Thread: Contemplating an early D3 - thoughts..

MY07 onwards would seem to be a safe bet?

http://www.disco3.co.uk/wiki/Known_I...m_MY05_Onwards

I've had an 05 D3 for 18 months. It has 145k on the clock. I take it off road and on several long tours, and it has been very reliable.

Having said that it has not been cheap to maintain. I have had it serviced regularly and proactively replaced parts that were showing sign of deterioration. I've had the timing belt replaced, the EGR valves, the transmission pan done, I expect that I will need to replace the original compressor soon, and possibly need a replacement diff eventually as there is some whine. This costs thousands.

I expect Itwill make very little difference If you go for a 05, 06, 07 or even 08 if the car has done the k's then it'll need the work done to keep it in tip top shape.

You could be lucky and get an older car where all this work has already been done. That'll save you lots of $$$

Hmmm..agreed.
But the problem as I see it is even though most including the one I'm looking at have been regularly serviced, this may not be a good thing ( like in the instance of the trans - sealed for life? Ha!).
I have also heard the early donks have some crankshaft issues?
I have always owned LR product that I can repair / service myself so I'd imagine my maintenance bills will go through the roof?

They are a mighty comfortable car though. They just glide on the roads and on the dirt. It costs money when you treat yourself.

I know of an 05 D3 that did the Simpson Desert Madigan line with the LROCV. It got the nickname 'The Presidential Limo' on that trip.

Mine's a Jan '05 build and when I bought it it had suspension errors - just a broken wire to the front valve block caused it. That's the only thing I've had issues with on mine, and it got rectified later on with a location change for the connectors in question. Mine's a petrol V8 though, so avoids the TDV6 EGR issues etc.

Originally Posted by BSM

They are a mighty comfortable car though. They just glide on the roads and on the dirt. It costs money when you treat yourself.

I know of an 05 D3 that did the Simpson Desert Madigan line with the LROCV. It got the nickname 'The Presidential Limo' on that trip.

Funny that, I had a wife of our trip leader wanting to spend most of the same trip in my 05 D3 as well! The other cars where a Pootrol and a Pajero.

In relation to having to replace the EGR's it's actually an advantage to have an earlier model. You can simply blank them instead. Never to cause an issue again. Not so easy on latter models.

Originally Posted by Cliffy

Evenening all.
Well after 25 years of Landrover Product S1, IIA, III, RRC, D1, 90, 130 my body has reached it's limit.
So I'm thinking of making the big step into electroicsville and getting a D3.
At the moment it looks like an early model (2005-6) would be on the cards.
Or should I save up for a later model D3?
TDV6 6 speed SE?
Am I courting problems?

Who left the bloody gate open!!!!
I hope you know how to sip latte sticking your head in here
Andrew

Originally Posted by Cliffy

I have always owned LR product that I can repair / service myself so I'd imagine my maintenance bills will go through the roof?

Cliff,
there's no reason why you could not do most of the D3 maintenance. just buy a nanocom or such and book it in somewhere for the high tech stuff.


Roger