Thread: Gotta Love D3 ownership

I feel your pain, they are expensive to maintain but the new Territory has the same drivetrain and potentially the same issues and is a lot less capable. I have a mate with a 100 series who has broken a front diff and a CV joint so it's not like they are any better.

Regards,
Tote

Hi Dave, Sorry to hear about your expensive few months but think of it this way, it's an investment in hours of pleasurable driving...
May i ask how much did it cost to do the front and rear diffs? My D3 has developed a whine that i am having looked at, at the moment. I am hoping it's just a rear CV shaft but if the worse case scenario is that it's a diff then a little price shock prep would be appreciated.
Thanks

Originally Posted by NomadicD3

Hi Dave, Sorry to hear about your expensive few months but think of it this way, it's an investment in hours of pleasurable driving...
May i ask how much did it cost to do the front and rear diffs? My D3 has developed a whine that i am having looked at, at the moment. I am hoping it's just a rear CV shaft but if the worse case scenario is that it's a diff then a little price shock prep would be appreciated.
Thanks

Gidday, I managed up pickup a diff centre for around $1050.00 from my local Landrover Dealership.
That was for the rear, and the front for $950.00 off my local Differential Repair Shop.
These came from a supplier in Sydney via LR.
For this price they are reconditioned units with warranty.
On the Coast, we have managed to rebuild my diff centres, without the huge costs.
These are now spares that the diff shop will sell off.
Suitable bearings were hard to locate, but we have had a win.
Nerang Differential Service is the business who can assist, and maybe if required send one down to you a bit cheaper.
With labour and parts, it usually cost around $1,500 per unit.
It seems from various D3 owners on the Gold Coast, that the diffs certainly have bearing issues.
Quite a few people have already replaced at least one centre.

You wouldnt muck around with a 100 series - just slam a locker into it and be done with it.

A D3/4 as an out of warranty proposition is generally going to be a big ask maintenance wise because they, quite simply, have so much stuff! In terms of drivetrain and electric/electronic goodies. I think as long as people do their research on pages like here and D3 site in the UK and go in with their eyes wide open to this, and budget some serious cash in the first say 3-6 years post 3 year warranty, then they cant go wrong - they will either spend it or not, but at least its taken care of. If people dont want that sort of cash spend, they get a simple vehicle instead - a Defender for eg (although the Puma's have lost the plot a bit compared to the TD5 from what is on this site). If you go for a D3/4 then you have a pretty amazing vehicle but you pay for it.

Cheers

Dave, OOOOUUUUUCCCHHH, that hurts!

I guess one way to easy the pain is the thought that with all those repairs & maintenance cost, you should have trouble free motoring for next few years. Fingers crossed...

Thanks Dave, It's not as bad as i thought it was going to be, howver it seems you put a bit effort into keeping the cost resonable. Still a CV shaft is about $6-700 fitted so i'll still be happier if it's not the diff.
here's hoping for some trouble free cruisin
cheers

Funny, i have a Disco 1 Tdi, as my scratch and dent car.
The closest thing to a computer is the clock
Parts, well you can pick-up an old RR or Disco 1's on ebay for $800.00, and you can afford to have it sit in the back yard for parts.
Having said that, the pain is worth it for the looks and sheer performance that a D3/D4 brings.

HI Dave, I know exactly where you are coming from re: owning a D1. I still have mine and have been trying to sell it but only in a half hearted way. For me makes no sense to keep it but it has been really handy whilst i have been setting up the D3 and you are spot on about getting parts etc. I am still thinking that i should keep it as a back up vehicle and set it up as a serious offroader. Damm that would mean even more money on cars LOL
thanks Dave