D3 2.7 Manual SE Purchase

[stimpy]

Hi Guy's,
I am looking at upgrading my D2 4.6L to a D3 for towing my 16' caravan. Just recently a 6spd Manual D3 has come up for sale locally. Are there any issues to look out for with these vehicles. I believe from previous reads that the SE is the best all round value for money, I have also read that the auto's in the D3 can give prob's - so what about the manual coggers?
The car has UHF, bulbar, Narva driving lights, electric brake controller, all the things I need. Has done approx 157k and is in pretty good nick.

Any advise from you guy's in the know would be great.

Then I just need to sell the D2 (4.6l, T-lined block, fully recoed 10k ago still under warranty - goes very well heaps of torque)

Cheers guy's.

[justinc]

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=d3+clutch&oq=d3+clutch&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l2.5653j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8#es_sm=93&espv=210&q=discovery+3+clutch+failures

have a read....:(

i replaced one a while back, body off job, never seen a more undersized clutch for the application in a long time. poor design IMO.

the auto is soooo much better.


jc

[camel_landy]

The Manual is horrible... Get an auto, especially if you're towing.

M

[stimpy]

Thanks for the advise guy's, sounds like the auto is the way to go especially for towing. Must admit that the manual was appealing since all my previous landies to the D2 were all manuals. Was there any particular year in the D3 range that was relatively trouble free ? The diesel would be good for towing economy, but I have heard some horror stories with failing auto's.
The D2 V8 returns about 19L / 100km with the van on the back.

[justinc]

Failing autos are due to lack of maintenance. They are a very capable transmission.


JC

[Tote]

The SE model was not available as manual either, the S model could be optioned up with leather, air suspension and 7 seats to build a vehicle that approximated the SE without xenons and some other bits.

Regards,
Tote

[AnD3rew]

The SE model was not available as manual either, the S model could be optioned up with leather, air suspension and 7 seats to build a vehicle that approximated the SE without xenons and some other bits.

Regards,
Tote

That's what I thought too, you wouldn't get all the cool terrain response stuff with a manual.

If it's a manual I think it is an S and unless thats wrong, and if they are selling it as an SE then it may be they are being a bit dishonest and I would steer well clear in case there is other stuff they are not telling the truth about.

The auto with full terrain response is one of the best things about this car. Based on the wisdom of the good AULROians it seems that if you regulary change the transmission oil every 70000ks or so then the Auto should be very reliable.

[stimpy]

Thanks for the interesting insights on the model variants. Check the following link: land rover discovery 3 se, discovery 3 se (http://www.ozcarcompany.com.au/four_wheel_drive_for_sale.php?id=555#)
It appears to be badged as as an SE, and the terrain response controls on the console appear to be the same as an auto??????
Don't get me wrong I am not disputing your replies,I trust the knowledge base you guy's have, just have a look at the advertised vehicle and tell me if it stacks up with what you know about this model?? I am not as interested as I was before due to the advise given earlier in this thread.
Cheers all.

[Tote]

Looking at that picture it certainly looks like an SE. When I bought my D3 in late 2007 the manual was only available on the S model. The S could certainly be optioned up with air suspension , 7 seats, leather and terrain response but I didn't go down that road as it was more expensive than getting a SE and accepting an auto.
SE MY 2008 was supplied with puddle lights in the bottom of the doors, xenon headlamps, reverse sensors, fog lights, auto dimming rear mirror, 18" rims and a rain sensor on the windscreen. The link you supplied certainly has reverse sensors, fog lights and xenons. Maybe the early SE's could be optioned as a manual.
My auto now has 240,000KM on it and I have replaced the transmission. At the time there was less info around on the oil life of the ZF box, There is no reason the box won't last a very long time if you change the oil every 50,000KM and I doubt I'd swap the ability of the auto for a manual today if I could. Having said that the things I would expect to either have been replaced or need replacing on that vehicle would be the air suspension compressor, front lower control arms, oil change on the rear diff if it's an active diff and maybe some minor stuff like the bonnet struts and the alarm switch on the bonnet.
I suspect that they are asking a bit of a premium as it is certainly a rare beast but it all depends on how much you want a manual. Do yourself a favour and drive an auto as well to give a comparison.

Regards,
Tote

[swarover]

HI Stimpy,

My D3 is a MY 2005 S manual, with Terrain Control and 7 seats. Its done 288,000 km and has not missed a beat. It does mostly long highway trips and only occasionally tows a trailer. If I were towing a lot I'd go the auto, in fact, despite mine having been excellent, I will replace it with an auto D4 for the towing and better control in soft sand and rough terrain.

Hope that helps,

SWAROVER

[stimpy]

Hi Swarover,
Thanks for the info, handy to hear from a manual owner.
I would not be towing all the time mainly for weekends away and a couple of extended holidays during the year. The van is approx 1200kg. I would also use it a fair bit for offroad 4 wheeling in the Vic high country. This is where the manual had the original appeal to me when I first saw this vehicle for sale.
Have you had any clutch issues and have you replaced the clutch at all on your car?.

Regards,

Stimpy.

[rb30gtr]

Interesting,

What is the manual version like to drive off road, hill climbs, mud, ruts etc?

Im selling my D3, tdv6 to get into a D4, did they make a Manual in the D4?

[swarover]

Stimpy and RB,

My manual is remarkable off road, mostly gravel roads and rough rutted tracks, with some beach work her on the south coast of WA. It has 17 x 8 BB6 wheels shod with 265/65 17 Maxxis 771's, which helps - let down on soft sand. Have had no clutch issues, although I'm well aware that the dual mass flywheel clutch setup is a weak point and drive accordingly. If I do tow anything heavy, I use low range when manouvering and for short drives up hills. In sand I use 3rd/4th low range (unless its obviously hard) and don't change up or down unless its fairly hard sand and the shift can be done without losing much momentum.

Cheers,

SWAROVER

[swarover]

Meant to mention hills and D4 manuals... I do some hilly rough driving out to the peninsulas near Bremer Bay over here, its a breeze - again in low range 3rd to 5th mainly. Hills consist of limestone and granite rises with washed out tracks and dodgy sandy sections. Of course a hill over there is a veritable mountain here! On the manual D4's: I vaguely recall reading somewhere that a few early base 2.7 versions were supplied manual, although have never seen one and it may have applied to the UK.

Cheers,

SWAROVER