Member Since: 21 Sep 2012
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 24
Spend or bail out
We have a Disco 3 SE on a 2006 plate - after March 06 so higher road tax.
We have had it 4.5 years with 162k on clock now - we've done 60k miles in it.
Decision we have is ; 4 new Tyres, service, EPB fault (some squeeking from
handbrake drums), MOT 5 months off. I've just had a pre mot done and needs D bushes, front arm, rear discs, rear brake pipes plus no doubt it will fail on handbrake EPB.
To be honest it's a good car, good SE spec, 2 previous owners, belts not due for another 30k. Recently had full second recall on brake servo/master cylinder/vacuum pump/pipe. We've had s recent compressor upgrade to a Disco 4 one after other one failed.
But reckon £2k to spend on £5k car - mmmmm
4th Sep 2017 7:15 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 11 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6643
Probably doesn’t make sense in the UK but here in Finland similarly driven 2006 D3s go regularly for 14-19k EUR and it would probably still make sense to fix. Yes, really.
Tyres need replacing from time to time. I wouldn't see that as a D3 issue, that's a fact of motoring regardless of vehicle. Same goes for bushes etc.
You may get £3,500 - £4k p/x on a good day. What would you buy to replace it? Is that going to cost you more than £2k and is it going to provide the same benefits etc. that led you to buy a D3 in the first instance?
Sounds like a generally well looked after car and £1-£2k is pretty much the price of maintaining a D3 each year. I've a 155k 08 I bought new and frankly it would have to burst into flames for me to get rid.
4th Sep 2017 8:12 pm
woolley11
Member Since: 21 Sep 2012
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 24
Yea tyres are a consumable - they've done nearly 40k - Goodyear Efficiency Grips so cant grumble!
Battery is probably on way out as I've had to charge it this weekend for the first time ever - see how it goes.
Just bothers me that I spend £2k on it then other things start going on top of that. Especially electrical stuff and I could put that £2k towards a fresh set of wheels.
We would get a Disco 4 XS or HSE if we changed but would want the 3.0 engine not the Disco 4 on the old engine (59 platers) - so a big jump up in cost - would be have to be late 10 or 60 + plater - another £10k + ours I reckon for sensible mileage.
4th Sep 2017 8:27 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72924
Spend or bail, only you can decide. But you could spend a thick wedge of the cash and the car could go on forever. Or it could spin its bearings on the drive home. Pays yer money etc.
4th Sep 2017 8:34 pm
Jakeboy
Member Since: 11 Dec 2012
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 97
Was in a similar situation to you last year and decided to trade in my D3 SE MY 06, for a D4 XS MY 13. I had my D3 for 4 years and it had done 110k miles. Wasn't without issues but only the usual suspension arms, EPB, FBH, Compressor stuff that is well documented and reasonably straight forward to rectify. Absolutely loved the car but circumstances dictated the change, that I wouldn't ordinadily have done and somewhat regretting it now.
MY D4 has just been returned to me from the dealer having had a new engine fitted! At only 38K miles the original engine chucked it (Well documented crankshaft bearing rotation issue) which is shocking but fortunately LR honoured the warranty repair.
This however would not be the case with ones at the age you are considering, even with a 3rd Party Warranty, they won't warrant it as it is a known issue. I realise I'm in the minority and there are plenty D4 owners without such issues but it is something worth considering, especially if you have a good D3 with relatively straight-forward issues (albeit stlll costly).
On paper £2k spend on a £5k car seems disproportionate but there are plenty £5k cars out there that don't provide 1/4 of the benefit/comfort/satisfaction that a D3 does
Good luck with whichever decision you take.
4th Sep 2017 9:05 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
Dont forget the D4 could need exactly the same work doing, just because its newer does not always make it better, and sad to say 2010 is far from new.
Cheapest long term option has got to be stick with the D3, in my mind its when something big goes bang then its time to run, ie engine/gearbox etc
4th Sep 2017 9:11 pm
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2884
Better the devil you know IMHO - and being a dinosaur I prefer my 180k D3 to my wife's 50k D4!Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
4th Sep 2017 9:24 pm
Dan_NL
Member Since: 19 Sep 2010
Location: world
Posts: 1213
I am in EXACTLY the same situation, only I had the D3 for 7 years, maintained it beyond normal service,
updated the looks [ not complete D4 conversion ].
Value [ done 310.000Km's , 2006HSE full specs, working BT, 4x4 info, LED rear lights, SatNav updated,
really good looks ] roughtly € 9000,- , private sale.
But it doesn't depriciate almost. Due are : F&R brake lines, dustribution and oilpump [ not worn yet, better be safe.. ] with normal 106k service, around € 2000,- with a dealer..
So writing off € 1000 pa and repairs € 2000 pa .... Any newer car depreciates € 3000 or more pa,
and needs service as well..
Bascily it is : dou you want a newer car. Financially it makes better sense to drive the D3 untill the diesel fuel runs out..
4th Sep 2017 9:25 pm
Batfink
Member Since: 31 May 2017
Location: Isle of Sheppey
Posts: 1514
Would you be getting all the work done by someone or doing some yourself? You could save a fair bit of labour costs that way.2006 TdV6 HSE.
4th Sep 2017 9:26 pm
woolley11
Member Since: 21 Sep 2012
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 24
I used to do a lot of maintenance myself but tend to get Bosch garage near us on job.
Thinking of doing some little jobs myself but it's a time thing nowadays.
I suppose spread cost of things - tyres first, battery then service. MOT 5 months off yet.
At 160k - I'll check what service schedule is other than oil/filter - anyone know?
4th Sep 2017 9:35 pm
pjm-84
Member Since: 04 Oct 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2527
We had a car that lost just under a £1000 a month in depreciation. 3years / 21k miles = £33.5k loss.
My V8 D3 is cheap to run.
4th Sep 2017 9:43 pm
Berty
Member Since: 23 May 2013
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 191
I am also in a similar situation. I have a D3 on 07 plate with 145000 on the clock. I also have a 61 plate MY12 D4. I seem to be spending hundreds on both at very regular intervals.
Like you, I have paid for a lot of maintenance to it. I, therefore, faced a similar decision, do I continue to fund more work (wheel bearing went just last week) or do I look to trade in for something newer.
I have been to look at the new D5, but cannot justify spending 450 a month on a new car, when neither of my current cars has any outstanding debt on them. Also, my D3 is used daily, but it is also used for green lanes and some tame overlanding. Therefore, I should expect higher bills due to how I am using it.
I came to the conclusion that its a gamble either way and better the devil you know.
In order to reduce my spend, I have decided to start to do some of the work myself. I have a good indie garage, but its time I started doing some of the more basic stuff myself, like disks, pads, service etc. Which, for me who normally struggles with a hammer, is going to be interesting.D3 Java Black 57 Plate SE, Night Breakers, Grabber ATs, Sidelight LEDs and best of all - Narpy torch. loads more to buy.
Member Since: 21 Sep 2012
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 24
Yea the missus BMW 118 bought 2 years ago for £22k was valued at £12k p/ex 😳
4th Sep 2017 10:05 pm
JohnnyNapalm
Member Since: 14 Jul 2017
Location: Ramsey
Posts: 184
Whatever you buy it will cost. D3 is a nice place to be even with my cloth interior! Not sure I would want to sell mine given its usefulness. Good luck on your decision.Cheers
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