What to buy? D3 or D4?

[Stiltz]

This is a fantastic forum which I have been searching through in preparation to buy a Disco.

My question is from your experience do think i should buy a high mileage D4 or lower mileage D3?

our main use is the city but we will do 2 x 4,000km outback trips every year plus other weekend adventures that will be putting it to good use.

My budget is $30k so it puts me out of the D4 3.0TT but is a higher mileage 2.7T good value?

From what I have read the essentials to look out for are service history but particularly
- Front Bushes and ball joints
- Timing belts
- wheel bearings
- air compressor (leaks)

Any other tips to look out for when buying a disco?

[rocmic]

If over or approaching 100,000 km, then I would be checking transmission service. Particularly if the vehicle has been towing regularly, but important no matter what.
Cheers
Mike

[gofish]

2.7 D4 ? Maybe cheaper with that engine (?)

[Russrobe]

Hard to say, you would be safer with either a lower km D3 or a high km 2.7 D4 that has had it's timing service done(168k kms) if $30k is the max end of your budget.

If you can find one that has all or any of the accessories you plan on fitting(won't be many if you're towing a trailer though), then that's a bonus.

I'd only ever buy one from a reputable dealer who will fix any dramas you might have within the first 3 months. Especially if you end up at the top end of budget.

When I lost my HSE D3 to a roo and picked up a TDV6 D4 as a replacement, I felt like there was enough pro's and cons of each interior to balance them out.(You won't find a HSE D4 within budget)

D4 slightly better off road on more extreme tracks unless you can find a D3 with the rear e-locker.

No clear winner really unless you really like the interior of one over the other.

[Narangga]

Hard to say, you would be safer with either a lower km D3 or a high km 2.7 D4 that has had it's timing service done(168k kms) if $30k is the max end of your budget.

If you can find one that has all or any of the accessories you plan on fitting(won't be many if you're towing a trailer though), then that's a bonus.

I'd only ever buy one from a reputable dealer who will fix any dramas you might have within the first 3 months. Especially if you end up at the top end of budget.

When I lost my HSE D3 to a roo and picked up a TDV6 D4 as a replacement, I felt like there was enough pro's and cons of each interior to balance them out.(You won't find a HSE D4 within budget)

D4 slightly better off road on more extreme tracks unless you can find a D3 with the rear e-locker.

No clear winner really unless you really like the interior of one over the other.

What Russ and others have said and I'd add:

D4 will have phone connectivity if that is something you want
2.7 in either model will have capacity to have 18" rims - or you could find a cheap-ish set of 17's for your trip if that is the only regular off-raod/rough road work you do
With the D3 it is also what was changed with the timing belts - in particular the oil pump casing
Vehicle tow history and any transmission service history
D3 key remotes seem more problematic than those of the D4

As with any vehicle - the more vehicle history, as well as service history, the more informed a decision you will make. Happy hunting.

[Stiltz]

Thanks guys for the responses.

The reputable service history is really interesting as well as the dealer warranty which is something I would normally overlook.

Some really good points about the extras on the D4 that could save money improving a D3 to the same spec.

In your opinion do you think a Disco with extras is an incentive because someone has invested in it or a negative because they have heavily used it?

[Narangga]

For me that is answered on a case by case basis as the vehicle and its history presents.

Know the cost of accessories and your budget and evaluate each vehicle on its merits to get the best you can for your money.

[Bytemrk]

Could be either....

That's why you need to take a close look and decide rather than just assuming.

I bought my 2012 D4 when it was 2 years old. ( obviously outside your budget), but it came with Bullbar, driving lights, long range tank, rear wheel carrier, UHF, Trailer brake controller and AT tyres.

Crawling around under it - no sign of the scratched and marks you would expect from a heavy off road life.

It's been a fantastic buy...

Most dealers see the extras as a negative - as less people want them.

[mr_squiggle]

Could be either....



That's why you need to take a close look and decide rather than just assuming.



I bought my 2012 D4 when it was 2 years old. ( obviously outside your budget), but it came with Bullbar, driving lights, long range tank, rear wheel carrier, UHF, Trailer brake controller and AT tyres.



Crawling around under it - no sign of the scratched and marks you would expect from a heavy off road life.



It's been a fantastic buy...



Most dealers see the extras as a negative - as less people want them.



Sounds familiar, I just bought a late 2013 D4 HSE with 44,000km, LRA tank, Front Runner swing away wheel carrier, brake controller, Anderson plug and no marks underneath either. Old mate traded it on a new one when the warranty ran out. The dealer was selling same year models without the additional stuff for slightly more. My first Disco & it's a great vehicle.

[LandyAndy]

Go the D4,there are bargains out there.I sorted a 3.0 D4 HSE for my bro from a member here for $25000.It has +200000ks on it but good ks.Its got lots of extras,less the 6 GOE wheels I stole off it;);););););););)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/04/454.jpg (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/LandyAndy_2006/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_1060_zpskcisztda.jpg.html)
The buying price was all the seller could get on a trade into a brand new RRS.
Andrew

[Russrobe]

:O Holy crap Andy that's a steal. Worth at least $5k more than that. At a minimum.

At the end of the day they're only worth what people are willing to pay and atm in W.A especially the markets are dead.

[Stuart02]

Go the D4,there are bargains out there.I sorted a 3.0 D4 HSE for my bro from a member here for $25000.It has +200000ks on it but good ks.Its got lots of extras,less the 6 GOE wheels I stole off it;);););););););)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/04/454.jpg (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/LandyAndy_2006/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMG_1060_zpskcisztda.jpg.html)
The buying price was all the seller could get on a trade into a brand new RRS.
Andrew

Dear Lord that's a good deal!!

[Stiltz]

I just realized my previous posts were lost with the forum upgrade.

Yeah that is a steal and makes me very jealous!

Just wondering what's people's opinion of how many % come with the e-diff?

I will definitely look out for but could be hard to find...

[LandyAndy]

Pretty sure all the HSE 3.0 versions have the E diff,others were an option.
Andrew

[TuffRR]

Pretty sure all the HSE 3.0 versions have the E diff,others were an option.
Andrew

Nope, not diesel HSE’s, just the V8 HSE’s. They had all the options ticked by default.

[mr_squiggle]

Nope, not diesel HSE’s, just the V8 HSE’s. They had all the options ticked by default.

Agreed, I have a 2013 diesel HSE without the e-diff.

[DiscoJeffster]

While I love the idea of e-diff, they are pretty rare and thus those cars with them demand a premium. For most it's not worth it for the few trips per year.

[Eevo]

having owned neiher a d3 or a d4, i believe the d4 is a much superior vehicle with a better build quality

[Stiltz]

Does anyone else think the calibre/quality has improved in the D4?

[Bytemrk]

Yes

[DiscoJeffster]

The interior is far more appealing in my opinion. I have never owned a car of better quality but that doesn't mean a thing [emoji2]. For such a car to not have a single rattle or squeak at 220000km and to ride like a flying carpet, I can't complain. I owned a Freelander 2 previously and is of the same trim level as D3. Not a fair comparison, but I know where I prefer to be.

[LandyAndy]

Does anyone else think the calibre/quality has improved in the D4?

Definitely.
Drove a few lower km D3's VS higher km D4's before I bought mine.D4 was streets ahead.In the end I stuck my neck out and bought new.
LOVE IT!!!!!
Andrew

[discorevy]

if your budget will stretch a bit go for the d4 , if it won't, don't be put off by the d3 if it has been looked after properly as they are a great vehicle and , apart from a bit less bling in general are the same platform. I bought a d3 recently and after replacing a cv joint , reprogramming a second key , de egr , giving it a BAS remap , changing all fluids ,fitting 17 inch wheels and dynapro tyres,(had 19's) tidying up and fixing previous ham fisted workmanship and custom making an exhaust and doing black out bits I still have change from $15 000 , that would allow you a fair bit for anything that may happen (not that it should). It already had bull bar , snorkel , mitch hitch , and an e diff , so it's now a bit of an on / off road weapon
obviously looks better with a wash but it goes off road and i live rural[smilebigeye]

[PerthDisco]

Does anyone else think the calibre/quality has improved in the D4?

Blingification only IMHO. Wish the fit for purpose attributes of D3 were retained like wheel arches and 18" etc. Now totally lost on D5

[Bytemrk]

Not sure the changes to engines, transmission, brakes or suspension qualify as blingification.... but you are obviously welcome to your view.

[Geedublya]

D4 interior is nicer, seats are more comfortable, HDC is better, TC is better, display is standard, transfer case ECU is moved to a better location and engines are better.
All my opinion of course, I have owned a D3 HSE as well as my current D4.

[DiscoJeffster]

The TC software has been upgraded both in 2010 model and then 2013 model. So quite a lot of advance from D3. You can upgrade the TC on a 2010-2013 to 2013 version so win win.

[ozscott]

Body off for D4 underbonnet...

Cheers

[PerthDisco]

Not sure the changes to engines, transmission, brakes or suspension qualify as blingification.... but you are obviously welcome to your view.

Perhaps a better way to say is the latter D3 was a 9/10 and the D4 is a 9.5/10. My preference is always for the simpler spec. I'd rather have one turbo than two etc etc. Those choices now lost. Service and repair becomes more complex as we read here.

My brother and mate have a D4 and I get more of a buzz from the D3 centre console when I hop back in mine. Love the no wood no leather look but that is personal taste.

[BobD]

There's no wood in an SE. I certainly wouldn't describe it as blingification! It is just a clean modern look.