Checklist for buying a 2004 Discovery?

[toddjb122]

A friend of mine is looking to purchase the a 2004 Discovery. He called me for tips since I have an LR, but I don't know a lot about the Discovery.

Any things in particular he should look for prior to purchase?

Thanks! Details on the car are below;

2004 Land Rover Discovery 75k miles well maintained - $10500

I am selling my 2004 Land Rover Discovery SE-7 due to my move to Africa.



The truck features a 4.6l V8, Automatic transmission, only 75k original miles, leather, 3rd row seating and so much more. The truck has been well maintained from the get-go I have used Castrol fully synthetic oil since new and replace every 3k miles. I hate to see it go but Africa is beckoning my name. If interested please do not hesitate to call me.

 

[roverman]

I can't help too much on the what to look for, most everything that went wrong with my Range Rover of that era (basically the same mechanics right?) was not really inspectable. The major things I had go wrong were a snapped flex plate in the trans (2500 rebuilt), a leaky O ring in the heater core ($1000), needed to re-do the valves for, can't remember exactly but multiple thousands. Oh, and I got only 6500 for my then 6 year old vehicle with 70000 miles. Granted it was a trade in, but it was also a Rangie...Don't know how prices have been lately, but it seems kind of high?

As an aside, doesn't 'moving to Africa' seem like absolutely the LAST reason in the world to sell your Rover!

 

[JackMac]

Checklist item #1 - your friend's sanity

 

[Disco Mike]

The best thing he can do is to take it to a good Rover shop, not the dealer, and have them do a pre-purchase inspection.
Also make sure he knows, he will have to rebuild or replace the front drive shaft and he should plan on doing my major service list no mater what he has been told about it's history.

1 Oil filter, K&N 3001 or Mobil 1- 301
1 Factory air filter
6 Qts. of engine oil
2 feet of 3/16th vacuum tube
2 feet of 5/16th vacuum tube
6 Qts. Of Vavoline’s high mileage Dextron 3 ATF
7 Qts. of 80/90W synthetic gear oil, 85W/140 for HD use
3 Pints of Vavoline’s DOT 4 Brake fluid
4 Qts of synthetic Power steering fluid
2 Gallons of OAT, orange coolant, also called DexCool
1 Bottle of Lucas Power Steering additive
1 Bottle of Lucas Transmission additive
1 Can of Spray Carb. Spray
1 Can Of Brake cleaner
8 Spark Plugs, I use Bosch Platinum Plus 4's
1 Set of Magnacor or STI 8mm plug wires
1 Serpentine belt
2 Bottles of SeaFoam gas additive
1 T/Stat
1 bottle of WaterWetter or Purple Ice
Hoses and belts, as necessary

60,000 Mile Service or Major Service for High Mileage Used Vehicle just purchased

Bleed the brakes
Flush and change the power steering fluid adding one bottle of additive
Service the tranny adding one bottle of additive
Change the coolant and t/stat
Do an engine flush before changing the oil
Do an induction cleaning
Clean the throttle body
Add fuel additive to full gas tank
Change both of the diffs fluid
Change the t/case oil
Replace the plugs and wires
Replace the air filter
Lube all the drive shaft grease fitting including the 2 slip shafts
Do full inspection of brakes, hoses, bushings etc.

Hopefully I didn't leave anything out.

 

[toddjb122]

That's a great list. Thanks, Mike. How does the listed price sound to you?

He'll probably have the same issue as me, which is, I don't know any Rover shops in the area other than the dealer. I'm sure they're out there, but I haven't found them yet....

 

[Disco Mike]

This is something you can do yourself, with a little guidance. It will cost you about $300 to $350 including the cost of wires. The drive shaft, that we will have to talk about.