high mileage D3 diesel

[hizzy]

Hi, I have been looking at buying a D3 diesel for some time but they are allows just outside my price range,,,until I noticed a very high mileage one on eBay from a dealer. Would this be a foolish purchase,or as someone said to me "if it made it that far it can't be unreliable"

[Disco4SE]

Hi, I have been looking at buying a D3 diesel for some time but they are allows just outside my price range,,,until I noticed a very high mileage one on eBay from a dealer. Would this be a foolish purchase,or as someone said to me "if it made it that far it can't be unreliable"
Hi hizzy,
Hi mileage diesels aren't all bad providing that they have been serviced as per the book, and preferably by a Landrover dealer or mechanic.
If they cant provide a full service history (including auto transmission), stay away.

Cheers, Craig

[Biron]

Another tip look at the vehicle log book to see how many owners the Land Rover has had since new....

As that alone may give you an idea about the amount of hard work the engine and the body has been put through down the years...

The engine may well be OK, then you find the suspension - brakes and body are shot!

Make sure the LR is dead right before parting with your hard earned cash...

[jonesy63]

The most suspect part of the D3 would be the auto gearbox. LR only change it at 150,000 km (IIRC), and that is too high in my opinion/experience.

[roamer]

What is the actual mileage.?

[sheerluck]

If it's the one I've seen it's 366000.

The USS Starship D3.....

[hizzy]

Yes that's the one, and yes it's very high but my ford dual cab is on 330000 and still starts, stops and changes gear the same as when it had 50000 on the clock.

[gofish]

I now feel real good about my D2 with 174000 kms :D

[hizzy]

174000 does sound fantastic in this company. I still think that it's not the engine or gear boxes that sends a car to its grave, but all those other nasty hard to change bushes, and steering racks and nasty electronic failures that puts the nail in there coffin.

[jonesy63]

I beg to differ on the gearbox front... just do a search on ZF 6 speed boxes. They need special - expensive - oil and car makers warrant them "for life". Their real meaning is for life of the warranty. Gearbox oil is first changed after warranty ends. By then, shudder and stuffed torque converters is common. I had shuddering at 100,000km on my previous D3. I'll be changing it sooner on my D4.

[gghaggis]

I beg to differ on the gearbox front... just do a search on ZF 6 speed boxes. They need special - expensive - oil and car makers warrant them "for life". Their real meaning is for life of the warranty. Gearbox oil is first changed after warranty ends. By then, shudder and stuffed torque converters is common. I had shuddering at 100,000km on my previous D3. I'll be changing it sooner on my D4.

Which car makers warrant them "for life"?? Curious to know, because I've never been able to follow that internet statement back to a confirmed source.

Cheers,

Gordon

[roamer]

"Sealed for life" was LR original statement on them,

But they didn't want to tell you that in needed a $1200 service at 80k :o

Cheers Ken

[gghaggis]

"Sealed for life" was LR original statement on them,

But they didn't want to tell you that in needed a $1200 service at 80k :o

Cheers Ken

Hmm - I know a UK magazine quoted that, but LR have always denied the statement. They claim a service requirement (either standard or arduous).

Cheers,

Gordon

[101RRS]

LR have never claimed the gearbox is sealed for life - their service schedule has it serviced every 240,000km or 10 years which ever is earliest and earlier if used in arduous conditions.

Garry

[Gords]

A link that has been pointed to many a time before says it all:

DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Character has an announcement to make........... (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic64287.html?highlight=Milage)

[sheerluck]

A link that has been pointed to many a time before says it all:

DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Character has an announcement to make........... (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic64287.html?highlight=Milage)

And Character's car makes the one on ebay a baby by comparison! 400,000miles back in 2011 must be half a million plus now, but even 400k is close to 650,000km.:o

And on one engine and turbo too (no mention of gearbox swaps though?).

[AnD3rew]

Whether or not you should buy a D3 with 366000k's probably depends a lot on the price. I would want to get it pretty cheap if it had that many km's.

[roamer]

A link that has been pointed to many a time before says it all:

DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Character has an announcement to make........... (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic64287.html?highlight=Milage)


Doesn't quite say it all for all

My disco 4, Land Rover Discovery Revies and Report, Land Rover Discovery Recall (http://landroverhell.com/article/3564/)

[jonesy63]

Which car makers warrant them "for life"?? Curious to know, because I've never been able to follow that internet statement back to a confirmed source.

Cheers,

Gordon

That's part of the sales pitch - there is nothing documented, except in the service schedule. Warranty is for 100,000km or 3 years, whichever comes first.

It is all a part of the illusion of cheap service costs - at least for the life of warranty.

[hizzy]

Whether or not you should buy a D3 with 366000k's probably depends a lot on the price. I would want to get it pretty cheap if it had that many km's.

The garage wants $19500

[AnD3rew]

The garage wants $19500

Well if it has a good verifiable service history, has had the timing belt changed recently and you can get a good inspection report and get them to knock another couple of grand off it then maybe it's not a bad deal, What year is it?

[Graeme]

And Character's car makes the one on ebay a baby by comparison! 400,000miles back in 2011 must be half a million plus now, but even 400k is close to 650,000km.:o

And on one engine and turbo too (no mention of gearbox swaps though?).The engine was replaced shortly after 400K miles, prompted by a valve failure (IIRC). Still a good run especially as it carted vehicles for a business.

[sheerluck]

The engine was replaced shortly after 400K miles, prompted by a valve failure (IIRC). Still a good run especially as it carted vehicles for a business.

Posting that announcement sounded a bit like tempting fate then!

[sheerluck]

.......What year is it?

Assuming it's this one here (http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_odkw=&_fspt=1&_sadis=2000&Manufacturer=Land%2520Rover&_osacat=29690&_dmpt=AU_Cars&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313&_nkw=discovery+3&_sacat=29690&_from=R40), it's a 2005 D3 S.

[hizzy]

it's an 05, I have spent a while reading many old posts on this site, and the more I read about LR's the more I want one..I love the "why I love my D3" posts. I may or may not buy this high mileage one, but I will buy one..

[justinc]

at $19500 I would go for it. 366K is not all that bad if simple regular maintenance has been done.

WORST $$$ case, a trans overhaul OR a good low km used one. They are a few about for wrecking.

Very strong engine, reliable as anything. Simple to maintain, and awesome fuel economy and driveability.

Air suspension compressors are getting cheaper, ex UK even if you want. Suspension struts are a simple bolt in affair, and not too exxy.
Get a Faultmate or Nanocom and you really are pretty much self sufficient, plus all of us here are happy to help or get you going again with advice etc:)

IF I didn't have a 4x4 already, AND a car, I would have one hands down.

JC

[hizzy]

After telling the car salesman that I would be coming a long way to view it he admitted that the salesman I had previously spoken to was wrong about the service history and that they actually had no books for it. He said it will have a 5year warranty but it has to be dealer stamped every 10000ks. I do a minimum of 70000ks a year..I have lost my enthusiasm for this one.
Thanks for all your replies.

[Graeme]

For doing 70K kms a year I'd be looking at a fresher one too! I'm considering trucks with a million K but it only has to do 1K per year.

[Geedublya]

You can do better anyway. You should be able to get a V8 SE with less than 200K for that sort of money. My 2005 TDV6 HSE was $30K with 200Km 21 months ago.

Just be prepared that you could have to do an auto rebuild at some stage (if you can't verify it's service history) and it will cost $6-7K.

[camel_landy]

Properly serviced, those things go on forever!!!

I've seen some ex-Highways Agency cars over here with more than 600,000km on the clock and still going strong. :eek:

M

[hizzy]

Well if it has a good verifiable service history, has had the timing belt changed recently and you can get a good inspection report and get them to knock another couple of grand off it then maybe it's not a bad deal, What year is it?

Getting someone to do an inspection report is a great idea that never occurred to me. I have had a look on the net and there are hundreds of so called inspection experts, can anyone suggest someone who has land rover experience and are based in Sydney.

[Piddler]

Getting someone to do an inspection report is a great idea that never occurred to me. I have had a look on the net and there are hundreds of so called inspection experts, can anyone suggest someone who has land rover experience and are based in Sydney.

Depends what area, Bruce Davis and Graeme Cooper are 2 good ones.

Cheers

[hizzy]

Depends what area, Bruce Davis and Graeme Cooper are 2 good ones.

Cheers

It's Parramatta rd Granville..are those guys listed under there names.

[disco2_dan]

It's Parramatta rd Granville..are those guys listed under there names.

Yes they are both listed under their names, Graeme cooper would be closest, also there is another LR specialist over near concord but can't remember his name

[markd2]

Hi hizzy
You can call Peter Davis on mobile No 0410503500
He's a land rover specialist that is mobile (comes to you) peter does great work and is based in Sydney
Cheers Mark

[hizzy]

Hi hizzy
You can call Peter Davis on mobile No 0410503500
He's a land rover specialist that is mobile (comes to you) peter does great work and is based in Sydney
Cheers Mark
Thanks Mark, I will give him a ring tomorrow

[ozscott]

This sealed for life rubbish annoys me no end. Most manufacturer's do it. The fine print is that the auto does not require servicing until 120,000 k say, and of course by then most warranties have expired and the poor bloody owner who often doesnt know better finds that the auto either goes out to lunch shortly before or shortly after than 120,000k. Of course for a new owner I would change the oil and filter at much shorter intervals. The price of a new auto in most modern cars is simply staggering so avoid that if at all possible.

For my money I would not sink $20k odd into the purchase of a D3 with that many k's. I would either keep looking and expand the budget for low K D3, or look to a very low k D2 and have money left over for the caravan/camper/boat to tow behind it or whatever.

Cheers

[sheerluck]

Ozscott, what you're saying makes perfect sense, but a quick scan of eBay, carsales and others reveals a few high mileage D3s going for late teens or early twenties. It has a certain allure, driving a vehicle with the abilities of a D3, so they will find a buyer.......and before you know it, there will be a newbie on here complaining that the vehicle he's sitting in, with more Kms on it than Apollo 13, has a transmission making funny noises and he has to sell two lungs and a heart to fix it.:o

Confession time. I took a serious look at buying one of them!

[disco2_dan]

Ozscott, what you're saying makes perfect sense, but a quick scan of eBay, carsales and others reveals a few high mileage D3s going for late teens or early twenties. It has a certain allure, driving a vehicle with the abilities of a D3, so they will find a buyer.......and before you know it, there will be a newbie on here complaining that the vehicle he's sitting in, with more Kms on it than Apollo 13, has a transmission making funny noises and he has to sell two lungs and a heart to fix it.:o

Confession time. I took a serious look at buying one of them!

I also had a look at a couple high km d3's but opted for a low km d2 and spent the left over cash on a boat lol

[hizzy]

I have been offered it substantially less than it is advertised for,,I just can t get anybody who knows land rovers to go and inspect it (peter is busy).

[disco2_dan]

I have been offered it substantially less than it is advertised for,,I just can t get anybody who knows land rovers to go and inspect it (peter is busy).


<LI style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 14px" class=g>




[/URL]
94 Queens Road
Five Dock
(02) 9712 8001

[URL="http://www.atvautomotive.com.au/"]ATV Automotive (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&sugexp=les;&gs_rn=1&gs_ri=hp&tok=8A4RUnECVT_-6Ne6Ue4OKQ&cp=28&gs_id=2b&xhr=t&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.dGY&bpcl=40096503&biw=1016&bih=508&wrapid=tljp1355907145734030&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=landrover+specialist+concord&fb=1&gl=au&hq=landrover+specialist&hnear=0x6b12bad379914ad5:0x5017d681632b290,Concord +NSW&cid=0,0,14326233499688414237&sa=X&ei=V4DRUNbiMKiUiQfnk4EY&sqi=2&ved=0CGIQrwswAw)

www.atvautomotive.com.au/
You +1'd this publicly. Undo (https://www.google.com.au/#)
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try this guy his not far from the car sales yard and his a land/range rover specialist, ive heard from quite a few people he knows his stuff

[TerryO]

<LI style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 14px" class=g>


94 Queens Road
Five Dock
(02) 9712 8001

ATV Automotive (http://www.atvautomotive.com.au/)

www.atvautomotive.com.au/
You +1'd this publicly. Undo (https://www.google.com.au/#)
1 Google review (https://www.google.com.au/url?url=https://plus.google.com/100743273665133017261/about%3Fhl%3Den&rct=j&sa=X&ei=V4DRUNbiMKiUiQfnk4EY&sqi=2&ved=0CGcQ4gkwAw&q=landrover+specialist+concord&usg=AFQjCNFNjtVmj_iQyqIZKpJB5S7wnkkwdQ)



try this guy his not far from the car sales yard and his a land/range rover specialist, ive heard from quite a few people he knows his stuff


The owner of ATV's name is Frank, they know there stuff.


cheers,
Terry

[hizzy]

I have spent a fair amount of time reading posts on here regarding the reliability of the D3 and to my mind it appears that the main issues involve the auto box and the air suspension. This makes me wonder why the manual s model without air suspension isn't more popular in this country where breaking down in the bush is not a good idea.

[jonesy63]

Probably because they don't break down as often as you would think from reading the horror stories. :cool: Plus the air suspension makes the ride so much more comfortable and flexible. Try taking out your coil springs before going into a car park or ducking a branch - or simply press switch to go into access mode. :D

Cheers,
Rob - yet another unsung D4 survivor from a 16,000km trip across Australia this year (Sydney-Flinders-Oodnadatta-Uluru-Kakadu-Gibb River Road-Mitchell Falls-Broome-Sydney). Previous survivor of many D3 trips. :angel:

[Geedublya]

Yep, I'll take the air suspension over the coil springs any day of the week (except that day when I was on the bump stops).

Likewise I'm prepared to put with servicing the auto rather than a manual box both in town and off road.

[hizzy]

Sorry to bore people by giving life to my dead thread, but I got to sydney today and drove the car. I was hoping to hate it so I could stop waking up in the middle of the night muttering 'I should buy that D3',, but it wasn't that bad.

There is no attempt to hide the mileage,and everything seemed to work, and yes you are right about the air suspension and auto box (which shifted smoothly).
The only thing mechanically I could pick was possibly a slight wheel bearing noise, but it could of been just me being hyper alert to any squeak.

Also when the Eastern European bouncer/car salesman moved it, he floored the accelerator, and as it shot off down the road there was briefly noticeable plum of black smoke from the exhaust.

I think I'm going to buy it, if anything it can be the aulro longtermer..I will either once and for all put anybody off buying a high mileage one if it all goes bang, or open up the sad neglected high mileage D3's that are dying a lonely death on some car yard to a new owner.

I will not be the newbie moaning about the reliability of these things. I will fix anything that goes wrong with it like I have done with all my cars. Anyway I will be too busy posting on a DIY suicide forum if it gets all to much...

[PKD4]

Sorry to bore people by giving life to my dead thread, but I got to sydney today and drove the car. I was hoping to hate it so I could stop waking up in the middle of the night muttering 'I should buy that D3',, but it wasn't that bad.
..

Good luck Hizzy! Don't worry about reviving a dead thread - I am sure there were a few curious readers wondering whether you would take the plunge.

Hopefully all will go well and you will become like most AULRO people and will love your D3/4.

Pat

[boofdtl]

Keep us up to date on how you go with the D3 all the best withit hope all goes your way ...

[hizzy]

Thanks guys, but haven't done it yet..keep getting cold feet,,my wife says I'm crazy, but if I do it today will be the day...

[~Rich~]

And?

Decision made?

[hizzy]

And?

Decision made?

Yep, they would not let me take it to graeme coopers for a pre-inspection, I said if they wouldn't budge on this I was going to walk away...they didn't budge..
I feel slightly relieved that the decision was taken out of my hands as I'm now determined to wait for a decent example with lower K's and a full service history.

One odd thing has occurred to me on my quest for a D3, with the dozen or so that I have looked at (from the dodgy to the immaculate) is this. I've looked at some in Brisbane , some in Victoria and several in NSW, and all the dodgy looking ones that looked like they had never been dealer serviced, had a fully stamped log book by Southern Classics Wollongong.
In fact even the land rover defender extreme that is on eBay at the moment for
$22.990 has a fully stamped book(all stamps by southern), and it looks rather un loved in the flesh...

Im guessing that they might want there stamp back...