Calling D3 TDV6 owner with more than 200k on the clock

[Gullible]

Are there any D3 TDV6 owners with more than 200,000km on the clock out there?

What was/is the work recommended that you get done at the next major service.

Just asking as there are a couple of 200k + TDV6 up for sale and I wonder what the next buyer will be up for in regards to fixes / preventative maintenance?

[stig0000]

cheak timing belt has been done at every 96k, seen one d3 with 480k,

[Gullible]

Surely it must have needed more than just the time belt changed to get to 480k?

[sniegy]

BB,
Cam belts are to be replaced at 168,000K as per service schedule.
Would check steering column on early vehicles, ball joints, EGR systems, tyre wear, turbo hoses, check vehicle battery as being an older vehicle the battery would be on its way out.
All i can think of at the moment.

Good luck.;)

[DJC]

Will be very interested in this post as have just bought one with 180k on the clock.

Only issue with mine was that I have a slight gearbox shudder - have had an indepedent automatic transmission specialist look at it but he thinks its just the torque converter coming in early and reckons its actually one of the smoothest D3's he has driven. Will still be putting it back into the dealer as its still under 3m statutory warranty.

However, he has recommended a full gearbox flush which is going to cost me about a grand so may pay to see whether that has been done before you buy one and factor that into your purchase price

Cheers
Darren

[DiscoWeb]

DJC,

Have a search through the forum as there is some commentary regarding gear boxed and changing ATF fluids, flushing gear box, replacing pans etc.

I recall there is a transmission place in Melbourne that a few people on the forum "recommended" for D3 auto transmission work.

I am not overly technical so may be confusing things for you, but have a search around the old threads and or wait for someone who really knows what they are talking about to respond.

Regards,

George

[DJC]

DJC,

Have a search through the forum as there is some commentary regarding gear boxed and changing ATF fluids, flushing gear box, replacing pans etc.

I recall there is a transmission place in Melbourne that a few people on the forum "recommended" for D3 auto transmission work.

I am not overly technical so may be confusing things for you, but have a search around the old threads and or wait for someone who really knows what they are talking about to respond.

Regards,

George

Thanks George - am Perth based but the guy seemed to know what he was on about - Automac transmissions i think the name was - he had done plenty of D3's and replaced the filter and put in a steel pan etc.

Have been through a few threads on here and mostly way above my head but at least it put me onto the issue !

Cheers
Darren

[Nomad9]

Hi Darren,
I got my ZF Lifeguard 6 oil from Automac, in my opinion you're right these guys are on the money, they know their gearboxes. I purchased the steel pan option from A & B Transmissions in Melbourne, again easy people to deal with and all the gear fitted and worked. Fitting the steel pan and the oil change were quite straight forward, I can say that now because I've done the job. Guys on the forum were a great help, sound advice.

[Dingmark Jim]

Darren,

I had my old D3 V8's transmission double-flushed and transfer case flushed at Precision Automatics, a couple of years ago. They're located a couple of blocks from Barbagallo's dealership. They were rebuilding the transmission on a late-model Jag with the same transmission it it and were full bottle on the double-flush routine and correct fluids. Since my D3 had regularly been immersed in salt water, I decided that flushing the transmission, transfer case and diff cases was a prudent move. The transmission double flush cost 2 years ago was a lot less than $1k.

[DJC]

Darren,

I had my old D3 V8's transmission double-flushed and transfer case flushed at Precision Automatics, a couple of years ago. They're located a couple of blocks from Barbagallo's dealership. They were rebuilding the transmission on a late-model Jag with the same transmission it it and were full bottle on the double-flush routine and correct fluids. Since my D3 had regularly been immersed in salt water, I decided that flushing the transmission, transfer case and diff cases was a prudent move. The transmission double flush cost 2 years ago was a lot less than $1k.

Thats interesting - will look them up and give them a ring as that would be a lot closer to me. Did they put the steel pan on as well?

[Dingmark Jim]

I didn't have my pan changed, just the fluid. There's lots of chat on this site and the Disco3.co.uk site about the near impossibility of putting in another steel filter pan. Earlier in this thread someone mentioned a different filter. I seem to recall it requires the old one to be crumpled to be removed (so it's a full commit once this is started) but the replacement alternate filter fits in without having to loosen engine & trans mounts.

[Nomad9]

Hi Jim,
What you say is correct, you are committed once you have the old filter and pan off, the integral filter has a feed pipe that goes up into the gearbox, a couple of sharp movements from front to back snaps the pipe off fairly easily. The bolts at the back and front of the transmission pan both the new steel one and the old plastic one are a bit awkward, if you buy an allen key shape torx tool this helps the job along a lot. Torquing the bolts up is something you have to do by guestimate.....

[CaverD3]

You can remove the old pan and filter without damaging it but you have to undo the transmission and an engine mount to do it. It is easier and quicker to just rip off the filter when changing.
Steel pan is the Falcon one from ZF.

[ozscott]

I am still keen to hear from anyone who has personally got over 200,000k on their D3. This from someone with original drive train on a 95 D1 V8 auto at 290,000 and 165,000 all original drive train D2 V8 Manual and a lot of towing and off road with both.

I will have a decision in maybe 5 years time about whether to go the 4.6-5 litre V8 in my D2 or go a D3, but only a D3 if they are regularly giving well over 200k with no need for a gearbox overhaul/new box and engine still going strong, diffs going strong etc...no reason why I doubt they would not, but will be good to hear feedback.

Cheers

[CaverD3]

There was one on the UK site www.dico3.co.uk that had over 250,000 MILES on it.:D No major issues.

[ozscott]

Thanks Caver - good to know. Keen to hear from others. They are a few years old now from the first off the line, so there must be quite a few in Australia that are at or over 200,000k - I am thinking grey nomads here mostly. I am keen to know of quite a few and get a cross section of owner experiences at this level. For those who lease or otherwise roll theirs over every 3-4 years, this probably doesnt worry them, but I hold my vehicles from new or near new for quite a while...so if the D3's are pretty much trouble free in major components to (considerably would be nice) over 200,000k I would have a better idea of going to a bread van or not.

Cheers

[CaverD3]

Major failures I know about have been diffs, gearbox, and a couple of engine failures. (poss crankshaft failure on early models)
Premature wear of some steering bushes, ball joints and control arm bushes. Usually replaced under warranty, later models had upgraded components.

[Owl]

When I was looking for mine, I test drove a D3 with 320,000Km. Drove OK. Still felt tight, gearbox changed normally, no unusual rattles or bangs. Drivers seat leather was well worn as was the steering wheel where the driver held it (one handed most of the time!). Was a country sales rep. car, and was pretty cheap, but the high mileage and the fact that the previous driver was a smoker put me off.

Might have been a good buy, but who knows what was around the corner.