installed, but there was not enough leverage to turn it on. I had to leave the salon to activate. Fortunately, the connection operation itself was not complicated. However, in 2001, the lock was removed from the list of equipment and returned only at the very end - in 2004. This time, with full civilized management.

The car, in accordance with the status of an SUV, is equipped with two rigid axles. Classical solutions guarantee reliability, durability and good performance on the ground, but they perform worse on asphalt surfaces. In Discovery II, in any conditions, there are no complaints about the chassis, especially with the SLS self-levelling suspension. The steering is quite precise and handling is definitely better than the Mitsubishi Pajero.

Driving the Discovery, it's hard to get rid of the feeling that the center of gravity is too high, and the car is about to tip over. But not with the bizarre and useful ACE (Active Cornering Enhancement) system - a hydraulic system for controlling the stiffness of the stabilizers. Thanks to her, the Disco has large suspension travels off-road, and when driving on the freeway, the body does not roll much.

ACE, like rear air springs, is an option. One thing unites both systems: low reliability. In the case of ACE, the hydraulic pump fails or fluid leaks out. In pneumatics, problems are caused by a compressor or leaky pillows.

For those who plan to use the British SUV for its intended purpose, experts recommend dismantling complex suspension elements and installing conventional springs. There are enough tuning kits on the market, ranging from shock absorbers to springs designed for various loads. Sellers, indicating the word "springs" in the ads, thereby make it clear that in this instance the above defects will no longer be. As for the metal-rubber elements of the running gear, they are distinguished by outstanding strength.

Engines

Among the proposals, most of the market is occupied by diesel versions with a Td5 engine. It has five cylinders but only four glow plugs. Direct fuel injection is carried out by electronically controlled unit injectors. Such a Discovery consumes about 10-11 l/100 km and delivers less than expected performance. The SUV is heavy and not aerodynamic. More than 2-ton Disco with a 4-speed automatic accelerates to hundreds in an endless 20 seconds. In addition to the automatic transmission, the Briton was also equipped with a 5-speed mechanics. By the way, both boxes should be carefully checked before buying. In the event of a malfunction, repairs will be expensive.

The TD5 has nothing to do with BMW, as is commonly believed, but is a continuation of the development of the old diesel Rover L. Its real problem is the complete absence of new injectors for cars from 1999-2001 that comply with the Euro-2 standard. In later modifications, the TD5 complies with Euro-3 standards, and new nozzles can be purchased at a price of 15,000 rubles apiece. So, if you are interested in a diesel version, then only after 2002. The TD5 is characterized by: failure of the fuel pressure regulator, bypass valve in the boost system, loosening of the oil pump bolts (leading to a drop in pressure in the lubrication system), and the need for periodic replacement of the injector control wiring harness. With age, the fuel pump also wears out. Costly damage to the cylinder head or gasket causes the oil to mix with the coolant. The main thing is to check the dipstick and look under the oil filler cap into the engine, into the coolant reservoir and radiator to make sure there are no characteristic deposits (impurities).

Similar problems completely bypassed petrol modifications with a V8 of 4.0 and 4.6 liters. Both engines also have British roots. In the past, owners have experienced premature wear on bearings and heads. Currently, many gasoline units have been converted to run on liquefied gas.

All motors have a timing chain drive. Common problems include oil leaks from under the camshaft seals. Given the age of the model, leakage from under the engine and transmission seals is a common occurrence. Moreover, even during the warranty period, German services recorded all kinds of oil leaks in about half of the Disco.

Myths or suffering?

SUV fans are conventionally divided into two camps. Some believe that there is nothing better than the "Japanese" led by Land Cruiser, and Land Rover is the worst brand in the world. Others think exactly the opposite. And yet, an aged Land Rover Discovery 2 will prove to be more costly than Japanese SUVs. The Briton has an unusual design and needs specialized service. As for consumables, everything is available and quite cheap. Serious investments will require specific equipment. For example, an air suspension compressor (about 45,000 rubles) or an ACE system valve block (28,000 rubles).

Among the typical malfunctions of an elderly Disco, one can note the failure of the electronic gas pedal, the wear of the cardan shaft joints, the jamming of the door and trunk lid locks, the failure of the ABS sensors and the contamination of electrical contacts. And how many troubles the immobilizer, which is sensitive to external sources of interference, caused at one time. Power lines, garage door radio signals, and the like paralyzed the SUV more than once. Fortunately, to start the engine, it was enough to move the car by 200 meters. Sometimes rainwater penetrates into the cabin. The musty smell should alert you.

Having paid 400-450 thousand rubles for a decent Discovery, you need to be prepared for investments in the amount of 50,000 rubles. This is a starter package for a car that is diligently serviced in a specialized workshop. SUVs with a questionable past will incur higher costs.

Conclusion

So should you be afraid of the Land Rover Discovery 2? Maybe. First, he needs special care. Secondly, some components are no longer available. An English off-road vehicle is a car with a special character that does not save off-road. However, finding a well-groomed specimen will not be easy.

Specifications Land Rover Discovery 2 (1999-2004)

Version
Engine			turbodiesel
Working volume
Arrangement of cylinders / valves
Max Power
Torque
Dynamic characteristics
Max Speed
Acceleration 0-100 km/h
Average fuel consumption, l/100 km

V8, it would seem, should be eternal - these are old aluminum lower engines with pushrods with very modest boost (188-225 hp), in full accordance with the American tradition (the Rover V8 line is based on the Buick 215 engine bought from the Americans 1960). However, these "eights" are an example of a design that is rarely unsuccessful in small things, which could have been relatively easily finalized, but this did not happen.
- Until about 2000, the Rover V8 corny sleeves sank, "sliding" from the cylinder block down to the crankshaft. This happened at different runs, depending on the mode of operation, but more than 300 thousand motors without capital with re-sleeving rarely ran. In version 4.6 (with an increased piston stroke and, accordingly, longer sleeves), the drawdown happened on average faster, sometimes already at 150 thousand. What did the British do? We finalized the cylinder block by adding a "step". The sleeves stopped sinking, but another problem came out.
- In motors after 2000, as a result, microcracks in the block in the walls under the sleeves began to occur more often. At the same time, hot exhaust gases at the junction of the block with the cylinder head penetrated into the space between the sleeve and the block, and then into the cooling jacket. The resulting overheating ruined the engine for several thousand kilometers for no apparent reason.
- Like the icing on the cake - rattling piston skirts, almost like the infamous Volkswagen CFNA.
- As a result, British V8s can serve the "half a million" or more due to the old eights only after a high-quality capital with the replacement of liners with modified, flanged liners. Not only do they not sag, but they almost eliminate the risk of exhaust gases penetrating into the space between the block and the liners.
- Another headache for the owner of a car with a V8 is the GEMS multipoint injection control system co-produced by Lucas and Sagem. The system is distinguished not only by weak wiring and expensive consumables, but also by sensitivity to voltage drops (for example, due to a failed generator) and various kinds of interference (for example, from power lines). Fortunately, in 1999, a year after the release of the Disco Series II, Lucas products were abandoned in favor of the noticeably more successful Bosch Motronic M5.2.1. The engine with GEMS is easy to recognize by the large longitudinally located black plastic box with the designation of the engine size, located in full view above the engine.
- Diesels 2.5 Td5, as already mentioned, these are Rover in-line fives. The fact that the motor here is from BMW is a popular misconception. BMW M51, a 6-cylinder diesel of the same volume, was installed on the Range Rover P38 of the same years. The cheaper Disco was left with a British diesel, at that time very progressive, with electronically controlled injection from Lucas and the mega-popular Garrett GT20 turbine (also known as the Allied Signal brand), lit up on diesel engines VW, Volvo, Ford, Renault, Mercedes-Benz and others.
- Until 2000, the engines suffered from problems with the oil pump and cylinder head, but by now they have all been eliminated. In 2003, with restyling, the engines received an EGR valve (remember the timely cleaning), but, fortunately, it did not come to particulate filters.
- Of the popular problems - oil leaks from gaskets (only in 2002, the cylinder head gasket became metallic), radiator leaks, fuel pump breakdowns (the resource is very different - someone changed up to 100 thousand, someone drove 300), sensor breakdowns , wear of the crankshaft vibration damper (50 euros) ... In short, not the most reliable engine, but there is no outright crime, as with gasoline V8s, it is not observed. The piston group does not cause problems, the resource of the timing chain is more than 250 thousand for sure.
- Parts for diesel engines are inexpensive by modern standards, but there are questions about availability. Turbines (about 300 euros) and fuel pumps (about 200 euros) are new and even available in some places, but injectors for 40 euros apiece (remanufactured) will most likely have to be ordered from Ebay from England.

MK-Mobil, 02/05.

Land Rover showed off the all-new Discovery last year, but we're now talking about the more affordable first generation of this car, which was produced from 1989 to 1998. Initially, Discovery was conceived as a cross between an overly utilitarian Defender, which in terms of comfort can only be compared with our UAZ, and a luxurious Range Rover. Despite the fact that Discovery opened up a new market niche for Land Rover, there was nothing fundamentally new in this car. But he has a big advantage over his brothers - this is a relatively reasonable price, which was combined with a good level of comfort. And the Discovery's cross-country ability was on the level - here it inherited all the best from the Defender. Including the landing of the driver - the seat is specially as close as possible to the door in order to better feel the dimensions of the car (this helps a lot in the city, allowing you to squeeze into the gaps between cars, leaving gaps of millimeters).

As for competition with similar SUVs from other companies, then Discovery had, perhaps, the main trump card. This is the manufacturer's name. In the late 80s, the Land Rover brand was already being promoted very seriously, and many motorists believed that this company produces the best off-road vehicles in the world. And here we must immediately warn you - you should not buy a used Land Rover Discovery just because of the glorious halo of an off-road conqueror. By the way, do not take this car and because of its low price. Otherwise, you can be seriously disappointed both in the Discovery itself and in all Land Rover brand cars.

Rust is white!

The vast majority of the first generation Land Rover Discovery have the familiar 5-door body. However, the British also made 3-door cars, which, however, were not in the greatest demand (as a result, after 1998 they stopped producing them). Discovery is based on a powerful frame, which is considered to be eternal. The body of the car is not aluminum at all, as you can often hear. It is steel, and only the hood, front and rear fenders, as well as the outer lining on the doors (the doors themselves are iron) are made of “winged” metal. It is generally accepted that the use of aluminum completely eliminates the problem of natural destruction of the body. But Land Rover Discovery owners can only grin skeptically when they read these words. They know very well that the body iron of their cars in some places where aluminum touches ordinary steel (this is just about doors) begins to actively oxidize. At the same time, the metal is covered with a kind of white scale, and then it begins to crumble altogether - sometimes you can even bend a piece of the outer upholstery of the door with your hands. That is why when buying a first generation Discovery, you first need to inspect the front door (where it contacts the metal part), all the edges of other doors and other “dangerous” places. And in the future, when traces of oxidation appear, you should not pull the rubber and contact the service, where there are special putties and primers.

Aluminum also has one more drawback, which appears only in case of accidents. The fact is that aluminum requires more painstaking restoration of dented elements, and often straightening is completely impossible. And then you have to look for iron in the "showdown" or buy new parts. The price of the latter, as you know, is considerable. For example, a wing costs about $290 (for non-original). But if you need to replace a new bumper ($ 320), you can do it more cunningly and buy very strong steel tuning bumpers in stores specializing in SUVs, which cost from $ 900 to $ 1.5 thousand. additional optics, as well as kengurin.

Equipment Land Rover Discovery, as a rule, is quite rich. Although the three-door versions of the first years of production were absolutely "empty". SUVs with five doors without fail have the power accessories necessary for a comfortable ride. The richest equipment that appeared after the 1994 restyling is called ES. In terms of their “bells and whistles”, such Discoveries can even compete with Range Rover (the interior is trimmed with leather and wood, there is a powerful music system, air conditioning, etc.). By the way, in the early years of the release of the car, there was no air conditioning in the basic equipment, but after modernization it appeared on all Discovery. There is not as much space inside Discovery as it might seem at first glance. Despite the impressive dimensions, the cabin is not particularly clear. Although even the haters of the British car industry will not turn their tongues to call it close.

The build quality of the Land Rover interior can be called good, but on cars that are already 10 years old and more, all kinds of squeaks are normal. Also, on older machines, the electrician sometimes starts to “fail”. This is mainly due to poor contacts, but this does not make it easier for the owner - such little things are usually very annoying. So if, when buying a car, it is noticed that some kind of lamp or brake light is not working, then you may still have to suffer with the electrician. The driver's power window on the first generation Discovery may also stop working by now. The reason for this usually lies in the cut gears in the drive or (occasionally) in the electronic unit itself. In the latter case, the purchase of a new part will cost $160 (you can sometimes find them at showdowns for $50-70). Owners of Land Rover Discoveries made before 1995 complain about a poorly functioning “stove”, which at first starts to blow barely even at high speed, and then completely stops performing its duties. The electric motor is to blame for this, but the entire stove assembly must be changed. And this is $500 for a part plus another $250-300 for labor (for this you have to remove all the dash). However, you can save a lot on the motor by putting a part from our "eight" for $ 10 (in this case, you will have to cut a tiny piece of plastic from the car, although this does not always work out).

And I want and prick

In the vast majority of cases, Land Rover Discovery has either a 3.5-liter petrol "eight". or 3.9 liters, or a 2.5-liter turbodiesel. However, not everyone knows that a 4-cylinder 2.0-liter gasoline engine was also installed under the hood of Discovery, which produced 136 hp. Perhaps the only advantage of such machines is that their "customs clearance" is cheaper. As the experience of operating such SUVs shows, the resource of the 2.0-liter unit is the lowest compared to other engines, and it also has clearly little traction reserve.

If you really want to save on fuel, then it is better to look for a much more reliable diesel engine, which requires 100 km during city driving. way about 10-13 liters. diesel fuel. Despite the fact that the volume of the diesel engine was always 2.5 liters, until 1994, such Discoveries had the designation 200Tdi, and then they began to be called 300Tdi. At first, the diesel engine produced 107 hp, but since 1995, thanks to the new power system, it has already been 113 hp. (sometimes 111 hp is indicated). It is clear that diesel Discoveries do not shine with dynamic characteristics (acceleration from 0-100 km / h takes endless 18.5 seconds), but this engine is loved for its reliability, unpretentiousness and excellent traction on the "bottom". For off-road driving, the latter factor is of great importance. Naturally, when buying a Discovery 200Tdi or 300Tdi, you need to carefully check the operation of the turbine and inspect it from all sides (it is better to entrust this to a master specializing in diesel engines). After all, if the turbine is near death, then buying a used one will cost decent money - about $400 (for a new one they ask from $800).

In addition, the driver of the car must remember that the Land Rover diesel engine requires only high-quality consumables (it is better to take only original filters). Sometimes diesel engines overheat, which can eventually lead to a rather sad end - in such cases, the cylinder head is usually replaced (repairs cost a total of $ 1.7 thousand). It must be said right away that if you doubt the reliability of the power unit, it is better to refuse to buy a car, because major repairs here cost a lot of money (for example, a new crankshaft costs $ 900).

But still, Discovery with a V8 gasoline engine is more common in the secondary market. The first years of production, the G8 had a volume of 3.5 liters, and the power system consisted of two carburetors (152 hp), but since September 1993, Discovery began to be equipped with a 3.9-liter injection engine (182 hp .). These horses are already enough for a confident ride not only in the mud, but also in the city. Moreover, the drivers of such cars especially appreciate not even the ability to accelerate over 150 km / h without any problems, but the traction reserve in the entire rev range that only a large engine can give. But setting speed records on Discovery is not recommended. This is a classic SUV that is simply not made for cornering with a rear axle skid. And often such tricks end with a car overturning.

The V8 petrol engine, regardless of volume, is considered quite reliable. But there are enough claims against him, so the check of the power unit must be approached with special care. According to the masters, sometimes the gasoline "eight" requires serious repairs already with a run of about 100 thousand km. Usually you have to eliminate the camshaft play that has appeared, which, together with a repair kit and work, costs about $ 500-900 (after that, however, the camshaft no longer causes trouble).

Car radiators also require a lot of attention (there are as many as four on some cars), since they quickly get clogged with dirt and fluff on our roads, which significantly impairs their performance. Oil and filters, of course, must be changed strictly according to the instructions, and on our roads it is desirable and a little earlier than the prescribed time. By the way, during the installation of a new gasoline filter, the purchase of one filter ($20), as a rule, cannot be avoided. Experience shows that it is best to immediately have a gasoline filter repair kit ($ 65), since the old one, for sure, cannot be unscrewed. But still, the main disadvantage of the V8 gasoline engine is its very high fuel consumption. Of course, a lot depends on the driver, but practice shows that with more or less active driving in the city for every 100 km. leaves about 18-25 liters. So when buying a used Discovery V8, you need to carefully consider whether there is enough money to maintain it, because in addition to fuel costs, the owner will periodically have to carry out some minor repairs / maintenance of the power unit and its attachments. For example, often in parts stores they ask for a fuel pump, which costs $155 in a non-original design.

Take care of your balls

If the car is used most of the time in the city, then it is better to choose a 4-speed “automatic” manufactured by the famous German company ZF as a gearbox. Although it requires a little more maintenance costs, it is more reliable. Except sometimes on rolled specimens that have traveled a lot off-road, there is wear on the spline connection between the “razdatka” and the box itself. At the same time, it is often necessary not only to disassemble the mechanisms, but also to change the intermediate shaft of the “machine” and the gear of the input shaft at the “handout”. In general, this repair costs quite decently ($500). By the way, it can also happen with the "mechanics" (in this case, the gearbox output shaft ($ 900 - 1400) is subject to replacement.

There are two types of hand boxes. The first is designated LT77 (such a checkpoint was installed until 1995). It is considered more reliable, but the later R380 with synchronized reverse gear may have problems. Already after 70-100 thousand km. mileage, synchronizers may fail (usually the reverse and fifth gears stop turning on first). Repair in this case will cost more than $500. Determining what type of "mechanics" is installed is quite simple - if the rear one turns right-down, then it is R380, and if left-up - LT77. By the way, we must immediately warn you that it is very difficult to find cheap used boxes on the market. The average price for a "live" used "mechanics" is $ 1-1.2 thousand (with a guarantee).

A big plus of Land Rover Discovery is that it is equipped with a permanent all-wheel drive system, which does not need to be turned on when entering off-road. In addition, there is an inter-axle differential and a reduction gear, but, alas, there is no inter-wheel differential in standard configurations. The transfer case does not show miracles of reliability - it often leaks, and the car owner must constantly monitor the oil level (if you drive without it for at least a short time, then you will have to buy a new "transfer case"). If the transfer box oil seals are leaking very actively, then new ones can be installed - this will cost about $ 300. Able to throw unpleasant surprises and other elements of the all-wheel drive system: the gearbox, center differential, cardan crosses, etc. can fail.

It has been repeatedly said that Discovery was originally designed specifically as an SUV. Therefore, it does not have complex independent suspensions that improve ride and handling. Instead, there are rigid beam bridges front and rear, which provide excellent cross-country ability and high reliability. However, the suspension and steering of the car still requires periodic financial injections. And a lot. For example, the weak point of the first generation Discovery is the front large rotary balls, which over time become covered with scratches and small ruts. This often leads to accelerated wear of the anther, and dirt and moisture begin to get inside the ball. It is worth a little ride on such a car, as not only the balls themselves will be replaced, but also the CV joint, wheel bearing, etc. And this will require about $ 500-900 for each wheel! The cost of replacing one rotary ball with spare parts is about $250. By the way, you also need to remember that you need to periodically fill the balls with oil (until 1995 it was a regular transmission oil, and then a special lubricant appeared).

The second place you should pay attention to is the hydraulic booster gearbox. It runs on a lot of different Land Rover models made in the 80s - the first half of the 90s. I must say that if some service promises to repair the gearbox without disassembling it, then it’s better to leave there quickly, since the seals replaced there will leak, most likely very quickly. So it’s rather difficult to say how much the gearbox repair will cost, but usually you need to prepare for costs in the amount of $300-600. There seem to be no more serious chronic diseases in the chassis of Discovery. But there are small ones. So, play periodically appears in the bearings of the front hubs, but it is relatively inexpensive - $ 55 with work. After a run of 100 thousand km. shock absorbers often wear out ($75 for original with work). But the failure of ABS sensors can still be equated with serious costs - a non-original part costs $ 180 (over time, the wiring of the sensors breaks off).

Operating a used first-generation Land Rover Discovery can be a hefty financial outlay. Despite the glorious name, Discovery has a number of weaknesses. And car repairs usually cost decently. However, there are quite a few people who are willing to put up with the minuses of Discovery. They are attracted not only by the SUV brand, shrouded in legends, but also by the fact that all over the world Land Rover cars are considered cars for drivers who know their worth and are able to resist all sorts of fleeting fashion trends. That is why Land Rover Discovery is often called a real English gentleman.

Excursion

In 1947, the development of the first SUV brand Land Rover began in England, which was supposed to become an assistant for local farmers in their hard work. The new car was made quite quickly, and already at the end of April 1948, the debut of the first Land Rover took place at the Amsterdam Motor Show. By the way, the cost of an SUV in the late 40s was £450 in the UK, which was not so much for a car.

Initially, Land Rover SUVs (subsequently the first model of the company received the name Defender) were an extremely utilitarian vehicle. However, later it became clear that many people need not just to drive through the mud, but to do it in comfort. And in 1970, the Range Rover was shown. And in 1989, another model appeared, which took an intermediate position between the Defender and the Range Rover. It was a Land Rover Discovery.

At first, Land Rover Discovery had only a 3-door body, but then 5-door cars appeared. The car was equipped with a 3.5-liter V8 petrol engine, as well as a 2.5-liter diesel engine.

In 1991, the first minor restyling of the model took place. A little later in 1994, Discovery underwent another upgrade (such cars can be distinguished by a different dashboard). In the same 1994, instead of a 3.5 liter engine. a 3.9-liter gasoline engine was installed under the hood of the car. By the way, it is worth noting that in the period from 1992 to 1995, Land Rover Discovery was sold in Japan. And it was called Honda Crossroad there.

In 1998, the second generation of Land Rover Discovery was shown. Externally, the first and second Discovery are very similar to each other. However, a car made after 1998 got rid of many of the shortcomings that were inherent in the first generation. It is also worth noting that electronics began to dominate in the all-wheel drive system, although a lot of complaints subsequently came to it. Land Rover Discovery II was equipped with a 3.9-liter V8 petrol engine (185 hp), as well as a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder diesel engine (137 hp).

In 2002, the second generation Discovery was seriously upgraded. According to representatives of the British company, hundreds of changes were made to the design, although the appearance of the car remained almost the same.

And in 2004, a fundamentally new Land Rover Discovery was born, which has nothing in common with its predecessors. The new SUV began to install a V8 petrol engine from Jaguar with a volume of 4.4 liters. (295 hp) and a 4.0-liter V6 unit (215 hp). There is also a 2.7-liter V6 diesel. The last motor, by the way, was developed jointly by Ford and PSA specialists (recall that since 2000, Land Rover has come under the control of Ford).

Denis Smolyanov
02/2005