High Milage LR3 purchase - opinions of you experts please

[drcooper]

I am in the US, so pardon the different references to models...
I have a long relationship with rovers (love-hate, mainly love). Refurbished two Series II's years ago, owned three Disco II's (one was an actual Lemon - that was covered by law and bought back by LR). Then a nice 2006 LR3 that was my wife's car until I really went overboard and surprised her last Christmas with a new LR4. Great vehicle!!!

I recently saw the owner of our local LR dealership grab an 05 or 06 LR3 SE (with 3rd row seats, Nav and BT - no HD pkg or "cold climate pkg") with 100K miles from a trade deal and "trick it out" for his teenage son. Its looks like new!

It gave me the idea to try the same. I am bored of my very 2WD reliable 8 year old Chevy Suburban with nearly 90K miles and looking to do a minor "project" LR3 like my dealer friend. I have found an 08 LR3 with 97K miles that has been impeccably serviced at a LR dealership over its life, priced after haggling at $16,900 USD. It is in great shape, drives tight and smooth and has had recent new brakes front and back, and new street tires and no major service issues over the years. Looks like new underneath and no rust at all. I don't think its had a new suspension compressor or other "know high milage" fault items replaced as of yet.

I want this as a daily driver for the next few years (I drive less than 10K miles per year), so it needs to get me to work every day (8 mile drive), and be ready for some 100 mile weekend camping trips most of the summer weekends. I want to do larger tires on the 18 inch rims after probably Johnson rods. Add a roof rack and winch.

So, according to your expert advice, would this be of sound mind? I don't want to spend my life savings maintaining this and have it spend its life in the shop. I want it to start and reliably get me from A to B, but realize there'll be some items that I'll have to deal with fixing in the next 10-50K miles...

 

[brickpaul65]

That is essentially what I bought 2 years ago - 2006 LR3 SE - no nav etc - 86,000 miles. I love it! I am planning on a new compressor, mine is still working but I get nervous as it is the old style and coming up on a minum of 3 (likely 5) years old. It is not the original and the dealer believed it ws replaced in 2010 based on the Land Rover Maintenance summary available. I plan on going with the new compressor and resevoir next year.

All maintenance has been pm. I also just did the metal pan swap and transmission fluid change at 110,000. I have not had any issues and love the truck so much. It is my favorite car I have ever owned.

I plan on keeping it for about 5 more years I hope. I will either take my wife's 08 RR as a hand me down or step up to an LR4.

I only drive 5 miles to work and a few weekend trips. The RR is our main family hauler now (since December 2013). Until then I averaged 15k miles a year (with two 1k road trips thrown in).

The availabilty of skids and sliders will affect my hand me down decision. Also, I have heard the RR is much wider on the trails etc. So I may keep the LR3 as the toy and the RR as my driver.

I hope the SC versions stay reliable because that is what I want to get the wife in 5 years or so

 

[drcooper]

Thanks for a very helpful (and encouraging) reply. I loved our 2006, and wish I'd kept it, instead of trading. Although I sure needed all the help I could get to pay for the LR4 ($$$$$)!

I have read that possibly the 2008 LR3's have some updates and tweaks that make it one of the "best" years to look for... ?

 

[JimBiram]

My 2005 now has 164k miles. I love it since the day I bought it in Jan 2005. But it hasn't been cheap to maintain. I was and am very diligent with pm work, yet I've had to rebuild the top of the engine due to blown head gaskets. I've rebuilt the tranny. Two air suspension pumps, at least two air struts. Alternator and fuel tank. It is truly a marvelous off-road vehicle, but to make it so, some of the components weren't made for easy service, like fuel pumps. It is my daily driver, and it's my off-road toy as well. Just know that stuff will break and stuff will wear out. Parts are not cheap, although there are non dealer sources for some parts. My rule of thumb...the cost of payments on a new one is about $9,000 per year for a new one. If I can keep my annual cost of ownership under that, I keep the truck. If over that, she goes and I get a new one.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Mack73]

There is a guy in the UK that has well over 400k on his LR3 (he tows with it for his business), maybe even 500k now. Search for user 'character' on www.disco3.co.uk

You can see what it takes to get that many miles and what he's replaced over the years.

 

[David Harris]

There is a guy in the UK that has well over 400k on his LR3 (he tows with it for his business), maybe even 500k now. Search for user 'character' on www.disco3.co.uk

You can see what it takes to get that many miles and what he's replaced over the years.

I've read that whole thread. It's a testament to the durability of the platform, considering the guy tows cars for a living. It is a diesel and he's had to replace a lot, but it's still impressive.

 

[roverandom]

What do you want to know exactly?
You already have personal experience with the model.

Can you bolt stuff on? Yeah.
Can it still be reliable? Sure.
Can I still drive it to work? Why not?
Can I go camping? Yes.

Not sure what your asking here that you don't already know the answer to?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LtFuzz]

If they haven't been done yet, you'll be replacing the thermostat (cheap), air compressor and the front lower control arm bushings within the first year or two. Brakes as well. +/- $3k at a dealership, depending if you replace the control arm assembly or just have them do the bushings.

That's pretty much it for the major wear items. Damn solid trucks. I feel no need to upgrade to an LR4 at all.

Oh, the freakin' sunroofs still rattle as they did in the old Discos... Sigh. Did they fix that in the LR4 I wonder?

 

[A.J.M]

Also you will need to check the arb bushes and the rear upper wishbone bushes, plus rear hub bushes. All will likely need changed by 100k.
Also check the rear brake lines as they rust and need replaced with copper pipe.
Autobox will need an oil change at 100k.
Wheel bearings will likely need changed and possibly the battery and alternator.

My sunroof doesn't rattle, or leak.

 

[LR Max]

The LR3 you described that you are looking for sounds like a darn good deal. Price is right, mileage is pretty good, but most importantly it has been taken care of.

I was talking with a friend of mine yesterday. A lot of LR3s and RRs are coming off of "pay cash here" lots. There are pretty much mystery vehicles and they are biting these owners in the rear. Basically buying a vehicle with no history. Compounding it, then these owners try to offload these trucks. A lot of these 3rd hand trucks need a ton of work. Not to mention usually smoked in, beaten up, not washed, missing stuff, etc.

But like I said, sounds like a decent vehicle. If I was going to buy an LR3 and this showed up, I would be posting in the "look at my LR" thread. No two ways about it.

 

[brickpaul65]

It may be a false sense of security but that is why I limited my purchase to Land Rover dealers.

 

[Eniam17]

It may be a false sense of security but that is why I limited my purchase to Land Rover dealers.

I have done the same thing. I bought both of our 2008's as certified vehicles. I knew I could have bought similar years/mileage from "Joe's used car lot" and saved a few thousand dollars on each vehicle; but I get excellent service from the dealer - they treat us very well for buying two used vehicles from them. Plus, they are not selling junk on their lot.

 

[spikemd]

I just bought a 2006 SE with 83k miles on Sunday. Wow. Incredible vehicle. It came with the ARB bumper, winch and rack from an NCLR (NorCal Rover Club) member who took great care of it. We were thinking of an LR4 but I really liked this one and it cost half of an LR4.

I have spent the past couple of days cleaning it and waxing the pinstriping off. It has some trail time and a few small dings, but she is solid. BTW, I am not getting rid of my P38. She is also strong and comfortable.

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

Great looking LR3 (nice P38 as well, but I walked that path before!)

I just bought a 2006 SE with 83k miles on Sunday. Wow. Incredible vehicle. It came with the ARB bumper, winch and rack from an NCLR (NorCal Rover Club) member who took great care of it. We were thinking of an LR4 but I really liked this one and it cost half of an LR4.

I have spent the past couple of days cleaning it and waxing the pinstriping off. It has some trail time and a few small dings, but she is solid. BTW, I am not getting rid of my P38. She is also strong and comfortable.
View attachment 215488

 

[spikemd]

Great looking LR3 (nice P38 as well, but I walked that path before!)

I saw the article on your LR3 and mine is very similar in looks. I really like the Tonga Green color. It was Sasqutch's (who pioneered the Sasquatch Rods for lifting LR3s) truck and he wheeled it but also maintained it well. It drives incredibly nice.

Like all rovers, maintenance is key. I would choose a 120k well maintained rover over a 70k vehicle with unknown history. If you have any doubts, get a pre-purchase inspection. It will pay for itself many times over if there are issues.