D3: How many Kms is too many, without FSH

[morpheus]

...so tempting, but I don't know..

A guy has advertised a 2009 D3 TDV6 SE up the road from me, and within the space of seven days dropped the price 4k, to 25k. I haven't viewed the vehicle yet but it is advertised as having done over 220k and does not have a full service history. The guy said that his mate, who he bought it off , didn't get it serviced at a dealership as they were too expensive. That worries me a bit, plus the guy didn't seem to know whether it had rear air con..

I guess I will find out more when I see it but I was wondering what others think here. Very cheap for a 2009 model, but a lot of Kms. What is that saying: "if it seems to good to be true, it probably is"

Cheers

James

[kingo]

Probably is too good to be true, having just traded my D3 late last year, I was amazed how many times I was approached by fake buyers trying to manipulate a sale. "I'm on a oil rig and will by it now and pay via PayPal", big scam.

It isn't hard to check out a cars history, dealers are usually forthcoming with info. If you can't get this steer clear, well clear!!!!!!

[Dagilmo]

When you say doesn't have FSH because original owner didn't take it to a dealer as it was too expensive. Does that mean it's missed services or it's had them but not at a dealer? Missed services are a worry. Services carried out by a non dealer not so much.

Seems a good price.

To good to be true.……or you get what you pay for?

[morpheus]

When you say doesn't have FSH because original owner didn't take it to a dealer as it was too expensive. Does that mean it's missed services or it's had them but not at a dealer?

I have to find out. The seller has told me he doesn't have a full log book but it has been "fully serviced ". Going to have a look at the vehicle today, so I will know more afterwards.

If does seem a good price, especially for its age.

[captcam68]

Traded my 2009 D3 last year with 75000 km
On the clock for around the mid to high 40's
( lease) private sale 2009's with similar Kms around
This and low 50's so this seems very cheap.....
:confused:

[BMKal]

If you're not sure - get a good mechanic with some knowledge of these vehicles to check it over for you - a few dollars well spent in any case. ;)

If the seller won't allow you to do this - walk away.

I've bought vehicles before which at first appearance appeared to be "too good to be true" - and picked up some very good deals. But I always did my homework first and checked the vehicle over thoroughly.

[PhilipA]

I would be looking for water damage up under the dash and other hidden places.
No log book, hmm. Even specialists will fill in a log book , not necessariliy only dealers.
The selling dealer in the owners manual may give a clue , but maybe that got wet.
Maybe get the VIN and phone a dealer about say whether there are any outstanding programs and casually ask where the vehicle was sold.
Regards Philip A

[morpheus]

Ok (apologies in advance for the length of this)

I went and had a look today and had a drive. The ride seemed smooth, although the motor had a bit of a surge in it; it just wasn't happy driving at a sustained pace and the tacho was moving a bit ( although it didn't effect the speed/feel). Suspension seemed good, and I checked out the off road height, seemed ok. Bit of wear on the drivers door seal, it is clear that the car has done a few miles.

Air con was cold (but no rear air); premium sound though, and leather looked in good nick. Newish tyres but a brand I have never heard of, and there seemed to be a bit of noise between 80 - 100kph (although the sound deadening overall is magnificent, I noticed it straight away when I jumped in my Ford Territory afterwards!!).

But... No log book, at all. The seller told me he has owned it for 20 or so months and had it serviced by his mate (mechanic) who has a garage/business. The vehicle had an issue some time ago that was beyond the mechanics' expertise so it went to the local LR dealership and was fixed, but the seller had no idea what it was... I will get in contact with the dealership, as I have the VIN, but the whole thing looks a bit wrong.

Seller dropped the price this week and has marked the sale as urgent, but he said he was going to get a work vehicle, but then couldn't tell me what he was thinking of getting or when. Didn't seem at all urgent to me.

That, and the fact that the car is waaaay under price for a 2009 irrespective of the Kms. I wonder whether his mechanic has told him there is an issue and to get rid of it. Seller really didn't seem to know much about the car. Oh and I asked for his mechanic's details and I am still waiting.

I think I have dodged an expensive bullet.

[87County]

Thanks for the update - it can be better to pass on on some offerings.

Earlier advice about getting a mechanic who knows D3s to look at is sound.

[Rich84]

The surging/wavering tacho/noise you heard could possibly be the torque converter on its way out.


If it's been doing this a while then the whole trans by now is probably not in very good shape due to the additional heat from the TC slipping.


I self service my RRS TDV6 and I'm still able to maintain a logbook of every cent that gets spent on it. Don't see why this bloke wouldn't be able to do the same?


TDV6 is also definitely not an engine that you want to be missing oil services with.

[JayBee75]

Walk Away!

[willem]

Be careful and check things out thoroughly, but no need to be paranoid either. Being able to see a bargain when others freak out is the trick. Careful attention to detail is the answer. Get to know the vehicles so that you know what to look for and you will be able to recognise what are real issues and what are things that can be relatively easy to work through.

Willem

[Tote]

I wouldn't be too scared about the km but I would be concerned about the lack f service history. The surging and the Tacho moving at a constant speed sounds to me very much like the lockup torque converter slipping and then trying to lock up. Factor in approx $6k for a new transmission. Other things to expect to have been replaced at 220,000km would be the suspension compressor, the front lower control arms, and sway bar bushes. As alluded to above if the trans hasn't been serviced then the engine may not have had oil changes at the appropriate times leading to the possibility of an expensive and total engine failure.
I also self service and after I filled up the factory log book I keep records of the parts replaced and when I did the services, it's not that hard really.
If this is your first experience with a D3 go and drive a few more as well, even if you can't afford them. The vehicle is so good that even a worn one will impress.

Regards,
Tote

[Graeme]

Be sure it hasn't had a dose of petrol. I understand that diagnostics can detect faulty injectors that indicate such an event. A new HP pump and injectors is an expensive repair.

[sinistr]

Our tdv6 has a surge when going up hills with a pretty pronounced shudder.. But full service history too!

A full gearbox service fixed rang issue and car is driving like brand new again. At 200+km I bet the gbox hasn't had a service which I think everyone here would agree is needed as the LR advertised 'lifetime' oil is all BS.

And ours had a full service history - no gbox service.

The only thing I made sure I knew was done at 168000 was the timing belt and I confirmed that with the previous owner after finding his contact details in the service book.

Service history - it's become a gospel that these days you have to buy a car with full service history, but is FSH worth the paper it's on when it's been proven dealers sometimes don't fulfill their 'obligations' and often cars/owners don't get the service they are paying for?
My fathers work car went in for a service and after my dad pulled out the dipstick and the oil was black and only half way up - exactly how it went into the dealer... ??? Needless to say the car never went to that dealer for a service again but it does happen.

I tend to service my cars myself (except if it's under warranty) or with our LR I trust the mechanics I know... So the record is made in the book, but with my Hondas - you'll never find its official service history. Even when I bought my 91 crx in 01 didn't have a book (106km).. Now with 240k on the clock it's still not recorded but I've serviced the car every 5000km.

It can be a peace of mind, but doesn't have to be... However 20k isn't cheap so if it's a peace of mind your after - look for the service history. In my eyes it doesn't matter if it's had a full service history recorded or not, (get an inspection done). Even a dealer with a FSH won't cover the engine if it goes boom outside the car yard so why should a private seller.

Two sides to the FSH in my opinion.

[101RRS]

the LR advertised 'lifetime' oil is all BS.



LR have never advertised 'lifetime' oil - it has a service life - it is all in the service schedule - sealed for life is a myth - now the LR service interval is ridiculously long but it does exist.

Garry