Discovery 5 to buy or not to buy....

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Si-5

New Member
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3
Location
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Hi Landrovians.

A newby here! I am considering trading in my E class estate for a Discovery 5. The wife has a horse and we (she) needs to be able to tow horse trailer and get up to the stables everyday whatever the weather. This means driving in a bit of snow and through the occasional low level flooding. We have a freelander 2 which is fine but has does limit what we can tow. So I am considering trading in my estate to get the disco 5 so we have 2 cars that could do the horsey stuff but one that is nice for me to do the long drives for work/family holidays etc.

Now here comes the problem. For the towing capability I’m looking at the 3L engine my budget will stretch to a 2017 SE (possibly a HSE) with 30-40K on the clock. However I have heard some absolute horror stories on the reliability. I don’t mind small electrical issues that can be fixed as and when but I’m hearing of some major mechanical issues.

Does anyone know if the mechanical issues are primarily with the 2L or 3L engines (or both). Also, what should I be looking for when buying – at the moment I can just about afford an Approved Used so I’m looking there so I get a 1 yr warranty. But if I’m honest I’m crapping myself about major issues after the warranty runs out. Anyone got any thoughts on mitigating the risks (extra warranty, more regular servicing etc???).

Any suggestions welcome.

Apologies for the long post – I love the new disco (I know it’s not everyone’s cuppa) but the reliability is a real concern and even making me consider a (whispers to avoid being kicked off the forum…) a Volvo XC90 !
 
The Disco 3 forum will be the best place to ask they have a dedicated 4 and 5 section.
Tbh I think the 5 is as ugly as sin, but I also said that when the 3 came out, and I have been driving a 3 for 6 years!

The 3 litre engine has many issues, some merely expensive and others fatal for the engine, have a search for 3 litre or SDV6 crank failure.
I think buying an ugly car with an engine with known issues might not be the best idea, what about pcp on a used model does that shift the blame of engine onto the cars pcp/finance provider?

The same engine in the D4 has the exact same issues (unsurprisingly) and even though land rover say there is no issue their warranty provider does not cover the crankshaft as it is a known issue!
Have a seach as I think you will find the land rover used/approved car warranty is not actually provided by land rover but in fact a third party.

Ps welcome to LZ

Pps lots of the D4 owners would not buy the D5 on looks alone so left the land rover fold and bought XC90s, but as I undertsand it they also have their own issues.
 
I traded my D4 for a D5 recently, I don’t regret it one bit, the 5 is a better vehicle in all respects, avoid the 2.0 engine apparently has issues with oil dilution leading to failure. 3.0 is a re working of D4 engine with some differences notably a single turbo instead of twin. According to a LR technician the crank is a better version in the 5. Haven’t heard of any failure yet.
 
lynall said:
The Disco 3 forum will be the best place to ask they have a dedicated 4 and 5 section.
Tbh I think the 5 is as ugly as sin, but I also said that when the 3 came out, and I have been driving a 3 for 6 years!

The 3 litre engine has many issues, some merely expensive and others fatal for the engine, have a search for 3 litre or SDV6 crank failure.
I think buying an ugly car with an engine with known issues might not be the best idea, what about pcp on a used model does that shift the blame of engine onto the cars pcp/finance provider?

The same engine in the D4 has the exact same issues (unsurprisingly) and even though land rover say there is no issue their warranty provider does not cover the crankshaft as it is a known issue!
Have a seach as I think you will find the land rover used/approved car warranty is not actually provided by land rover but in fact a third party.

Ps welcome to LZ

Pps lots of the D4 owners would not buy the D5 on looks alone so left the land rover fold and bought XC90s, but as I undertsand it they also have their own issues.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info. I hadn’t realised that the LR warranty was not really a LR warranty. Begs the question if it is worth buying from a stealership. Could buy cheaper elsewhere and buy a 3rd party warranty. Having said that I’ve generally understood it that 3rd party warranties are not worth the paper they are written on. But I have no direct experience. I’ve been lucky with previous cars they have all seemed to run along quite nicely. I don’t want my luck to run out on D5!

re-PCP, I’m no expert here but I think there is something about HP finance where the finance provider and the dealer become jointly responsible but I could have that wrong.
 
johnlad said:
I traded my D4 for a D5 recently, I don’t regret it one bit, the 5 is a better vehicle in all respects, avoid the 2.0 engine apparently has issues with oil dilution leading to failure. 3.0 is a re working of D4 engine with some differences notably a single turbo instead of twin. According to a LR technician the crank is a better version in the 5. Haven’t heard of any failure yet.
Click to expand...

Think last of the line D4 3.0 also had a single turbo?
What I have read it is the one to get, but then have also read of 2016 model D4 needing engines!
 
Si-5 said:
Thanks for the info. I hadn’t realised that the LR warranty was not really a LR warranty. Begs the question if it is worth buying from a stealership. Could buy cheaper elsewhere and buy a 3rd party warranty. Having said that I’ve generally understood it that 3rd party warranties are not worth the paper they are written on. But I have no direct experience. I’ve been lucky with previous cars they have all seemed to run along quite nicely. I don’t want my luck to run out on D5!

re-PCP, I’m no expert here but I think there is something about HP finance where the finance provider and the dealer become jointly responsible but I could have that wrong.
Click to expand...


Re pcp and warranty, i was kind of thinking if it goes tits up big time, you could just hand the broken car back and say argue amongst yourselves, and walk away?
I believe the best warraty company were warraty direct, who have now pulle dout of the general market direct to the public.

I think the warranty from LR is their so called approved one?

Might be different where you live, but down Kent way D5 are very thin on the ground.

Warranty bit, https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/exte...urchase-192275.html?highlight=warranty+direct

D5 forum, https://disco5.co.uk/forum/
 
johnlad said:
I traded my D4 for a D5 recently, I don’t regret it one bit, the 5 is a better vehicle in all respects, avoid the 2.0 engine apparently has issues with oil dilution leading to failure. 3.0 is a re working of D4 engine with some differences notably a single turbo instead of twin. According to a LR technician the crank is a better version in the 5. Haven’t heard of any failure yet.
Click to expand...


Thanks @johnlad . Good to hear some positive views on the D5. I did see a vid on YouTube from a guy who’s 2018 2.0 engine self destructed, not sure if that was related to the oil dilution you mention. I was hoping the issue were related to that engine and that the 3.0 was a little more robust.

How long have you had your D5 for? Any recommendations on spec level i should consider. I always try and get the highest I can afford but i do sometimes wonder if more toys means more stuff to go wrong!!
 
Si-5 said:
Thanks @johnlad . Good to hear some positive views on the D5. I did see a vid on YouTube from a guy who’s 2018 2.0 engine self destructed, not sure if that was related to the oil dilution you mention. I was hoping the issue were related to that engine and that the 3.0 was a little more robust.

How long have you had your D5 for? Any recommendations on spec level i should consider. I always try and get the highest I can afford but i do sometimes wonder if more toys means more stuff to go wrong!!
Click to expand...
only had mine a month, it’s a 67 plate, I bought the highest spec I could afford as all the toys are nice,lol. If your going to be using it for off road then I’d suggest looking out for one with the capability Plus pack fitted, you get an active rear locking differential, not many of them around though. I bought LR approved as there wasn’t any great difference between there prices and other garages, even private sellers were close to LR prices. And you get the 12 month warranty.
ive got mine in bits at the minute fitting a winch to it.
 
Si-5 said:
Hi Landrovians.

A newby here! I am considering trading in my E class estate for a Discovery 5. The wife has a horse and we (she) needs to be able to tow horse trailer and get up to the stables everyday whatever the weather. This means driving in a bit of snow and through the occasional low level flooding. We have a freelander 2 which is fine but has does limit what we can tow. So I am considering trading in my estate to get the disco 5 so we have 2 cars that could do the horsey stuff but one that is nice for me to do the long drives for work/family holidays etc.

Now here comes the problem. For the towing capability I’m looking at the 3L engine my budget will stretch to a 2017 SE (possibly a HSE) with 30-40K on the clock. However I have heard some absolute horror stories on the reliability. I don’t mind small electrical issues that can be fixed as and when but I’m hearing of some major mechanical issues.

Does anyone know if the mechanical issues are primarily with the 2L or 3L engines (or both). Also, what should I be looking for when buying – at the moment I can just about afford an Approved Used so I’m looking there so I get a 1 yr warranty. But if I’m honest I’m crapping myself about major issues after the warranty runs out. Anyone got any thoughts on mitigating the risks (extra warranty, more regular servicing etc???).

Any suggestions welcome.

Apologies for the long post – I love the new disco (I know it’s not everyone’s cuppa) but the reliability is a real concern and even making me consider a (whispers to avoid being kicked off the forum…) a Volvo XC90 !
Click to expand...

Considering what you intend to do with the vehicle and your obvious concerns about reliability, would you consider going Japanese?
Say a Shogun or Prado.
Before the pitchforks come out to run me out of town, let me explain that I'm a dyed in wool land rover enthusiast, having owned everything from series, defenders, classics and 2 versions of the discovery.
However with a growing family and the fact that growing a business no longer afforded me the time to work on my vehicles or deal with car issues in general, I opted for a full-option Shogun. Primarily because I wanted the peace of mind that comes with knowing that there's less chance of anything going wrong with the vehicle while on an extended cross-country trip with the family, or whiles I'm away from home on business and the missus has to take the kids on a road trip to visit relations.
I'm still holding on to the disco, seeing her as a part of the family that we will never get rid of.
 
Hey,

I have an accident two weeks ago and my Evoque 2014 engine absolutely crashed. I went to service and I was told that there no chances to restore my engine, so I need a new, maybe a used one. So, where can I look it for a good price? Maybe have a recommendation anyone?? I found online this website: https://orbimotors.com/ but I'm not sure, is it a legit store? has anyone tried this shop?
 
philmechanic said:
Hey,

I have an accident two weeks ago and my Evoque 2014 engine absolutely crashed. I went to service and I was told that there no chances to restore my engine, so I need a new, maybe a used one. So, where can I look it for a good price? Maybe have a recommendation anyone?? I found online this website: https://orbimotors.com/ but I'm not sure, is it a legit store? has anyone tried this shop?
Click to expand...

You're better off staring a new thread in the General LR Question forum, or the Range Rover forum, or even the Freelander forum, as those are more likely to be visited by members with knowledge of the vehicle.

Tacking an unrelated question onto the end of an unrelated forum, won't bring much help.
 
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