Soon to be a new D3 owner

[Leroy_Riding]

Well, my health took a bit of a bad turn, and a few other things, that make a manual defender no longer suitable for me, i love my D90 and fought so hard to keep it while I was broke and unemployed. . .

but times change, and health has dictated that its not the car for me anymore. . .

Enter the new age. . . I pickup next weekend a 2.7 turbo diesel Disco3.
its the S model with the coil springs, (i didn't want air anyway)

what do I need to look out for when taking the D3 off road (which will be a rarity) its more to get to camping spots, and travel Australia.

Ill post photos when I pick it up, stock as a rock bar a TJM(I think) bullbar

Thanks
Leroy.

[TerryO]

The coilers don't have a lot of ground clearance standard, unless you get a lift kit. Standard they can bottom out fairly easy if you do any real rough stuff, but for normal bush trails you should have no issues. Just depends where you like driving off road and with whom you usually go.

With a 2" lift kit and larger than standard size decent off road rubber they go pretty much any where any other D3 will. If you want to get hard core then a front and rear ARB locker will see your D3 go places one with a E-diff and EAS will more than struggle to get through.

Congratulations on the purchase Leroy and make sure you share your new pride and joy with us with a couple of pictures in the picture section.

[Leroy_Riding]

The coilers don't have a lot of ground clearance standard, unless you get a lift kit. Standard they can bottom out fairly easy if you do any real rough stuff, but for normal bush trails you should have no issues. Just depends where you like driving off road and with whom you usually go.

With a 2" lift kit and larger than standard size decent off road rubber they go pretty much any where any other D3 will. If you want to get hard core then a front and rear ARB locker will see your D3 go places one with a E-diff and EAS will more than struggle to get through.

Congratulations on the purchase Leroy and make sure you share your new pride and joy with us with a couple of pictures in the picture section.

Thanks,

As said, I am no longer realy into heavy offroading, I would have gone to a car, but I still want to go camping and eventually do the Cape (next year)

from what I can tell 2" lift puts it at about the max hight of the air suspension D3's?

what is the factory traction control like? as good as a defender puma?

what size tires is best for a D3 using only 2" lift and factory wheels?

Thanks
and once I pick it up I will post some photos :) I wont know what to do with myself with all the mod cons and comfort!

Leroy.

[TerryO]

A 2" lift on a coiler is still a ways short of what a air suspended Disco can be lifted with either GOE Rods or a Llams kit, but more than good enough for the vast majority of decent off road driving and long distance touring.

Can't remember if the standard 17" mags on a coiler are 7" or 8" wide. I think if they are 7" wide then you will run into legal restrictions on what size tyre you can fit.

I use 265/70x17" BFG KM2's fitted to 8" wide BB6 alloy rims when I go off roading in the D3. But a reckon a good set of LT spec All Terrains would be the go, the drum and the vibration of the MUDs would eventually send you crazy if driving up the cape etc.

[Leroy_Riding]

A 2" lift on a coiler is still a ways short of what a air suspended Disco can be lifted with either GOE Rods or a Llams kit, but more than good enough for the vast majority of decent off road driving and long distance touring.

Can't remember if the standard 17" mags on a coiler are 7" or 8" wide. I think if they are 7" wide then you will run into legal restrictions on what size tyre you can fit.

I use 265/70x17" BFG KM2's fitted to 8" wide BB6 alloy rims when I go off roading in the D3. But a reckon a good set of LT spec All Terrains would be the go, the drum and the vibration of the MUDs would eventually send you crazy if driving up the cape etc.

Cheers,

I was reading on here that 60mm king springs (if availible) and koni shocks seem to be the go?

Id say they will be 7" wide rims.
what tire size does that limit me too? I dont need massive, just something that isnt going to make me wish I still had the big defender tires (235/85 R16's)

Leroy.

[Leroy_Riding]

Okay, so pickup time has changed, Ill be getting the D3 this Thursday night (YAY!)

The car has 181,000kms on it, full service history, has towed a small van around Australia. its 100% stock as a rock except for ARB bullbar and Tmax winch.
so the car sits about as low as a commodore currently.

So I am assuming my plan of attack should be:

1- Transmission service/new metal sump plate - how hard is this too do myself, as I am not sure if this has been done yet, but better to be safe and just do it myself as soon as I can afford right? going price to pay someone to do with with Lifegaurd 6 seems to be $800 correct?

2- Lift, This one isn't that important to be early on as I don't go 4wding anymore and I am sure the D3 will make it to my camp sites and drive down the beach how it is?
anyway my mates will pressure me into this eventually so looking at getting the 500KG+ rated lift springs from King springs as it has Bar and winch, and I will eventually get a dual rear carrier. combined with the lots of towing that I do. will this be too harsh a ride? and if I dont go the 500KG+ will I still actualy get any decent ground clearance with the bar and winch while loaded fro camping?/towing the camper

3- slightly bigger tires, whats the go here on a D3? am I going to kill the consumption completely? what size Tires is the 'default' large size to go for on a D3? (AT's I cannot stand Mud tires) and what kind of consumption should this return?

4- sound system, I like my music, and I like it loud. I upgrade the Defender system with Polk speakers, Kenwood head unit and custom 8" woofer built into my draw system, it sounded great, what is the system in a D3 S model like?
ive searched on the forum and most of the information I can find says upgrading a SE or HSE is a nightmare, what about the S ? and what functions does the stereo have? what size are all the speakers? and can I jsut replace the speakers with Polks again? does the S have the space for the Factory woofer that the HSE has?

5- roof racks, good information on here about roof racks, but still not sure what to go for. I had a huge one on the D90 that overhung front and back, this held my side awning permanently and then carried all my camping gear, Im only 24, but my body isn't too great shape (bad knee's bad back[supposedly ill be in a wheel chair by the time im 35] arthritis in the wrists and elbows. . i could go on) but more or less the reason ive stepped 'down' yet up to Discovery instead of the Defender. and I dont really want to be loading heavy things onto my roof anymore, but Side awnings are worth there weight in gold, and its a convenient place for camp tables. whats the go? are there any cheap racks for a D3? I had a tigerz11 flat rack on the D90 cost me $399 and was flawless. . . anything in the same price range?

I think that's most of my questions :) sorry if they have been answered before, i did use the search and found some great info. just after a little more, this is my first discovery and probably the most 'up market' style car ive every owned.
Leroy.

[Leroy_Riding]

Soo picked the land barge up, yet to be named.
man it gets up and moves compared to the defender, and is a dream to drive!

Good news is, the transmisstransmission has been done and has a Bmw trans sump on already, the tow bar is the Mitchell bros one. And my best mate who is a mechanic checked it out on the hoist tonight and says she is all good underneath new bushes and brakes and all just done :) more than happy with my purchase.

And obligitory photo. Sorry for bad photo posting from my phone with phone photo.

[winaje]

Congrats mate, and welcome to the club. Good that the suspension and brakes have been done, and the pan too. That'll save you a couple of grand at least.

[sniegy]

Neat looking truck Leroy.
Congrats on the new toy.

On my 17's I run 245/70/17 General Grabber AT2's

Cheers & Enjoy.

[rar110]

Looks great. It should do everything you need with a lot more comfort. I'm making a similar transition from a Isuzu 110.

Steel tranny pan, ARB bar & Mitch hitch are good extras.

I understand transmission service, if previously done, only requires fluid, filter & gasket. From memory the bits should be under $300.

[Leroy_Riding]

Thanks Everyone :)

She is so nice to drive, I was hesitant at first being that the car does have 181K on the clock, but the motor seems strong and the transmission nice and smooth, and having my best friend who is a mechanic look her over and test drive her and have no issues (other than laughing at my small tires!) Im pretty stoked.

He has already priced up heavy duty King springs, new shocks and 265/70 R17's for me, as He doesn't want to have to drag me everywhere :P (he has a V8 D2 with lift and Mud tires)
the tires on the car are pretty worn so will have to change them out soon anyway though, and pretty sure im going to need the lift to clear the new Rubber. but we will see how finances go.

First things for me though, the stock Stereo is horrid! (I guess I spent a fortune on the Defender Stereo with Polk audio speakers all round) I have one set of 6.5" Polk audio speakers in box still at home, hopefully this is the correct size for the front doors? then I just need to get some for the rear doors, then find a subtle spot for my 8" woofer to go (I dont need massive Bass, but I like some thump to my heavy metal :D ) and as mentioned in other threads on here I need to order a stack of parts from Aeropro to replace the factory head unit, should be a straight swap for me, as my clock is on the Head unit and being the 'S' model there isnt a whole lot of other things to connect it too anyway!

Then I need to make a new mount for my Nexus 7 Tablet (between the two centre air vents i think) as this has my Hema Maps on it (anyone want to buy a Hema HN5i from me? mine doenst get used anymore?)

Im undecided right now as to if I go a double din headunit and hook the reversing Camera to it, or go single din and fit a full size UHF under the head unit and look at putting a reversing camera into the Nexus 7 somehow. I guess Ill tackle that when It comes too it? (rather soon I suspect!)

Also, on my Defender I wired up bother 7 Pin flat and 7 Pin round plugs to it, this thing has two plugs that are foreign to me 0_0 which one is for the trailer? and is there a standard adapter I can get to plug it into a 7 Pin? or should I re wire my trailer to one of these plugs? (friends do borrow my trailer though, like right now its on load to the mate with the D2)

thanks
Leroy.

[Hogarthde]

Morning Leroy, with regard to plugs, the right side , probably coloured black, is normal for our trailers. Use the other,white ,for charging battery.

Oh and well done. Looks to be a twin to mine!

Dave

[Leroy_Riding]

Thanks Dave,

Im tossing up as to If I just put Incandescent bulbs back on the Trailer or if I build one of these little relay/resistor boxes and put it inline on the Trailer with a byPass Switch for Friends who borrow the trailer, I suppose If I build the box and have the '9Pin' or whatever it is ont he Disco through the Box Paralleled with a 7Pin that bypasses the box for when I use the Trailer on Other Cars or Lend it out. . . maybe that will be the go?

I need to Sort out the Parkers in the ARB bar though they are like strobe lights 0_0 (LED's)

Leroy.

[Hogarthde]

Don't be too fancy Leroy, all trailer borrow. ing friends 'modify' inadvertently.

Just make an adapter cable.

[rar110]

Here is a pic of an Alpine 2-DIN unit.



86716

[Leroy_Riding]

I've Ordered a single Din conversion Panel and the associated Wiring goodies.
$110.00 all up should arrive Wednesday. so Will Likely spend some of the Long Weekend Fitting the new bits along with my Old Kenwood Head unit, while at It I will mount my Nexus 7 cradle and Wire that in, Maybe even Fit my Second Battery and fix up some of the horrific Wiring the Previous Owner left for me (power extension leads used for the spot lights, and some strange 6 core wire for the Anderson plug at the rear) also will likely wire up a 7Pin Flat Socket in the back with inline relays and resistors for my trailer(LED Lights) will see how I go.

Leroy.