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So I am tempted by a D4, but put off by big repair bills
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MrBrain
 


Member Since: 12 Mar 2014
Location: bucks
Posts: 471

United Kingdom 2006 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 HSE Auto Tangiers OrangeDiscovery 3
So I am tempted by a D4, but put off by big repair bills

I like to mend my own cars and I don't trust dealers. I have defenders and d2s, but I am now thinking of something newer...

I hear horror stories of d3s costing several thousand a year to keep running and of D4s needing body off repairs, turbos by the dozen, whole engines and more after very few miles.

Is there a balance of balance of reliability / model years I should consider? Is an Lr warranty on a new or used one worth the paper it's written on or do they weedle out of anything and everything?

A D4 is really the only car that offers the space and capabilities I need, but if I buy one and can't do any repairs myself I think it would be a failure.

Your advice would be welcome.
  
Post #166647512th Jun 2016 7:09 pm
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lynalldiscovery
 


Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274

United Kingdom 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Metropolis LE Auto Bonatti GreyDiscovery 3

Ive always fixed my own cars and had heard all the same stories as yourself (but D3) so kept well away plus I thought they were pug ugly.
Then I bought one and its all been simple spanner jobs so far and all of them have been common problems, a/c pipe rot. tailgate catch, brake light switch, servicing is simple.

But on the ohter hand some of the problems and costs people have had on here would have me reaching for the petrol can Shocked
  
Post #166647612th Jun 2016 7:13 pm
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Deanos_Beano
 


Member Since: 21 Feb 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 563

England 

I put it off for years and decided a warranty negated all the big bill fears , however you still have to obtain stamps from reputable folk to keep that warranty worth anything so although not cheap to run they arent 1000's every year but close to a grand when tyres and a service and mot is required .

Cam belt year for me so budget is 1500 including brakes 2 tyres and some rust removal / proofing and a top end valet
  
Post #166647812th Jun 2016 7:16 pm
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Red Merle
 


Member Since: 30 Aug 2014
Location: Liskeard
Posts: 7438

United Kingdom 

My only experience is with a new one for 9 months / 22,000 miles, so I'm not really qualified to answer a lot of what you've asked, but what you said did remind me of the following...

I remember a friend who's owned an early D1 from new putting me off the D4, before I bought it, with horror stories of body removal to replace the belts. It came across as a story he was-as used to telling Rolling Eyes He was surprised to learn that it's once every 100,000+ miles and can be done by an independent for around £7-800, including the rest of the major service. And that's only once every 100,000 miles!

Good luck in finding the information that you need from people better qualified than me!
 2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
2015 - 2017: 2 x D4
2017 to date: FFRR SDV8
2023 to date: FL2 as a second car

2021 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200
2022 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200 & sidecar!
(One of only two known to exist in the world!) 
 
Post #166648212th Jun 2016 7:19 pm
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BLFarrar
 


Member Since: 02 Aug 2006
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France 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Lugano TealDiscovery 3
Just

Buy a Merc or a Toyota...reliability....
Even a VW....reliability at a lower cost

But zero character & debateable all-round capability
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Jag XK-but sadly no DIPSTICK...HUGE design fault
FL2 has DIPSTICK..."real comfort in rear seats"
VW Golf wondermobile (?)..has real DIPSTICK
Morris Minor..original DIPSTICK technology..and a real KEY. 
 
Post #166648912th Jun 2016 7:37 pm
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Brian_DL13
 


Member Since: 25 Aug 2013
Location: Teesdale
Posts: 1418

United Kingdom 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto Corris GreyDiscovery 4

Like any modern car there'll be stuff that, 30 years ago, you could have done yourself but these days are better leaving to a specialist.

Overall the D3 has a good reliability record - but it is a complex beast and costs more to maintain than a Fiesta. It's heavy and you need the appropriate kit to deal with that.

FSH is more important than mileage if buying S/H.

Unless you have the misfortune to get a Friday car, you'll find it very worthwhile. Go for it!
  
Post #166650112th Jun 2016 7:56 pm
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lespes
 


Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: Sitting Down
Posts: 2231

Guernsey 2016 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 Landmark LE Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

Pads every 23-25k Discs every 50k, lower arm bushes about 40-50k depends on use are the most common items all doable and at reasonable prices from Advanced Factors, as are many other parts.

16k Service can be done for £150 or less.

Belts
Land Rover recommend:
Replacement every 112,000 miles or 7 years under normal conditions.

Overall the D4 seems a much improved version of the D3, think every year there has been some sort of changes to suspension, engine etc. Things like EGR valves and EPB that failed a lot on D3 seem to of become a rarity.

Same as with all Landrovers good service history key.

Yes it can be a scary thought if the engine goes, but perhaps a good warranty would provide peace of mind to cover the cost if a major component failed.
 D4 Landmark MY16 Santorini Black THE LAST
D4 HSE MY12 Marmais Teal: Gone. Missed a lot!
Freelander 2 SD HSE MY11 Silver:Thankfully gone.
D4 HSE MY11 Silver: Gone missed !
Range Rover Sport MY06 HSE Buck Blue: Gone missed!
Discovery D2 TD5 Facelift MY Red Gone Missed!
Discovery D2 TD5 Cobalt Blue: Gone Missed!
Discovery D1 Auto Oxford Blue Not missed at all!
Discovery D1 Avalon Blue First LR! missed!

Now demoted to a VW 
 
Post #166654212th Jun 2016 8:49 pm
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A1GSS
 


Member Since: 12 Sep 2010
Location: Saffron Walden, Essex
Posts: 4691

England 
Re: So I am tempted by a D4, but put off by big repair bills

MrBrain wrote:
I like to mend my own cars and I don't trust dealers. I have defenders and d2s, but I am now thinking of something newer...

I hear horror stories of d3s costing several thousand a year to keep running and of D4s needing body off repairs, turbos by the dozen, whole engines and more after very few miles.

Is there a balance of balance of reliability / model years I should consider? Is an Lr warranty on a new or used one worth the paper it's written on or do they weedle out of anything and everything?

A D4 is really the only car that offers the space and capabilities I need, but if I buy one and can't do any repairs myself I think it would be a failure.

Your advice would be welcome.

If you think like that, don't buy one.
 ____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey 
 
Post #166656812th Jun 2016 9:51 pm
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MG
D3 Decade 


Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Surrey
Posts: 217

England 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Buckingham BlueDiscovery 3

Keep it serviced and buy warranty. Servicing is about £450 at LR retailer and warranty about £1000 per year.
 MG

HSE V6 Diesel
Buckingham Blue
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Side Steps
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Post #166660112th Jun 2016 11:02 pm
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DG
Site Moderator 


Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50930

Wales 

The D4 is in the main a different prospect to the D3 ...to qualify my experience take a look at the list of motors in my sig ....do your homework and go for it Smile
 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021  
Post #166660512th Jun 2016 11:17 pm
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Pedros
 


Member Since: 25 Jun 2011
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 454

United Kingdom 2010 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 XS Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

The reliability record of D4's is, in the main good. But, like all complicated cars, there's more to go wrong and rightly or wrongly, as said, there's a lot of stuff you just can't do at home. They aren't like you used to be with your Mini in the '60's.

So, the best way to go is to have a warranty. I've had the Land Rover Approved one now for the last two (going into three) years. It's been a doddle. You take it to the dealer, tell them what's wrong and they fix it. They sort the claim out, so it's hassle free. If it's something relatively unimportant, I leave it until service time, to avoid trips to the garage. They have 2 warranties, there's a Warranty Select that, as the name suggests, doesn't cover every eventuality, or the full fat one which covers it all, except normal wear and tear stuff.

It isn't cheap. You have to get the vehicle serviced and you have to pay for the warranty. But peace of mind is worth something and you can budget well for it. You can then save your spanner wielding skill for that '60's Mini!
  
Post #166660712th Jun 2016 11:45 pm
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Moo
D3 Decade 


Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13800

Ukraine 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Manual Zambezi SilverDiscovery 3

Man up and just buy one Thumbs Up
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231,000 miles and counting
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Post #166660912th Jun 2016 11:59 pm
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MrBrain
 


Member Since: 12 Mar 2014
Location: bucks
Posts: 471

United Kingdom 2006 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 HSE Auto Tangiers OrangeDiscovery 3

So thanks for the replies. So it seems your suggesting the warranty is worthwhile for a start, so I will stick with that good advice. Any idea how much that warranty is - the full one, not the 'select' - or is that the 1000 per year mentioned?

One of you has a nice d4 in the for sale section. Grey too, my favourite colour Smile...
  
Post #166665013th Jun 2016 7:23 am
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Numpty
 


Member Since: 18 Aug 2012
Location: Bolton
Posts: 673

England 

I bought a D3 in 2012. Warrantywise warranty for 56 per month over 3 years and I claimed as much as I paid.

Just cost me 1400 for mot service and suspension, booked in again next week for a further 700 of rear suspension repairs and need a new torque convertor in auto gearbox after that. Seems never ending and my car doesnt go off road and spends lots of time crusing at 70 on motorway.

Would I buy another Land Rover. I am really not sure.
  
Post #166665213th Jun 2016 7:29 am
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Someone-Gone
 


Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117

United Kingdom 

The bills mount up, as MG said, £500 excise licence, £450 average servicing, £700 plus per year warranty and you haven't moved a wheel, then when you do, 25 mpg average, plus tyres at £200 a corner and things not covered by the warranty like brake shoes, pads etc.

Make no mistake, it's not a car for motoring on the cheap. For some who go off road, meet up, it's a lifestyle choice. For others, it's a status symbol and there's others who would be better spending their money elsewhere TBH, but if you decide to go for it. Thumbs Up
  
Post #166665713th Jun 2016 8:04 am
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