Thread: Buying a used Disco 3 . . Will the pleasure outweigh the pain?

The brake light switch should be a service item - I'd change it every three years. If the car has sat around prior to purchase, charge the battery.

Originally Posted by Epic pooh

Check the battery state, condition of brake light switch and tail lamp bulbs.

Hahaha, you really do have to love our cars... nobody would ever think to check the brake light bulbs to diagnose a transmission problem!!

"Princess Disco" is what a hunjy driving mate calls mine. He also often says "you got up there on road tyres". So not all bad

Even the service manager at my local dealership hangs his head in dispair - he said once that it was a tactic to get you in and charge you like a wounded bull for a nonexistent problem. Remarkable honesty, surprising he has a job there haha

The answer has got to be YES. They look fantastic and when things work they are formidable off road in standard condition, quite the pleasure to own and operate on road.
But, I find its the closest thing to becoming a mechanic, there is always something needing work. And everything is a pain to get at and a big pain to pay for, that's of course if you can work out what's causing the problem.
We have to love them. on reflection the pleasure does out way the pain.


You've got a great deal of advise and a great bunch of people on this site to share your experience with. Go for it.

Thank you all for your advice.

I like suggestion of getting a well sorted late 2 and using the balance of the budget on a trip . . . . But that requires balancing kids hols, my leave, wife's leave etc.

Actually found a D3 I liked at the weekend - more kms than I'd have liked but immaculate service history and super tidy - am having a mechanic go over it tomorrow so hopefully I'll be a fully fledged Land Rover owner by the weekend!

Hope it goes well for you!

Having both a D2a and a D3 personally I'd go the D3.

D2's are still great for what they are and cost but have little carrying capacity in comparison, ride poorly in comparison, slow and gutless in comparison, noisy and like a truck to drive in comparison. Are very old technology in comparison.

If you can handle paying a little extra up front as you drive for fuel, then the V8 I reckon is the go, most of the expensive maintenance issues a D3 has are Diesel engine related. The V8's just soldier on costing stuff all to maintain and with very few issues in comparison to a TDV6, plus they are cheaper to buy so you often get a low mileage HSE for the price of a high mileage SE TDV6.

Most people want to buy a TDV6 because they reckon they are saving money on running costs, in many cases this is a false economy, the cost of maintenance and repairs on a TDV6 over time will far out strip the difference in the extra fuel costs of a V8, especially as the TDV6's get older.

Using this logic after weighing up all the options and the type driving I do I brought a 5 litre V8 petrol D4 over a diesel D4. However if I was towing a large van around Australia on a constant long term basis then I would have seriously considered buying a diesel.

Good luck in your decision making and search.

Welcome to the forum. Trust me - the vested knowledge in this place will settle your beating heart and stop emotional reactions to warning lights etc, so read widely!

In all seriousness, I'd definitely opt for a D3. That said (and having experienced the reality), I'd search for one post-2007. The earlier models had a few bugs that incurred $$$ (cargo door freezing, compressor, etc etc). A 2008 SE should be achievable with your budget. Petrol versus diesel? I am biased to diesel, but your call. If you decide on petrol, just be aware of likely thirst and try for one with less kms.

Good luck!