High mileage discovery 3

KeithBold
KeithBold Forum Participant Posts: 11
edited April 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi all, I am after a bit of advice/ opinion please. I am considerign purchasing a discovery 3, 07, 99k miles. I have posted this elsewhere so apologies if you've seen it before. There is a FSH and the cam belt has been changed. Are there any particular things
I should look for?

Regards,...Keith

Comments

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #2

    When you said high miles I thought you meant 200k, 99 is hardly run in! My advice is to Look for a good independent L/R specialist that has a recovery truck and open an account, you will need them on a regular basis. Unless it is VERY cheap and comes with
    a stack of receipts for work done my local L/R trained and now Independent specialist advised me to simply avoid a D3 at all costs when I asked a similar question a few weeks ago. Stretch your budget to a D4 or go elsewhere. 

  • KeithBold
    KeithBold Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited April 2016 #3

    Thanks 

  • Jazzybaby
    Jazzybaby Forum Participant Posts: 109
    edited April 2016 #4

    Had four Discovery's in the past (now have a 4).  Towed all over Europe and the UK. Never broken down and needed a tow truck. If the one you are looking at has FSH its worth looking at the mileage on the receipts and the mileage done between MOT's to guage
    what sort of life its had. All ours are serviced at our local Land Rover approved workshop (never touched a dealership for servicing, rip of merchants). Good luck as with everthing if you get a lemon you get a lemon.

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,683 ✭✭✭
    1,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited April 2016 #5

    I have had 4 Discos over the years and bought a new D3 in 2007 and sold it after 5 years with 75k on the clock. I was into serious off-roading and have to say the Disco is probably one of the best off-road vehicles I have driven.  That said, the D3 had some serious reliability problems. mainly with the electronics / electricals.  Problems with being unable to open doors, the EPB (electronic parking brake) jamming on and intermittent engine management issues were fairly commonplace and I experienced all of them.  Check (if you can) if the EGR valves have been replaced and get someone to check the air suspension compressor - both expensive repairs out of warranty.  I also had a problem with the air con on mine which was going to be expensive to repair and was another factor in me getting rid.  If you get a good one - they're brilliant - but be warned they are expensive to maintain.  Have a look at the disco3.co.uk forum - there's a wealth of knowledge on there.

    I have switched allegiance to the VW Touareg and am now on my second.  Very capable off-road and a lot more reliable!

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #6

    Wise move...... All I will add is on the day I called into my L/R specialist he had a 10 year old 1owner D3 which looked great. However it had just cost the owner £4K to get through its MOT, in additoon to the £3k spent during the course of the previous
    12 months...... 

  • Juramalt
    Juramalt Forum Participant Posts: 55
    edited April 2016 #7

    When running right there great. But at service/mot time you need very deep pockets. The best 4X4 by far is Japenese. Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki. Sorry. I had a Landrover once. Never again!!