2007 MY D3 specific issues/advantages?

[sheerluck]

I've got the go ahead from the Minister of War and Finance to purchase a D3, and one that has come to my attention is a 2007MY TDV6 in Zermatt Silver.

The question is, are there any specific issues or advantages of that model year compared to 05/06?

So far I've found that the EGRectomy is a a little more tricky, and there are a couple of recalls that I need to make sure have been done, swap the auto tranny sump and filter, and buy a Faultmate.

Any other hints or tricks for a new player?

[sniegy]

07MY is a better vehicle as a lot of the first production vehicles had niggling issues which were all rectified on the release of the 07MY
Just make sure the VIN has a 7 in it (the 10th digit) otherwise whatever number is there is what MY it is.
Cherrs

[Rich84]

Yep - ie, the VIN for my 08 RRS is

SALLSAA138A14xxxx

The 8 denotes the model year. Look for a 7 or higher.

07 has a new fuel delivery system with different filter and lines. I belive the pump is revised too.

[sheerluck]

07MY is a better vehicle as a lot of the first production vehicles had niggling issues which were all rectified on the release of the 07MY
Just make sure the VIN has a 7 in it (the 10th digit) otherwise whatever number is there is what MY it is.
Cherrs

Thanks Sneigy, definitely a 07MY with a build date of 9/2006, though the VEDA check shows it as 2006 (I assume it was first rego'd right at the end of 2006).

Oh well, time to warm up the chequebook!

[sheerluck]

............07 has a new fuel delivery system with different filter and lines. I belive the pump is revised too.

Thanks Rich. Anything else you're aware of that changed from 05/06 to >07?

[gghaggis]

The CANBUS design was changed either 07 or 08? This reduced the chance of relatively benign faults cascading into major faults.

Cheers,

Gordon

[sheerluck]

The CANBUS design was changed either 07 or 08? This reduced the chance of relatively benign faults cascading into major faults.

Cheers,

Gordon

So this is the good old blown (or cheap) taillight turning the dashboard into a Chrsitmas tree problem solved, or less likely to happen?

[jonesy63]

07MY is a better vehicle as a lot of the first production vehicles had niggling issues which were all rectified on the release of the 07MY


Pete - in hindsight, that may be the case - but at the time, it sure did feel like LR were doing their best to try and smite me!

For example:
1) Numerous failures and recalls for High Pressure Fuel Pump --> fire risk and left stranded.
2) Oil leaking into brake booster --> possible brake failure.
3) Clock spring faults --> airbag not deploying in case of accident.

I would say that now the above have been addressed, the MY07+ are great. But at the time - with months off the road, it was not an enjoyable experience.

Just glad that the above never resulted in any fatalities.

[Rich84]

Haha Jonesy... sounds more like they were trying to kill you than smite you!! :wasntme:

[sniegy]

Pete - in hindsight, that may be the case - but at the time, it sure did feel like LR were doing their best to try and smite me!

For example:
1) Numerous failures and recalls for High Pressure Fuel Pump --> fire risk and left stranded.
2) Oil leaking into brake booster --> possible brake failure.
3) Clock spring faults --> airbag not deploying in case of accident.

I would say that now the above have been addressed, the MY07+ are great. But at the time - with months off the road, it was not an enjoyable experience.

Just glad that the above never resulted in any fatalities.

Hey Jonsey,
Ahh Hindsight :-)
I am not going to disagree with these issues, but also not every vehicle displayed these problems that unfortunately you had, I also agree it would of been excruciatingly painful to put up with some of the issues that have been displayed in some of the earlier vehicles too.
But seeing some of the earlier vehicles D2, D1, P38 etc & their problems, the D3 is brilliant. A huge step up from the earlier vehicles in reliability.

Cheers

[sheerluck]

Next stupid question - in running the VIN number through Microcat, it lists under Minor Features:


Rear Axle Locking Differential


and under Spec Codes:


REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL - REAR AXLE LOCKING DIFF [027CC]

Is this the much desired rear e-diff? I ask as it's not been mentioned by the seller.

[SBD4]

Sure seems like it. you can have a look on topix too (I assume microcat is not the same thing?). just register and then enter the vin - it will give the full vehicle features.

https://topix.landrover.jlrext.com

[sheerluck]

Sure seems like it. you can have a look on topix too (I assume microcat is not the same thing?). just register and then enter the vin - it will give the full vehicle features.

https://topix.landrover.jlrext.com

Thanks Sean. No, Microcat is just the parts listings, TOPIx seems to be pretty detailed. And it does show it with the e-diff. Woohoo!

[SBD4]

Thanks Sean. No, Microcat is just the parts listings, TOPIx seems to be pretty detailed. And it does show it with the e-diff. Woohoo!

excellent... don't tell him!

[Gaviatrix]

Dave, I did quite a bit of research before buying our D3 secondhand a couple of years ago, and picked up on the 2007-onwards being a much improved thing. All I can say is that ours has been very good, with almost none of the minor niggles experienced by others. We have a 2007 TDV6 HSE (no e-diff unfortunately, but it's not stopped us yet!) and it has been very reliable despite copping a fair bit of use and abuse (and a lot of scratches). A fault message about suspension in normal height only - which wasn't true if you turned off and started up again - turned out to herald the need for a new air suspension compressor (which may have been damaged when put under enough pressure to snap the bracket a few months earlier, but that's another story ...). We blew a turbo hose in a bit of overenthusiastic beach action one day. The only disappointing failure was the need for a new diesel injection pump at about 57k kms. Other than that it's been service items only. It's definitely the best all round vehicle we've ever owned and, saving your pardon, is in a totally different league to the 1997 D1 TDi which we had years ago, both on and off road. I was thinking of changing it for a D4 this year (Mrs. G. thinks the interiors are much nicer, and she's right; but I was after the 3.0 TDV6) but it's going so well that I'm going to keep it for a couple more years at least. Anyway, we're past being worried about scratches with this one plus I've invested about 10 large in additional kit for it ....! Good luck with your purchase.