Pulling my hair out - purchasing a Disco4

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Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

270K km on my D4 3.0L HSE.

It goes in next week though as it’s leaking more oil than the Exxon Valdez. I look forward to reporting on every place it’s weeping from.

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Thanks. You'll have to report back the outcome and cost, just to scare me off again!

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Originally Posted by BeeGee

Thanks for the feedback already.
You're right, that I'm probably overthinking it. I certainly understand the e-diff is not an absolute requirement.
I think the 4 zone aircon to the 3rd rows is a definite for me though, which limits me to a HSE or one of the few base models of SEs' that have chosen that option (very few that I can see). That one for sale for 53k on this site looks very nice but doesn't have the air to the 3rd zone/pillar.

Would anyone be concerned with 185K on the 3.0L motor? If it was a tojo I wouldn't be concerned as they run for 300,400,500K etc but I don't have a feel for the longevity of the Disco 3L.
In 5 years time I would have put another 100K on the clock so a 185K today would be 285K in 5 years time for me.

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Be brutal with your thinking. You’re talking about a car that’ll do for your family for 5 years or so. Get the latest model you can find. If you have to finance it, do so ... interest is cheaper than maintenance. Check for one with a full service record (every 10,000km, not the nonsense 25,000km LR claims) and keep that up. You won’t regret it. If it’s done more than 70,000km, check that the transmission has been flushed too.
The 8 speed is definitely the one to go for. SDV6 or TDV6, doesn’t matter. You can always remap a TDV6 up to SD specs for $1100-odd in Perth.
There are several SDV6s on the market (in white, like mine) for circa $60k worth looking at, with well under 70,000km on them. 2016 build, the last and the best. Mortgage your mother to get one, they’re the best of the lot.
Mine is a 2016 and has still only done 66,000km and feels like it’ll go forever. No ediff, it doesn’t matter, we’ve towed a heavy camper trailer over very gnarly tracks including the Munja and Mitchell Falls tracks, didn’t miss an ediff at all. No aircon in the third row though, but that’s where we put the kids we don’t care about. Much.

I would say look for MY14 onwards, this is the facelift model which will have the 8-speed auto. The 8-speed was also available on the MY13 models, but these don’t have the cosmetic facelift.


Rear AC was available on all models as an option or standard. When I was looking there were a lot of QLD with rear AC. For me rear AC would have been nice, but not necessary. I ended up with a MY14 TDV6 without rear AC, but it did have a colour coded ARB Summit bar and Redarc Towpro already fitted. I’ve then added UHF, winch, second battery (Traxide USI-160 kit), Rhino Pioneer Platform and rear ladder.


A lot of D4s on carsales will not list that rear AC is fitted as it seems a large percentage of car dealers have no idea what they are actually selling.


Just to show that you do t have to look at a HSE for rear AC, all these facelifted TDV6s have rear AC fitted;
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-17241306this has an ARB Summit bar


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-17620923


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-17523170


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...SSE-AD-6061937


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-18095884


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-17682497


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-17499042


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...SSE-AD-6332356


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-17690128


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-18041301


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-17412734


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...SSE-AD-4691808


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...SSE-AD-4691808


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-18101063


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...SSE-AD-6277718


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...SSE-AD-6277718


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...SSE-AD-6358231


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...SSE-AD-6085116


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-18102190


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...SSE-AD-6289071

Here is a good example of a used car dealer not knowing what they are selling https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-17695535 The vehicle was originally from Tasmania and recently registered in WA. Trouble is it’s actually a SE and not a HSE. Three big giveaways, no rear AC, no Sat Nav, and no drivers memory seat.

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Originally Posted by kelvo

Here is a good example of a used car dealer not knowing what they are selling https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-17695535 The vehicle was originally from Tasmania and recently registered in WA. Trouble is it’s actually a SE and not a HSE. Two big giveaways, no rear AC and no drivers memory seat.

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When we were looking for the D3 we came across a "HSE" at a local used car dealer. When I pointed out the previous owner had stuck a HSE badge on what was obviously an SE without any of the options he nearly fell off his chair. I'd love to know what he paid for it.

Rear AC was an option on the D3, mine is an SE and has it.

My recommendation would be work out your budget first, then find one 10% below your budget with the lowest KM’s possible as long as service record is complete. The 10% is used for proactive repairs but if it has known faults then cost them up and take it off the price being asked.

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Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

270K km on my D4 3.0L HSE.

It goes in next week though as it’s leaking more oil than the Exxon Valdez. I look forward to reporting on every place it’s weeping from.

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Sorry to hear there are leaks developing (developed!)... I don't think that's a common occurrence on the D3/4 these days (different story on my old D1).

My MY10 3.0L D4 (SE) has just clicked over 240k, with no evidence of leaks anywhere (engine, transmission etc)...
I have had some minor replacements (coolant bottle etc), and will put a kit through the compressor shortly (still on original Hitachi), but it has been ULTRA reliable (touch wood!)...

[bigsmile]

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Originally Posted by Ghost-Who-Walks

Sorry to hear there are leaks developing (developed!)... I don't think that's a common occurrence on the D3/4 these days (different story on my old D1).

My MY10 3.0L D4 (SE) has just clicked over 240k, with no evidence of leaks anywhere (engine, transmission etc)...
I have had some minor replacements (coolant bottle etc), and will put a kit through the compressor shortly (still on original Hitachi), but it has been ULTRA reliable (touch wood!)...

[bigsmile]

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Wow. No leaks. I hope it’s not a sign of something more. We’ll find out I guess next week

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Originally Posted by kelvo

I would say look for MY14 onwards, this is the facelift model which will have the 8-speed auto. The 8-speed was also available on the MY13 models, but these don’t have the cosmetic facelift.


Rear AC was available on all models as an option or standard. When I was looking there were a lot of QLD with rear AC. For me rear AC would have been nice, but not necessary. I ended up with a MY14 TDV6 without rear AC, but it did have a colour coded ARB Summit bar and Redarc Towpro already fitted. I’ve then added UHF, winch, second battery (Traxide USI-160 kit), Rhino Pioneer Platform and rear ladder.


A lot of D4s on carsales will not list that rear AC is fitted as it seems a large percentage of car dealers have no idea what they are actually selling.


Just to show that you do t have to look at a HSE for rear AC, all these facelifted TDV6s have rear AC fitted;
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-17241306this has an ARB Summit bar

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Great post, thankyou. I found it hard finding the non-HSE cars with the rear AC option, you did well. Did you find these with a manual search of the C-pillars by photographs or some search function?
That first one with the ARB Summit bar looks awesome. But when diving into its service history it isn't as flattering unfortunately.