2010 D4 3.0L freshen up thread

[cripesamighty]

It's a 2005 build, 2006 Model Year D3, TDV6 SE. It ticked over 530,000km a few months ago, but because work has been so busy I have barely got to drive it. It will be getting a 'birthday' most likely after Xmas with a bunch of things getting sorted, as I plan to keep it for a while yet. I have been driving my D1 mostly as it is in the process of getting a spruce up as I will be selling it pretty soon. Having to pay 4 rego's and insurance is getting a bit much and something has to go!

Edit: The reason for the high Km's is the vehicle was used by a tourism company before I bought it and it did lots of big trips (thousands of kms at a time). The Baptist Church then bought it and had it for a couple of years and now I am the third owner. Loving it so far.

[Eric SDV6SE]

Well the vehicle was essentially unsaleable. I could have traded it, but the changeover in its current state would have been as much as I’m spending. It was leaking oil from a number of different places. I was also in the unfortunate position that when it was body off that the full extend was uncovered. At that point I was in for a penny as they say, so in for the pound wasn’t as bad. It’s the HSE so has a bit of value still left in it.

If the Defender was available then maybe I’d have traded it for one, but I wouldn’t swap from one D4 to another - might as well keep what I have - again changeover, stamp duty etc, and all the inevitable issues that arise I’ve already fixed.

The other thing was - I looked at the cost of a loan for a new car - if this gets me a few more years until I can get a second hand Defender, then I’m still much better off.

Dunno. Just wasn’t ready to change yet, but wasn’t sure how much longer I’d get out of it if I didn’t give it some love.

Well done DJ, i fully agree with your logic. Im not at those kms yet, but i need to make a similar decision in the future. At this point, there is (for me at least) no other 4wd that comes close to the D4.

I also think you dodged a bullet finding the crank end float out of spec.

[josh.huber]

Why are they taking the crank out to roll the bearings in. We used to just do them in situ. Take two mains put rags under the caps and leave loose, change all mains then change all big ends

[DiscoJeffster]

Given the propensity for crank failure in these engines, they want it to be inspected. That said, if the crank is an issue I’d be tempted to scrap the car at that point, as piling in more thousands on a crank would be getting to the end of the line for me

[BradC]

Given the propensity for crank failure in these engines, they want it to be inspected. That said, if the crank is an issue I’d be tempted to scrap the car at that point, as piling in more thousands on a crank would be getting to the end of the line for me

Distant q nell, that's that rotten feeling in the pit of your stomach.

So to get the crank out need to separate the transmission and get the flex plate off? I can see where the extra labour comes from. Despite the potential for disappointment, I'm kinda waiting to see the teardown pics and analysis on the bearings and crank out of morbid curiosity. Wondering if it's a case of "caught it in the nick of time".

[josh.huber]

Given the propensity for crank failure in these engines, they want it to be inspected. That said, if the crank is an issue I’d be tempted to scrap the car at that point, as piling in more thousands on a crank would be getting to the end of the line for me

Brilliant idea. Has anyone ever quoted one of those billet replacement cranks?
Good call on the inspection, can see the extra dollars now.

[Barraman]

Interesting thread. I am in a sort of similar position - about to drop a bunch of $$$ on my 2015 D4 at 160,000 km in the hope of getting another couple of years out of it. I bought it new, have looked after it sparing no expense and it drives like a new one! Just did 1,600 km in the last 3 days!

I don't like the D5 and wouldn't buy one until the next model comes out - with any bugs fixed. Same applies to the Defender - can't even get a look at one ATM.

What's a bloke to do? I can't convince myself that anything else I might buy new will be better than what I've got.

[DiscoJeffster]

Thanks crew. Will take photos.
Disappointingly is I look at the money I’m spending and think about all the things I said no to like roo bar etc and wish I’d had them and not maintenance costs.

[DiscoJeffster]

Oh and I’m on the original gearbox build! Sigh.

[LRD414]

If the Defender was available then maybe I’d have traded it for one, but I wouldn’t swap from one D4 to another
- might as well keep what I have - again changeover, stamp duty etc, and all the inevitable issues that arise I’ve already fixed.
The other thing was - I looked at the cost of a loan for a new car
- if this gets me a few more years until I can get a second hand Defender, then I’m still much better off.
Dunno. Just wasn’t ready to change yet, but wasn’t sure how much longer I’d get out of it if I didn’t give it some love.

I think your logic is sound and feel like this quote is almost future me speaking (mine is 2014 and 116,000km).
Although I'll have the advantage of Defender being out for a few years by the time I get to an age like yours.
Things may change but at this stage I feel like I'll just keep the D4 and it can be the second vehicle.

Cheers,
Scott