Member Since: 25 Oct 2007
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 269
I t was posted on a smart car forum in the states and many Smart car owners believe it is a photo shop job and is not a Smart car because of the wheel bolts as stated but I have read counter arguments to that as well. just Google Smart car between two trucks.
25th Sep 2010 1:45 pm
Matty 2332
Member Since: 02 Dec 2008
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 670
Mine failed on the offside front to back pipe. The mechanic showed me how close I had come to disaster. At every interval along the line where the clip had held it to the body, serious corrosion was present, mine eventually split leaking fluid everywhere. I was charged £150 by my local Indi, he said it was a nightmare job, for one because all the shields were a B er to get off and then the pipe (which he replaced with copper) went all over. My nearside he said needs doing and will be a further £100.
Brake pipes and front control arms have all been replaced but they couldn't get the wheel alignment done in time.
At least they exchanged the Smart car for a FL2 XS TD4.e
Quite enjoyed the run to Preston and back in the FL2 yesterday - especially the 37mpg average fuel consumption readout after 200+ miles over the Pennines and back via the A66 and the long climb into the southern lakes area on the M6. I will be downsizing from the D3 in a couple of years and the FL2 is one of the cars on my list of possibles.
Boot space is not bad but not a patch on the D3 which would have swallowed the desk and chair we had to take with ease. Got it in the FL but had to lower the wide side of the split rear seats meaning that SWMBO and her daughter had to squeeze into the remaining seat and the little bit of space left by the desk.
More tyre/road noise, engine noise more obtrusive and more wind noise at motorway speeds. The economy cut out mode is a little disconcerting at first but can be disabled. Would rather have an auto too. All in all though, not a bad car but the D3 spoils you as everything else seems to come up short in comparison.
Think I'll check to see if my lottery ticket is a winner Now an ex-D3 owner after 7 happy years. Miss the car but not the big bills
27th Sep 2010 7:58 am
philthejono
Member Since: 01 Aug 2007
Location: Rugby
Posts: 85
Just had the same on my 56 plate with 70k miles. MOT failure due to corroded brake pipes. Same thoughts that a car built for off-roading gets so many problems that it should be built to survice. Has also had various other joints and rods being flagged or repaired My 9-year old V70 with 117k on the clock has not had hald the problems.11 HSE Santorini Black
15th Dec 2010 9:36 pm
VFR800
Member Since: 16 Nov 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 95
Maybe this should be a Land Rover recall job. This is serious s**t. As we have noticed a five year old car and some with 80K and the brake pipes have given up the ghost. Maybe it's a case of strength in numbers and get Land Rover to fix this.
16th Dec 2010 4:04 am
countrywide
Member Since: 16 Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 6019
This does sound like a serious issue that deserves a recall. I don't want to jump all over Land Rover for every problem, but this sounds like it could occur between MOT's. I know Fiat Punto's had the same problem and were recalled for corrosion protection or replacement lines.
For safety sake the people affected should really contact VOSA and Land Rover on this.
I did contact Land Rover and got a negative response along the lines of
a) they are plastic coated so are protected - (yeah right!)
b) the servicing engineer should check them at every service - if only that were possible due to the awkward places that the pipes were routed
The best thing is to get them changed to copper. You'll still need the LR flexi end pipes but the main runs can be subsituted for copper. It's not cheap to do and very fiddly but for peace of mind do it.2005 D3 TDV6 HSE
1994 D1 300 TDi S 2" Lift - Off Road prepared
17th Dec 2010 6:44 pm
nigelc
Member Since: 16 Apr 2008
Location: leicestershire
Posts: 267
Interesting/worrying thread. Mine is November 2004, 54 plate and lives outside all the time but nothing mentioned by way of an advisory in any MOT (last 1 month ago). Sounds like a badly manufactured batch - what is standard pipe made of - surely must be non-ferrous or if ferrous have some form of protective coating. Mine has been waxoyled since mid-2009 - wonder if that makes a difference?
If it's waxoyled it will make a difference. It will make it impossible for the MOT station to spot the corrosion. I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
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er to get off and then the pipe (which he replaced with copper) went all over. My nearside he said needs doing and will be a further £100.
My 9-year old V70 with 117k on the clock has not had hald the problems.
