Member Since: 14 Jan 2018
Location: Colchester
Posts: 56
My Discovery 3 “Posh-roader”
Hi all.
Thought I’d better get myself a build diary up and running to document the day to day life of me and my disco.
Been a Landy guy for a few years now having had a 110 and about 6 Discovery 1’s.
Had the current one two years and have been christened “Trampvan”
Then a couple of months ago a friend of mine calls to me to say he is selling his D3 and once he told me the price I went up and bought it straight away.
So the car. It’s a 2004 HSE auto in silver. Car had the same owner for around 7-8 years who then part ex’d it at the Norwich Land Rover dealership where my friend works as a mechanic. He bought it and used it for 6 months before selling it to me to fund a wedding.
Be filthy but it went straight into work as the daily.
First issue I had was with all the lights on the car pulsing quite a lot. Had the battery checked and it was running fine with plenty of grunt.
The alternator had reciently died on previous owner and was replaced with a genuine LR item though since then I have read about the LR alternators not being that great.
As all the bulbs looking original I decided to upgrade them with canbus error free led’s to see if that made a difference.
Got quite carried away
An improvement I thought.
Annoyingly it didn’t come with the bulbs needed for the Sat Nav so will have to work out which ones these are and get new bulbs
6th Mar 2018 8:56 am
Co-Pang-Yang
Member Since: 14 Jan 2018
Location: Colchester
Posts: 56
Got a bit order happy on powerfuluk’s website
“Discovery” bonnet badge in gloss black along with “Discovery” badge for the boot, wind deflectors and headlight tinting kit.
Hoping to get that all fitted once it warms up a bit
Then more leds, this time from Advanced Factors and eBay
First puddle lights that are definitely a marmite mod
But I like them so they are staying
Then wondered why my footwell lights wernt working.
Turns out the plug wasn’t connected
Then wanted to make reversing on the drive a bit easier
Much better!!
And just cause it looked cool in the warehouse
6th Mar 2018 9:14 am
Co-Pang-Yang
Member Since: 14 Jan 2018
Location: Colchester
Posts: 56
Finally got a sunny day off free to give the D3 it’s first proper wash
Minging!
Started with two goes with prewash then snow foam
At 5’11” still needed help
Was also still chilly
GB stickers should be banned and who uses six Velcro pads for a number plate??!?!
Half an hour with the tar and glue remover later
And finally can put my number plate on
Ironically never owned a Discovery 2
6th Mar 2018 9:27 am
Co-Pang-Yang
Member Since: 14 Jan 2018
Location: Colchester
Posts: 56
Horrible grinding noise coming from the front pointed to knackered brakes so another visit to Advanced factors website and the purchase of a V8 brake upgrade kit
And two days later a big heavy box turned up
350mm drilled and grooved discs, green stuff pads and V8 calliper carriers
Guy at work has a unit with a 3.5t ramp so that was borrowed for the morning
And so the strip down and inspection started
Yer, I think the drivers side had done its time
Passenger side strip down
New vs old
Discs, carriers and pads on
Calliper wound back
And passenger side done!
Then on to the drivers side
Yep ok they are done!
Hub stripped and cleaned
New pads and discs
And done
Should be able to endo’s now!! 8)
6th Mar 2018 9:51 am
Co-Pang-Yang
Member Since: 14 Jan 2018
Location: Colchester
Posts: 56
And finally for now took advantage of a group buy on here for a Gap IID BT diagnostic tool
Got it working on the laptop so downloaded the app and tried it on the car
Looks like plenty for me to do here
Fair bit of reading to do as well
6th Mar 2018 10:03 am
FISHBOY
Member Since: 06 Sep 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 754
The start of an adventure
Wow your number plate lights look amazingly bright Last of the D4 HSE...
6th Mar 2018 11:05 am
Sheepy
Member Since: 20 Feb 2013
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 630
I've found my D4 doesn't like non-OEM bulbs, and the headlight or sidelights don't last long. Fit OEM, and they're fine!!
6th Mar 2018 11:16 am
Co-Pang-Yang
Member Since: 14 Jan 2018
Location: Colchester
Posts: 56
Yes they are rather bright. Came from powerfuluk, complete new unit with multiple led’s install.
Yes one of the front sidelight bulbs has given up already. Cheap eBay, got a few spares but if they do the same then I’ll get some Ring versions
6th Mar 2018 11:39 am
professorpool
Member Since: 19 Mar 2012
Location: Woking
Posts: 3213
At least we now have the answer to the question
"how many forum posts does it take to change a light bulb" D3 07 SE - still going strong
D3 07 HSE - gone to car heaven
FL1 - gone to Romania
D3 05 HSE - gone to a divorce diet
D1 V8 manual - gone but not forgotten
RR Classic - gone to car heaven
Jeeps, Lexus, X-trails... Too many to name..
6th Mar 2018 12:49 pm
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6265
very busy bee
nice work
6th Mar 2018 1:40 pm
Scottbrad
Member Since: 20 Dec 2014
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Posts: 229
Yeh, great work - looking forward to seeing further upgrades.Cheers Scott.
6th Mar 2018 2:15 pm
Beretta
Member Since: 11 Oct 2012
Location: Rochdale
Posts: 1180
Brilliant start!
6th Mar 2018 4:49 pm
Co-Pang-Yang
Member Since: 14 Jan 2018
Location: Colchester
Posts: 56
Ha ha yes sorry I do tend to go all in on photos on build threads. It’s the same over on Landy zone
Cheers, been the result of a few weekends so probably slow down a bit now while onsave more money lol.
Rear upper arm bushes came up as an advisory on last mot so will be ordered RRS rear upper arms at some point. Also been told it wise to change the brake lines while I’m at it so need to look into that.
Then full wheel alignment as soon as.
6th Mar 2018 4:53 pm
Co-Pang-Yang
Member Since: 14 Jan 2018
Location: Colchester
Posts: 56
So want to get these rear suspension bushes sorted out. Not going to faff about so complete upper rear arms will be ordered for both side. Range Rover sport versions seem to be the way to go.
My question is what else should I consider doing while I’m at it?
Been told it’s well worth replacing the six brake lines while the arm is off. Is this a single kit I can buy? Any other brake bits at the same time?
Also watching YouTube videos some people are doing wheel bearings and hub bushes. Does this have to be done at the same time?
If I didn’t do the wheel bearing at the same time would I be taking the same bits off again if I do it at a later date?
Same with ten rear shocks? Should I do them at the same time to save time or does it not make much difference?
Sorry for all the questions but I’m really hoping to get a lot of work done on the car myself instead of just throwing it at a garage
Cheers Chris.
7th Mar 2018 8:56 am
PeteHse
Member Since: 13 Sep 2015
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 202
Hi,
Change the upper hub bush also, these will most likely be seized to the Camber bolt.
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