Get an 04 over an 03 for sure. If you get an older one, find a clean 99 or 2000, that way with a simple mod you can have the CDL(some of early 2001's may have it). Ask the person selling it about the front drive shaft as well because they could not be serviced and guaranteed to go sooner or later.
The 04 is going to have the 4.6 instead of the 4.0 engine and the CDL is ready to go. Its supposed to be a tad refined over all compared to the older Disco II's. Of course the head lamps are the obvious difference.
ACE is nice, but most of the time the system is noisy and not much can be done about it. When they are noisy it sounds like a power steering pump moan at low RPM's, once up to speed you don't hear it anymore. Ever since I put the OME lift on mine, I think it handles great with out the ACE. The ACE system will let go of the sway bars when engaging the transfer case in low which is kind of cool for more articulation. All the ACE vehicles come with the 18 inch wheels where as I prefer the 16 inch for off-road, but you can always find somebody selling their 16's or perhaps even willing to trade.
I think the Self Leveling Suspension is a minus not a plus personally, the SE 7's will have that and you can tell just in driving by if you see an extra set of mud flaps underneath the vehicle just in front of the rear wheels, those are there to protect the air suspension.
Other than that(other than what you would look for on any used vehicle), the only thing consistent I have seen is the powered door locks stop working which I don't think is a big deal and not that big of deal to fix should you decide to.
I think they are great vehicles and comfortable for long drives to your off road destination.
So would you get rid of your RRC?
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1999 DII
2001 DII (w/ACE)
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