Land Rover Repair: Maintenance Costs, general mechanics, general mechanic

Question
What can I expect to spend on maintenance on my 2001 Discovery and does maintenance always need to be done by a Land Rover mechanic or dealer?

Answer
Hi Lucy,

routine maintenance can be done by local mechanics or yourself, if you are so inclined.  This includes fluid replacement (oil, brake, power steering, differential, transmission), brake pads, spark plugs and wires, air filter, gas filter, various bulbs, wiper blades.  

Not all repairs have to be done at the dealer.  Most mechanics can do the work HOWEVER the problem lies in diagnosis and part supply.  LR mechanics know all the intricasies of LR repair while general mechanics would not.  Thus local repair may take longer or may not address the real problem.  Most general mechanics rely upon a few parts suppliers - usually LandRover is not a part that is carried.  For example, often I have to locate the part and then have the general mechanic do the install (if I can't do it).

For major repairs, I bite the bullet and take my Disco to the LR dealer.  The work is done quickly and usually correct but it almost always costs over $2000.  The small jobs I can do myself and that's when I save.

Regarding maintenance estimates, here's what I pay out:
3 oil changes ($25@ $75), spark plugs ($30), brake fluid ($10), air filter ($40) for a total of ~$155.  Then there is unexpected repairs:  my Disco is much older so I spend about $2000 on repairs each year. Your 2001 should not have this problem for a few years (depending on how much you drive and how hard). Whenever I have repairs, I've rarely seen a bill for under $1000, so be prepared!

Do the routine (seasonal or yearly) maintenace at a local mechanic.  Start asking around to see who is willing to work on your Disco.  Some have no clue about LR's and will admit this while others won't (bravado?).  Ask if they have had experience with LandRovers.  Most can do fluid changes without any LR experience, spark plugs and wires, filters and general maintenance.

You can also look for local LR clubs and ask members for mechanic references.  Send a followup question and let me know the general area you are in and I'll try to locate the nearest LR owners club for you (ie. Ottawa Ontario, Siler City NC, Colorado).   Send no address just the nearest large city if possible.

Hope this helps,

JohnMc