REDLINE ALLEYLand Rover Discovery 4 buying guide
2009 to 2016. A Discovery 4 suits a family that wants a seven seat 4WD that tows and goes off road, and will keep up with belts and fluids.
Big jobs
- 3.0 diesel crankshaft and inlet manifold. Early pre 2012 3.0 diesels can suffer crankshaft failure, and inlet manifolds crack on pre 2015 3.0 diesels. The manifold is cheap but fitting can take 10 hours.
- Cambelt and back belt. The cambelt is due at 112,000 miles (some say 105,000), with a second belt for the high pressure fuel pump. A broken cambelt ruins the engine and a reconditioned unit costs about 10,000 pounds.
- Air suspension. Compressors fail, leaks occur and height sensors fail. A leaking front strut makes one side sit lower.
- Diffs, transfer box and torque converter. Whining or humming can mean a worn front or rear diff. Early 6 speed autos can wear the torque converter after about 100,000 miles.
Workshop jobs
- Front lower arm bushes and brake pipes. A knock on slow turns suggests failed front lower control arm bushes, often near 60,000 miles, and brake pipes can rust through.
- Electronic parking brake. Dirt or badly adjusted shoes can disable the electronic parking brake, and a seized actuator costs about 1,000 pounds.
- Sunroof drains and water leaks. Blocked sunroof drains let water in, and A pillar trim clips and warped windscreen cowls can leak.
- Engine cut out recall and electrics. A 2016 recall covered 2012 to 2014 3.0 diesels where a faulty crank position sensor can cut the engine. Windows, locks, rear wiper and central locking can fail.
Questions for the seller
- Is it the 3.0 TDV6, SDV6 or the V8 petrol?
- When was the cambelt done, and was the back belt done too?
- Has the engine cut out recall been done?
- Has the air suspension been repaired?
- Is it the 6 speed or 8 speed automatic?
Sources
Researched 2026-11-05. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.