Couldn't agree more. Kings is like all the other stuff to come out of the mid range Panda country factories, only with better marketing..
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Hi Les. Sorry to hear about your experience. I was reading your previous posts and hope things turn around for you. Saying goodbye on the back of a tow truck bound for the wreckers is not ideal. I foresee my current circumstances akin to collecting my belongings at the dealership/morgue.
The Camry is a reliable option :BigThumb:
All the best.
If you can find one - Black Widow - made in Melbourne. Not sure if they are still available.
I have had an Ironman awning on the passenger side of the D4 almost since I bought it. Doesn't get a lot of use and is still in pretty good condition (even though the wind caught it and flipped it over the roof at Melrose a few years back). The main reason I've kept this one is because I also have the Ironman tent that clips in under the awning, and on trips like Nullarbor crossings etc we use this for overnight stops.
I have recently been cleaning out the shed / back yard as we are selling up and moving to Tassie next year, and came across my old Black Widow awning that I had on the Discovery 2 many years ago. The vinyl bag was a bit faded and I thought that the awning would be in pretty sad shape after more than 20 years leaning up against the corner of the shed in full sunlight - and was thinking it would probably be going to the tip. But I rolled it out for a look and found it to be in as new condition. These things were made from proper canvas - not the flimsy "rip stop" lightweight material that my Ironman and just about every other brand I've seen lately are made from. So the Black Widow awning is now mounted on the driver's side of the D4. The bag came up alright after a rub with some vinyl cleaner / protectant, and the awning itself is much better than the many years newer Ironman one on the other side.
Got the Disco back today from the mechanics after fitting a new turbo. I had previously fixed / replaced just about everything else that could possibly have been causing the "restricted performance" and faults I was getting whenever I drove at over ~ 100km/hr (especially with the trailer on) and put the foot down - all to no avail. So the last possibility was the turbo. Most sites I looked at on line quoted a "Bosch" turbo for the 2.7 D4, but mine had a Garrett turbo in it. So, after looking at what was available / prices etc, Goldfields Offroad ordered a new turbo direct from Garrett Motion Performance - it arrived last week and the car went in on Thursday. They finally completed the replacement (and a couple of other small jobs I wanted done) this morning, and after testing to make sure the performance was back to normal with no faults etc I got it back this afternoon. Took it for a bit of a run to see for myself - and it is now back to running as good as it ever has.
On the way back home, dropped into the tyre place I use in Boulder to book it in for a set of new tyres. They had what I wanted (Toyo AT3's in 265/60R18) in stock and said they could fit them straight away while I waited - so it now has new rubber with one of the old AT2's on the back (spare was previously an old Mickey Thompson).
Ready for a trip down to Perth to our daughter's place for Christmas, and then for our last ever trip across the Nullarbor not too long after that. We are selling up here and finally leaving Kalgoorlie - moving to South Arm in Tasmania. Just have to figure out what tyres I want to put on the trailer before we leave - I bought a new tandem trailer recently and it came with "Wanda" brand Chinese tyres. I don't think I'll be keeping them on it for the trip across to Tassie.
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Does that mean next time I'm out that way (~Easter "ish" next year) I shouldn't give you a call? If that's the case then it was my pleasure to drink your coffee last time, and when I next make it down to Tassie I'll look you up (although my mate in Tassie just headed home to Scotland).
If so, then may the wind be at your back, and the "restricted performance" message be forever a distant memory.
Sorry to read of yet another failed 3.0 engine.
In a few weeks' time, the main and big-end bearings in an engine that was running and has done 120K kms will be replaced with after-market bearings prior to being fitted to my son's D4, replacing its engine which siezed about a month ago. We will be very interested in seeing the condition of the removed bearings at these kms, particularly the individual upper mains which are considered to be only lightly loaded yet have been shown to not be up to the task.
A good start would be an independent LR mechanic but in your state there must be a licensed engineer type person who does these things but you definitely want to see the oil filter and oil samples etc. What is your State?
Hence the letter because important things like this might disappear.
Your main hope is somehow LR dealer error.
Finally, with a hand from my lad, we refitted the Prospeed rack back onto the D4.
Roof all resprayed, I Raptor painted the channel inserts to tidy them up too.
Ran my solar cable up the DS A pillar to the now added 45w Victron panel - it’s job is purely to keep the main battery topped up when not being driven enough (have an LV for work).
Just putting in a bit of work now to replace the Velcro on the wind deflector before bolting it back in place and the roof will be complete.
Just 2 wires to finish the complete install.
Here’s the panel in place before roof mounting - it’s offset to avoid interference with the awning that mounts on PS
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2b9f0ebf2a.jpg