Disco 3 (LR3) Just had my first drive in a disco 3...

Loved my D2 TD5 .

I've just driven my first D3 (a supposedly well sorted 55 plate one at that with 107k on the clocks) and tbh was not overly impressed, wallow heavy steering and now where near as precise on the road as my d2 pursuit on standard springs in all it just felt heavy (yes I know their heavier than D2) ,

Not all bad though, couldn't fault the engine or auto box though (one of smoothest changes ive ever driven with )

I think when the time comes I'll go back to a D2 unless this one had dodgy suspension (no lights on dash)

There's stuff wrong with it, as a correctly working D3 is in a different league compared to the D2 all together. Hell it's not even the same damb sport. My D3 was terrible when I got it. However after replacing all the suspension components, the steering column and the tyres, it drove far better than any D2 could only dream of.

Something wrong there mate, mine feels nice and light on the steering, bit wallowy but it's done 155000 on original suspension in the main, so I can forgive it that. I had D2 pursuit on standard springs, apart from rear coil conversion and the D3 pìsses all over it.

Could be anything making it feel crap, the air bags hold up well apparently so probably dampers/bushes. Heavy steering could just be tyre pressures tbf.

I think they can give a sense of being a bit detatched from the road due to the immense comfort!

I had our d2 and d3 at the same time and hands down the d3 is miles better i would even go as far to say i prefer the d3 ride over my l322 but the l322 is v8 petrol so clearly its better lol seriously our d3 is the best car we have owned.
Lets hope they fix it after some **** drove into it

The D3 is a large wallowy machine compared to just about any other car on the market, I think they are a1/2 a ton heavier than the D2, I reckon a D2 on 18s and with ACE wiould **** all over a D3 around some fast twisty bits.
The steering certainly shouldnt be heavy, one finger to turn the wheel at a standstill at idle.
I find they do need setting up for fast corners and its best not to go with the corner but actually cut in late seems weird but does it well.
Mines well worn at 140k and Im certain it was tighter when I first got it at 100k, the issue with any vehicle on independent air susp is its not cheap to renew the suspension components like the older coilers with live axles.

On the plus side D3 chassis are simply massive compared to the D2 and whilst they have surface rust Ive only heard of a couple that have had serious rust
As usual the sill and the rear wheelarches are going to be their bugbear as they get older.

Ive owned a few Landrovers over the years and I have to say hand on heart this is the only one I have not modded in any way and I still like the car as it just works, sometimes think a D4 would be nice, then think what will a 25k D4 do that my 5k D3 wont?

lynall said:

what will a 25k D4 do that my 5k D3 wont?

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This is what's stopping me looking into chopping the D3 in for D4. I do need to spend on the suspension and some more on the drivetrain but not 10 grand, which is probably how much I'd need to add part ex for a half decent D4.

Plus I don't wince when I'm throwing the kids bikes in, doing tip runs and taking the dog out and about.

1988smithy said:

This is what's stopping me looking into chopping the D3 in for D4. I do need to spend on the suspension and some more on the drivetrain but not 10 grand, which is probably how much I'd need to add part ex for a half decent D4.

Plus I don't wince when I'm throwing the kids bikes in, doing tip runs and taking the dog out and about.

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I think the early D4s are in a difficult area of the use car market, they arent stop start and they arent adblue, both means thye are big tax (570 qquid) and some time soon they are going to get nailed.
I think stop/start was 2014 (cheaper road tax) so we are now into 17/20k territory and adblue was late 2015 65 plate (even cheaper road tax 315 rings a bell) and then we are into 25/30k and thats serious money for what is to most (now we are full of cheap pcp deals) people an older car.

I'll have a word with the lad that owns it in that case, He's showed me all the receipts from the work and its had all its bushes done front and rear by the dealer he's bought it from, theres also receipts for a full left hand cylinder head rebuild at 77k in Portugal due to a dropped valve obviously whilst on Holiday, poor bugger that owned it at time had to cough up €3000 at a main dealer!


only drove it as its got a whine noise on the front at walking pace and at about 50 form the rear when you back off to slowing down, doesn't pulsate so suspect worst case its a shaft bearing or brake caliper starting to sticking and its not the front diff as that was done at 45k from the receipts (£1500 fitted so you saved ya self a wedge rebuilding your own diff @1988smithy ),, lads only just got it and has a 3 month warranty on it so wont cost him owt to get sorted

Re the ride quality felt like dampers were shot rather than than any of the bags as they all work as expected between high and low settings.

LUKBENPHI said:

Re the ride quality felt like dampers were shot rather than than any of the bags as they all work as expected between high and low settings.

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Because of the weight and high centre of gravity, the D3 works the shock hard. They're basically dead at 60K miles, so replacing then on a high miles D3 makes a huge difference, as I found on mine.
A correctly maintained and setup D3 rides and handles very well indeed.

Stiff steering is normally down to the column centre joint going stiff. This makes the column bind in the bearings, giving stiff steering.

The steering in one finger light, when the column can flex.

LUKBENPHI said:

(£1500 fitted so you saved ya self a wedge rebuilding your own diff @1988smithy )

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Wish I'd rebuilt it mate! Just had the one bearing changed but I've still got some grumbles in the drivetrain...would've been £620 to rebuild it so still save a packet diy. It's not actually too bad a job, it's just being on the floor that's a barsteward

Nodge68 said:

There's stuff wrong with it, as a correctly working D3 is in a different league compared to the D2 all together. Hell it's not even the same damb sport. My D3 was terrible when I got it. However after replacing all the suspension components, the steering column and the tyres, it drove far better than any D2 could only dream of.

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I think it depends how you are comparing them. The D3 is heavy and does wallow. Especially compared to a good D2 with working ACE. By comparison the D3 will feel like it leans a lot more and probably feels less sharp and less willing to change direction.

Should probably ride better though.

lynall said:

The D3 is a large wallowy machine compared to just about any other car on the market, I think they are a1/2 a ton heavier than the D2, I reckon a D2 on 18s and with ACE wiould **** all over a D3 around some fast twisty bits.
The steering certainly shouldnt be heavy, one finger to turn the wheel at a standstill at idle.
I find they do need setting up for fast corners and its best not to go with the corner but actually cut in late seems weird but does it well.
Mines well worn at 140k and Im certain it was tighter when I first got it at 100k, the issue with any vehicle on independent air susp is its not cheap to renew the suspension components like the older coilers with live axles.

On the plus side D3 chassis are simply massive compared to the D2 and whilst they have surface rust Ive only heard of a couple that have had serious rust
As usual the sill and the rear wheelarches are going to be their bugbear as they get older.

Ive owned a few Landrovers over the years and I have to say hand on heart this is the only one I have not modded in any way and I still like the car as it just works, sometimes think a D4 would be nice, then think what will a 25k D4 do that my 5k D3 wont?

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I can just about keep up with a D4 on the 60mph twisties, not had the opportunity on tighter ones to find out, but I reckon the weight then would be in my favour, I can just about get front wheel lift on cornering below 40.

Hi

I ended up rebuilding virtually my entire suspension , struts , compressor , wishbones , tank, valve blocks , arb bushes and drop links and haven’t ever found it to wallow round corners and steering as mentioned very light

Was like night and day after I fixed everything and had the alignment done ,

Only ever had a couple D2s decide to sit on my bumper through some twisty lanes as I normally just poodle along, haven’t found one yet who managed to keep up, obviously they weren’t @MJI lol

If it was my old D2 it was fast as fuk but rode like a space hopper, worst handling car I’ve ever had, spent hundreds trying to sort it to no avail,
Chopped it in towards the D3 which is a far better vehicle, competent in everything it does.

Didn't wallow in bends just when going straight ahead over bums. felt like a boat heading out to sea from the harbor when the weathers choppy is best description I can give, you'd hit a bump and then it would continue to move until you hit the next bump and so on and so on

My D2 was on standard rear springs being a run out 5 seat pursuit model and it was one of nicest steering cars ive owned, yes it was no lotus in the bends but steering was light, precise and when driven as a 4x4 I had no issues with the handling but i do drive like a granny it has been said.

LUKBENPHI said:

Didn't wallow in bends just when going straight ahead over bums. felt like a boat heading out to sea from the harbor when the weathers choppy is best description I can give, you'd hit a bump and then it would continue to move until you hit the next bump and so on and so on

My D2 was on standard rear springs being a run out 5 seat pursuit model and it was one of nicest steering cars ive owned, yes it was no lotus in the bends but steering was light, precise and when driven as a 4x4 I had no issues with the handling but i do drive like a granny it has been said.

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Hi

That really sounds like a classic sign of the struts being knackered as a D3 shouldn’t do that

It should also remain well planted at motorway speeds without an wandering

Did make me laugh with ur first line , lol

Quote

Didn't wallow in bends just when going straight ahead over bums.

gstuart said:

Hi

That really sounds like a classic sign of the struts being knackered as a D3 shouldn’t do that

It should also remain well planted at motorway speeds without an wandering

Did make me laugh with ur first line , lol

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Didn't wallow in bends just when going straight ahead over bums.

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HA you're more awake than I am obviously!


Apparently at motorway speed it doesn't wallow/ weave or what ever straight as a dye, I only took it up to 55ish on a bit of A road

LUKBENPHI said:

HA you're more awake than I am obviously!


Apparently at motorway speed it doesn't wallow/ weave or what ever straight as a dye, I only took it up to 55ish on a bit of A road

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Makes a change for me to notice anything at any time of the day

Shame ur first test drive didn’t leave u with a good impression of the D3

Plus 1 ref the gearbox of how smooth the gear changes are

Hope u get to test drive a D3 that’s been properly maintained to see the difference

Plus imagine you’ve already seen this guide I done a while back https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/buyers-guide.312800/

Think there’s around 10 x of us now that own D3s so knowledge base is increasing

gstuart said:

Makes a change for me to notice anything at any time of the day

Shame ur first test drive didn’t leave u with a good impression of the D3

Plus 1 ref the gearbox of how smooth the gear changes are

Hope u get to test drive a D3 that’s been properly maintained to see the difference

Plus imagine you’ve already seen this guide I done a while back https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/buyers-guide.312800/

Think there’s around 10 x of us now that own D3s so knowledge base is increasing

Click to expand...

Yes ive read the guide also read various comments regarding have a £5k petty cash fund to keep it on the road which currently im not able to do so a D3 is off the cards for me for a bit as much as its the sort of car that would suit my needs to a tea.

it was definitely one of those " is this it?" sort of moments

LUKBENPHI said:

Yes ive read the guide also read various comments regarding have a £5k petty cash fund to keep it on the road which currently im not able to do so a D3 is off the cards for me for a bit as much as its the sort of car that would suit my needs to a tea.

it was definitely one of those " is this it?" sort of moments

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5k slush fund is nutsI

Just checked Ive spent 4.8k in 4.5 years, that includess all tyres/brakes/mots basically everything apart from tax and insurance
Couple of batteries, cambelts. ign lock and key set, wheel bearing, rear prop. front driveshaft, some air con pipework, typical land rover stuff really.