Need a little information.

[jonesfam]

Hello all,
I'm new around here & the wife & I are considering buying a new Discovery 3 V6 diesel SE.
We recently traded our 2005 CRDi Terracan on a diesel Pathfinder ST-L (mid range spec) but we are not altogether happy with the Pathie so we are on the look out again.
We live in a very remote area, Doomadgee FNWQ, & the nearest Land Rover service center is a bit over 1000k away. Because of this I have some real concerns regarding the reliability of a Discovery 3.
A very complex car in a very remote area may not be a good mix, so whatever we buy has to run & go & keep on doing so.
Servicing is not an issue, we usually go on leave twice a year & don't do a lot of k's while at home.
So any advise regarding the Discovery 3 & it's reliability or other wise would be greatly appreciated.
Jonesfam
PS we would be buying new, not second hand.

[mike 90 RR]

Hi Jonesfam

Why don't try this link to the D3 zone in this forum

D3 Zone - Australian Land Rover Owners (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-zone/)

Might give you a indication of the lack of problems so far

Mike


:):)

[Slunnie]

I was under the impression that the D3 has been very reliable. The only thing notable as far as I know has related to air suspension dropping, though there are coil sprung options.

[JDNSW]

Like Slunnie I get the impression that the D3 is reliable. The problem of having the nearest dealer 1000km away is likely to be the same for any new car - any of them have things that can only be done by the dealer - they all have at least some proprietary electronics. The biggest drawback with the D3 is the shortage of dealers, and this rather than anything specific about the car is what I would be looking at.

John

[Tombie]

I would say that it would be wise to allow $1500 to purchase a rovacom system

That way you can reset the systems should something go wrong

These are nothing other than another version of "tools" that should be carried for remote travel!

But they are proving very reliable

[incisor]

what he said!

[Bushwanderer]

Hi jonesfam,
I have a D3, and love it.

However, I think that you are wise to be concerned about the distance to a LR dealer.

Eg: While I am a Sydney "boy", I have been doing some travelling. On Saturday, while driving north from Charters Towers on the Gregory Developmental Rd (NQ), the rear 'screen shattered.

I returned to Charters Towers as the closest place to organise a repair.

I finally spoke to an autoglass place in Charters Towers today, Monday. There are two spare screens in Australia. One is to be flown from Sydney & will be fitted on Wednesday, if it arrives in time.

I also agree with the view that a diagnostic & resetting tool is NECESSARY for the D3. Despite some advocating Rovacom, I don't think that they have yet got their act together for the D3. (Someone, please tell me I'm wrong.)

As much as I hate to say it, I think that Outback Oz is currently Land Cruiser territory - largely due to LR Aus short-sightedness regarding dealers.

When it's going well, the D3 is a superb vehicle. However, ALL vehicles have problems.

Keep us informed of your ponderings.

Best Wishes,
Peter

[dmdigital]

My advice, though I hate to say it, is don't. I am in an even remoter area and this was the main thing against the D3. Unless you can have definitive proof that Rovacom will do everything for you on a D3 your left with a possible immobilised vehicle in the worst case.

Rovacom will set you back at least $1500 as mentioned.

The issue is not the reliability of the car (because it is reliable) rather the maintainability and I think that LC200 drivers are probably starting to understand this as well. If you have to do something that requires the computer interface to interogate the fault you need the computer system.

Since being released there has been one D3 drive in to Gove - tourist. If Rovacom will do everything to the D3 - like it could for a Td5 - then I don't have an issue and would get one. But a few months back when I traded my D2 in I didn't believe this to be the case. For this and other practical reasons I went with the new Defender - which I am presently still stuck getting software to clear faults etc for.

[jonesfam]

OK, I'm working out that we are talking about seriously computerised bit of kit in the D3. I have a scanguage2 that I used on my Terracan & have recently installed on the Pathie, it claimes to read & clear error codes, does anyone know if this is correct?
I should also state that we do only a small amount of off road driving, we mainly drive on rough gravel or black soil roads )though they are improving all the time) & our main issue is either when it rains (black soil mud is terriblke stuff) or after the rains when the washouts, truck holles & missing road can be a problem.
I also want something with better safety than either the Terry or the Pathie. We have 4 Foster children.
I am learning a lot here & will keep doing so.
Thanks
Jonesfam

[Blknight.aus]

I know the sort of ground your dealing with....

the D3 with a better choice of rubber than the road bias stuff it comes with fits your bill perfectly.

just dont get lulled in by the lack of amazing advertising of your D3 doing yahoo redneck four wheel drive maneuvers. Trust me, theres nothing a japmobile can do that the discos cant and plenty of things the discos do the japs havent worked out yet.

[dmdigital]

Yep, at least 35 ECU's all in a CANbus arrangement so interconnected to a degree.

ScanGaugeII will interface with this, but from what I've seen won't do a lot with a EU diesel engine, some faults may report but that's about it. Don't know if it will clear them. The other thing is it's not just the ECM faults and operation (which is what ScanGauge looks at) but ABS, BCU, etc. Have a look at Blackbox Solutions Ltd - Designers and manufacturers of the best vehicle diagnostic tools. (http://www.blackbox-solutions.com). Like I said in my previous post though, I don't believe they yet offer a comprehensive solution for the D3. Someone with a D3 and Rovacom can jump in here please and help out;)

Safety wise the D3 is built at the top end of the safety zone for 4WD's. Unlike a D2, Patrol or a 100 series it is designed to take a rollover and also has lots of airbags.