2004 Land Rover Discovery 3 V8 Petrol

Highlights

• Desirable colour combination

• Rare 4.4-litre petrol AJ-V8

• Seven seat versatility

• Towbar

• Thousands spent in the last few years

Overview

Land Rover’s Discovery 3 was launched in 2004 when the brand was under Ford’s ownership and moved the game on considerably, pairing clever versatility with 4x4 credibility. It really is the Swiss army knife of cars. Air suspension and a plethora of off-road driving modes allows it to go just about anywhere while the ingenious rear seat design allowed for a variety of configurations ranging from people carrier to small van with a flat floor. Add to that a luxurious but hard-wearing interior and a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes and you have just about the ultimate adaptable vehicle.

In fact, it was so good that the Discovery 4 was only a mild update. Here in the UK though, there was one significant omission from the Disco 4 line up: a petrol engine. For this reason, most people have now forgotten that for a short period, its predecessor was available with the same 4.4-litre AJ-V8 that was also an option in the contemporary Range Rover. In top-spec HSE trim, this was a car that very much had the feel of being a “Range Rover Discovery”. The interior might not have been quite as posh as its upmarket relative but it came with all the toys and seven seat practicality.

This example is one such rare beast. An HSE presented in Tonga Green with a beige leather interior, it’s a very ‘old money’ spec. Bought by the owner to be a tow car for his various motorsport activities, it was originally planned to be used only for towing and to cover minimal miles. Not wanting to be let down by the tow car to get to events, he invested in addressing all the areas needed for reliability. Thus fixed up, it quickly became so useful for daily life that it became a firm favourite and covered many more miles.

As a total convert to Land Rover ownership, the seller has moved on to a later model and is offering this one up for auction. There’s still a few smaller jobs that the next owner could tackle to bring it back to its absolute best but as it is, it’s a rare and hugely usable modern classic that still should have a lot more life in it yet.

History and documentation

• Registered 23 Dec 2004

• Various invoices and MOT certificates from previous owners

• All  invoices for work carried out by the present owner

• Recent invoices show services in Oct 2022 @ 94,050 miles inc gearbox flush and diff oils, Nov 2023 @ 100,480 miles, Nov 2024 inc spark plugs @ 111,032 miles

• New alternator Nov 2022, thermostat Dec 2022, washer bottle Feb 2023, front air springs Jun 2023, air con compressor and suspension compressor Jul 2023, rear discs and pads Sep 2024

• Two keys

• Current MOT expires 6 Dec 2025

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

• London ULEZ compliant

• Current mileage 119,183 miles

Interior

• Full beige leather interior with seven seats

• The leather is showing the expected level of patina and a few marks from the car’s use as a family workhorse

• As an HSE it’s well specified and everything works with a few exceptions: there are four heated seats but the front passenger seat heating does not work, the cruise control doesn’t always engage and the parking sensors can be intermittent

• Heavy duty rubber floor mats

• Triple sunroofs, front electrically opening

• Heated front screen

• A scarcely believable amount of storage

• Harmon Kardon hi-fi which is said to still sound great

• six CD changer and aux-in to plug in your Bluetooth receiver

• Dual zone climate control which work is said to work well

• Touch screen with noughties-era sat nav and a 4x4 info display; if the graphics look too dated then it’s easy to turn off and various specialists can provide a more modern upgrade

• Large boot area has a liner and the pull out cover is present (although not necessary to hide what’s in the boot as the rear privacy glass takes care of that)

• Jack, wheel chocks and wheel brace present and correct

Exterior

• Desirable Tonga Green paintwork with an appropriate level of patina for its age and mileage

• Scrubs up well but would benefit from a professional valet to bring it back to its best

• Wheels in acceptable condition with a matching set of all season Pirelli tyres that were fitted Sep 2024 @ 109,437 miles

• Spare wheel slung under the rear which still wears its original tyre so is suitable only for emergency use

• Some bubbling to a couple of the window surrounds but it reportedly hasn’t worsened during the current owner’s tenure

• The front roof rail on the driver’s side has come loose and has been secured with tape which isn’t really noticeable unless you’re the height of Greg Davies

• Towbar means it’s good to tow up to 3.5 tonnes, though has only been used for towing a car trailer and no more than 1,200kg cars in current ownership (which it is said to do with ease)

• Lights all in good order

• The headlights are said to be fantastic

• Some evidence of corrosion to the sill area at the rear of the nearside rear door

• The car was undersealed less than three years ago but some has worn off and would benefit from a refresh

• The underside shows some surface corrosion but no obvious signs of anything more

• Some welding has been needed to get it through the MOT in the past but an inspection by a specialist in May 2025 found no further immediate issues

• In all, it’s smart enough to be usable but has some opportunities for cosmetic improvement

Mechanical

• 4.4-litre petrol AJ-V8 good for 296bhp when new

• Six speed automatic gearbox

• Four wheel drive

• Terrain response and hill descent control

• Thousands spent on maintenance in recent years which means that the big jobs have been taken care of

• The seller tells us that it starts first time and is lovely to drive

• First gear can very occasionally be jerky to engage but not often enough to warrant investigating further

• The seller reports that hydraulically assisted power steering and a well-tuned chassis make it perfect as a family wagon and enjoyable if you need to press on

Summary

If you ask some JLR employees which was the best car they ever made, the answer may surprise you. It seems that the V8 Discovery 3 is held in high esteem and with good reason: it’s a fantastic all-rounder. Supremely comfortable, endlessly adaptable and genuinely enjoyable to drive, it still makes for a fantastic daily, despite its modern classic vintage. Whether you want to preserve this one or continue to enjoy its versatility, there’s much to recommend this lovely example.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Malvern, Worcestershire.