Hello, newbie here

Hello all,
New member to the forum. Please be easy!
I hope to be purchasing Discovery 4, 3.0V6 diesel HSE spec. I have put down a deposit and wish to inspect between Christmas and New Year.
I have read some great advice on this forum, regarding inspections. I will use this advice and hopefully not buy a lemon....
Owning a Land Rover has been a dream of mine for many years. I hope that this comes true, with minimal heartache...
All the best.
Al

Welcome .

Sorry not my choice of engine in a Land Rover I would look at.
They don’t all blow up, but it’s dam costly if they do.

J

Lets just hope it doesn't blow up then!

I didn’t mean to wee on your fireworks, but please do search here and ask in the discovery section.
there are many issues with any LR purchase that can go un noticed/hidden. So beware and go in fully armed with info.

J

Yes, thank you. I will take a good look at the advice offered. And I am more than prepared to walk away. Any advice is gratefully received.

BigAL Cumbria 1970 said:

Lets just hope it doesn't blow up then!

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He's not joking, they do blow up.
Check out insurance aswell.

Hello and welcome hope the search goes well and dont forget some pics

brianp38dse said:

Hello and welcome hope the search goes well and dont forget some pics

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Thanks for the welcome. I am looking at the car 27th Dec, so will send pics after. Unless its a load of junk of course.

Hi and welcome

Plus 1 what’s already been mentioned

also wouldnt be a bad idea to get a code reader to plug in if u haven’t got one , think this works up to 2014

Amazon product

I did do a buyers guide for a D3 , the D4 is very similar , few tips


ensure u check the suspension goes up and down several times
at slow speed around 10mph dab the brakes and listen out for any knocks
watch the rev counter that it doesn’t fluctuate

hope these few items helps and plse let us know how u get on , plenty of us to help , oh and check insurance quotes as they’ve gone up a lot this year , higher the model the more it will cost

if it’s keyless entry u will pay through the nose for insurance , uncan However turn it off and get a ghost alarm fitted

please ensure u get a full check , look at mot history and if any warrenty comes with it

sort I’m waffling as per usual, lol, plse let us know when u find one ur interested in , always a team effort

ps, ur more than welcome to let us know the reg as can then see if it’s been on any of the Land Rover forums in the past , etc, can send a PM if u prefer

gstuart said:

Plus 1 what’s already been mentioned

also wouldnt be a bad idea to get a code reader to plug in if u haven’t got one , think this works up to 2014

Amazon product

I did do a buyers guide for a D3 , the D4 is very similar , few tips

Disco 3 (LR3) - Buyers guide inc video

this is work in progress for the TDV6 , apologises i can't comment on petrol engines as i haven't owned one accept no responsibility, i put this together in the hopes it may help , this is only a general guide from personally owning a D3 and from learning in what to look for . Choose carefully...

www.landyzone.co.uk

ensure u check the suspension goes up and down several times
at slow speed around 10mph dab the brakes and listen out for any knocks
watch the rev counter that it doesn’t fluctuate

hope these few items helps and plse let us know how u get on , plenty of us to help , oh and check insurance quotes as they’ve gone up a lot this year , higher the model the more it will cost

if it’s keyless entry u will pay through the nose for insurance , uncan However turn it off and get a ghost alarm fitted

please ensure u get a full check , look at mot history and if any warrenty comes with it

sort I’m waffling as per usual, lol, plse let us know when u find one ur interested in , always a team effort

ps, ur more than welcome to let us know the reg as can then see if it’s been on any of the Land Rover forums in the past , etc, can send a PM if u prefer

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Thank you for this - I will take my code reader along with me.
I will also check the suspension and brakes. The motor has a service history (apparently its got full LR service/ independent specialist)
Fortunately, the car comes with 12 month warranty, which I will probably extend for my own peace of mind. If you want to PM me I will send you the reg number. Re the insurance - mine could potentially go up by £330. Which shocked me.
And thank you.
Regards,
Al

gstuart said:

Plus 1 what’s already been mentioned

also wouldnt be a bad idea to get a code reader to plug in if u haven’t got one , think this works up to 2014

Amazon product

I did do a buyers guide for a D3 , the D4 is very similar , few tips

Disco 3 (LR3) - Buyers guide inc video

this is work in progress for the TDV6 , apologises i can't comment on petrol engines as i haven't owned one accept no responsibility, i put this together in the hopes it may help , this is only a general guide from personally owning a D3 and from learning in what to look for . Choose carefully...

www.landyzone.co.uk

ensure u check the suspension goes up and down several times
at slow speed around 10mph dab the brakes and listen out for any knocks
watch the rev counter that it doesn’t fluctuate

hope these few items helps and plse let us know how u get on , plenty of us to help , oh and check insurance quotes as they’ve gone up a lot this year , higher the model the more it will cost

if it’s keyless entry u will pay through the nose for insurance , uncan However turn it off and get a ghost alarm fitted

please ensure u get a full check , look at mot history and if any warrenty comes with it

sort I’m waffling as per usual, lol, plse let us know when u find one ur interested in , always a team effort

ps, ur more than welcome to let us know the reg as can then see if it’s been on any of the Land Rover forums in the past , etc, can send a PM if u prefer

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The current reg number is X3 LRO, was formally LS12 CLU. Any info would be helpful. I have run a search on the car via a reporting website and it has came back clean. But if anyone else knows different, this would help. Thanks again.
Al

BigAL Cumbria 1970 said:

The current reg number is X3 LRO, was formally LS12 CLU. Any info would be helpful. I have run a search on the car via a reporting website and it has came back clean. But if anyone else knows different, this would help. Thanks again.
Al

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hi mate

looking on the mot history it doesn’t look like they’ve kept on top of the brakes

so indeed that will at least give u a heads up of looking at each brake disc and underneath to see if the brake pipes are corroded or just been covered in grease etc

Personally would ask them u want a new mot done before buying it , at least then if they flag any issues will give u chance to knock some money off

that is a very good insurance quote , my renewal was just over £1100 from £500 with no reason, just a massive price increase for all land rovers so if u can get insurance for £330 that’s a bargain

keyless entry landies are getting crucified

ref the warrenty, plse ensure the crankshaft is covered along with the rest of the engine

if u plug ur scanner in and comes up clear they may have cleared it , little trick is to scan it again after the test drive , also ensure on a clear road and safe to do so in booting it hard enough to bring both turbos in, looking in ur rear view mirror for any smoke , get the engine warm first before doing that

if u come across a hill, pull over, then still in drive and take ur foot off the brake , it should not roll back , apply the handbrake and into neutral , back onto the brake and release the handbrake , listen out for any noises

hope that helps

Forgot to say, I think “ car vertical “ is one of the best in checking the history , particularly as the number plate has been changed in case it hides a previous problem

plse let us know how u get on

Welcome,

From what I remember hearing the cams go on those engines. Also what type of easy?? Gentle with advice, mockery or easy to get into bed (if it's the latter you maybe put of luck )

gstuart said:

hi mate

looking on the mot history it doesn’t look like they’ve kept on top of the brakes

so indeed that will at least give u a heads up of looking at each brake disc and underneath to see if the brake pipes are corroded or just been covered in grease etc

Personally would ask them u want a new mot done before buying it , at least then if they flag any issues will give u chance to knock some money off

that is a very good insurance quote , my renewal was just over £1100 from £500 with no reason, just a massive price increase for all land rovers so if u can get insurance for £330 that’s a bargain

keyless entry landies are getting crucified

ref the warrenty, plse ensure the crankshaft is covered along with the rest of the engine

if u plug ur scanner in and comes up clear they may have cleared it , little trick is to scan it again after the test drive , also ensure on a clear road and safe to do so in booting it hard enough to bring both turbos in, looking in ur rear view mirror for any smoke , get the engine warm first before doing that

if u come across a hill, pull over, then still in drive and take ur foot off the brake , it should not roll back , apply the handbrake and into neutral , back onto the brake and release the handbrake , listen out for any noises

hope that helps
View attachment 305543

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Thank you for the sound advice. They are going to put a fresh MoT on the car for me, I hope this will tease out any issues. I will check that the crank shaft issue is covered. I am also going to ask that the 12month warranty is extended to 24 month, for additional peace of mind, which I will obviously pay more for. I am also hoping that they will reduce the price, so I can get the belts changed. Local garage (who specialises in land rovers too) just quoted me nearly £700 for the belts change.
Thanks again for your input.
Kind regards,
Al

BigAL Cumbria 1970 said:

Thank you for the sound advice. They are going to put a fresh MoT on the car for me, I hope this will tease out any issues. I will check that the crank shaft issue is covered. I am also going to ask that the 12month warranty is extended to 24 month, for additional peace of mind, which I will obviously pay more for. I am also hoping that they will reduce the price, so I can get the belts changed. Local garage (who specialises in land rovers too) just quoted me nearly £700 for the belts change.
Thanks again for your input.
Kind regards,
Al

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us so welcome and always a pleasure being able to pass on help to others

great call in regards to extending the warranty and indeed plse ensure the crank is covered , at least then for peace of mind it takes that stress away from u

old saying is the grenade pin has been pulled but don’t know when it will go off

ref the belts that’s a very good price , got to get them done on my D3 in 2024 and cheapest I’ve found so far is £1100 , that is for front and back belts , tensioners , aux belt

assume that also covers ur rear belt , bit more involved on the D4 due to lack of room and is timed , on the D3 the fuel belt isn’t

plus forgot to mention, plse ensure it will go into low range , check the AC, windows etc

indeed the mot will at least see if there any issues covered under a mot

personally had land Rovers 30+ years and confess the D3 is my favourite so far in the way it drives , comfortable , plenty of room and a dream to drive , on the motorway they remain well planted , eat the miles in comfort and surprising how quiet they are

never found another motor that even comes close to it , ur see what I mean when u drive one , will give u a big grin of how nice they are

personally do as much work as I can myself , if u can also do the same ur save urself a fortune , main issues are brakes , wishbones seeing there very heavy around 2.6 tons

hwve found they do take abit more looking after due to the bushes , brakes etc , air suspension compressor filters and silica need checking every few years

plse let us know what u think after ur test drive and plenty of us here to always help u

I really appreciate your assistance here. Thank you. Certainly better and a lot more positive that some of the comments I have received. The Troll in particular seemed very peculiar - I dont understand these people.
Am away to look at the car on the 27th (its in Scotland) so I will report back then.
My current car is a volvo XC70, which has been a super car, although it seems to be super sensitive with the sensors (which are always a storm in a teacup). My big worry with the Landy - which I have always wanted to own- is reliability. I need a reliable car to get me to work and back. As I start early I often get caught out by untreated roads, ice, snow, flooding etc, so 4x4 is a real need of mine. I also shoot, so often find myself up rough tracks, etc. The Volvo has been superb in this regard.
I can work on cars, but literally don't have the time anymore - so would be looking for my local garage to assist - so I need to ensure that the warranty offered is transferable.
Thanks again for your helpful comments and advice.

Ur so very welcome mate and always a team effort

hope all goes well and hope u don’t mind me saying would be worth starting a thread over in the discovery section


totally my fault as I should have said earlier , lol

BigAL Cumbria 1970 said:

I really appreciate your assistance here. Thank you. Certainly better and a lot more positive that some of the comments I have received. The Troll in particular seemed very peculiar - I dont understand these people.

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Don’t worry about it. Not uncommon here for brilliant advice to be mixed in with banter and mick taking especially towards the end of a thread after the definitive answer. It’s all in good fun you’d be surprised how often the one that rips into you will be the one to bend over backwards to help when you really need it. Thick skin you’ll be fine