| Author | Message | ||
     Lance Doyle (Discokayaker) New Member Username: Discokayaker Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hi everyone. I thought I'd introduce myself. I just purchased my first Land Rover. . . a 2004 Disco! I can't wait to get it off-road. This is a great board and a WEALTH of information. Thanks to you guys I already have a "build list" a mile long. I've got a few questions for everyone: In general, how friendly is Land Rover when it comes to aftermarket modifications? I'm thinking things like bigger tires (within reason) and an OME lift? Am I throwing my warranty out the window. I know I'm protected by law (CA, USA) but it can be a hastle fighting with the dealer/manufacturer for warranty work. Has anyone with a '30-04 DII heard the following sounds. 1) On the freeway at light throttle (just maintaining speed between 2500-3000 RPM) there is a whistling kind of sound coming from the engine compartment. As soon as I let off the throttle or give more throttle it goes away. 2) After the truck sits all night and upon startup in the morning there is a loud "mechanical" sound coming from just in front of the drivers door in the engine compartment. A soon as the truck is fully warmed up it goes away. That's all for now! I'll research my thousand other questions before asking. | ||
| Rich Peterson (Rpet) New Member Username: Rpet Post Number: 17 Registered: 02-2003 |
Get use to sounds with rovers... If you listen to every sound and worry about them.. then you will go crazy over the next few years.. these are noisy trucks!! Has anyone ever seen that commerical for the new Range Rover where they are going through like the asian/african village and everything stops and the rover drives through and its silent... I knew that commerical was fake because NO rover is completely silent!! Have fun, Rovers are fun vehicles. Rpet | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 407 Registered: 04-2003 |
As far as having warrenty issues. Remember you will only void the warrenty on parts directly related to something you changed. If you put too large a lift, the driveline is effected, therefore the dealer could give you issues if you have driveline vibration or a Universal joint goes bad. But this will not cause warrenty issues with say the brakes or the radio - unrelated parts to a lift. The first thing I would do is get to know you LR service manager and ask about any off road events that they may have comming up. This will get you feet wet as far as how the Service Manager may or may not feel about taking you 40K+ vehicle off road. Then I would talk to the service techs and see if they have seen any issues with off road modified Rovers have any warrenty issues. The key here is get to know your Service Department. If they like you, you have a better chance of getting work done with no hassle. I recently had some Rust warranty work done, as per the LR regional rep, it normally is only covered for the original owner...I am the third if you count the leasee. But because I was very friendly and courtous every time I have been to the dealer he apporved the work ($1400). I didn't even buy the vehicle from this dealership. | ||
| Randy Maynard (Rans) Senior Member Username: Rans Post Number: 656 Registered: 08-2002 |
The truth is, Dealers will try to pin all legit warranty claims against the mods you make. If you put a lift on they will blame all suspension issues on it and you cannot prove them wrong. DO NOT take the truck into the dealer for warranty work with oversized tires on it.....the whole drive train is then suspect in their eyes. I'm sure they could/would blame all engine problems on a snorkel, or electrical problems on your aftermarket lights.....just be warned, enough people here have had those problems. On the other hand, if your service manager is off-road friendly, and gives you a sense of comfort about mods, then you are more likely to not have problems with warranty. It doesn't hurt to have a discussion with him, but remember that Service managers get replaced.....Joey tells it pretty good above, but even a friendly Service Manager cannot overcome an asshole warranty guy. I encountered this problem at Mainline LR in Philly when Ron Brown was the Service guy. His warranty guy was an asshole. When they had to replace the hood cable on my truck, he made me pay the $104 labor charge to remove the factory brush guard to get at the cable. I got that back by whining to the General Manager, but it took time. | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Senior Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 602 Registered: 03-2002 |
i highly second joey. i have worked to maintain a good relationship with my dealer. the people that work there are just like anyone else, if you give them a reason to want to help you, generally, if it is at all possible, they will. but it is good to read them first to see if they are an off road friendly dealership. it does seem that since ford bought rover, they have become more strict in what they will allow, but i have been very happy with my treatment at land rover dallas. a second bit of advice that i will offer and that is often mentioned here is, take your stock truck off road for a while. see what it will do and see what you like to do. there may be some things that you think now that you want to do, but with some off roading under your belt, you may change your mind. also, it will give you some time under warranty before you start changing things. i bought my 2001 new and i guess i had 30,000 miles on it before i really started changing things. in fact, i did most of my stuff in this year alone. so enjoy your new truck...plan your mods...have fun. mike | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 883 Registered: 09-2002 |
Yup, I agree with Joey. Get to know your Service department and the Service Manager. A friendly Service Manager will go a long way to helping you out. I had some Corrosion warranty work done on mine too and I'm the second owner. The Service Mgr has also done work for me free of charge too. He's helped me put on some mods or diagnose problems for no fee and the techs have been quite helpful too. I also agree that you should take it out stock to dealer events and things like that and just get to know your truck. They're usually very careful about not doing things that could potentially damage your vehicle so a good way to learn about your truck and like others have said, you'll be amazed at what a stock Disco can do. Have fun with your new truck and be sure to post some pics here! Alan  | ||
| Michael Judd (Mrj) New Member Username: Mrj Post Number: 11 Registered: 09-2003 |
I also second joey, My wife and I bought our first Rover earlier this year 2003 Disco SE. About 3 months after purchase I started to modify it. Currently we have a 3" OME lift with 265-75-16 tires, Detroit truetracs, and GBR 4.11 gears. We have had one or two warranty items, which have been fixed with no problems. Most of the employees at our local Land Rover Center know us by name now and actually stock the parts my company is making for Rovers. One thing you have to realize is that when you modify your vehicle things will change, and you can't go back to the dealer and complain about them or you will just have problems. Have fun with your new vehicle. | ||
| Randy Maynard (Rans) Senior Member Username: Rans Post Number: 658 Registered: 08-2002 |
Let me clarify that it was the warranty guy, not Ron Brown that was a problem. Ron was the only thing keeping me coming back there, and now that he is gone, I will not get service there. | ||
| Lance Doyle (Discokayaker) New Member Username: Discokayaker Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2003 |
Thanks everyone. Looks like I'll start with the basics (recovery/protection) and just start wheelin' the thing! Lance | ||
| Justin Sherfy (Jrsherfy) New Member Username: Jrsherfy Post Number: 16 Registered: 08-2003 |
Lance, Regarding your whine at 2500-3000 rpms. I have a 2003 Disco. I get a whine on the freeway when I'm doing around 70. If I accelerate or deccelerate it goes away. I've heard that it is common with Disco transmissions. Last weekend I installed a 3" Rovertym lift with Rancho adjustable shocks on my Disco. It looks awesome. I highly recommend Rovertym. JRS | ||
| Lance Doyle (Discokayaker) New Member Username: Discokayaker Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2003 |
Justin, What size tires do you have? I have seen many articles about trimming the finder well with oversize tires; however, in looking at my Disco (and '30s) the fender flare extends all the way to the bottom of the rocker pannel. I can't see how trimming these would work without looking totally hacked. . . Lance | ||
| Justin Sherfy (Jrsherfy) New Member Username: Jrsherfy Post Number: 17 Registered: 08-2003 |
Lance, I have the stock tires on right now. Kind of looks silly, but I just hate to get rid of tires that still have 40k left on them (my Disco only has 8,500 miles on it). I don't know much about trimming the fender. My friend has an '01 Disco, and he put 265/75s on before he had a lift. He trimmed the fender, and it turned out good. Maybe someone else can post a picture of a trimmed fender to give you an idea of what it looks like. My personal advice would be to wait on the tires until you get a lift. If you like turning a wrench you can put the lift on yourself. Then you can fit bigger tires without any trimming. JRS | ||
| Michael Judd (Mrj) New Member Username: Mrj Post Number: 12 Registered: 09-2003 |
On my 2003 with 265-75-16 tires and 3" OME lift I didn't have to do any trimming. I have no rubbing at any point of turning or articulating. Just to let you know. | ||
| Gary Young (Pcfdisco) New Member Username: Pcfdisco Post Number: 16 Registered: 09-2003 |
Did any of you guys with 3" lifts have to replace any driveshats on the '03? I am planning a lift and was wondering if I will need new driveshafts also. Gary | ||
| Michael Judd (Mrj) New Member Username: Mrj Post Number: 14 Registered: 09-2003 |
My driveshaft worked fine. I did have to change it from a rotoflex but just to fit the new gears, not for the lift. We ran it for about 3 months with the lift and no problems. |
