Disco 3 (LR3) High Mileage Commercial Disco, Pitfalls?

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spitfire

Active Member
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Location
Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham
Hi, After having 2 Disco 2 V8s the last one I stripped out and ran as a van I'm pretty conversant with all the problems that afflicted the MkII. I had to convert the last one back and sell it on as the fuel bills were crippling me and bought a van, which is more practical, cheap to run but mind bogglingly boring, so I've purchased (sight unseen) a high mileage (185K) 2006 Commercial Disco 3.
It has a full history and had a new clutch last year but what do I need to look at before handing over the balance of the cash. Will these engines do starship mileages as I've heard of crankshafts breaking at relatively low miles. Is taking a high miler a recipe for disaster? I'm assuming to rack up that mileage it must have spent a good deal of time on the motorway, presumably that's better for the car than town driving.
If anyone could give me an idea of what to look out for I'd be most grateful. Thanks
 
Hi

I done a buyers guide which may help u of what to look out for

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

Main things are belts 105,000 miles or 7 x years and the having the updated oil pump cover

Read many that have done 250-300,000 miles

Ref the cranks there doesn’t seem to be any way to prevent or identify what engines numbers , happens in 2.7 and 3.0 litre
 
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Bought unseen!!! a Landrover hope you haven't paid for it till you drive,look and check it out...you've owned before you must no the pitfalls...
 
The main problem with any commercial vehicle is they are treated like crap for their entire lives.
High mileage isnt an issue itself, its the unusual stuff that can wear out in them miles diffs/t-fer boxes and other mileage related issues.
185k in 12 yrs is only 15k per year, many private cars do more than that.
 
spitfire said:
Will these engines do starship mileages as I've heard of crankshafts breaking at relatively low miles.
Click to expand...

It's possible for a good TDV6 to do 400K plus miles. Some engines are breaking cranks, but it appears that if that's going to happen, it'll do it before 100K miles. So in theory if it's gone past the 60-80K failure miles, then it has a better chance of lasting.
I personally would avoid a manual box as the clutchs last very little time. I've seen a D3 manual clutch all done at 25K miles.
Front diffs are a week point too, generally getting noisy after 100K miles. A diff rebuild is expensive, unless you do it yourself (not as hard as it sounds).
Hopefully that helps.
Oh you're going to need a good diagnostic tool too, as the D3 is packed with electronic doodads.
 
Nodge68 said:
It's possible for a good TDV6 to do 400K plus miles. Some engines are breaking cranks, but it appears that if that's going to happen, it'll do it before 100K miles. So in theory if it's gone past the 60-80K failure miles, then it has a better chance of lasting.
I personally would avoid a manual box as the clutchs last very little time. I've seen a D3 manual clutch all done at 25K miles.
Front diffs are a week point too, generally getting noisy after 100K miles. A diff rebuild is expensive, unless you do it yourself (not as hard as it sounds).
Hopefully that helps.
Oh you're going to need a good diagnostic tool too, as the D3 is packed with electronic doodads.
Click to expand...


Doodad, Im going to have to sneak that into one of my conversations at work next week:D
 
Well I've been and gone and bought it and for a high miler it goes very well. Major worry is the handbrake as it is completely furbarred. If you activate it, it make the most god awful noise until the dash light comes on and then you have to use the emergency unlock device. To be fair the seller was upfront with the fault though and thought a good clean out would sort it, though I think a new module is more likely, the seller was good enough to knock a couple of hundred off. Can the handbrake module be repaired or is it a new replacement only?
Needs a few other bits sorting, lower tailgate has to be slammed shut and then wrenched open so something somewhere is bent and there are a few bits of trim missing, otherwise should be ok for a couple of years..... I hope
 
You may find the EPB moduel is ok and its a snapped cable or the shoes/linkages have parted company
The EPB moduls are over 500 quid, so the seller may not have been as generous as you thought!
 
spitfire said:
Well I've been and gone and bought it and for a high miler it goes very well. Major worry is the handbrake as it is completely furbarred. If you activate it, it make the most god awful noise until the dash light comes on and then you have to use the emergency unlock device. To be fair the seller was upfront with the fault though and thought a good clean out would sort it, though I think a new module is more likely, the seller was good enough to knock a couple of hundred off. Can the handbrake module be repaired or is it a new replacement only?
Needs a few other bits sorting, lower tailgate has to be slammed shut and then wrenched open so something somewhere is bent and there are a few bits of trim missing, otherwise should be ok for a couple of years..... I hope
Click to expand...
There’s a company in Blackburn who advertise on eBay, they can repair the modules also if you take the car to them they can remove and refit it.
I had mine repaired and refitted by them and it’s been good since
Item no. 132651421350
 
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spitfire said:
Well I've been and gone and bought it and for a high miler it goes very well. Major worry is the handbrake as it is completely furbarred. If you activate it, it make the most god awful noise until the dash light comes on and then you have to use the emergency unlock device. To be fair the seller was upfront with the fault though and thought a good clean out would sort it, though I think a new module is more likely, the seller was good enough to knock a couple of hundred off. Can the handbrake module be repaired or is it a new replacement only?
Needs a few other bits sorting, lower tailgate has to be slammed shut and then wrenched open so something somewhere is bent and there are a few bits of trim missing, otherwise should be ok for a couple of years..... I hope
Click to expand...

Hi

If u don’t mind me saying , First thing I would do , is to strip the handbrake shoes down first , never know may be lucky and just need replacing / adjusting

Here’s a great write up how to for the brakes ,

https://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/11748/Bodsys_Brake_Bible_V1_6a_CompressPics.pdf

Hope it helps

PS, have all the belts and oil pump cover been done
 
johnlad said:
There’s a company in Blackburn who advertise on eBay, they can repair the modules also if you take the car to them they can remove and refit it.
I had mine repaired and refitted by them and it’s been good since
Item no. 132651421350
Click to expand...

JLR really put the EPB module in a very handy place to get to them, dont u think, lol
 
Thank you so much for the brake fitting guide, very informative and has given me the hope that cleaning and replacing the shoes might just work. Failing that a trip to Blackburn seems to be on the cards. Thanks again for the info. I'll let you know how I get on. Oh and the car came with a comprehensive set of Service Invoices, one of which was for a cambelt at 110k, I guess I'll have to get it done again next year. Cheers Ian
 
spitfire said:
Thank you so much for the brake fitting guide, very informative and has given me the hope that cleaning and replacing the shoes might just work. Failing that a trip to Blackburn seems to be on the cards. Thanks again for the info. I'll let you know how I get on. Oh and the car came with a comprehensive set of Service Invoices, one of which was for a cambelt at 110k, I guess I'll have to get it done again next year. Cheers Ian
Click to expand...

Hi

Pleased it helped and indeed never know u may be lucky

This company is very reputable regarding parts , use the code ADVLRF and they give a 5% discount

https://www.advancedfactors.co.uk/land-rover-discovery-3-l319-2005-2009-1-c.asp

Belts are indeed every 105,000 miles or 7 x years , which ever comes first

Have a look through the receipts to see if they done the rear belt , heard where some companies don’t do them, the rear belt is for the fuel pump , also the upgraded oil pump cover

Plse let us know how u get on with the brakes
 
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