Thread: Buying/Running costs (now vs future)

Definitively go air suspension - any savings on getting coils will as you mentioned be offset by getting a coiler brought up to scratch and then you will not have the advantage of lower height on the highway and higher height offroad.

There is really no extra costs in maintaining the air suspension over the coils with the exception you may or may not have to take into account the cost of a compressor every 100,000km or so - these can be expensive if bought through dealers or cheap if bought through other sources - down to $500 in some cases. This cost can be reduced by regularly replacing the dessicant.

Definitely go the air suspension.

Thanks garrycol,

Thats really good to know about the dessicant and 100,000 km timeframe for the air auspension.

I am still really interested to know how many K's people would say is TOO many? not compare to buying price obviously higher km models are cheaper, but is there a level that you would expect to reach a point of diminishing returns and not get at least a few years out of the car without a major service etc?

thanks

Services are fairly routine - oil and oil filter every 12,000km and other things like air filter, pollen filter, fuel filter etc at various intervals. Brakes etc as required.

Biggest service is at 160,000km where the belts are changed.

Other oils such as diffs, gearbox and transfer case are fairly big distances if the Lr service schedule are followed but in my and others view these are too long.

All these should be done 50,000 to 100,00km - depends on opinions. Get a steel sump on the auto box and to a basic atf and filter (the steel sump allows this) change on a regular basis.

The above applies irrespective if it air suspended or coil.

There is plenty on here under each of the areas - use the google search function at the bottom of the page. If you cannot find what you need just ask and someone will be along to answer.

Garry

I've been thinking about another sticky about the costs of owning a D3. People's experience with the early D3s or high km D3s would be particularly useful.

Hi patsaunders.

I bought a high mileage 2006 D3 recently (220ks) and so far the only trouble I have had is the diffs, but if you look at what people have reported (here and elsewhere) this seems to be an issue affecting early models - the diffs had an internal coating that would over time combine and foul the diff oil. This issue can and has struck at any point in a vehicle's life. I know my car had its transmission replaced at 160kms, according to its books.

I normally wouldn't have looked at a vehicle with so many kilometres, but it was well presented and had been owned from new by a fastidious owner, had a full and documented service history, and has the top of the range model so it had all of the options that I had been hunting for ( rear aircon, leather, premium logic7 sound). As a bonus, it also had a long range tank, rear wheel carrier and dual battery system.

So... you can be lucky with a high mileage car, you can be unlucky. However, with any second hand car you can be caught out with an issue, irrespective of how many kilometres it has done.

Good luck with your hunting!

Hi Pat, I found a low mileage 2009 D3 SE V6 petrol (66,000ks) airbag model early this year. Vehicle was "overserviced" due to extended aftermarket warranty requiring service @ 10,000k rather than 12,000k.
Tranny fluid was changed at 60,000, new battery, new compressor etc. with full service history.

They are out there - you just have to search and search and search till you find one.

Is D4 SE servicing at every 12,000 or 24,000km?

brilliant! thanks for all the valuable information guys!