By david bullard (Bullard74) on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 10:19 pm: Edit

hello,
i just bought a 95 discovery with 74,000 miles.i dont know any history on this vehicle,i just think it looks great.now that ive bought it ive been told they are problem childs.i would appreciate some oppinions,and past problems peaple have had and what kind of prices follow them. thanks david

By Mike D1 on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 10:50 pm: Edit

David,

BMW bought Land Rover in 1995. At the time the 1996 was in the works. 1997 is the first year BMW had input on the Discovery and they did improve it. I tell people to get a 97 or later,(but not the fat, wide, long Disco II). With that said, I would go to you local dealer and get the service record on it. This is the nation wide service of your truck since it drove of the showroom floor. This is a start, I would find a good local shop that you like to work on it (if you don't do your own work) I would not use the dealer due to the high $hop rate.

Good luck.

By Scott Hayes (Scott_H) on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 11:38 pm: Edit

David
I have a 95, and it has been great. I agree with Mike, fortunatly for you the people that bought the 95's in 95 felt the pain of the shitty quality control at rover, and you won't. I pulled my service record when I bought mine in 98 and it was an inch thick. Get familiar with it and get a Haynes or a Rover workshop manual. I have over 100K on mine and I know of people that have more.

Change the dif fluids, and the Transfer case and the Engine oil, if it hasn't been done lately.

I have had reletively little problems with mine. I always heard the 96 was the worst :-)

Scott H

By jay caragay (Jcaragay) on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 11:52 pm: Edit

While I Absolutely Love my 1995 Discovery in Coniston Green, it has displayed that British tendency for oddities. Let me list a few:

- Surfing Dashboard
- Broken Shifter Clips
- Rattling Sunroofs
- Running Water Sound behind dash
- AC System that stops until you jiggle the switch
- Suspension bolts that just loosened
- Dead electrical system
- Front Passenger Window makes noises
- strange placement and config of power window switches
- Bullshit expensive CD Changer
- Bullshit Rust Problems on B Pillar and under Safari windows
- Bullshit Dealers who don't do shit
- LRNA tendency to be high-class and charge accordingly
- Difficult to shift Diff Lock
- Poor Fuel Economy
- Pricey to Downright Expensive Scheduled Maintenance
- Expensive Parts

Now, with that said, the Discovery KICKS ASS!!! There can be only one. There is no other.

If I wasn't such a cheap bastard, I would buy another one.

One of my oldest friends bought a used D1 and he's had a share of strange oddities, but if you are going to own a Land Rover, you must Love it.

PASSION is the hallmark of Land Rover Ownership.

If you don't have that Passion for Land Rover, then you might as well drive a Honda CRV

By Shane C. (Qsiguy) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 02:26 pm: Edit

I recently bought a 95 Disco w/100K mi. and love it. The issues I have with it to date are:
1)Squeeky brakes (just needed a little cleaning)
2)leaky power steering (was told to add a capful of brake fluid to slow or stop it, we'll see)
3)Leaky upper radiator hose (easy fix)
4)clock light bulb out (pretty easy fix)
5)Replaced the exhaust because of rust (not a LR issue just needed replacement)
6)Replaced the windshield (also not a LR issue just took a rock in the window)
7)Door seals leak a little at the car wash
8)Check engine light came on once at the car wash but never came back on after resetting it(??)

That's about it. You don't buy these to drive and refuel when you run out and forget. Just be ready to deal with issues as they arise and go have fun mountain climbin!

Oh, and keep up-to-date on the tech issues on Discoweb.org so you know how to fix the stuff that breaks.

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 02:42 pm: Edit

Scott, you have over 100k on your beast? It looks & sounds pretty damn good.

and
>"I always heard the 96 was the worst :-)"

easy, killer...the White Whale is a 96, and I believe YOU were reading MY rear bumper stickers all day & night!!!

By gp (Garrett) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 02:52 pm: Edit

my '96 has on had minor issues here and there. treated me better than my '94. as far as i am concerned it's luck of the draw mixed with good past history maintenance that gets you a trouble free truck.

By Kyle on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 03:08 pm: Edit

I think the biggest problem is that the steering pulls real hard in the direction of the woods all the time. Or maybe thats just in my head...

Kyle

By Joshua Bova (Jbova) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 03:19 pm: Edit

I've got a 95. I have not noticed anything specfic to the year of the truck that others aren't experiencing. In reality, if something has broken on my truck there was usually a good reason.

My fuel pump died not too long after I got it, th reason was the fuel filter was clogged because the previous owner didn't change it.

Starter died, it had 85kmi on it, I wouldn't expect much more then that.

Alternator died, it had 90kmi on it, and was regularly bathed in mud

I have had a few electrical problems, I think that is par for the course.

Beyond that, anything that I have had to fix was directly related to things I have done to my truck. Bottom line, some suck, some don't, luck of the draw. Good luck.

-josh

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 03:53 pm: Edit

Hmmm...my steering must be broken, too. My 96 pulls to the rocks. What year is yours, Kyle

By ZPukajlo on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 04:28 pm: Edit

Well, mine is a '97 with 45000 on the odo. Only had it for 6 months and already have put 8000 miles on it! The Rover has only given me two problems. Knocking on wood! One issue was with the stepper motor. This site helped me in taking care of that one. I now clean it every other month with no problems. The other had to do with my alarm not letting the LR turn over sometimes. Again, this site gave me the answer but it wasn't a permanent fix. Then LRCS fixed it for free! Can't complain. I know my steering is broken because it takes me to the mountains every week since I have owned it!

Zane

Ps Don't worry about your problems. These guys will help if the need arises. Just go out and enjoy your new ride!

By Murray (Cdnrvr) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 05:34 pm: Edit

Previous owner of my 95 had all the problems above plus valves, radiator, rear diff and most of the engine seals. All were fixed under warranty ... bought mine with 59K on it last year and am well into the 70's without any problems. My truck never left pavement until I bought it. Maintenance is key ... if something starts to leak ... fix it. If the valves start to rattle a bit, dump in the additives. Change the fluids regularly and burn premium gas. Drive it like you stole it to burn the carbon out of it and let it wander towards the trees and rocks every once in awhile so you use the transfer case lever.

Murray

By Jorge P. Gutierrez, Jr. (Jpg2esq) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 06:05 pm: Edit

I bought my 95 with 58k miles. Now have 83k. Changed the expansion tank of radiator (immediately after purchase), brake pads (66k), brake light switch (last week), upper radiator hose (last month). Also had some issues with the check engine light that I just reset when it happens. Also changed plugs and other regular maintenance issues. Need to change rotoflex soon because of a crack. Also have to diagnose ABS fault (just found 5pin connector the other day to diagnose it). Otherwise no major issues (KNOCK ON WOOD). I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

By gp (Garrett) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 06:20 pm: Edit

man i feel lucky. um...i think i had a bulb go out on my shift indicator once. my issues are pretty minor i think. review mirrors are know to crap out. that is on '96 on up (i think) when they put the donnelly auto dimmers in there. mine did. #2 fan speed is same as #1. (who cares) alpine windowed leaked. culked it. hell mine does not even leak, nor does it rattle. now that i think of it i think i have a defective rover. where are my rattles damit!!! well the tailgate does a little on potholes and off road. but the previous owner took care of EVERYTHING on this truck at the dealer. i have all records from day one. even before it got to the dealer there was a good amount of stuff done to it. oh yeah....the leaning to the right issue bugs some people too.
oh yeah.....it has a busted headlight, dented passenger door and bent to hell rear bumper. now how'd that happen!!!
i'm rambling now......

By Steve (Steve2) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 06:36 pm: Edit

uh- pardon my ignorance -

what/where is the stepper motor- why/when does it need to be cleaned????

thanks
steve

By brian k on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 06:59 pm: Edit

My beautiful black baby (95)now has nearly 170K on it and still looks and runs great. All the important stuff - engine, tranny, t-case, driveline/diffs, even the exhaust (!!!) are still original and, in my opinion, this is where LR shows its quality. The GM's and J**Ps of the world make throw-away vehicles designed to be replaced every 5 years. Just be a freak when it comes to changing ALL the fluids/lube areas and she'll treat you right. Hell, I've even used 87 octane (OH, the horror!!!!!) the last 120K of it's life and she's still not complaining.

RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR NEW RIDE, but don't neglect her and like others have said, be sure to steer it into the forest.

By Scott Hayes (Scott_H) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 07:09 pm: Edit

Blue.
the only reason I was reading your rear bumper stickers is because I was pushing it. :-)

hehehe

David
Enjoy your new toy and welcome!

Scott H

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 07:19 pm: Edit

hardy har har

maybe after that detroit is in your rig, though!

By ZPukajlo on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 07:51 pm: Edit

Steve,

Check the Tech section for the info. I clean it because it keeps my idle from going bonkers. It may need to be replaced, but this is easy to do and it works.

Zane

By Kyle on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 07:53 pm: Edit

Did Blues ARB decide to work while there?

Kyle

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 09:14 pm: Edit

Yo - it was never broken, just user error (and a slipped connection @ the pump). My official Land Rover Centre instructed me on how to use the ARB switches whilst trying to swindle me for a new rotobomb. They insisted that the right ARB button was the only one that was connected to the locker; they said the left button is a dummy switch that would be connected to the front locker if I had one. Being an ARB virgin when I bought the Disco, and never installing one myself (Disco came with ARB), I didn't know any better. They insisted that they'd have to open up the third member for about a million bucks to see what was wrong. I had always just hit both buttons and enjoyed locking traction. After I found the loose connection at the pump (yanking on airhose had yanked slip connector free), I just hit the right button like the experts instructed me - no locker! Ho edjimakated me on proper switch-hitting technique over the phone, and now I'm locked & loaded. Sorry, no ARB failure here - just error in the driver's seat.

By Cartner on Thursday, October 18, 2001 - 01:38 pm: Edit

My '94 Disco has only had a few electrical glitch's....door on passenger side locks intermittently...fuse for suppressor blew repeatedly but fixed it sort of...rattle in back door sometimes...but NO oil leaks or anything like that...and she's got 115,000 miles on her, 17000 of that is mine since I bought her...Does have a service book about two inches thick though...hmmmm