Models · Land Rover
Land Rover Discovery 4 buying guide
The fourth Discovery (L319), on sale from 2009 to 2016, mostly with 3.0 V6 diesels. The SDV6 twin-turbo with an eight-speed automatic arrived in 2011, and a 2014 facelift dropped the 4 from the badge.
The versions
- 3.0 TDV6 diesel, 211hp, with a ZF six-speed automatic (early cars)
- 3.0 SDV6 twin-turbo diesel, 253hp, with an eight-speed automatic from 2011
- 3.0 supercharged V6 and 5.0 V8 petrol, both rare in the UK
- Air suspension and a low-range transfer box
What to check on a Discovery 4
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Air suspension
What to look for: Raise and lower the car through its heights and check it rises and falls evenly and sits level after standing. Scan for fault codes with an OBD tool if you can.
Why it matters: Air suspension compressors, front and rear struts and height sensors can all fail with age. A car that holds its height overnight and responds promptly is what you want; each part can be replaced individually.
Knocking on slow turns
What to look for: Drive slowly on full lock in both directions and over speed bumps, listening for knocks from the front. Check for uneven tyre wear.
Why it matters: Lower control arm bushes often fail around 60,000 miles and cause knocking on slow turns. It's a common, well-understood repair. Listen too for whining or humming from the differentials and transfer box, and check low range engages and disengages cleanly.
3.0 diesel cambelt and crankshaft
What to look for: Check the history for the cambelt change, due at around 105,000 to 112,000 miles, and for regular oil changes. Listen for knocking from the engine, and look for oil leaks around the engine.
Why it matters: A broken cambelt can wreck the engine, so the change is essential. Crankshaft failure hasn't been entirely eliminated on early 3.0 diesels up to 2012, and inlet manifolds can crack on pre-2015 cars. Early six-speed automatics can wear their torque converters after 100,000 miles.
Also in the full guide
- Recall work
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the Discovery 4
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
Land Rover Discovery 2 · Land Rover Discovery 3 · Land Rover Discovery 5
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Land Rover.