Thread: Defender Servicing costs Sydney

"comprehensive checks" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. Sounds like the only committed work/parts are oil, oil filter and air filter with the rest being "checks" leading to other, presumably billable, work. Depending on how comprehensive the checks are, that price could be reasonable but the oil and filters should be no more than an hour's labour and even that is over the top.

Is it a reputable indie or a reputable LR specialist indie? That would make a difference to me. I am happy to pay an experienced LR shop to do checks because they can pick up things I miss as an amateur mechanic. But paying someone to do an oil and filter change feels like a waste of money.

I had my 2014 D4 serviced on Friday - it was just under $1000 for a basic service. That's a lot more than brands like BMW charge for a standard service when their vehicles are under warranty but I'd presume that they just front-load the service costs into the acquisition price. Apparently post-warranty servicing is a lot more, which would fit.

I told my wife about the $1000 and she just shrugged - the last service on her CR-V wasn't a lot less (but hers probably included work on the brakes).

With the D4 we just accept that it's part of having a big, comfortable 4WD that works brilliantly at taking 5 adults long distances quietly, comfortably and relatively economically. It's not a daily driver.

Still, given how D4 prices have plummeted over the last couple of years I wonder if people will be happy to cop the service costs.

Originally Posted by Arapiles

Still, given how D4 prices have plummeted over the last couple of years I wonder if people will be happy to cop the service costs.

Its more repair costs.

The local Indie here said to me there will many on the scrap heap, in a few years.

Sure those that can do their own repairs should be OK,but paying one to do them becomes very expensive quickly,which could make something like a D3/4 unviable to repair.

The D4 we had was the most expensive vehicle to service/repair we have ever had,and it never went to the dealer,only a local Indie.

Originally Posted by scarry

Its more repair costs.

The local Indie here said to me there will many on the scrap heap, in a few years.

It's kind of there already - I recently saw a D4 for $8k on Facebook, because the engine had blown. That's because new 3.0l engines are still $30k fitted. If there's no takers then that D4 would simply go to the wreckers.

Originally Posted by Arapiles

It's kind of there already - I recently saw a D4 for $8k on Facebook, because the engine had blown. That's because new 3.0l engines are still $30k fitted. If there's no takers then that D4 would simply go to the wreckers.

There is an early one on here for $7K negotiable,engine still going.

Originally Posted by scarry

Its more repair costs.

The local Indie here said to me there will many on the scrap heap, in a few years.

Sure those that can do their own repairs should be OK,but paying one to do them becomes very expensive quickly,which could make something like a D3/4 unviable to repair.

The D4 we had was the most expensive vehicle to service/repair we have ever had,and it never went to the dealer,only a local Indie.

We're already there with D4's. A big service bill and they get written off becuase it's easy for a repair to surpass their market value. As far as I can see all the D4's and D3's are just the walking dead at this stage.

Our defender still has a reasonable value on the used market and in in many ways a unique vehicle that has capabilities that a lot of modern cars don't have so it's worth repairing.

Even an engine replacement won't cost more than a new compact car, never mind something as capable.

I refuse to take any of my vehicles to a dealership anymore unless it's for a warranty problem. I have had their so called 'technicians' work on my 2014 Defender in the past I found them to be way to expensive and seemed to have minimal knowledge and experience anyway. I used to get the usual 'we couldn't repllicate that fault' etc and was once quoted over $3000 for a number of issues including a possible leak in the swivel hubs. along with the audio system and the headlights not working. I took my truck to an autoelectrician and rectified the headlight issue for $300, fixed the audio system myself and had my 'mechanic' check the swivel hubs and was told that there was no issue with them. This was over 40,000km ago and he was obviously right.

I get my truck regularly serviced by my local mechanic and it rarely costs over $500, especially for the standard oil and filter changes. I also find that he actually inspects the vehicle in order to ascertain if there is any other issues arising. With dealerships I have often found it is just one big production line and they do the bare minimum.

I have always thought what would happen if I took my old series three to the local Land Rover dealership for a service or repairs. Their eyes would probably glaze over and they would be mortified that theres no where to plug in their scan tool.