Hi everyone,
after many years of looking, I decided that I have had enough experience with the famous British Engineering by owning a Jaguar for years, that I am now fit to get a Land Rover
I have two D3s in mind, both HSE:
1. 2006 with 210 000 km. Import from Italy, so no heated seats. Service history from Italy, no apparent rust or failures apart from front losing height if stationary for more than a week (both air compressor and front bags recently changed).
2. 2005 with 282 000 km. Bought new here in CZ, full service history with one garage since now. No apparent problems.
The second one is more expensive, but on the photos it's looking much better.
I have not seen any of them yet, scheduled to Thursday and Friday. I have diagnostic for my Jag that should be fine for LR. Both owners feel very good on the phone. I don't mind cosmetic problems as this will be a dog car, but I'd rather have the nicer one.
The question is, the second one being about 1/3 more expensive, if they are similar, should I get the cheaper one and invest the difference into fixing, or better get the nicer car? Both prices are well in my range and I have saved for immediate repairs. My wife is leaning to the first car, because it has less kms, but I think the full service history in one garage should be worth more, right? Also, can the sear heating be retrofitted? I am very used to it in all my cars...
I'm not in any rush, I can pass on both, this will be 3rd car, so I can wait for better offer. Thing is I am looking for months now and nothing interesting came up here apart from these two.
What do you think?
Thanks, Tom
14th May 2023 1:45 pm
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1815
Imho……
Add €5000 to each of them and decide then….
IF an engine fails (and they can.. independent of service history or mileage, they size rather randomly)
It is a body off job… hence the €5000 (maybe more) reserve
New control arms (all) is another €1000 if you do it yourself, add another €1000 if a workshop has to do it..
Is there one with those allready done? At that age, at least 2 or 4 bushings need change in my experience… and new bushings although possible is new control arm..
Heated seats can be retro fitted if the wire are there OR fit waeco or likewise… another €200 approx..
Autobox? Torque Converters wear/go €500 to start with an exchange part from ZF and then add The costs of work, oil, filter, etc…
Add it to you budget…
Been there, done it….
You can think, maybe i am lucky ofcourse but i am leaning to the fact that the lottery maybe a better option then Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
14th May 2023 2:15 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 11 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6577
Having myself had an Italian import once, it is always possible that it has had “surgery” to make it younger… so the 210k could be 310k or 410k. Mine had been made at least 100k younger between Italy and Finland. Similarly, service history in the leaflet was completely manufactured.
Anyway, I will assume both vehicles are diesels. Whether it is 210k or 280k on it… they’re mostly the same in my book.
I prefer leather myself rather than cloth on the seats. You said both are HSE so I assume leather on both.
If one has a sunroof, choose the other you will thank me later when your non-existent sunroof will not leak.
14th May 2023 2:18 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8118
I think the previous two posts are very off-putting.
I would go for the second one, in the UK the road tax is cheaper, don't know about where you are, the second one will have the better/stronger oil pump fitted(the cause of many engine fatalities). A good service record is paramount with D3's. At this stage heated seats are the least of your worries as good as they are in winter. Torque converters fail, a sure symptom is a vibration/judder at 30-40mph when accelerating uphill, this usually leads to a bill of £3k to rectify, the higher milage one will more than likely have had this done and can be found in the records, worth checking before you buy.
There is a member on this site who has a D3 and has done over 500k miles, so don't let milage put you off if it has been maintained correctly. Goodluck.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
14th May 2023 5:08 pm
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1815
Quote:
the second one will have the better/stronger oil pump fitted(the cause of many engine fatalities)
@ m3po
How do you know that?
And is not in the UK, he is in CZ, as het writes in his opening
Off-putting? No meant to be…. Just realistic..
Add those figures to your budget and decide then…
(I am glad, i did and i needed the € , all of them, on a very low mileage 2006 D3.. 156000 km, genuine…)Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
14th May 2023 10:27 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8118
It’s a known fact 06my-07my model years and some other later models have an inferior oil pump bracket known to snap at any time without warning resulting in a wrecked engine and a £6-12k bill to rectify.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
15th May 2023 9:29 am
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1815
yupp but a 2005 buildt My 2006 has the same not reinforced oilpump.... mine had the crappy pump and was from june 2005
TO is only speaking about "2005" no further info regarding registrerd 2005, buildt 2005 or MY 2005
so "we" don't know what pump it has..Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
15th May 2023 12:06 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8118
But we do know what pump the 2006 has got unless of course it has been changed for the later pump, just the same as your 2005 if someone has unknowingly fitted the crap pump.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
15th May 2023 6:22 pm
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1815
M3DPO wrote:
the second one will have the better/stronger oil pump fitted
My point is: you do not know that, without checking…. So you can not make that claim…
The topic owner should be aware of possible weaknesses and, imho, make certain reservations ‘just in case”. Ie do not spend your last penny on the buy itself..Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
15th May 2023 6:50 pm
Lee Trinder
Member Since: 12 Aug 2018
Location: Henley in arden
Posts: 515
Hi Tom, just go with your gut, second one sounds better, ours has done 300000km and runs like a Swiss watch, had it five years.
I’m always waiting for something to go wrong but it hasn’t yet. Any car this age could go wrong. Doing your own maintenance is a great way to learn about the car. Good luck.
15th May 2023 7:32 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13933
There is no right or wrong answer. It's all subjective.
Gut feeling is as good as any New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
15th May 2023 11:00 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
Buy both, one for spares.
16th May 2023 12:26 am
avedelphina
Member Since: 14 May 2023
Location: PRG
Posts: 9
Thanks everyone for the input. I have bought the second one as it has been bought here in CZ new and whole life serviced at authorised specialist close to my home. Everything is working including all electric appliances. The only downside it that autobox is slipping a bit, but I do have reliable autobox specialist around, so it's going to get checked.
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you will thank me later when your non-existent sunroof will not leak. 
not reinforced oilpump.... mine had the crappy pump and was from june 2005 
