Member Since: 24 Jul 2010
Location: Malta
Posts: 1163
Reliability
I've been a 300Tdi Defender owner for the past 7 years and while it had a couple of minor hiccups it never needed a tow or had any catastrophic failure. Now that I grew out of the Defender, I'm looking to step up to something more comfortable. I'm looking at a D3 TDV6 next week.
What's the reliability of the D3 TDV6 like? I read horror stories on here about crankshafts breaking, and having the thing constantly at the dealer. Also, maybe this is not the best place to ask, but I'll be seeing a Freelander 2 too. Anyone have an idea if the 2.2 TD4 Freelander 2 is any better in the reliability department?
I really need something with reliability levels at least as good as my Defender since I depend on the thing for work. I like both the D3 and F2 but I have no idea if they'll spend more time at the dealer rather than on the road...
Thanks,
Dennis
24th Jul 2010 7:42 pm
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6272
TERRIBLE!!!!!!!
diff failures notorious EGR failures, clutches going, wheel bearings, constant suspension failures, EPB giving you a major headache ... list is long
all in all awesome vehicle
24th Jul 2010 7:49 pm
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6272
get a coiler at least you wouldn't have to worry about suspension put the Kings on and it would be awesome work horse and very civilized one
24th Jul 2010 7:54 pm
ad15
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
Hopefully not kiss of death
In two years m es cost me a set of tyres and a service
Compressor under warranty
It's an 05 se and has been joyous for the 55k it has
On the clock
I love it, mne is used every day for tree surgery pull g stuff over etc etcone wife.......livid
Over to everyone else...The next American ex-pat that calls it a "truck" is going to find out what 2.7 tons feels like on their foot...
Club "yes, I too have had the EGR's replaced..."
Club "yes, I too have had the compressor replaced..."
Club "yes, I too once had the car at the dealer for a couple of weeksnearly 4 weeksover 4 weeks...5 weeks"
Club "yes, I too have had EPB failure..."
Club "yes, I too get mysterious bings and bongs..."
24th Jul 2010 7:59 pm
nighthawk
Member Since: 24 Jul 2010
Location: Malta
Posts: 1163
Thanks guys,
I'm used to having half-shafts breaking, propshafts breaking apart leaving me in 2WD, bent steering rods, seized brakes, worn bushes and shot wheel bearings on the Defender but as you can see these are all things which I actually fixed myself with a few sockets and spanners, a couple of large hammers, WD40 and a dictionary of foul language. And that 300Tdi engine with 180,000 miles on the clock never missed a beat in 7 years.
Hence why I'm hoping the TDV6 will live up to the 300Tdi and not leave me on the hard shoulder. Living without handbrake or having a door lock fail is not a problem, I've had both problems on the Defender for months before fixing them As long as the thing is still driveable it's fine!!
24th Jul 2010 8:10 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72801
I've had loads of problems, thankfully most covered by warranties. Show stoppers resulting in trip in a recovery truck or taking SWMBO's car have been turbo failure, break calipers binding on, height sensor failures and EPB failure. My advice is don't expect total reliability and at worst you'll not be surprised, at best you'll have no issues. I run 2 x D3s as they are the best vehicles for up in the Heelands in the winter, but have kept our Jazz for when one of the D3s is not playing!
My advice is don't even dream of running one of these cash cows (my experiences, other experiences differ) without a warranty, the TDV6 is not bombproof and there are lots of other expensive bits to fail.
Last edited by DSL on 24th Jul 2010 8:24 pm. Edited 1 time in total
My advice is don't even dream of running one of these cash cows
Philistine...The next American ex-pat that calls it a "truck" is going to find out what 2.7 tons feels like on their foot...
Club "yes, I too have had the EGR's replaced..."
Club "yes, I too have had the compressor replaced..."
Club "yes, I too once had the car at the dealer for a couple of weeksnearly 4 weeksover 4 weeks...5 weeks"
Club "yes, I too have had EPB failure..."
Club "yes, I too get mysterious bings and bongs..."
24th Jul 2010 8:24 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72801
I hadn't finished, see above! Poxy iPhone was playing up!
24th Jul 2010 8:26 pm
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6272
DSL is right on the money lear as much on the vehicle on here as you can as there is loads of very useful info how to treat most issues DIY way rest of bigger thing can be taken care of by stealers.... and than just enjoy it best ride ever
24th Jul 2010 8:29 pm
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
Please ignore DSL and JF Lux. I know them both very well and they are nought but a bunch of moaning minnies. The D3 is a bomb-proof, utterly reliable (EPB excluded) wonderful car.
I have followed DSL and JF Lux around the Ulu for quite some distance and I can confirm my eye-witness account that on each occasion that the D3 failed to progress it was down to driver error.
24th Jul 2010 8:35 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72801
As much as I moan about them it's just coz I'm not good at DIY!
Couple of years ago SWMBO said if we bought another LR then she'd divorce me! 6 months later we had one for her as well! When you live up here it's good to be mobile in the winter!
Click image to enlarge
And here
Click image to enlarge
Last edited by DSL on 24th Jul 2010 8:41 pm. Edited 1 time in total
I was being serious...sort of... The next American ex-pat that calls it a "truck" is going to find out what 2.7 tons feels like on their foot...
Club "yes, I too have had the EGR's replaced..."
Club "yes, I too have had the compressor replaced..."
Club "yes, I too once had the car at the dealer for a couple of weeksnearly 4 weeksover 4 weeks...5 weeks"
Club "yes, I too have had EPB failure..."
Club "yes, I too get mysterious bings and bongs..."
24th Jul 2010 8:38 pm
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
I noticed Derek's avatar and wondered if his mate had pulled the EPB release cable?
24th Jul 2010 8:42 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72801
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
As long as the thing is still driveable it's fine!! 
