Good LR D3 mechanic in North/West Melbourne?

[sammymac74]

Hi fellow D3 owners! Anyone out there in Disco land know of any good LR mechanics in the North/West of Melbourne? Thought that it's about time we say good bye to the Land rover service centres. We are due to get the transmission serviced and we are up for the 168,000 service. Thanks!

[DieselDan]

Les Richmond in Thomastown perhaps?

[p38arover]

See the sticky thread in the Technical Chatter section http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/155110-help-land-rover-owners-when-travelling-australia.html

[BONZER]

I use Les Richmond in Woods St Thomastown. Found them to be knowlegable with D3. They specialise in Land Rover,Range Rover and they actually have mechanics that work on your car and speak to you. They do all mechanical repairs but I was surprised they had not heard of the Traxide dual battery systems. They have done a new transmission, compressor, timing belts, modified tail gate release and front bushes for me as well as all my services (10000) intervals. Now up to 160000. What a vehicle!
Cheers
John

[flyinglandrover]

I just had my 168,000 km service done! Not alot of good news! :mad:
Total cost for all the work needed (including service) to be done is upwards of $7k!:o Not a happy camper at this stage!

[vogue]

$7k!!! What needed doing?
That's more than my D1 cost to buy!

[flyinglandrover]

168k service $1700
Brake pads and disc's $720 per axle
Auto service $1000
Replace steering rack $1700
Replace EPB $2200
Also Tie Rod End Ball joints

Is this normal? Vehicle does very little off road and is serviced as per schedule. I was previously told after the last service the EPB would be $1400 to replace but there seems to have been a price hike!

[flyinglandrover]

PS. I only had the service and the brakes done! Exploring my options with the rest!

[SBD4]

168k service $1700
Brake pads and disc's $720 per axle
Auto service $1000
Replace steering rack $1700
Replace EPB $2200
Also Tie Rod End Ball joints

Is this normal? Vehicle does very little off road and is serviced as per schedule. I was previously told after the last service the EPB would be $1400 to replace but there seems to have been a price hike!

EPB unit is ~600AUD from Paddocks:

LR019223 | Module - Electric Parking Brak (http://www.paddockspares.com/lr019223-module-electric-parking-brak.html)

Question is, is there $1600 worth of labour to change it over? I don't think so.

[flyinglandrover]

Is that the complete unit or just the main module?

[SBD4]

The module and cables as I understand it. See the attached pic - every thing in the boxed area.

[flyinglandrover]

Contacted Paddocks last night and the shipping is about $70! Sounds like a pretty good deal! Will research a little further and see how it looks!
Thanks for the pointer Sean!

[SBD4]

No Worries Gary, glad to help. If you can find the right part numbers and search for them you'll almost always find them cheaper. at the very least it helps to get a sanity check on what you're being charged.

[jonesy63]

Gary - none of the items you list were actually a part of the 168k km service, (apart from the $1700 service itself). So no - that is not a normal quote.

IIRC, the timing belt is replaced at this service - which is where most of the cost would be.

[flyinglandrover]

Yeah well aware what the 168K service entailed and was prepared for that but the list of extras that are required was what blew me away!
As I said in the post "I only got the service and the brakes done".
On that I had my auto serviced last week so at least that is now complete. Spoke to the guy who serviced the auto (he is a LR specialist) about me supplying the EPB but he was not keen (I cannot totally blame him on this) but his price for the EPB is $1300.
Still working out a way forward from here!

[jonesy63]

From a local (to me) parts supplier - Land Rover Discovery 3 Parts | Land Rover Discovery Parts | New and Used Land Rover Discovery Parts (http://www.trspares.com.au/spare-parts/land-rover-discovery-3)

Genuine discs and pads front and rear = $418.

You were charged $1440... $1000 in labour for brakes alone... ouch!
Ned Kelly is alive! Stand and deliver!

[jonesy63]

FWIW, the steering rack in my D3 was replaced at about 132,000km. Tie rod ends may have been a victim from a dodgy rack.

The first D3 ball joints didn't last very long - and even with the later design, they don't last forever.

EPBs are a funny item... some last forever and others give grief. Suspect maintenance may be a factor.

It seems you were hit by the "perfect storm". Good luck!