Disco 3 (LR3) Issue with potential purchase

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Charles Banbury

Charles Banbury

Active Member
Posts
114
Location
Oxfordshire
Good morning. I am looking for a Disco 3 for occasional use and have come up with one locally. It’s a 2005 manual with about 160k. It’s had a recent full service and a new turbo but being sold as spares or repair due to a handbrake fault. I have done loads of reading about the electronic handbrake problems but no one else seems to have this issue.
The brake works when the car is off. It also disengages when the car is running. However when you put the handbrake on again after driving, it works but throws an error on the dash. This clears when you restart the car but the same then happens again. Could it be detecting some resistance due to crap in the mechanism? Also, the car will rise on the air suspension switch but not lower again to the normal position. However, it does return to normal when driving. Nackered switch? Could this be related to the whole console being damaged and consequently the handbrake switch? Other than that and the AC not working all seems good for about 2500. Are there any other cars for sale out there?
Many thanks,
Charles.
 
Charles Banbury said:
Good morning. I am looking for a Disco 3 for occasional use and have come up with one locally. It’s a 2005 manual with about 160k. It’s had a recent full service and a new turbo but being sold as spares or repair due to a handbrake fault. I have done loads of reading about the electronic handbrake problems but no one else seems to have this issue.
The brake works when the car is off. It also disengages when the car is running. However when you put the handbrake on again after driving, it works but throws an error on the dash. This clears when you restart the car but the same then happens again. Could it be detecting some resistance due to crap in the mechanism? Also, the car will rise on the air suspension switch but not lower again to the normal position. However, it does return to normal when driving. Nackered switch? Could this be related to the whole console being damaged and consequently the handbrake switch? Other than that and the AC not working all seems good for about 2500. Are there any other cars for sale out there?
Many thanks,
Charles.
Click to expand...

Up your budget and buy one that's not a project motor unless you got time and cash to burn, can turn into money pits real fast if you're not careful.
 
Plus 1 , indeed can turn into money pits , half decent one ur looking around £6-7k

Also must check the belts and oil pump have been done

Worse scenario U might end up having to fit , new EPB module , air compressor and AC condenser which if u do the work urself are looking around £1.5 k , but of course might be higher or lower

Also factor in a diagnostic reader as it’s a must with these vehicles , £405

If ur not sure take someone with u who knows these well, I also done a buyers guide of what to look out for

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

There’s around 10 x of us here that own D3s so know there traits , lol
 
dieseldog69 said:
Up your budget and buy one that's not a project motor unless you got time and cash to burn, can turn into money pits real fast if you're not careful.
Click to expand...

Ur not wrong there , heard so many horror stories of people buying them cheap without knowing there pitfalls

Alas know I got mine as a project but knew what I was getting into :)
 
As Gary said. I'd spend more and not buy a project. I'd also avoid a manual box, unless you like doing clutch changes every 30K miles.

And avoid a D3 altogether if you're on a tight budget, and can't keep a £5K contingency fund to hand. Unfortunately the TDV6 can suffer terminal engine failure out of nowhere, without prior warning.
 
Nodge68 said:
As Gary said. I'd spend more and not buy a project. I'd also avoid a manual box, unless you like doing clutch changes every 30K miles.

And avoid a D3 altogether if you're on a tight budget, and can't keep a £5K contingency fund, as they can suffer terminal engine failure out of nowhere.
Click to expand...

The D3 does not lend itself to being run on a shoe string and requires looking after not just driving once they are out of that magical warranty period, sensors and electronics fail and are a massive make up of the D3, it was a highly technological innovation in vehicle technology and implementation at it's inception and some of that is now showing with having seen some immaculate cars in scrap yards that owners simply don't have the money to throw at any longer with professional garages and auto sparks trying to solve problems that they don't quite understand.

D1 200Tdi all day long and invest in a welder and a subscription to Dinitrol :)
 
dieseldog69 said:
The D3 does not lend itself to being run on a shoe string
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Mine was a 1 owner (LR dealer manager), with full dealer history (same dealer). In the 2 years I had it, it cost me over £2.5K in parts (admittedly that includes 4 Pirelli tyres), and fixing bodges. Keep in mind that I did all the spanner work. If I'd been paying for that, then the costs would have tripped!! I eventually got fed up of spending 2 days a month replacing the next failed part, so I sold it and went back to a FL1. Sure the Discovery 3 was an awesome vehicle to drive, and very comfortable, but it's thirst for components made it unrealistic as an every day vehicle.
 
Last edited:
Nodge68 said:
Absolutely. Mine was a 1 owner (LR dealer manager), with full dealer history (same dealer). In the 2 years I had it, it cost me over £2.5K in parts (admittedly that includes 4 Pirelli tyres), and fixing bodges. Keep in mind that I did all the spanner work. If I'd been paying for that, then the costs would have tripped!! I eventually got fed up of spending 2 days a month replacing the next failed part, so I sold it and went back to a FL1. Sure the Discovery 3 was am awesome vehicle to drive, and very comfortable, but it's thirst for components made it unrealistic as an every day vehicle.
Click to expand...

I'm torn over FL ownership as well as my Discovery, don't get me wrong, the Disco is progressing towards killer trail and off road vehicle but FL is the family car that needs only a set of all terrains to be competent on green lanes.
 
I like my D3 quite a lot, but would be very hesistant in recommending one to anyone who, A isnt rich or B cant diy.

On the plus side they will never be as crap as a P38:D

I think the thing with decent cars being scrapped due to cost of weird repairs starterd with the likes of the Reanault Laguna as I can remember local scrappy having a few newish ones in.
 
Thanks very much for such sage advice. I had a RR TDV8 for years and loved it but did spend a fortune on preventative maintenance. Have moved to a Mercedes for every day but need something for the winter and trips to the dump!
Would this eBay car be better?
202641115284
I am not on a tight budget but just want a reliable old vehicle that will be available occasionally, hence not spending much. Could always buy a Fourtrack? Is that allowed here!!
Any other ideas gratefully received.
Many thanks again.
C.
 
Charles Banbury said:
Would this eBay car be better?
Click to expand...

D2's are a fine tool - BUT, they do suffer from rot, usually in the rear chassis, but certainly not unknown in the body :(

MUCH simpler than a D3, but .... though the issues are slightly more simple, and potentially better known .... you'll still need diagnostics IMHO.

However..... Having looked at the MOT history for this vehicle - it appears that the MOT has been used to find the faults with it - which indicates a lack of basic maintenance. .... AND a pretty poor attitude to the thing ... and it appears to be throughout its life :rolleyes: - I have attached it to this post too ;)

IMHO, spend more, and get something with less miles, less ( or repaired ) corrosion, a service history, and with all the bulbs working !!!!

Seriously, FFS, a bulb kit is a few pounds, and all that is necessary is a couple of mins to change it, and the job is jobbed .... It is easily 30 years since i had a bulb fail during the MOT, and the garage just sold me a bulb, which I fitted ( it worked ) = tester happy AND thus test passed :)
 

Attachments

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@Charles Banbury .... If you are looking for an occasional use 4x4, then, personally, I'd forget the oil burners and go V8 :) They tend to be lower mileage, and tend to be in better condition ..... I would suggest looking at something along the lines of this:-

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352630635818

Apologies for the price :oops: - this is just an example;) - BUT, the thing is, this is a Japanese market re-import, and therefore worth the money given the 60K miles.

( and you'll still need diagnostics :rolleyes: )
 
Thanks Chaps, I have had a look at the MOT history and, as you say, it’s a bit of a car crash. I have had a couple of P38 V8. One had a liner slip but was so cheap it didn’t matter, the other was fantastic. Will do a search for a disco V8. Does anyone know of a car out there that might be on offer? Can’t thank you all enough for your help and advice.
With regards,
Charles.
 
I think as its only for minor use I would be looking at a series 3 still cheap to buy and no diagnostics needed, mega cheap insurance and free road tax.
 
Is there any vehicle we have not covered? The poster must be more confused then ever. If its cheapness and reliability you need then buy a Jap pick up. If its character and a bit of a hobby then buy a Land Rover.
 
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