Help buying a Discovery 3 - what should I look out for?

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.

twinter

New Member
Posts
2
I'm looking to buy a Discovery 3 - probably HSE - around a 57 plate and wondered what issues I should look out for. Ideally I'll get one which has had the cam belt replaced already but what other problems should I be aware of at the 130-150,000 mile mark? Any tips would really be appreciated. If anyone has one to sell then let me know!
 
I'm looking to buy a Discovery 3 - probably HSE - around a 57 plate and wondered what issues I should look out for. Ideally I'll get one which has had the cam belt replaced already but what other problems should I be aware of at the 130-150,000 mile mark? Any tips would really be appreciated. If anyone has one to sell then let me know!

hi and welcome to the asylum

plse pop over into the discovery section

i done a buyers guide to which i hope will be of use to u

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/buyers-guide.312800/

one of the other things is to ensure when the belts are replaced, ( ind the rear belt ) that the oil pump cover has been replaced, they break and can cause irretrievable damage to the engine

any questions plse feel free to ask

where abouts in the uk are u please

gary
 
Also look at dedicated site such 'disco3.co.uk and get a more informed opinions from lots of owners, and then u may wish to change you mind. :)
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/

also found that site to be extremely helpful

the amount of electronics can certainly put some people off, but i've found with a good diagnostic reader it does considerably simplify fault finding
 
also found that site to be extremely helpful

the amount of electronics can certainly put some people off, but i've found with a good diagnostic reader it does considerably simplify fault finding

I'd agree with that in general terms.
Diagnostic devices for the DIY market have been improving continously over the last decade or so and because manufacturers are including more and more electronics and automation in their vehicles, it's something which owners are going to have to get to grips with. Either that or bite the bullet of having to put the vehicle into a garage for everything.
Another thing I think that owners who want to maintain their own vehicles are going to have to get used to is that such electronics will have to be treated as discrete devices and should a fault occur then the whole unit might need to be changed. After all, if a wheel bearing starts to fail, we don't pull it apart to change the individual rollers or ball bearings.
The downside is that owners are probably going to have to learn to read wiring diagrams at a greater depth and realise that there will be some items which can be replaced and other times it's going to be the whole unit.
 
I'd agree with that in general terms.
Diagnostic devices for the DIY market have been improving continously over the last decade or so and because manufacturers are including more and more electronics and automation in their vehicles, it's something which owners are going to have to get to grips with. Either that or bite the bullet of having to put the vehicle into a garage for everything.
Another thing I think that owners who want to maintain their own vehicles are going to have to get used to is that such electronics will have to be treated as discrete devices and should a fault occur then the whole unit might need to be changed. After all, if a wheel bearing starts to fail, we don't pull it apart to change the individual rollers or ball bearings.
The downside is that owners are probably going to have to learn to read wiring diagrams at a greater depth and realise that there will be some items which can be replaced and other times it's going to be the whole unit.

agreed , when i had my freelander i just had the hawkeye then stepping up to the iid reader i saw straight away how advanced the diagnostic reader had in this instance become

finding that mine only being the base model of some 15 x ecus controllling different parts of the system

think my days from diagnosing boilers etc and following wiring diagrams has indeed helped me considerably with the electronically heavy disco

also learning how a simple blown bulb can throw up all sorts of issues , but with a decent multimeter and diagnostic reader makes it considerably easier to trace system errors

alas , as they advance and with the introduction of more and more electronics know it's the case of having to keep up if i'm to continue doing all the work myself

as u quite rightly say, got to accept and being able to understand and read wiring diagrams is a must with these modern vehicles , also knowing how to use a clamp / multimeter is a cert

more importantly by having a decent diagnostic reader it has saved me at least 1k , with the added convenience for myself to get the dtcs, turn configurations on/off and update ecus within the system

alas , i feel it is what it is regarding electronics that are fitted within the structures of our modern day cars , as within less than 5 x years they will become even more surmountably more complicated and know our average diy skills will have to advance accordingly to allow us to carry on working on them ourselves
 
Last edited:
Wow thanks guys I'll have a look through the guide and the forum. I've since been wondering about biting the bullet and going for a Disco4 - still weighing up options. Is the belt still an issue on those? And anything else?
 
Wow thanks guys I'll have a look through the guide and the forum. I've since been wondering about biting the bullet and going for a Disco4 - still weighing up options. Is the belt still an issue on those? And anything else?

hi , have a read though my buyers guide , included what to look out for

don't know much about the D4 , if u do get one and it's the keyless option, make sure u get the software update as they are being nicked within 2 x mins , thieves are using a hack via the obd2 port and driving them away

the d4 has the 3 litre twin turbo v6 ,

belts are also to be replaced , every 7 x years , can't remember if it's the same for the D4 , all dependent on year , with different mods etc

hope that helps
 
Back
Top