Pre purchase D3 questions.

[hpal]

Hi Guys,
I am thinking about selling my td5 Defender which I love, but with a child it's not so good with the "air conditioning" being as good as it is and the road noise, try as I may to remedy it. So I'm looking at a D3. Some things I want are rear air conditioner, leather seats. tow bar. A nice to have would be diff lock (hard to find) and bull bar but really, the defender went everywhere with just the traction control so I should be fine and I'm not doing too many hard tracks lately just bush camping.

*The defender air con has made me put priority on D3 rear air, how do people find it over standard? Is it needed given it sometimes gets in the low 40's here. Does it have it's own compressor or one compressor and two evaporators?
*Things to look for? Timing belt done and oil pump housing mod
*steel auto pan
*upgraded air comressor or replaced airbags
* thing to look for while test driving? never driven one before

thanks

[goofyr]

I got a V8 D3 HSE, it comes with dual zone ac. Works really well. 2nd row passengers can control it if allowed from the front. I did the lower control arms and tranny pan as soon as I got it. I won’t be touching the compressor or air suspension until I need to or I do a big trip.

[LRD414]

.... priority on D3 rear air, how do people find it over standard? Is it needed given it sometimes gets in the low 40's here. Does it have it's own compressor or one compressor and two evaporators?
You've possibly answered your own question if it's a priority. I have rear ac and think it is worth it for warmer climates, it's a pretty big cabin.
There is one compressor with an extra fan unit in the rear left storage compartment for rear air.

Scott

[loanrangie]

Check that the auto is smooth and changes up/down correctly with no noises or rumbling under foot.

[Arapiles]

If you're going to use the third row seats then I'd strongly suggest getting the third row aircon. Being in the third row of a vehicle without direct vents is not pleasant on hot days.

[DI5CO]

I have a D4 without rear air and could have searched for one with rear, but decided not to. I went with other options. 7 seats aren’t used that much and the chances of using it on a 40 deg day are extremely slim. Then, we survived when we were kids even without air cond! Lol
Anyway, with just normal air, I haven’t had any complaints that it is too hot in the back. Std ac works fine. Having said that, I’m not sure if there are any differences between the ac units on a D3 and 4.
I would be more inclined to look for the well looked after car than one with rear air. If you find one with both then bonus!
Dave

[DiscoJeffster]

I have a D4 without rear air and could have searched for one with rear, but decided not to. I went with other options. 7 seats aren’t used that much and the chances of using it on a 40 deg day are extremely slim. Then, we survived when we were kids even without air cond! Lol
Anyway, with just normal air, I haven’t had any complaints that it is too hot in the back. Std ac works fine. Having said that, I’m not sure if there are any differences between the ac units on a D3 and 4.
I would be more inclined to look for the well looked after car than one with rear air. If you find one with both then bonus!
Dave

I have rear air and can never use it as the kids always tell me they’re too cold when it’s on. They’re happier with the temp that comes off the front system. Go figure. And yes, I could turn it to a custom temp to appease them, but they never want it. It might be different for the third row but they’re rarely in that row.

[hpal]

Cheers,I just dont want to get caught out with it being too hot on hot days which are more and more frequent now. But standard air is probably fine and much better than the defender by far. Would love the diff lock too, do people find it a big help when the going gets tough?
I also have enquired about one for sale, he has given me th following info "Approx. 10 months ago there was a slight shudder on acceleration so the transmission fluid was replaced and an additive added which has fixed the issue." It has 223000km on it, would this be an issue? It's got all the gear, rear air and diff lock etc.
also looking at a 2005 HSE with air and diff lock and 180000km, better choice maybe?

[goofyr]

Get it checked by an indy LR specialist if possible.

[LRD414]

Sometimes the oil change and additive (Dr Tranny) provides many km of trouble free usage and sometimes it’s a short term fix before a transmission rebuild. Read the relevant sticky thread for more details. Rebuild is now reasonably common just so long as you’ve considered the possibility in your budgeting.

Scott

[hpal]

I think I've sold the Defender!! AARRGH! I hope i've done the right thing. Just need to not buy a lemon now and hope you guys will help me with that process, I'm watching a few at the moment some interstate even.
One is a 2005 HSE silver with diff lock and rear air and black leather 180000kms. Looks ok except its the oldest one. problem? seems well serviced at a a specialist
another is a 2007 SE silver rear air, black leather, 200,000km
One is a 2006 SE, diff lock, no rear air, 156,000km tan leather (interstate)
one is a 2007 SE interstate, rear air, no diff lock, 222,000km
one is a 2007 SE with a low km motor put in it, 70,00 on motor 260 on car. diff lock rear air,

ah the decisions

[shanegtr]

If your planning on using the 3rd row then rear air would be well and truley worth it. If just the second row then theres a couple of air vents at the back of the centre console that are feed from the front unit so they would fine for that use IMHO. My D3 has the rear air but I got 4 kids so it was something high on my wish list. It was an optional extra on the SE so some have it and most (from what I seen when buying) dont.

[hpal]

in reality, we'll probably never use the third row seats. I just want enough cold air to cool the cabin well on a hot day. Maybe I should prioritise diff lock if the standard a/c is up to the job. I guess even if the car i choose is older, the lower the km the better plus a good service hstory will get me there. I've got a relo with a HSE who I'm visiting tomorrow to have a drive so I can familiarise myself with the D3. I still want to do a bit of off roading and the diff lock should help a bit

[loanrangie]

in reality, we'll probably never use the third row seats. I just want enough cold air to cool the cabin well on a hot day. Maybe I should prioritise diff lock if the standard a/c is up to the job. I guess even if the car i choose is older, the lower the km the better plus a good service hstory will get me there. I've got a relo with a HSE who I'm visiting tomorrow to have a drive so I can familiarise myself with the D3. I still want to do a bit of off roading and the diff lock should help a bit

Dont get hung up on the difflock, they are very capable without it.

[LRD414]

I thought your rear a/c query was because you'd be using the third row regularly. If it will be a rare event then perhaps other features/age/km's/etc are more important.

They are all very capable without rear e-diff when fitted with good tyres but the traction control has improved a lot over the years so the benefit of the e-diff will be greater for older ones. As to whether that benefit is enough for your usage, difficult to say. In a lot of situations, it's more the tyres and good line selection but that is based on comparing D4's with and without e-diff.

Scott

[hello_disco3]

Cheers,I just dont want to get caught out with it being too hot on hot days which are more and more frequent now. But standard air is probably fine and much better than the defender by far. Would love the diff lock too, do people find it a big help when the going gets tough?
I also have enquired about one for sale, he has given me th following info "Approx. 10 months ago there was a slight shudder on acceleration so the transmission fluid was replaced and an additive added which has fixed the issue." It has 223000km on it, would this be an issue? It's got all the gear, rear air and diff lock etc.
also looking at a 2005 HSE with air and diff lock and 180000km, better choice maybe?


I bought a 2005 HSE end of last year at 228k. The previous owner had the auto re-built at 220k so that was a big selling point. I did notice a bit of a shudder around the 40-50kph mark a month or so in. I had the car in for a service and mentioned it and they did an auto service and added some Dr Shudder and it's been all good since. I do recall somewhere in the doco stuff that the the people who did the rebuild recommended a service.

In regards to the AC, as has been mentioned by another guy earlier my kids tend to always complain about it being too cold I often have to turn off the rear ac and close the vents. Having said that though one of the first things I did when I got the car was put limo tint from passenger windows all round and 20% on the 1st row. Had it sat on the beach for a few hours on a 30ish day, with my windshield visor thing up also, and got back into the car expecting it to be hot but surprisingly it was really comfortable. The aircon soon enough had it back to 21 degrees and all was sweet in the world....until Immmm toooo collllld. [bighmmm]

Maybe when I get a dog again Fido will appreciate the 3rd row AC [wink11]

[~Rich~]

Well I'll be putting my 2005 TDV6 HSE up for sale soon.

Silver with Cream interior.
Ediff - Yes
Rear Air - Yes
Tripple sunroof - Yes

Serviced every 10,000k by a specialist mechanical workshop.
Gearbox replaced in 2014 at 200,000k
A/C replaced in 2015
P/S replaced in 2017
Blanked EGR valves - no problem with them!

Now the negatives - 263,000k
Gearbox has developed a fluid leak, approx $2200 to fix.
Apart from that it's a fantastic D3, tight, quiet and goes great.

All the extra's have been removed that are in my signature though.
It's back to standard.

Cheers Rich ( Sydney Northern Beaches)

[orville]

I agree with earlier comments, my son has a D3 and talked me into a D4.
My memories were still vivid of a Series 3 with drum brakes so I took some convincing.
50 mph downhill with the wind behind and you couldn't talk to anyone in the cabin.

My grandkids always ask me to turn off the aircon to 2nd row, it's too cold.
It does get hot in the 3rd row though when ambient temp is up there, a cheaper way to cool it is a Sirocco 12v fan!

You must be thinking of doing some hard work if you want to buy an e-diff. This is the best 4wd I've owned and I've owned 4.
You can bog them but usually operator error, not turning off DSC, tyres too hard, still in Hi Range or just stupid and stopping in the middle of a soft spot.

A pair of max trax, shovel and tyre pump is cheaper than an e-diff.

[rar110]

If you can stretch to at least a 2.7 D4. Very similar to a D3 but more modern. Unless you compare it to a D5. Newer the better.

[orville]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/01/1097.jpg How is an e diff going to help?

[LRD414]

How is an e diff going to help?
There are other types of terrain than sand ....

[orville]

Look for one that has been up and down Private school driveways, past coffee shops and to and from soccer.

[hpal]

If you can stretch to at least a 2.7 D4. Very similar to a D3 but more modern. Unless you compare it to a D5. Newer the better.
Thats good info, i have found a 2010 d4 220,000 very tidy in good city buckle. no mods, looks neat. Price is good too, but 5 grand less would get me a nice D3 albeit older and not as flash but with some accessories. I still want to do some intermediate level off roading, not often though. You guys have half convinced me that I can live without the rear AC and diff lock. I know my defender went everywhere without the diff lock just traction control and good tyres.
I would possibly lean toward the new d4 even if the km were higher than a good D3

[loanrangie]

If its in the budget go the D4, my D3 was 15k less than i could find a good D4 for so it was a no brainer. Plus it was a 1 owner with low k's and well optioned.

[goofyr]

I was looking for a D4. Then I found a D3 that was a lot less than my budget. With the savings I can fix known issues, preventative maintenance and accessories. My other car is a D2 so the D3 is a huge step up and I don’t know what I’m missing with a D4 [emoji16]. BTW I’d prefer one that has spent most of its life on the highway rather than start/stop short runs.

[chilli]

Mate this is how mine started.. I know each situation is different but I suggest steering clear if any 2nd hand Disco with transmission shudders. After a gazillion $$ on “fixes” including dr tranny the whole time I really just needed a reco or new box.

[chilli]

To help you out a bit more mate the following is what you need to look for in a second hand D3 based on my 2008SE.. I’ve been bouncing around whether to sell it or not lately so I’ve had all this bouncing around in my head:

New or reco box done with transmission pan (absolute must ($6-10k)
air suspension replaced (must)
park brake system replaced ($2k)
fuel line system replaced ($3-4k)
ask when alignments were being done did they have it put in “alignment” mode prior.. this creates a ton of issues with front and rear if they haven’t and will shock you how many don’t get specialist alignments.


These are the main ones mate.. my engine blows people away cos it’s got 250k on the clock but I’ve akways done long distances, never towed and used it like god intended too off-road with oil & filter religiously replaced every 10k. There’s a thousand $500 fixes that come with the D3 but I can tell you apart from the omg majors that come with it, it’s one helluva rig and I’ve never not been able to complete my mission off road ☝️
On road I have never driven a better 4wd, even had a brand new paj in 2016 for 12 months and was just counting the weeks until I had the cash to reco my box... driven a ton of different top range dual cabs and wagons and they don’t get near it! So much so with my new job I’ve been offered any 4wd I want and I’m like... can’t I just do some touch ups on my own rig 😂
anyways I digress...main point is do not buy a 2nd hand disco which does not have a reco or new box in it mate!! It’s not worth the pain mate!!

[chilli]

Oh and engine timing belts replaced 😌

[~Rich~]

A soccer Mum D3 /D4 is only going to be an issue due to all the short distance driving. A clogged up inlet tract due to the carbon not being burnt off. Egrs especially!

[rar110]

Thats good info, i have found a 2010 d4 220,000 very tidy in good city buckle. no mods, looks neat. Price is good too, but 5 grand less would get me a nice D3 albeit older and not as flash but with some accessories. I still want to do some intermediate level off roading, not often though. You guys have half convinced me that I can live without the rear AC and diff lock. I know my defender went everywhere without the diff lock just traction control and good tyres.
I would possibly lean toward the new d4 even if the km were higher than a good D3

Sounds ok.
But only if it’s had a trans service at min 100,000km intervals, had belts done, and complete service history. Also check when the alternator was last replaced. Finally I expect the air struts will need replacing in the next couple of years.

[rar110]

I should add I bought my 2008 RRV with 230,000km. No regrets. But I went in with my eyes open. Nothing unexpected has happened.

[DiscoJeffster]

To help you out a bit more mate the following is what you need to look for in a second hand D3 based on my 2008SE.. I’ve been bouncing around whether to sell it or not lately so I’ve had all this bouncing around in my head:

New or reco box done with transmission pan (absolute must ($6-10k)
air suspension replaced (must)
park brake system replaced ($2k)
fuel line system replaced ($3-4k)
ask when alignments were being done did they have it put in “alignment” mode prior.. this creates a ton of issues with front and rear if they haven’t and will shock you how many don’t get specialist alignments.


These are the main ones mate.. my engine blows people away cos it’s got 250k on the clock but I’ve akways done long distances, never towed and used it like god intended too off-road with oil & filter religiously replaced every 10k. There’s a thousand $500 fixes that come with the D3 but I can tell you apart from the omg majors that come with it, it’s one helluva rig and I’ve never not been able to complete my mission off road ☝️
On road I have never driven a better 4wd, even had a brand new paj in 2016 for 12 months and was just counting the weeks until I had the cash to reco my box... driven a ton of different top range dual cabs and wagons and they don’t get near it! So much so with my new job I’ve been offered any 4wd I want and I’m like... can’t I just do some touch ups on my own rig [emoji23]
anyways I digress...main point is do not buy a 2nd hand disco which does not have a reco or new box in it mate!! It’s not worth the pain mate!!

Hmmm
The box is heavily dependent on what it’s been used for. Towing really wears them out and most that have been towing big caravans get tired.
Brake lines? More of a euro issue I believe as the salt corrodes the lines. Yes, expect air suspension. Park brake? Just keep it serviced and they last just fine. Alignment is a simple thing to have done after purchase.

Suspension aside, 245,000km and I had none of the other issues, and my boxes service was first done at 220,000km.

Everything you say are reasonable considerations, but don’t always apply.

[hpal]

So, I've narrowed it down to a few cars, getting one withing a 200km radius would be a plus for me.


A 2010 D4 with 220,000km. City car, no extras, but boy are they nice! Silver, black leather (askinging $25000)
A 2005 HSE D3 180,000km. Roof racks, towbar, Difflock and rear a/c (asking $21000)
2x other SE's with rear a/c, and around 200,000km, all seem to have good service history. One has had a few things replaced like air compressor, fuel pump, timing belt etc.


Wife likes the D4 and so do I, but an older one with lower k's is cheaper and optioned better and I can feel better about bush bashing in it.

Decisions decisions

[PerthDisco]

Personally being a long term keeper of mechanical objects I like the simple choice as less to go wrong. Less turbos, no electric seats, no mirrors that fold in and out. Less gremlins for same enjoyment

[rar110]

Option 1. I assume it’s a 2.7. IMHO 220,000 km over 7 years (ie 30,000km /yr) is better than slightly less over more years. To me 30,000km a year indicates a good proportion has been HW driving, which is lower stress on brakes, suspension, motor, trans etc.

[DiscoJeffster]

Option 1. I assume it’s a 2.7. IMHO 220,000 km over 7 years (ie 30,000km /yr) is better than slightly less over more years. To me 30,000km a year indicates a good proportion has been HW driving, which is lower stress on brakes, suspension, motor, trans etc.

Spot on. Mine was 200,000km in 2016 and had done long miles cruising out of town to the country each day. Essentially it sat in 6th at 1800rpm most of its life. Even better he rarely towed and not heavy stuff so the box is still unstressed. I couldn’t be happier.

[hpal]

How can I find out from the VIN if one I am looking at has a diff lock fitted from factory? Is there a Landrover number I can call?

[BobD]

Make yourself a free account on Topix and enter the VIN. It will tell you everything that is available to it on the car. I have the details of all four Land Rovers that are in my family. Less info available for D3's than D4's though.

It is easy to see by looking at the diff if you have access to the car. It has a bit like an electric motor attached to the top if it is an ediff.

Ediff makes no difference to the capability of the car so you don't need to get hung up on it. It will save some of the single wheel braking in extreme conditions but the traction control works fine without it. In fact, my 2014 L405 Range Rover performs better in crossed up axle conditions without a diff lock than my D4 does with a diff lock. They both get through but the L405 does it much easier. My son's V8 D3 with no diff lock does it a bit harder again but still gets through with no problems. Just a bit more slipping of wheels until the traction control sorts it out.

[hpal]

Ediff makes no difference to the capability of the car so you don't need to get hung up on it.

I need to be belted around the head with a paddle with this written on it. I need to stop thinking that a e-diff would be better than without, I guess it's not a diff-lock in the traditional sense. But this info has helped me broaden the number of cars I can now consider :)

[rar110]

If comparing two of the same model, the one with a e-diff will get through a difficult spot easier. As Bob illustrates, newer models got more advanced traction control which made them more capable. Another reason to buy new as possible.

[hpal]

Well I'll be putting my 2005 TDV6 HSE up for sale soon.


Hi Rich, I think your inbox is full mate. Hey do those winrun tyres go ok on the disco? They look good for the price.

[~Rich~]

For a HT tyre they are great, quiet comfortable and very similar in tread pattern to the Goodyear Wrangler OEM tyre.
For $138 each from Tempe Tyres they are a great value tyre.

[rar110]

I also bought these in 255/55/19 as interim tyre. But have been very happy with them. Quiet and excellent grip in wet conditions.

[hpal]

Well I've done it. A silver 07 SE with rear air, upgraded stereo, and a few things done to it. Serviced at Ayers in Sydney (they are very good), timing belt done, service just done but due for trans oil change. compressor done, front arms done, park brake done, trans steel pan in. Drives very nice.
I originally made the trek to Sydney from Hunter Valley with wife and baby as well to look at a 'cheap' D4, had the good sense to get a indpendent specialist look it over thoroughly ,it was a nice looking car but potential mechanical gremlins were lurking. Poor service history, not sure about trans oil change or timing belt, park brake noisy and lots and lots of fault codes. I loved the look of it but I stayed away, got the D3 at a great price with 6 months rego. Happy!

[loanrangie]

We will require photographic evidence.

[hpal]

I know I know! Photos or it didn’t happen! Picking it today so will update later.

[hpal]

136739136740

[hello_disco3]

Well done, welcome to the club.

Now to go get it dirty.[wink11]

[hpal]

Got it dirty :)136929

[pastor098]

Nice! Was watching that one on Carsales for a while, but I'm in VIC, or else it would've been mine. Congrats!

[hpal]

Yep it's a nice Disco, well looked after.
Sad day today , the big Defender went to it's new home with a great fella and his family for a year long big lap around Australia. My wife actually cried when it drove away, a great truck :(

[hpal]

Can't wait for the lift and muddies137378