Am I crazy for this?

[bearskinrug]

Looking at LR3s. Thinking about this truck, mostly for daily driver
/kid hauler/dirt road explorer. Seems weird that the tranny has been replaced, but I'm seeing that not infrequently on these. Lady sounds genuine, waiting on some more details. Aledgedly has lots of service records. 180k feels like a lot of miles though...
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5899859646.html

 

[Ray_G]

So I already commented on NAS-ROW but since it is New Year's Day and I don't want to move, I'll chime in here too. 180k is a decent amount of miles for sure, but realistically if it has been dealer maintained the engine is likely fine for awhile longer (~250k?). The tranny going out is interesting but I wonder if that is a facet of not changing the filter and such (i.e. 'lifetime sealed', which we have subsequently learned-isn't true).

I'd stay engaged with the seller, look at the records specifically for the EAS compressor rebuild/uprade to AMK, how many times the LCA's and other bushings have been done, when the dif and TC fluids were done, etc.

Not sure I'd be interested in $7.5k for it-maybe $6 b/c of the rack and since it's an HSE, but not sure what prices are like in your part of the country to compare against.
r-
Ray

 

[ColoDisco]

I will second what Ray said. Check his records. I have seen tranny failure, mostly caused by ignoring the trans connector sleeve leak until it burned out the internals. A replacement or rebuild should be good to go. I think it should be closer to the 6k mark without seeing the paperwork and recent maintenance performed.

I am at 172k and the engine feels very strong. I am planning on a overhaul in the next 3 years.

 

[bearskinrug]

Thanks. Anybody have luck accessing online or electronic records for these trucks, like you can with Toyota/Lexus? Would a dealer have access to those records via VIN lookup?

 

[DiscoDavis]

Thanks. Anybody have luck accessing online or electronic records for these trucks, like you can with Toyota/Lexus? Would a dealer have access to those records via VIN lookup?

Dealers can lookup with a VIN, but sometimes that only tells them where it was serviced, they may have to call another dealer if it was serviced there and have them send records over. Thats what I did with mine.

Service history is paramount with the newer vehicles. Almost obligatory. Btw they make excellent daily drivers.

 

[Ray Hyland]

Looks like a nice clean truck, and the price seems pretty fair, but they are expensive up here.

 

[jymmiejamz]

Dealers can lookup with a VIN, but sometimes that only tells them where it was serviced, they may have to call another dealer if it was serviced there and have them send records over. Thats what I did with mine.

Service history is paramount with the newer vehicles. Almost obligatory. Btw they make excellent daily drivers.

Dealers can look up the warranty history, but cannot view what work has been performed outside of the warranty period. The exception to this is when one company owns multiple stores.

Also, a large stack of dealership receipts doesn't mean anything, IMO. The owner could have declined every repair recommended and only done oil changes on time. It is 100% worth it to have a LR dealer or independent shop perform a pre-purchase inspection.

 

[DiscoDavis]

Dealers can look up the warranty history, but cannot view what work has been performed outside of the warranty period. The exception to this is when one company owns multiple stores.

Also, a large stack of dealership receipts doesn't mean anything, IMO. The owner could have declined every repair recommended and only done oil changes on time. It is 100% worth it to have a LR dealer or independent shop perform a pre-purchase inspection.

When I picked mine up I had one dealer call another where the vehicle had been serviced from 2006 to 2013 ish, gave them the VIN and they faxed over the entire service history in a stack of pages. Included all service notes, recommendations, everything. Wasn't a stack of receipts. It stopped off after 2012-2013, so I missed a year or so from 2013-2014, YMMV. Helped me deduce what had failed, what could fail, what I could push back to later mileage, etc.

And I had the vehicle inspected by LR as well. Spent time with owner, test drove, got a good vibe from guy and his family. Was cool having the entire history of the vehicle but this was only because he only went to the one dealer the whole time. Obviously some people could just go to jiffy lube for years and years, and random brake shops.

At no time did I say records are a substitute for inspection :ylsmoke:

 

[jymmiejamz]

When I picked mine up I had one dealer call another where the vehicle had been serviced from 2006 to 2013 ish, gave them the VIN and they faxed over the entire service history in a stack of pages. Included all service notes, recommendations, everything. Wasn't a stack of receipts. It stopped off after 2012-2013, so I missed a year or so from 2013-2014, YMMV. Helped me deduce what had failed, what could fail, what I could push back to later mileage, etc.

That's great that they did that. A lot of times dealers won't share a customer's service history to a prospective buyer for privacy reasons.

 

[bearskinrug]

I think I'll try this approach. LR Las Vegas has a good rep in the community and seem to be pretty helpful. They also usually have the part for my D1 that I need in a pinch too.

 

[Factoid]

There is no "crazy" in deciding to purchase a Land Rover. The crazy comes in ownership. Ability to diy maintenance is directly related to satisfaction and checking account funds retention. However, properly set up and serviced, they are wonderful vehicles.

A couple of years ago, a friend and I swapped vehicles for a week. I drove his V8 equipped 2008 LR3 and he drove my 2008 MB ML63. Yeah, it sounds like an unfair comparison. My ML63 cost almost twice the sticker and had twice the HP of the LR3 (it was my company car that I liked so much I bought it out when I left the company). However, other than the lack of straight line acceleration, the LR3 was very impressive and much more capable off-road. My buddy said he was afraid to take the ML too far off-road as he didn't want to break it. Truth be told I had that same concern with the ML, even though in over 8 years of ownership and 120k miles it has only required regular maintenance and the replacement of the intake manifold gasket ($430 at the dealer) and a new battery ($150 at work). It's only real off-road action was annual trips to various national parks and venues where the worst were washed out dirt roads and ruts/pot holes. The LR3 inspired off-road confidence and his maintenance costs were very similar to mine, although much of the servicing was performed in his garage.

While I can't speak for this specific vehicle you are considering, if you can manage all the above LR3 ownership will be very satisfying. Good luck!

 

[bearskinrug]

Thanks to everyone here, and at NAS-ROW, where I have a parallel thread. Extremely helpful. I kept a 95 defender and 98 D1 alive for a while and I like to get my hands dirty. Any reason not to consider a big body Range Rover of similar vintage for daily driver/kid hauler/national park dirt road duties? They seem to be going for similar money and have the required third row.

 

[Ray_G]

No reason to exclude the big body RR. Should have posted this earlier, but this is a good snapshot: http://www.robisonservice.com/servicedep/buying-a-land-rover.asp

r-
Ray

 

[Gimebakmybulits]

CARFAX for it

05/15/2006 Desert European Motorcars
Rancho Mirage, CA
760-773-5000
indigoautogroupsocal
.com/ Pre-delivery inspection completed
Engine/powertrain computer/module reprogrammed
Washed/detailed
07/01/2006 6 California
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Fullerton, CA Title issued or updated
First owner reported
Titled or registered as
personal vehicle
Loan or lien reported
10/20/2006 Land Rover Anaheim Hills
Anaheim, CA
844-243-3669
landroveranaheimhill
s.com/ Vehicle serviced
01/08/2007 Land Rover Anaheim Hills
Anaheim, CA
844-243-3669
landroveranaheimhill
s.com/ 7,500 mile service performed
Electrical system checked
Rear seatbelt assembly replaced
Tire(s) balanced
04/20/2007 Land Rover Anaheim Hills
Anaheim, CA
844-243-3669
landroveranaheimhill
s.com/ Vehicle serviced
08/05/2011 98,999 Land Rover Anaheim Hills
Anaheim, CA
844-243-3669
landroveranaheimhill
s.com/ Air filter replaced
Anti-theft/keyless device/alarm repaired
Oil and filter changed
03/06/2012 113,227 Ez Lube
Fullerton, CA
Maintenance inspection completed
Oil and filter changed
07/27/2012 121,935 California
Inspection Station
Fullerton, CA Passed emissions inspection
10/26/2012 California
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Fullerton, CA Title issued or updated
01/03/2014 145,547 Eberhardt's Tire
Fullerton, CA
714-871-9810
etires4less.com Tire(s) mounted
07/22/2014 154,302 First Class Autoworks
Fullerton, CA
Brake fluid checked
Brake pads replaced
Brake rotor(s) replaced
Brake rotor(s) resurfaced
Oil and filter changed
08/15/2014 155,126 California
Inspection Station Passed safety inspection
Passed emissions inspection
09/19/2014 156,715 First Class Autoworks
Fullerton, CA
Battery replaced
02/25/2015 164,320 First Class Autoworks
Fullerton, CA
Vehicle serviced
04/10/2015 165,560 First Class Autoworks
Fullerton, CA
Vehicle serviced
08/14/2015 170,990 First Class Autoworks
Fullerton, CA
Vehicle serviced
09/18/2015 173,030 First Class Autoworks
Fullerton, CA
Cooling system checked
11/25/2015 173,123 First Class Autoworks
Fullerton, CA
Sensor replaced
01/29/2016 175,375 Leon's Transmission - Garden Grove
Garden Grove, CA
Drivability/performance checked
Rear crankshaft oil seal replaced
Tire condition and pressure checked
Transmission fluid changed
Transmission removed to complete repair
06/06/2016 178,787 California
Inspection Station Passed safety inspection
Passed emissions inspection

 

[bearskinrug]

Whoa thanks!