Thread: D3 purchase in early 2020

What sort of budget (both purchase and any immediate issues) are you talking as that will impact what you individual vehicles you consider (as per your post)?

Originally Posted by Narangga

What sort of budget (both purchase and any immediate issues) are you talking as that will impact what you individual vehicles you consider (as per your post)?

Well the purse is in no way full and I am a bit of a tight arse (medically diagnosed btw), so for initial purchase would be at the max $15k. I could probably scrap another $2k together if there was some issue raised it's ugly head soon after purchase. I'd also be prepared to have the full transmission service/flush/pan treatment immediately, if it hadn't been done, which I think is around $600-700, correct me if I'm wrong.

I know I will not get much sub 200k km for that or above about 2007-8 at a push. But I have seen some bargains advertised and the D3's don't seem to be selling that well. I have been looking at the net for about 4 months now and there are a lot of vehicles that are still there and some have had price reductions.

The more I look the more I find for instance, this one if it has a good service history and all the necessary evils dealt with at least once may be a good buy. Anyone know this vehicle?

Any insights on the above questions will be gleefully accepted.

Hi ChookD2,

My advise would be to buy as good as one that you can and make sure it has been serviced properly with the correct oils.
The TDV6 is a great engine, most failures have happened from 1. wrong oil should be 5w / 30 as the thick oil can spin the bearings.
2. the nipple on the oil filter not being lined up while being serviced blocking the flow of oil 3. the oil pump housing breaking on the front of the engine where the belt tensioner bolts on( not fixed until 2008) 4. the plastic housing for the water letting go from old age 5. a small number unlucky enough to have crank or bearing problems from new.
Great engine to live with and great economy.
Make sure transmission has been flushed at least every 80,000km do not believe sealed for life.
Make sure diff and transfer oils are also done before land rover say to do them and use correct oils.
Can not help but give mine a plug in cars for sale section, no matter what you do happy to answer any questions about the disco 3 phone number in for sale section.
Good Luck

Thanks for clarifying your budget. I did not research the petrol versions at all before I purchased in September 2015 so am really unable to give insight on them. So my comments relate to the TDV6.

a) Like all vehicles the basic premise is the lower the kms the better. I don't think there is a cut off with the TDV6 where you would walk away but it rather relates to level of servicing (including the record of that and with whom) the vehicle has had, what repairs and replacements it has had and therefore the price that it is. From you original post it seems you have done the research and so aware of what to check on. Timing Belts are a larger exercise and expense but your willingness to do other maintenance would keep the cost down for control arms etc. Hence if you decide to go TDV6 keep on the same tack you are on - as much vehicle history as possible.

b) Only in as much as the things/issues identified up until then were modified/rectified before delivery. At your price point most will have been updated with the various parts and modifications. At least one exception is the coolant transfer adaptor which sits in the Vee and 'cooks' due to the warmer climate in Australia and then splits without notice dumping all coolant. Mine is '06 so I have no direct experience to draw from.

c) No petrol - no comment.

d) Like most questions the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I bought mine at 217K. It had a replacement engine at 155K which had 25K already on it. The replacement engine is now up to 160K and hasn't skipped a beat. I replaced the timing belts on it at about 85K engine time but almost 10 years calendar time as it has an engine number prior to the one my vehicle had originally.

However the transmission was replaced with a 'new unit off the shelf with a steel pan'. I had it serviced with a full flush at 60K and then at 120K this happened Disco 3/4 Automatic Transmission FAQ - 6 Speed Hence I do not think it was a new transmission but rather rebuilt but without his receipts I don't know. So check, check and check again

Current engine replacement costs still seem to be about $10K for a new engine and $4-5K for a Ford Territory engine with low kms plus labour to replace so that's a cost you will want to avoid.

Having had a look on Carsales there is currently a 2009 in Westlake at the top of your budget that has just ticked over 200K kms. It is listed as an HSE but as per the rear door picture is only an SE but does have the upgraded radio and also rear air con. No vehicle history so you'd need to ask that. Happy hunting as they are an incredible vehicle to drive.

I purchased a D3 in May 2017 and have no regrets. It had 115,000 km on it, all city driving in Sydney.
I found it on carsales, and spoke to the dealer, and previous owner.
It is a 4.0L petrol, and I love it.
It had a full service history and the owner was selling as it was more car than he needed for Sydney driving.
It returns about 16L/100km in the city and around 13 to 14 on a country run.
It has dual air (which our little dog loves on a hot day), but is otherwise pretty stock.
I've had it serviced locally in Adelaide and progressively replaced all the fluids, no matter how recently they had been changed.
The car came from Sydney, and the drive back to Adelaide was great to get to know it.
I didn't want a diesel as I'd had a diesel Wrangler and a diesel Perentie, and quite frankly, I was over the smell of diesel!!! I didn't get the D3 because it would be cheap to run! I got it because it was what I wanted.
It tows our 2 tonne van quite happily.
In short, I have no regrets about the purchase, and all I can think of to improve it would have been a V8 but there were none around when I looked.

Just some options for the OP...
Well I have gone through yet another draining exercise of finding a long term return customer another vehicle as due to health reasons can't drive a manual anymore for his last so many years of driving, maybe 50K.

0. I had suggested (urged?) a non "Land Rover" branded vehicle, but he has only ever owned Land Rovers and Austin Champs.
1. Disco 2, purchase $4K - $6K, spend aprox $10K (without a major rebuild on auto or engine) on it and its still a old truck (but a goodie).
2. D4 Spend the big bucks in excess of $50K for a last model low mileage.
3. D4 Spend the round $20K - $30K for a low mileage model 2010 - 2011, most havent had timing belts done, although they should have.
4. D4 spend $20K or under for a high mileage model and roll with what ever comes along with regards to repairs/service.
5. D3 for round $10K - $15K, average to high mileage and is likely going to need a fair amount of items doing due to its age.

Ended up with a country driven vehicle, stock D4 2011 2.7lt with 260K and got it for $17K. Timing belt done, lower control arms done, brakes done at least once. To me thats pretty good value motoring even if the Ford engine takes a dump, which at that km's its pretty unlikely.

*Don't believe the bull**** reasons of incorrect oils or not giving correct sacrifices to the engine gods for the reason the Ford V6 is prone to failures. Its a mass produced poorly/half done engineered engine and nothing more, both Ford nor Jaguar Land Rover have ever made any vocal explanation as to failures.

*But I do tend to think once they are up there on the km's its dodged that bullet and is unlikely to fail if regularly serviced, by which I generally mean 10K servicing.
*If I was forced to buy another Land Rover (besides the Perentie tractor I own) I'd likely go for a D4 in the 2.7lt and km's wouldnt both me if its had regular servicing.
*Also round Jan Feb is a good time to buy a vehicle.

Ta Daz, so would you say a SDV6 at those km has approx the same risk of failure (acknowledging its easier to source a replacement 2.7 than a 3.0)?

Originally Posted by rar110

Ta Daz, so would you say a SDV6 at those km has approx the same risk of failure (acknowledging its easier to source a replacement 2.7 than a 3.0)?

To avoid confusion, compare 2.7lt and 3.0lt engines rather than saying TDV6 or SDV6 which is a software/tune and not any physical difference between engines.

*I get enough inquiries chasing 3.0lt engines for D4, to which the options are sourcing another same same used engine, that may or may not fail for round $10K - $15K or a new crate engine, which was about $25K landed plus round $5K in labour to change it all over.
*I'm hoping as are owners no doubt that the last of the 3.0lt, 2014-2016 are going to be trouble free, time will tell. (but not mentioned as its not in the budget of the OP).
*So yes a D4 with a 2.7lt to me looks like a better value option.
*make no mistake I like all the power and glory of a D4 with a 3.0lt but if I wasn't a mechanic I simply wouldn't buy one.
*Dare I say it, I've not seen or done a failed 2.7lt in a D4.
*I have no doubt at some point I will likely have a D4 3.0lt, the first one a customer decides not to repair.