Member Since: 04 Oct 2016
Location: South Wales
Posts: 46
Our car broke in March (oil pump failed), finally got around to fixing it last month and its been running for 4 days now. When it started my wife cried. We love ours! They are very much a labour of love!
These cars are not an economical choice, if you're attached to it and it isn't going to put you in financial difficulty get it fixed.
4th Jul 2020 8:40 am
LizzK
Member Since: 28 Jun 2020
Location: Southport
Posts: 12
Update re engine rebuild .....
OK, so I have been quoted £3044.11 for an engine rebuild from my garage. Of that £1500 is labour and £500 is the dreaded VAT, parts just over £1000, the biggest cost being the new oil pump (photo attached of the estimate). I am so torn as to what to do. I have had the 3 transmission problems when it would not drive when in D but if I put it into P then back into D, it would then drive. The garage has said this is not a problem and won't result in another big failure and bill. I guess I have lost confidence in my Disco3 to either start or get me somewhere or not break down and have to be recovered and I am constantly stranded without a vehicle and having to take public transport everywhere or taxis.
The suspension was £2K because the heating element burnt itself out and blew out the whole suspension system so I needed new compressors, airbags etc. and heating system (it's a fast heat element apparently that warms the engine up on cold mornings??)
So, if I were to list it as a non-starter but with MOT until Feb 2021 and new suspension system etc what ought i hope to get for it? OR, if I were to get her fixed (but possibly a 2nd opinion on the quote) will this transmission problem come back and bite me in the b*tt?? She is a 2007 Disco3, automatic, leather interior etc etc etc.
5th Jul 2020 4:19 pm
knwatkins
Member Since: 19 Sep 2018
Location: Poole, Dorset
Posts: 716
The fuel burning heater (engine heater) is nothing whatsoever to do with the suspension system. I think someone was pulling your plonker there...Kev
MY2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
MY2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey
5th Jul 2020 4:22 pm
LizzK
Member Since: 28 Jun 2020
Location: Southport
Posts: 12
If this is the case then I really don't want to make another financial mistake
5th Jul 2020 4:25 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20732
knwatkins wrote:
The fuel burning heater (engine heater) is nothing whatsoever to do with the suspension system. I think someone was pulling your plonker there...
Member Since: 28 Jun 2020
Location: Southport
Posts: 12
Hi.
No, they showed me this long wire heating element things that was completely burnt out and, they said, had burnt through something and caused the suspension to literally blow up. I had the vehicle on the drive one frosty morning, running and a massive 'bang' happened. It was so loud. She dropped on the left-hand side immediately and couldn't be driven safely. She bounced all over the road and suspension errors kept coming up, saying drive in low gear and no faster than 30mph etc. I took her to 1 garage who said it was the air bag and they replaced it but she still woundn't get out of this mode. They gave me some verbal abuse about how these cars are and how much they hate working on them so I had her recovered from there and taken to K Motors in Leyland. They specialise in Landrover repairs. It took them 12 days to find out that this heating element had burnt out/through and cause the suspension failure. They put on new compressors twice because after the first one, she still wouldn't correct herself so they thought it was a faulty new compressor so fitted yet another new one. They felt that the first garage probably didn't need to replace the air bag. They thought it probably wasn't broken/popped or whatever happens to them but i had no proof so I had to swallow that part of it. it was a huge drama and I had only owner her for 6 weeks. Hence why I am so torn now over what to do. I don't want to keep making expensive mistakes and I don't know enough about them to know what might go wrong next or what I ought to look out for etc. I just always wanted to own a Discovery!
5th Jul 2020 4:41 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72790
Disco_Mikey wrote:
knwatkins wrote:
The fuel burning heater (engine heater) is nothing whatsoever to do with the suspension system. I think someone was pulling your plonker there...
Unless they're talking about glow plugs...
Or dryer?
5th Jul 2020 4:44 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10368
maybe the heater exhaust melted thru the suspension air pipe on the passenger front
5th Jul 2020 4:49 pm
LizzK
Member Since: 28 Jun 2020
Location: Southport
Posts: 12
I think so. It was on the front passenger side. It caused the compressor to fail because they were working overtime (I think). It was in November and i cant really remember all of the details now but that is how they narrowed it down - because it was a cold morning, the vehicle was running on the drive to warm up and the left hand side dropped immediately after the loud 'bang'.
5th Jul 2020 4:56 pm
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1815
Re: Update re engine rebuild .....
LizzK wrote:
So, if I were to list it as a non-starter but with MOT until Feb 2021 and new suspension system etc what ought i hope to get for it? OR, if I were to get her fixed (but possibly a 2nd opinion on the quote) will this transmission problem come back and bite me in the b*tt?? She is a 2007 Disco3, automatic, leather interior etc etc etc.
First question, answer, almost nothing... regarding a new suspension, nobody is gonna pay real money for that.. has no added value in the real world..
Second question, shifting issue can be a easy thing, like a stuck cable... but nobody can say anything for 100% sure...
buy another D3 and you can have the same problems within a week...
Bottomline, look for someone (workshop or likewise) who you can really trust... there are some here on the forum active...i did suggest already one, distance / transport on a lorry or trailer is easy and not that expensive (if you keep fuel and time in mind) these days...
Maybe another is in your area, ask for it, somebody will pop up..Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
5th Jul 2020 5:15 pm
LizzK
Member Since: 28 Jun 2020
Location: Southport
Posts: 12
Thanks Harold
5th Jul 2020 5:22 pm
stephenw46
Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 1156
Spend £7k and have a bmw engine fitted trouble free engine
5th Jul 2020 6:37 pm
G3Z
Member Since: 16 Dec 2018
Location: South Wales
Posts: 537
Are you referring to the TDV8?Defender 110 2.4 TDCi Utility Station Wagon.
2007 Disco 3 GS TDV6 Manual
200,000+ mile club 😎
5th Jul 2020 6:51 pm
motorworks
Member Since: 14 Nov 2019
Location: Usk
Posts: 401
What is the mileage on this D3, and does it have any service history? I would gather more information to support the decision, whether to repair or replace.
It would be useful to know what you received for your recent £2k spend.
I look at MOT history for all potential purchases. It is free and can be quite useful. In your case there are several years of records, which likely include failures with some significant repair work. I checked a RRS today, and found the last MOT was in 2012.
Before going ahead with further outlay of £3k+, I would ask the garage to check for any other costly potential problems, and do a full DTC scan. A written report would be good. This would incur a labour cost, but I would say money well spent.
Your confidence and future experience with the D3, if you keep it, depends largely on the quality of service that you get from your garage. Our local LR indie is focused on maximum profit, but another garage I have used for years I would confidently recommend (they avoid LR's)Chris
5th Jul 2020 9:06 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13912
What about this option and selling yours for spares?
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
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these cars are and how much they hate working on them so I had her recovered from there and taken to K Motors in Leyland. They specialise in Landrover repairs. It took them 12 days to find out that this heating element had burnt out/through and cause the suspension failure. They put on new compressors twice because after the first one, she still wouldn't correct herself so they thought it was a faulty new compressor so fitted yet another new one. They felt that the first garage probably didn't need to replace the air bag. They thought it probably wasn't broken/popped or whatever happens to them but i had no proof so I had to swallow that part of it. it was a huge drama and I had only owner her for 6 weeks. Hence why I am so torn now over what to do. I don't want to keep making expensive mistakes and I don't know enough about them to know what might go wrong next or what I ought to look out for etc. I just always wanted to own a Discovery!
