Should we sell our D3 or not

[davemc]

Hello Everyone,

Can I ask around here for a second opinion, my wife loves her D3 although we just got it serviced 87k and we got a nice long list back on what they want to do. I think some of the prices looking at the cost of parts is too much.
If this is the going rate then we will look to off load it as its close to $7k, just cannot afford the money for a 2006 car under 100k.

1) We know the Air suspension light has come on.
I can find the part for $900 they want $2,000 to do it I cannot see labour being $1100 as I have seen forum members do it themselves in 1.5 hours. Wish I was handy myself
2) Lower control arm hydra bushes knocking $1850
3) Flexible brake hose replacement $1250
4) 4 New tyres $2k
5) Wipers $144, yeah as if

Yeah I know dealers mark up stuff filters I can get from trspares for $68 cost me today $180.
Or does anyone know somewhere to send that does not super mark up things

[Disco4_tech]

Land rover only recommends replacing flexible brake hoses every 6 years.

If the hoses are not fraying, leaking or in anyway not how they should be I would not worry about it. It's only a recommendation and I would not get it done unless need be.

However due to the service sheets, techs have to recommend them regardless. F they are all good, then that's 1.2k off your bill!!!

144 bucks for wiper blades is the normal.
Also the suspension I would assume includes a new compressor, new relay and new air lines that are cut to suit.

Assuming that the parts are around a grand, this should only be an hour or two labour. The suspension control module then will need configurating.

[TerryO]

Sounds like as you suspect they are making more than a few extra bucks out of this job then sounds reasonable.

Find a good local privateer Land Rover specialist and I bet you will be more than happy with their price in comparison.

[robbotd5]

144 bucks for wiper blades is the normal.

What the???!!!
Are they made of Gold??!!!
Sounds like they are tring to take you for a ride. Agree on the brake hoses, you need to look for cracks and stiffness in the rubber.
Regards
Robbo

[sheerluck]

It's your call, and very much something that you are able to control. 7k is unacceptable, but there are several choices:
1. Do it yourself
2. Find a competent mate or mate of a mate to do it
3. Source the parts yourself and go back to the place that quoted you, knowing that you have managed to control at least part of the cost yourself.
4. Suck it up and pay
5. Flog the D3 as is and reduce it's worth

For the tyres, you should be able to beat that cost by a fair way by ringing around (depending on what type of tyres your use of the car would suggest).

[Disco4_tech]

144 bucks for wiper blades is the normal.

What the???!!!
Are they made of Gold??!!!
Sounds like they are tring to take you for a ride. Agree on the brake hoses, you need to look for cracks and stiffness in the rubber.
Regards
Robbo

Evoque wiper blades go for near on 200.

[davemc]

Yes the suspension I thought be around $1500 so a lot more.
Tyres yes they wear and I can easily shop around for those

Its more every time we take it in they find something which needs to be done, we had extended warranty until last year so that covered it. Although I did not think it will be on going every service some $2k+ thing.

Really the hydra bushes and brake hoses I cannot see its worth $3k to do. Unless I am missing something. Wish my Dad or Brother was still around they do it all for me, dad and my brother rebuilt motor's, did his own servicing on the old cars. Me I played with computers and did not learn :(

This is the 2nd or 3rd time now in 3 years our bonnet alarm switch been replaced :(

[Fatso]

Got my wiper blades from super cheap ( Aunger Universal ) $35 for the set , they fit and work fine ,dont grunge or scrape like oem ones , had a set on my falcon for 6yrs and still ok . Works 4 me . :)

[sheerluck]

Yes the suspension I thought be around $1500 so a lot more.
Tyres yes they wear and I can easily shop around for those.......

Probably the best thing you can do is invest a few dollars in the D3 workshop manual and Microcat (extended parts catalogue) from the shop at the top of the forum. That way, you can find the part numbers you need, scour the Internet for prices and help yourself a little. Getting the workshop manual will help you judge how simple a given task is, and whether you have the skills and confidence to approach it yourself.

Sourcing just one part and fitting it yourself will probably recoup the cost.

For the tyres, you should be able the find a set of Tyres (again, still depending on how you use your D3) for 50% or less of that quote.

[chuck]

You should be able to get 4 x GG AT's or approx $1200 fitted and balanced.

Heaps better tyre than OEM's.

[davemc]

Thanks all yes Tyres I will not get through dealer :) we did not with the battery and saved half.

I will do a ring around tomorrow to see if other non dealers are around the same.
I love to be able to do it myself. I can build computers do electrical stuff, spanners and stuff not great at :)
Question really is the money we spend fixing it up. We could trade in on something else. the suspension light does not always come on so could get lucky.
We actually need 6 seats hence the Disco.
Although looking tonight again at Territory's and Kia Carnival's (Yuck)

[oldsalt]

Give "boof" at Tyrepower Camberwell a bell on 9819 1500 - he'll look after you for tyres - he really knows Landrovers and does very good work.
Wiper blades from Repco or Supercheap etc ... no contest.
As to the rest find a good "local" indy LR service place (there's lots mentioned in the FAQ section) and compare the prices for the work ...
good luck,

[cjc_td5]

Hello Everyone,

Can I ask around here for a second opinion, my wife loves her D3 although we just got it serviced 87k and we got a nice long list back on what they want to do. I think some of the prices looking at the cost of parts is too much.
If this is the going rate then we will look to off load it as its close to $7k, just cannot afford the money for a 2006 car under 100k.

1) We know the Air suspension light has come on.
I can find the part for $900 they want $2,000 to do it I cannot see labour being $1100 as I have seen forum members do it themselves in 1.5 hours. Wish I was handy myself
2) Lower control arm hydra bushes knocking $1850
3) Flexible brake hose replacement $1250
4) 4 New tyres $2k
5) Wipers $144, yeah as if

Yeah I know dealers mark up stuff filters I can get from trspares for $68 cost me today $180.
Or does anyone know somewhere to send that does not super mark up things

Wiper blades for our Audi A4 are ~$180 from the dealer. I got them from Wiper Blades Ltd. | Suppliers of Quality Windscreen Wiper Blades. (http://www.wiperblades.co.uk) for about $50 delivered.

Disco blades are here-
Land Rover Discovery 2004 to 2013 Twin Pack Wiper Blades (http://www.wiperblades.co.uk/land-rover-discovery-years-2004-to-2013-wiper-blades/)

You can add a couple of pounds for postage. Much cheaper than $144. Dead easy to fit yourself.

Cheers,

[Tombie]

Disco blades are avail at local Supercheap Auto. $35.00

The rest.... Easy...

[robbotd5]

Evoque wiper blades go for near on 200.

Why are they so exy???
Regards
Robbo

[Disco4_tech]

Why are they so exy???
Regards
Robbo

They are good quality I can give them that and they do have the ability to last 20-30,000 kilometers and I do see it on services that I have done previously.

At the same time though, it's a land rover part so it's gonna be expensive...

[Rich84]

I actually don't find Land Rover parts to be that expensive:-
$75 for an auto belt tensioner
$80 for oil pump and casing
$2.50 for crankshaft bolt
$12.50 for front main seal
This is all genuine stuff for the TDV6, imported from UK.

Compare that to the local stealer's prices and you quickly see where the extra money is!

Those front hydra bushes - this is the entire arm with ball joints etc, are about $250 each.

As others have said - don't bother with the brake hoses unless they are physically damaged - I have a 23 year old Nissan TRX with 430K on it and the original brake hoses are still fine. At <90K you will almost surely have life left in yours! I doubt they've been done on my RRS which has close to 190K - the hoses look like new which is what I expected.

[the_preacher1973]

Hello Everyone,


1) We know the Air suspension light has come on.
I can find the part for $900 they want $2,000 to do it I cannot see labour being $1100 as I have seen forum members do it themselves in 1.5 hours. Wish I was handy myself
2) Lower control arm hydra bushes knocking $1850
3) Flexible brake hose replacement $1250
4) 4 New tyres $2k
5) Wipers $144, yeah as if



Looking at the items one by one you can certainly take some of the sting out of it quite easily.

1 & 2. Sourcing the parts for 1 and 2 (around 1250 all up) and taking to an independent workshop would probably be around $2500 rather than $3850.
3. As mentioned, unless there's an observable problem is this really necessary. In nearly 25 years of playing with older cars I've never had to do brake lines. Numerous master cylinders, wheel cylinders, calipers and drums etc but I've never had a brake line fail or weap.
4. Tyres are tyres and any car you replace it with will have them too. As mentioned, you could probably get away with about $1200 here.
5. Wipers, as mentioned certainly under $50.

So all up you could probably get away with something around the $4k mark. Not cheap but a new Territory will cost you that as soon as you drive out of the forecourt.

[DiscoWeb]

Davemc,

As most have noted these are expensive vehicles but with a bit of research (parts shopping on line) and becoming friends with your local independent LR expert you can certainly lower the cost dramatically.

Additionally perhaps doing some of the minor things yourself will save dollars and give you satisfaction.

Regards,

George

[alpick]

Silblade long life quality wiper blades from Amazon.com. super quality.
$52 delivered from usa in 3 days. 30 secs to fit.


http://www.silblade.com/Wiper-Search_ep_64.html

http://www.amazon.com/Silblade-FB122-Windshield-Wiper-Blade/dp/B00700S6VI/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1368076339&sr=8-18&keywords=Silblade

[djambalawa]

Question really is the money we spend fixing it up. We could trade in on something else. the suspension light does not always come on so could get lucky.
We actually need 6 seats hence the Disco.
Although looking tonight again at Territory's and Kia Carnival's (Yuck)

As mentioned you probably don't have to spend $7k but even if you did, to me you will probably not have too many big expenses on the car for a few years and $7k is probably still a lot cheaper than what it would cost you to change cars (eg what you'd lose on the disco, what you'd lose on the next car etc).

The changeover would cost you more than $7k and you most likely wouldn't have as nice a car. I did the same thing and regretted it - went back and bought a new D4 as I missed my D3 so much...

*Edit* tyre cost isn't probably reasonable in calculations - they should be an expected cost anyway.

[davemc]

Got a quote for half the price non dealer for air compressor will get them to check other items.

Yes very hard to find a different car
We need a third row with child anchor points and want 3rd row airbags
So rules out xc90, territory , cx9 etc
Left with people movers Kia grand carnival, VW multivan or merc viano

[Tote]

Hello Everyone,

Can I ask around here for a second opinion, my wife loves her D3 although we just got it serviced 87k and we got a nice long list back on what they want to do. I think some of the prices looking at the cost of parts is too much.
If this is the going rate then we will look to off load it as its close to $7k, just cannot afford the money for a 2006 car under 100k.

1) We know the Air suspension light has come on.
I can find the part for $900 they want $2,000 to do it I cannot see labour being $1100 as I have seen forum members do it themselves in 1.5 hours. Wish I was handy myself
2) Lower control arm hydra bushes knocking $1850
3) Flexible brake hose replacement $1250
4) 4 New tyres $2k
5) Wipers $144, yeah as if

Yeah I know dealers mark up stuff filters I can get from trspares for $68 cost me today $180.
Or does anyone know somewhere to send that does not super mark up things

From my experience (2008 D3 235,000KM )
Lower Control arms complete fitted, about $1200.00 at a 3rd party repairer. Although they will go a long way even when they are clunking. Bugger of a job and I wouldn't bother doing myself,mine didn't get replaced until 150,000KM and didn't start clunking until 130,000. I wouldn't be sure that at 80K they really need doing.
Brake hoses, as above, check condition
Tyres- General Grabber AT Tyres $300 ea fitted at the local tyre dealership in Yass. Could get them a little cheaper if I shopped around.
Wipers $16.00 a pair at Costco or $30.00 each for Tridon flexibles at Supercheap.
Air Suspension - try a new valve kit for the compressor before you replace it, plenty of info on here about it. Worst case you should be able to get a compressor fitted by a third party repairer for less than $1000.00
Total cost
Suspension compressor $1000.00 (fitted)
Lower control Arms $1200.00 (fitted)
Brake hoses, I reckon on the basis that my 1968 XT falcon Ute has its original hoses they can be postponed a bit.
Tyres $1200.00
Wipers $20.00

$3420.00 - Sounds better than $7K

By the way the wiper blades are the same fitment as a current model falcon.....

Regards,
Tote

[Ivan]

Replacement suspension compressor is around $500 delivered from Paddock spares. It's the genuine LR part not a copy. Lower control arms including all new nuts and bolts were $500 delivered from UK. Lower control arms were fitted by my local garage for $200 add another $100 for 4WD alignment and the cost to replace the lower control arms was $900 all up. The compressor can be replaced in about an hour max. Just had a full set of GG AT tyres fitted and balanced for $1500. So your total cost would be around 3K using a local indy instead of the dealer.

HTH

Ivan

[d3viate]

Good advise from people here. You are looking at changing your car out for about the same in repairs as stamp duty on another car, just to get tyres, wiper blades and a couple of other parts that wear !!
IMHO, Take the good advise and sensible parts pricing given and keep your car that you already know, you do not mention that it has let you down otherwise and it already has the seating and definitely has all the safety.
You do not have to use the dealers for anything other than finding what maintenance it requires by the book, forget the hoses and just feel along them for perishing or cuts with your hands with a good torch, you don't have to be a mechanic to do that.
Order the parts on your pc and sit back with friends and family having a coffee or a shandy and chat instead of driving around getting ear bashed by people who don't really want to look after you, just sell you a car which even new can bring you much grief.
All the best.

[davemc]

thanks everyone.. getting air compressor fixed end of the week will get the other stuff looked at.
As said Tyres only last so long so no problems replacing them if they need to. Not sure they really that low though.

Yes the rest I did look online and UK and saw the prices hence I thinking $1k markup on each item at least.

If it was not hard to find a car that fits 4 car seats we might move it on

[NomadicD3]

HI Dave,
SELL, SELL, SELL....:o.
From personal experience if I was in your position I would sell and buy a new one.
I bought the D3 with 90k on the clock and in just under 3 years and 80 000k I, by the end of next week, will have spent just over $20k in repairs and maintenance. When you add the approximately $10k on accessories it has made for a rather expensive experience. In hind sight I could have bought a new unit for another $20-30K and probably not had half the headaches of the last 3 years.
If only I had a time machine:D

[laney]

Sounds like you go to a LR dealer ship try to find a good LR expert you would find them in your phone book I live in Queensland but came from Warrnambool Vic I used a mob called rover parts I think that was there name if you get stuck my first place of call here in Queensland is British off road a better bunch of guys would be hard to find very helpful too worth a go as they could most likely beat any dealer.

[Tombie]

HI Dave,
SELL, SELL, SELL....:o.
From personal experience if I was in your position I would sell and buy a new one.
I bought the D3 with 90k on the clock and in just under 3 years and 80 000k I, by the end of next week, will have spent just over $20k in repairs and maintenance. When you add the approximately $10k on accessories it has made for a rather expensive experience. In hind sight I could have bought a new unit for another $20-30K and probably not had half the headaches of the last 3 years.
If only I had a time machine:D

Anyone who uses their vehicle like your photos indicate you do would incur increased maintenance costs.

It's unfair to compare any well used machine of any make to one which gets less arduous service.

Some have bad luck, but most have a pretty good run, and a few wear items is no reason to dispose and buy another.

[Rich84]

Sounds like NomadicD3 might have been going to the same dealer as davemc... :wasntme:

[trobbo]

the d3 is expensive to own without taking it off road. Bits fail regularily and replacement is a short term fix before things like lower control arm bushes, ball joints and compressors fail again.
Mine cost me a bit of 12k in 2 years. Love the car and hate what i am driving now but the servicing costs were crazy (and that was using a trusted independent).

[davemc]

Update. Eventually found time to get the air suspension fixed.
They got the new AMK in so cost a little more still save $900
Tyres they said Road worthy although look to change next year
Getting control arms done in a few weeks saving almost 800

Thank again guys
Dealer rang to inquire why we not using them I said price. He said they have to buy parts from oz LR. Said sorry not paying extra just to go to LR dealer