Member Since: 19 Oct 2015
Location: Southampton
Posts: 143
D3 TDV6 general
Hello everybody.
Me and my other half have a 1 year old so just before she was born we went and done the thing you do.... We bought a Volvo.
We went for a V50 which we knew wasn't an overly big car but it has turned out to be quite a small car... It's based on a Ford Focus.. I find it hard to drive, it's uncomfortable, and the boot space with our pushchair in there is about the same size of a Ford KA.
We were thinking about a Skoda octavia estate but knew we wouldn't be gaining all that much space, so one day I said "how about a Discovery" the answer was.. Probably because they look quite nice... This was music to my ears.
We're very out-doorsy people so a Discovery would really suit our needs
I'm not new to Land Rover as about 10 years ago I had a 1995 Discovery ES and after that P38 Range Rover HSE.. Both these were V8's and gave me almost no troubles at all.. The discovery split a water hose and needed a few suspension bushes and the range rover only needed a pair of front airbags when one had a leak.
Been looking online for several weeks and from what I'm reading it looks like if I buy a D3 is going to break down on a weekly basis and cost about £18,000 to repair it every time.
My girlfriend will use it during the week to go to work and back (about 40 miles per week) and most weekends we average about 80 miles just being out and about.
I know forums are the 1st place to go to ask for help when your car breaks down or to have a moan about it breaking down.
My last car was an Audi A6 3.0 tdi quattro.. Reading the forums I read horror stories about £1000's of repair bills for transfer boxes and other things like the 6 injectors breaking down.. I took a chance on one with 130,000 miles and it was the most reliable car I owned.
So.. a D3...
Well it be breaking down regularly
What should I steer well clear of
What should I look out for
Do the early ones cost less to tax
Were any years better than others (I've read about oil casings.?)
Are the HSE models all that better.
I'm 5' 10 but my girlfriend is 5'1 so the memory seats in the P38 were a great thing to have
Also is 100k + miles a bad thing.? As cars that are below this seem to no longer exist in the £10-12k mark.?
Sorry for the long post but it's my first one.
Thanks in advance
Tony
19th Oct 2015 10:26 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26770
In answer to your points.
1. No, not if maintained.
2. Steer clear of poor service history and any excuses for any faults.
3. Look out for service history! Also suspension knocks, uneven tyre wear, electrical gremlins.
4. Yes the early ones cost less to tax, but its a couple of tanks of fuel difference, so would not be a deal breaker for me.
5. 2007-2008 models seem to be more susceptible to oil pump casing failure. They should all now be coming up for timing belt replacement (7 yrs or 105k) So I would want certain evidence that the oil pump has been replaced with the stronger design. If not, I would be wanting money off to cover the cost of a precautionary timing belt and pump case change. Get it documented and photographed for future evidence for when you sell it on.
6. HSE everytime for me, I like the toys!
7. Memory seats are great.
I loved the D3, and now have a 4. I miss the slightly 'utilitarian' nature of the 3, and the interior is more practical, with better storage and cup holders.
Its a fantastic car, and bought carefully will be the best car you have ever had.
19th Oct 2015 11:10 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
1, service it before time and fix stuff thats needs fixing before it breaks and it will be fine.
7, the memory seats are great UNTIL they have reached the memory chips max limit then they can be somewhat hit and miss, set the memory, move seat press no1/2/3 it doesnt matter which and you may get your position but most likely not!
Obviously the less owners a car has had the less likely this is to be a problem.
Im sure the guy who posted this info on here said they can remember 150 positions and thats it.
The ones with rear roof/pillar a/c vents are good for dogs and family, the underbody a/c pipes can pin hole.
Some HSE also had roof mounted dvd player.
Metropolis model has it all, virtually same price as HSE, but only available on 06/56 plates so 500 pounds tax.
Overall miles away from D1 shape disco and much better than P38.
Audi 3.0 tdi awesome engine IF its been serviced before time, and for some reasons Audis and duff injectors go hand in hand!
to work and back (about 40 miles per week) and most weekends we average about 80 miles just being out and about.
If the 40 miles per week is spread across 5 days, that's 4 miles to work & 4 miles home, but even if it's 2 days at 10 miles each way; I think you have answered your own question - IMHO you don't do enough mileage to benefit from diesel engine.
More so I think the Disco's reliability will be undermined by such a low mileage.
Quote:
Diesel's superior fuel consumption is a big selling point, but because of the higher cost of diesel cars it only really makes sense to drivers who are clocking up over 15,000 miles a year. If you are a low-mileage driver then you may find that switching to diesel makes less sense, as you are unlikely to feel any short-term benefits.
2016 Discovery 4 Landmark
2011 Mercedes Benz SL350 (R230)
1973 MG B GT V8 - 3.9L John Eales engine, 5 speed R380 gearbox, since 1975.
1959 MGA roadster - 1.9L Peter Burgess Engine - 5 speed gearbox
Past LRs - Multiple FFRs, Discos & a Series I - some petrol, some diesel,
none Electric or H2 fuel cell - yet.
There are 10 types of people in this world: Those who understand binary, and those who don’t.
20th Oct 2015 7:16 am
Woolmeister
Member Since: 26 Mar 2007
Location: Chandler's Ford
Posts: 3464
Hi Tony,
Most of it has already been said but a D3 that has been used regularly with an up to date service history should have plenty of life left in it yet. Follow Gareth's advice. Better to buy a D3 that has been used regularly than one that has sat idle for most of its life.
The HSE is very nice but my old D3 S is still better specced than most D4 GS models.
You live in the right place. You have Advanced Factors in town for any parts you may need. Mark West at West 4x4 also close by. Quite a few forum members locally, too.
Steve2021 BMW iX3 Premier Edition in Carbon Black ⚡️🔌
2019 Škoda Kodiaq 2.0 Tdi 190 DSG Sportline in Quartz Grey. Excellent vehicle. Gone.
2017 Discovery Sport HSE Auto in Carpathian Grey and Ebony Leather. Modern JLR Junk. Gone.
2007 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Manual in Zermatt Silver with Ebony Cloth (143k) Gone, but now patrolling the Asia section of the West Midlands Safari Park!
20th Oct 2015 8:35 am
Famousfive
Member Since: 12 Aug 2014
Location: Southampton
Posts: 1831
Southampton Massive
Steve,
We'll need a soton disco social thread soon
Tony,
as Steve has said, take a good look around and get some expert help in checking any cars over as there can be some horror stories ££ wise on unloved models - there might be guys local (that are more competent than me) that can help run another set of eyes over anything you are looking at.
As for model speccing yes, you'll get more toys for your HSE but the engine and underpinning are all the same (bar commercials). I've got the base D4 model and couldn't be happier and often think there is less to go wrong as so far so good
The For Sale section on here offer some good loved examples at a range of ages and price.
Member Since: 27 May 2011
Location: Sticking the Ex back in the skanks bin
Posts: 2824
If your worried about Disco reliability then do what i did, get an FF.
Two specialists said the same thing to me, albeit 4 years ago and so far touch wood, the biggest thigns replaced are the injection pump and injectors due to a shoddy batch of BioD.
Normal wear and tear stuff has been done and shes on 155k now
You don't get 7seats or the Disco rugged image but they are just as capable offroad, slightly lighter, and a bit safer IMO due to the unibody build. More comfort and more toys as standard FFRR Owner, very nearly became a D3 owner
Test piloted a new D4 XS SDV6.. Gone and being forgotten i hope!!
D4 HSE 10MY
D4 XS 11MY
SSRR Destroyer *2
^^^^
But only buy a TD6 if you are on good terms with your local transmission specialist...Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
Freelander 2 2007 HSE Manual Tambora Flame
Previous: FL2 56 reg SE Manual Black (written off )
Disco 3 06 reg B7S Manual Rimini Red
Disco 2 TD5 Y reg ES Manual Blue - Chipped
Several Discovery 300 TDis
20th Oct 2015 10:47 am
kp
Member Since: 27 May 2011
Location: Sticking the Ex back in the skanks bin
Posts: 2824
See my mileage ^^^
Ye they are like the disco boxes but then regular fluid changes in them every 50k should keep them going for a long long time. There are a good few out there with 200k on and some known to be on 300k with regular servicing... Look at the BMW's with the same box fitted and the mileage they are on
Their oil pumps dont ingest themselves and no cambelt FFRR Owner, very nearly became a D3 owner
Test piloted a new D4 XS SDV6.. Gone and being forgotten i hope!!
D4 HSE 10MY
D4 XS 11MY
SSRR Destroyer *2
By comparison with the 6HP26, the GM box is still made of cheese. Only common issue with the D3's box is lack of maintainence.
The D3's oil pumps don't ingest themselves either - it's just the tensioner mount that can fail on the weaker design, and this can be prevented by replacement anyway. Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
Freelander 2 2007 HSE Manual Tambora Flame
Previous: FL2 56 reg SE Manual Black (written off )
Disco 3 06 reg B7S Manual Rimini Red
Disco 2 TD5 Y reg ES Manual Blue - Chipped
Several Discovery 300 TDis
20th Oct 2015 11:06 am
kp
Member Since: 27 May 2011
Location: Sticking the Ex back in the skanks bin
Posts: 2824
The box isn't made of cheese really...
The valve bores wear from poor quality oil which then causes more wear on the TC which then loops back round and makes the issue worse until KABOOM!
Prices for them are roughly in the same range as a Disco of similar mileage but maybe a little bit newer and with parents who cart kids around wanting RSE its a standard fit on Vogue SE's which are now down to £9k for an SC/TDV8 model. Personally RSE is pointless to me as an iPad and charger does a better job. Park heat as standard as well and much bigger battery to cope with it without mods or installation of a second
Always worth keeping your options open when on the look out for your first Land RoverFFRR Owner, very nearly became a D3 owner
Test piloted a new D4 XS SDV6.. Gone and being forgotten i hope!!
D4 HSE 10MY
D4 XS 11MY
SSRR Destroyer *2
It is significantly less reliable than the 6 speed though, but I quite agree about keeping options open. Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
Freelander 2 2007 HSE Manual Tambora Flame
Previous: FL2 56 reg SE Manual Black (written off )
Disco 3 06 reg B7S Manual Rimini Red
Disco 2 TD5 Y reg ES Manual Blue - Chipped
Several Discovery 300 TDis
20th Oct 2015 11:48 am
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
I knew a man who bought a new FF and after a couple of years he had been through several front diffs, he gave up and sold it lost something like 30ok said he would never buy a land rover again!
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Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
)
^^^
