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Considering moving on from my Disco 1, was totally set on a Defender 300tdi until this months LRM landed on the mat!
I've heard all sorts of horror stories about D3, Electronic this that and the other going wrong and costing a mint to repair!
Best people to ask I recon is you guys out there who own or have knowledge of them first hand!
My dilemma is simple! Buy a 90 and do work on it to get it to the point that the Mrs will actually get in it and go places, OR Buy the luxury so its not an issue!
Ill be looking to do a bit of middle of the road off reading but nothing to mental! Green laning and not a mass of that!
The lack of corrosion is a big pull ill be honest and the toys available on D3.
On the other hand Defender is in my heart! But it will cost me for what I want!
Any help gladly received !

Lack of corrosion on a D3 !
Bloody rubbish.

I would love a D3 but the truth is they're a money pit and i'm not a rich man so will sadly avoid!

eightinavee said:

Lack of corrosion on a D3 !
Bloody rubbish.

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Ok! Not really looked into it but where do they corrode?

Anyone read the article in LRM?

well iv got a 89 defender had d1s and d2s in the past and brought a d3 a couple of months ago don't get me wrong im a lro merchanic by trade so labour wise doesn't cost me nothing only parts but when I got the car it needed rear arms front lower arm bushes cambelts and odds and sods doing on it but there stuff that will need doing on any d3 or d4 when it gets that age for that matter yes stuff goes wrong with them but what car doesn't and mechanical stuff you can do diy on them at home there at the money now where there affordable to the working man just my opnion

cheers mike

Cheers Mike! I'm not adverse to a bit of DIY but the big lump of plastic under the bonnet confuses me ill be honest! Any other stuff ill take on! What's your honest opinion on mechanically? Is it a must to know someone with a diagnostic box? I'd be looking at high millage so would not be buying without FSH and cam done at a minimum!
I really do fancy one but with a 90 300 I'd be able to do 90% of the repairs myself!
Just looking for a shove in the right direction!

well any dianogstic comp will work with it don't get me wrong they don't all do the ins and outs !mines a 2005 manual s had leather done its done 113k not to bad of nick I spent 1k on parts tidying it up and wear and tear stuff but a good percentage of the stuff I done either wount need doing for another 100k or again .I sold my rangerover td6 then brought my defender I do love my defender and I was using it everyday but it did start getting a bit annoying as a everyday car hence why I brought the d3 and the price your pay for a defender in very good nick will buy you the d3 but its easy to say as I have both !!! also you hear of these big bills all the time people have with them well a good percentage of that is bad maintence they leave stuff each service when its reported year after year until it all comes at once cheers mike

This makes me feel better about my D3 purchase now too

You never know till you get one. I got mine at the end of April and so far done ALL of the oils including having a gearbox megaflush. Cleared sunroof drains and fixed one as it ended in the drivers footwell!!!
Over tthe last 6 weeks I have had a droning noise coming from the front, my first thought was my diff.
I thought it can't be, so I changed both front hub bearings! Noise still there, so it is going for a diff overhaul next Wednesday which I won't do myself :-(
I was toying with the idea of selling it and buying a Suzuki Alto to run about in and a Defender 300tdi as my toy/fun!!

......but the car is just FANTASTIC and can't part with it, yet anyway!
Like somone said before, most problems are due to lack of maintenance, but that is not always the owners fault. Probably Landrover with there ideas of changing diff oils every 150,000 miles and transfer case oil at 75k. Come on, it is a 3 tonne beast that needs a bit more tlc than that!!!!!!

Thanks Guys, I'm on the drawing board with this at the moment! I have to say I have always fancied a D3 but am still slightly scared by repair bills if I get it wrong when buying one! Despite the great advice here! Any further info would be greatly appreciated!
This is after all gona be my toy but would be great if it can be a little more than a toy and the Mrs will happily get in it for trips out!
I'm defo considering taking any prospective D3 to a specialist to get a professional opinion before I decide!
Thanks again.

There is this one for sale near me Used Land Rover Discovery 4x4 2.7 Td V6 Hse 5dr Auto in Corby, Northamptonshire | Brooklands Quality Cars

It does look nice!

DaveDisco2 said:

There is this one for sale near me Used Land Rover Discovery 4x4 2.7 Td V6 Hse 5dr Auto in Corby, Northamptonshire | Brooklands Quality Cars

It does look nice!

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Now that looks nice IMO.
The HSE is the one to have...

That's going to be my next purchase , Discovery3/4 HSE. I've got 2 vehicles now , bmw coupe ( hate it) & my discovery 300 tdi (love it). I can't see me ever parting with my 300 disco , so I'll keep that & get the HSE.