Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2757
Amazing.
My 55 plate D3HSE:
I’ve had it since March 2010, and it came to me with 87K on the milometer.
I’ve now got that up to 205K miles.
It leads a really hard life towing 3tns of boat and trailer around, travelling up and down to Devon and Cornwall from Hampshire, and the odd green lane.
I drive it daily to work and for work related trips.
It’s used as a Van at least once a month.
I even sleep in the back of it at the beach sometimes.
With the help of this forum I have spent a lot of time on it doing all the usual stuff as and when required, but the only times it’s been near anyone else’s workshop in the last 7 years is for a ‘megaflush’, then to have the Torque Converter changed, and to have some accident repairs carried out when an Ambulance rammed the back end.
Today, for the 5th year in a row it passed it’s MOT at the first attempt with just an advisory about a rear control arm.
At the moment the only other thing that I know needs doing to it is the FBH cleaned out as it’s a little intermittent.
Obviously I’ll also be sticking to my strict service routine, although I never thought when I did the belts last time that I’d be doing them again on the same D3.
Sorry, just needed to shout about it, but have made sure I’ve been in contact with my wooden desk the whole time I typed this.
It will only go when I can work out how to finance a D4 HSE.
NasherHeaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
26th Oct 2017 11:16 am
Skynet
Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: Melksham, Wiltshire
Posts: 868
Don't forget the idler pulley change with the belt Dave
D3 2006 HSE, Cairns Blue - gone
D4 2016 SE, White
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2757
It comes as part of the kit.Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
26th Oct 2017 11:33 am
Gazellio
Member Since: 09 Jan 2011
Location: Chilterns
Posts: 4130
I think they they like being used to tow or being driven on long journeys, I think its the ones that sit around for too long that go pop.
26th Oct 2017 11:35 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72947
Flip side, I can think of a good few members on here that have used their D3/4 regularly for work and towed and engines have still gone bang. One chap (who shall remain nameless) for the second time and that's car was being used daily for work. AFAIC it's a lottery and when yer number's up, it's up. Regardless of how the car has been used.
26th Oct 2017 11:49 am
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13351
Was chatting to my indie about the 3.0 crankshaft snapping issues. His view was it's basically luck of the draw. Nowt you can do to prevent it, likewise the bearing issue. Just keep it properly serviced and hope for the best.Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
26th Oct 2017 7:13 pm
sputnixb51
Member Since: 23 Apr 2013
Location: Morayshire
Posts: 833
Well done and hope the wooden desk continues to help you and me, I bought mine at 80,000 now at 140,000 and a bit I also do everything myself apart from a flush by DM.
26th Oct 2017 7:21 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 14188
I bought mine new in 2005. It has now got 215,000 on the clock and has been used as it was designed to be used: Family wagon, van and tow truck. It is teh most stupidly reliable car ever, although I do look after it mechanically. Until something eles worthy enough to replace it comes along then i see no reason to get rid of it.New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
26th Oct 2017 7:56 pm
sputnixb51
Member Since: 23 Apr 2013
Location: Morayshire
Posts: 833
Moo, positive stories are good news. Thanks
26th Oct 2017 9:47 pm
John C
Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
Moo wrote:
I bought mine new in 2005. It has now got 215,000 on the clock and has been used as it was designed to be used: Family wagon, van and tow truck. It is teh most stupidly reliable car ever, although I do look after it mechanically. Until something eles worthy enough to replace it comes along then i see no reason to get rid of it.
Same here and similar mileage although I got mine in 2007 and it’s had a new gearbox and engine during that time. Until mine rusts to pieces or something better comes along I’ll keep it going and still keep putting money into it that others would say makes no sense. I can afford a D4 or XC90 but genuinely think my money’s better keeping the D3 going. Best car ever.2020 SDV6 D5 HSE, Carpathian Grey +
2022 Tesla Model Y LR... almost Carpathian Grey
Previously : 2005 TDV6 SE Auto, Cairns Blue (288K) - ours for 16 years
26th Oct 2017 10:26 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 14188
Its interesting, I'm also fortunate enough to be able to afford what I want but see no value in changing. Besides, my kids have grown up with the old bus and they see it as part of the family.
Sadly I think emission legislation will be the death of the old bus long before she's ready to go. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
26th Oct 2017 10:34 pm
sputnixb51
Member Since: 23 Apr 2013
Location: Morayshire
Posts: 833
John C , I agree I fact I am collecting the big bits that might be needed, a wonderful all around vehicle I have the SE didn’t fancy the glass roof of an HSE with having my doggo.
26th Oct 2017 10:35 pm
bobupndown
Member Since: 05 Sep 2015
Location: stuck in the 1980's
Posts: 39
Nice to hear of positive ownership experiences, rather than problems. Its the same with most vehicles, owners moan about the problems but dont sing the positive praises enough 2004 Discovery 2 Td5 Landmark
2013 VW Tiguan Tdi 4motion
1963 Morris Mini Minor Superdeluxe
Was chatting to my indie about the 3.0 crankshaft snapping issues. His view was it's basically luck of the draw. Nowt you can do to prevent it, likewise the bearing issue. Just keep it properly serviced and hope for the best.
Wish you lot would’t keep posting about the Crank failures, I bought mine last year to be a keeper, now I’m thinking March 2019 and it goes.
if it hadn't been for having a bit of a health blip I'd have kept my 300tdi forever too, just pass it on to one of the lads. sadly it rusted in parts I couldn't sort out myself and I was let down by the guys that "fixed" it so couldn't justify throwing another £800 at it to "bodge it through the MoT".
The D4 is a stupendous beast. not going to let it go the same way.
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