what are series III diesels like

hi guys im looking at buying a series III 2.25 d what they like and what do i need to look out for

Slow, leaky, probably smokey, noisy and quite possibly unreliable but then they are all bloody old now. Things to look out for are everything.

rust.....the chassis will be made of it

hughesy said:

Slow, leaky, probably smokey, noisy and quite possibly unreliable but then they are all bloody old now. Things to look out for are everything.

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sounds like Buckshot .

Slow dirty and 'orrible - but great fun!!!:5bdriving:

agree with everything above, but you wont stop grinning like an idiot when your driving one ! BRILLIANT !!!!!!
Dave

To be serious first consider that it's a pretty old vehicle and that it will no doubt have had a hard life and been owned by some people who didn't look after it. So you really need to check everywhere for failing components and rot in anything metal. If you're new to series landies a test drive will make it seem absolutely awful. Slow, underpowered, dodgy steering, little or no suspension movement, and you'll be deafened by the noise. Engine wise just do the usual checks that you'd do on any vehicle, ie smoke, fluids, does it start ok when cold, any nasty noises etc. Remember these engines have been around a long time now but many have been looked after and/.or rebuilt and they are basically good and reliable. Don't listen to the old " yeah but they all do that" line from the seller, they don't all do it only knackered ones. If at all possible take someone with you who's familiar with old landies and knows what to look for.

G-man said:

rust.....the chassis will be made of it

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after doing some welding the other day on a 1990 90 a series chassis are more sound and rust less ..... however due to age they can be bad....

my series 3 is awesome reliable as anyother car

BELIVE IT OR NOT I HAVE DRIVEN MINE TO SOUTH DEVON from north norfolk the time i got there i was nearly dealth and shaken to bits but i had no break downs or any problems

good old bus but do need a good looking thought and making sure everything is sound....

Make sure you start it from cold, Check engine, Check rust on bulkhead, doors and sills.

They are not the Quietest:lalala: or fastest 4x4 Going but they are Really Fun and Have lots of Character!

Good Look! :tea::rolly:

P38dseGAV said:

hi guys im looking at buying a series III 2.25 d what they like and what do i need to look out for

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I've had both petrol and diesel series 3's in short and long wheel base, my first landy was a diesel SWB loved it ( could be very noisy at time's if you pushed her too far on road) sadly I had to sell her to get married as-well as one of my shotguns but that is a different story LWB diesels seamed to me to be a little bit slower due to the extra weight, petrols are a lot quieter and a little bit faster, fuel consumption wise there is not much difference between the two engines to worry about.
As everyone else has said check all the usual areas chassis, bulkhead, engine fluid levels and odd noises etc.
Oh one thing though if it is a diesel you look at check it hasn't had a bulkhead fire previously as the earth straps between the engine and the chassis tended to corrode and and brake thus making the engine earth through the stop cable causing a bulkhead fire. That was one of the first things I did with my second diesal was to replace all of the earth straps.
Good luck and happy hunting
When I finally sell my wife's classic I'll be after a series 2A

Of the three SIII LRs I have owned..one was a diesel...I had it way back in 1992.

I went on a road trip in it with my recently divorced cousin (who was a germ warfare specialist at Porton Down and thought he could handle any rugged outdoor lifestyle)...we went down though Ireland from the Ferry port at Dun Laoghaire to Bantry Bay in the far South West. By the end of the trip we both swore that a 1950s Soviet tractor would have been faster, more comfortable and would have provided better heating. For some bizarre reason, it would **** oil out of the filler cap every 50 miles - coating everything in the engine bay. We were overtaken by farmers in ancient agricultural vehicles and my cousin actually lit a fire in the back to try and create some warmth (it was January!). It took a lifetime to make the journey that would maybe have been a mere 8 hours in a 'normal' car. The only real advantage was that our log cabin "residence" was up a steep and slippery mountain track...and with 4WD we managed to make it up to the top where neighbours had failed in lesser vehicles. In those carefree pre-9/11 days I would carry a couple of shotguns, clay pigeons and 100s of shotgun cartridges and 100 cans of bitter in the back!

I now have a petrol SIII and have actually found myself overtaking cars on the motorway (pensioners in small japanese hatchbacks) - but the heater is still crap!! My advice...BUY A PETROL!!