Pitfalls of a Disco 3

Hi all

sold my old 90 a few weeks back, it was a shame but 22 years old, rusty chassis, second vehicle - she had to go.

I am planning to now sell my Merc E320 estate, to help fund a Disco 3.

I will have about £10K budget, and I dont know too much about Discos, so would appreciate some advice.

I see some have road tax of £500 per year and others £285? Why is that?

A couple that have caught my eye? Sensible comments very much appreciated.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201412049449029?atcide=emc-cars-EAF004

annoying, I cant link to autotrader

If you are looking to buy a D3 with that sort of budget, go for one with a FSH, be sure to get famliar with the service requirements and intervals to check when it should have been done.

Settle for nothing less than everything working as it should, if it has had a retro fit of the coil-overs run for the hills, there were precious few of them ever made so be warned!!!

You will hear lots of comments of it being the death of you but they really have far worse press than they deserve.

Get one registered before Mar 06 for the cheaper road tax..

Awesome vehicles, as previously said, just check everything's works as it should.
Would have to be a TDV6 HSE for me with all the toys but out of my budget.
Go for a 2005/early 06 to avoid £500 RFL.
Yes they have their share of problems But what other vehicle in the world is is "100% reliable" ?
Not as DIY as a 'fender, or old Disco but completely different machines. First thing I would buy would be a diagnostic tool for her(£300ish)
Keep a few quid spare for any potential repairs that will need doing so you get no surprises and enjoy!!

thanks so far guys, what is the retro fit of the coil overs?

johnnyoxford said:

thanks so far guys, what is the retro fit of the coil overs?

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Suspension, most came out the factory with electronically height adjustable air suspension (fecking awesome) however can be expensive to repair.

If someone is expecting a large repair bill, they could convert to coils to save £££

understood, thanks for that - I suppose if that had been done then the controls for the height adjustment would do nothing?

robhew86 said:

Suspension, most came out the factory with electronically height adjustable air suspension (fecking awesome) however can be expensive to repair.

If someone is expecting a large repair bill, they could convert to coils to save £££

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is the Disco 3 generally regarded as a bad vehicle? I had never heard that to be honest, but there seems to be a bit of antipathy on here?

johnnyoxford said:

understood, thanks for that - I suppose if that had been done then the controls for the height adjustment would do nothing?

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Essentially, yes, no longer any height adjustment in the suspension.

johnnyoxford said:

is the Disco 3 generally regarded as a bad vehicle? I had never heard that to be honest, but there seems to be a bit of antipathy on here?

Click to expand...

Hmm.... Yes they have their problems, they are complicated bits of kit compared to D1's and 2's however they cannot be compared, completely different machines.
A lot of people on here are DIY's, the D3 is not so DIY friendly as other older LR models.

thanks I can understand that, I have spent the past 3 years in both camps. I had the 90 200tdi defender, nuts and bolts and very straightforward.

Alongside the mercedes with a sensor to even tell you if the number plate bulb had blown, and so clever(???) that if you replaced it with a bulb of a different wattage then you still had a fault.

So I do understand the newer vehicles lack that hands onability.

owt goes wrong, answer big bank account! DIY very limited

I would have a DIII in a heartbeat if my budget allowed! Have driven several and they really are awesome machines.

In terms of all driving aspects they are light years better then their predecessors.

Dave

They have a few annoying things to look out for if when you start it it comes up with a list of faults like -HTC fault - suspension fault - transmission fault etc then it may be just a kaput battery also find out if the alternator has been replaced if not put a small fund away for when that gets you (DIY if you can deal with fiddly), if its plus 100k see if its had the big service as thats £1000. if its slow accelerating egr valves but you can block them for less then £50 then Obviously suspension air bags thats what ive been through with my old mans 2005 hse tdv6

oh and if you put a single filament bulb in place of the brake light when your auto headlights come on it won't change out of first gear :crazy: :crazy:

After running a s2 tdi and a 90 200 for the last 4 years I decided I deserved a bit of comfort, so today picked up an 06 metropolis, only done 60 miles so far and have noted the following
It handles real nice
It goes way better than the 200 tdi, which lets be honest isnt hard?
Real comfy, lovely seats, nice radio, cant hear the engine at all unless hoofing it big style.
Overall very impressed.
Bound to go wrong as its a car, but internet and a box of spanners will soon sort that out.
Ive had every variation of disco pre D3 and its a world apart.