Disco 3 (LR3) Land Rover Discovery - Buying

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

Intestinalworm

Well-Known Member
Posts
712
Location
Australia
I've read a bit about the various Disco (and Defender) models. I like my D2 Td5 - they grow on you; the good thing is there's plenty of info out there in the public domain (including here) and parts are readily obtained most of the time for a decent price.

My son just got his licence and wants a Discovery! I've read horror stories about the LR 3 and snapping crankshafts, and I suspect the LR4 is getting too hard to maintain by a DIY mechanic (too many specialised tools required and complicated electrics)? Not too sure! One thing I know, is that with time all the achilees' heels are generally found and often there are fixes (modified parts) brought onto the market to make the vehicles more reliable, so with that, what would be the best Disco to buy - least amount of headaches for a young driver and DIY mechanic?
 
Intestinalworm said:
I've read a bit about the various Disco (and Defender) models. I like my D2 Td5 - they grow on you; the good thing is there's plenty of info out there in the public domain (including here) and parts are readily obtained most of the time for a decent price.

My son just got his licence and wants a Discovery! I've read horror stories about the LR 3 and snapping crankshafts, and I suspect the LR4 is getting too hard to maintain by a DIY mechanic (too many specialised tools required and complicated electrics)? Not too sure! One thing I know, is that with time all the achilees' heels are generally found and often there are fixes (modified parts) brought onto the market to make the vehicles more reliable, so with that, what would be the best Disco to buy - least amount of headaches for a young driver and DIY mechanic?
Click to expand...

hi

don’t know if you’ve seen it but done a buyers guide for the D3

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

However at the end if the day I think the insurance might be a too expensive for ur son

indeed the electrics can be abit of a nightmare but with decent diagnostics and some time can find the issues , some a lot easier than others

there’s always the D3 4.4 V8 if he won’t be using it everyday , alas though again insurance will be high , also know there’s some who think the air suspension is difficult to repair which it isn’t , system is quite straight forward once getting a good understanding of it

hope the above helps a little
 
Intestinalworm said:
Just trying to find one with low mileage I guess - I'll tell him to keep looking for a decent TDI (with HG replaced) or a Td5, and maybe steer clear of D3s and D4s with all their added complexity and unreliability (and expensive spares)!
Click to expand...
Rust is usually the biggest killer of 300 tdi Discos, but in Oz it may well be not such a problem.
As for a new HG, don't know why you are bothered, they don't seem to be a problem over here, unless someone has cooked the engine, obvs. mine has done 170k miles odd and no problems with the HG.
 
Intestinalworm said:
What does the 300 stand for? TDI = turbo diesel injection? This is another name for the D1? Manufactured 1994 - 1998?
Easy to maintain is a big deal!
Click to expand...
yes, exactly, re TDI.
300?
Dunno, differentiates it from the earlier 200 and again there, although the engine is very different in layout it is still much the same if that makes any sense.
The full name is Land Rover Discovery 300 tdi.
and for anything else you'll need help from Wikipedia or others on here who know more!
I just drive and maintain mine!
 
Stanleysteamer said:
Rust is usually the biggest killer of 300 tdi Discos, but in Oz it may well be not such a problem.
As for a new HG, don't know why you are bothered, they don't seem to be a problem over here, unless someone has cooked the engine, obvs. mine has done 170k miles odd and no problems with the HG.
Click to expand...
Didn't they all have the plastic dowels?
 
Intestinalworm said:
Didn't they all have the plastic dowels?
Click to expand...
As far as I know the plastic dowels were only on TD5s and contrary to popular belief, they are not a problem, they are there to ensure the head and its gasket are accurately placed before putting in the new bolts and tightening them down. The bolts do NOT put the HG and head in the right place, they don't fit closely enough into the holes, but once tightened down they obvs hold it all in the right place.
The dowels aren't there to stop it moving sideways! That would be well barmy!
BUT if it came with plastic replace with plastic, if it came with steel ones then replace with steel. Otherwise you are swapping apples with oranges. Some on here will argue with this, but the people I have discussed this with are all proper LR mechanics, people like James Martin, and they'll say the same, or should! Land Rover engine designers did actually know what they were doing, hard though it may seem to be able to believe!
There is very little similarity between the 300 tdi engine and the TD5 engine, you only have to look at the cylinder heads and all that goes on in a TD5 engine to see that. The tdi is much more traditional.
 
Yes, I have read opposing opinions re plastic dowels - as you said, makes sense that they are only there for the initial locating of the head - the bolts (new) and gasket do all the sealing work. The 300TDI engine sounds good then (simpler than even the Td5 engine). Might be the go - as someone said, rust over here is not as big an issue as in the UK (with the salt on the roads especially).
 
Intestinalworm said:
Yes, I have read opposing opinions re plastic dowels - as you said, makes sense that they are only there for the initial locating of the head - the bolts (new) and gasket do all the sealing work. The 300TDI engine sounds good then (simpler than even the Td5 engine). Might be the go - as someone said, rust over here is not as big an issue as in the UK (with the salt on the roads especially).
Click to expand...
:):):)
And they can be quite easily tuned if one wants to improve the performance.
I personally simply fitted a sports exhaust in stainless. That made a heck of a difference to both performance and fuel consumption. It takes off from a standstill much better than standard, which has a bit of a tendecny to bog down.
Others fit bigger intercoolers and change the turbo and the fuelling. I am tempted to fit an intercooler from a Range Rover as they are probably a lot cheaper. But once you do this you start effect the fuel consumption. I bought mine cos it vcould tow 3.5 tonnes and it did 30 to the gallon.
 
gstuart said:
hi

don’t know if you’ve seen it but done a buyers guide for the D3

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

However at the end if the day I think the insurance might be a too expensive for ur son

indeed the electrics can be abit of a nightmare but with decent diagnostics and some time can find the issues , some a lot easier than others

there’s always the D3 4.4 V8 if he won’t be using it everyday , alas though again insurance will be high , also know there’s some who think the air suspension is difficult to repair which it isn’t , system is quite straight forward once getting a good understanding of it

hope the above helps a little
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link to the buyer's guide!
 
Stanleysteamer said:
:):):)
And they can be quite easily tuned if one wants to improve the performance.
I personally simply fitted a sports exhaust in stainless. That made a heck of a difference to both performance and fuel consumption. It takes off from a standstill much better than standard, which has a bit of a tendecny to bog down.
Others fit bigger intercoolers and change the turbo and the fuelling. I am tempted to fit an intercooler from a Range Rover as they are probably a lot cheaper. But once you do this you start effect the fuel consumption. I bought mine cos it vcould tow 3.5 tonnes and it did 30 to the gallon.
Click to expand...

Geez - 30mpg!
 
Intestinalworm said:
Geez - 30mpg!
Click to expand...


30 miles to the gallon ha ha don't you believe it
Genuine 20 mpg around town.
23 to 25 mpg general running around.
25 to 28 miles to gallon at 70 miles an hour on cruise.
Give it too much loud pedal and all them figures will drop.
You can always tell a V8 Land Rover of any model when you see it on the motorway as they are the ones going the same speed as the trucks!
 
Intestinalworm said:
Yes, I have read opposing opinions re plastic dowels - as you said, makes sense that they are only there for the initial locating of the head - the bolts (new) and gasket do all the sealing work. The 300TDI engine sounds good then (simpler than even the Td5 engine). Might be the go - as someone said, rust over here is not as big an issue as in the UK (with the salt on the roads especially).
Click to expand...


From Wikipedia:

It transpired that the Td5's electronics were highly reliable. Early engines suffered two isolated mechanical failures—sudden and complete failure of the oil pump drive and 'cylinder head shuffle' caused by weak retaining studs. Both these faults were fixed within 2 years of the engine starting production and the Td5 is now considered highly reliable.

So there is debate about the dowels then - wonder who authored the Wikipedia entry?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
Buying advice
Replies
7
Views
1K
new to all this
new to all this
L
Rear heated switch( panel land rover discovery 3)
Replies
5
Views
556
LR-hobbs
L
Jasonmichael
Toying with the idea of buying a Discovery 4.....
Replies
6
Views
678
biketeacherdave
biketeacherdave
S
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3.0L 306DT I WANT TO FIT A GEN 1 ENGINE INTO A GEN 2
Replies
1
Views
391
lynall
L
VeerVoet
Land Rover Discovery Series II Td5 - Common Fixes
Replies
0
Views
238
VeerVoet
VeerVoet
Back
Top