Looking at LR3s to downside my wife's suburban. The ones in my price range at the

[racehorse]

I think it's important these threads to say YOU PAID not IT COSTS. Why?

$1,000 may scare someone away when they could do it themselves for $100 for the pan and since ford mercron SP was made for the zf transmission and well documented to be exactly the same(at 1/5th the cost).

You're $1,000 flush turns into a $150 and a spare hour.. You could also bring the $100 OEM transmission filter/pan to an Indy mechanic and see how he justifies charging $900 for fluid and labor.

The LR3 needs preventative maintaince, it's a reliable/tough truck and these days can be had for under $8,000... IMO treating it as though its an exotic is silly.

Buy one that's taken care of, drain/fill every fluid just in case, buy a dryer refurb kit($60), buy a scan tool(iidtool) and drive the wheels off.

Same tips could be said of just about any 4x4.

I'm not going to get into a debate but for the OP's consideration. You asked why?

I don't know if the OP does his own work - there associated costs with buying the parts and labor - if you are doing the work yourself, fluids, yes, great, cost is nominal. The tranny work is not the flush and fill. All these costs are independents. Here's why the tranny work costs what it does - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRrBGkv4EvQ

And when you replace each strut ($400) part ($300) labor - even if you do it yourself, then yes, you are paying sports car prices after you finish replacing $1600-$2000 (strut part prices only). That is maintenance of your key systems - I don't know if anyone has lost their struts wheeling - I have twice - down to the bumpstops - on places like Devils staircase. Replacing struts at that mileage is needed - hence preventative maintenance, and - yes, $2,000 is expensive in my book.

 

[99Discovery]

Yes, I do my own work. But sheesh, just watched that youtube video, what a pain the butt to get to the tranny filter pan? I wonder if the L322 is worse?

In either case, we went looking at most of the LR3s in my price range were junk. There was a grey one already on rods with the ladder and everything.....it appeared to be a forum member's ride that was posted a short while back (HD package the whole nine yards). I couldn't get off work, and that night it sold with cash. Too bad really, that would have been a sweet ride.

In the end, my wife was sick of 7-seats. She liked the L322s, but most were either outside of our price-range or were riding on 22"s (YUCK!). We ended up finding a decent Hummer H3 which she fell in love with and now I have an I5 motor with a GM drivetrain. Not exactly as refined as the Disco 3, or even in the same league, but it does get better MPG and maintenance is going to be cake (and cheap) compared to the LR3. So it is probably a good thing that we didn't end up getting one of the LR3s available as they'd need quite a bit of work. This saves money for me to keep-up on my D2....maybe even a frontrunner rack is in the future!

Thanks for everyone's comments.

 

[bentonrover]

Did he mean a D3 and not a H3?

 

[Bama4door]

Nope he definitely meant H3. Not sure why GM put that I5 motor in those...very strange.

 

[99Discovery]

Nope. We looked at four or 5 LR3s and they needed a bit of work each (either 19" rims or other stuff). The H3 kind of fell into our lap, fit the budget, had low miles, looked sharp and more importantly my wife loved it. In the end, it will give us lower operating costs and will be a good compliment to our D2. I know they aren't very popular on ExPo as an expedition type vehicle, which is a shame, as the drive train is actually quite nice. Visibility sucks, especially compared to the D3, but the gas mileage and size more than makes up for it.

Considering they run 1/2 to 1/3 less price than a similarly equipped used JKU, they are a good bargain here stateside.

 

[99Discovery]

Yes, the I5 is a headscratcher, especially because they had an I6 available. The engine bay is a bit tight, it may have been a size thing. The engine isn't too shabby really, considering the truck has 4.55 gears to compliment the lack of HP. Mileage isn't too bad either (especially when compared to a D2!). I didn't get the adventure package (no locker and no 4:1 T-case), but I doubt I'll ever seriously rock crawl her, and with 33"s and 4.55, the gearing is not too bad as is.

I'm not a huge fan of the leaf-spring rear suspension, although flex doesn't seem half bad. The H2 (which my dad has and takes to Moab) is actually a vastly underrated machine and superior off road to the H3. In fact, it's actually the best stock vehicle that I've seen climb Moab Rim, it was as if it was built for it. But my wife didn't want the size.......they are wide.....and that was part of the LR3's issue. She would have actually liked an L322 or a Range Rover Sport, but none fit the budget. (I know they aren't that much smaller than an LR3, but it was the perception).

I love my Rovers, but they really are hard to justify if you have a budget and want to go off-road: Wrong tires, premium fuel, air suspension, etc. A lot of potential expensive maintenance. Not that my D2 is any more reliable....

 

[ColoDisco]

Your dead to us!

j/k

 

[KMET]

Yes, the I5 is a headscratcher, especially because they had an I6 available. The engine bay is a bit tight, it may have been a size thing. The engine isn't too shabby really, considering the truck has 4.55 gears to compliment the lack of HP. Mileage isn't too bad either (especially when compared to a D2!). I didn't get the adventure package (no locker and no 4:1 T-case), but I doubt I'll ever seriously rock crawl her, and with 33"s and 4.55, the gearing is not too bad as is.

I'm not a huge fan of the leaf-spring rear suspension, although flex doesn't seem half bad. The H2 (which my dad has and takes to Moab) is actually a vastly underrated machine and superior off road to the H3. In fact, it's actually the best stock vehicle that I've seen climb Moab Rim, it was as if it was built for it. But my wife didn't want the size.......they are wide.....and that was part of the LR3's issue. She would have actually liked an L322 or a Range Rover Sport, but none fit the budget. (I know they aren't that much smaller than an LR3, but it was the perception).

I love my Rovers, but they really are hard to justify if you have a budget and want to go off-road: Wrong tires, premium fuel, air suspension, etc. A lot of potential expensive maintenance. Not that my D2 is any more reliable....

Agree 100%

 

[MrWesson]

Nope. We looked at four or 5 LR3s and they needed a bit of work each (either 19" rims or other stuff). The H3 kind of fell into our lap, fit the budget, had low miles, looked sharp and more importantly my wife loved it. In the end, it will give us lower operating costs and will be a good compliment to our D2. I know they aren't very popular on ExPo as an expedition type vehicle, which is a shame, as the drive train is actually quite nice. Visibility sucks, especially compared to the D3, but the gas mileage and size more than makes up for it.

Considering they run 1/2 to 1/3 less price than a similarly equipped used JKU, they are a good bargain here stateside.

I can't say I agree but you sure could have done worse.

Other than being a little to "chromey" the H3 appealed to me.

My biggest gripe about the LR3 and its a huge gripe lately... Range. Full time 4wd and 6000lbs = about 16mpg hwy/12 city and a 22 gallon tank makes for frequent fuel stops. The MPG doesn't bother me as much as the lack of range. I've had to make a fuel stop @ 220 miles before.. Granted I was offroad alot of those 200 miles in mud but I still find it unacceptable that I cant get 400 miles out of a tank on road trips.

A Diesel LR3 in the states would be great but suspect it would cost big $$$.

Other than that I absolutely love mine.

 

[DiscoDavis]

My biggest gripe about the LR3 and its a huge gripe lately... Range. Full time 4wd and 6000lbs = about 16mpg hwy/12 city and a 22 gallon tank makes for frequent fuel stops.

an 06 LR3, bone stock (they weigh, on street tires, with a few passengers or several hundred pounds of gear, averaging 55mph, mostly highway driving, can get 26mpg (mine did, before rack, tires, snorkel, etc were added)

Gas tank is 22.8 gallons. If you calculate it out when fueling, the truck will usually leave maybe 3-4 gallons left at 'empty', which is a nice buffer in emergencies. When the truck was unmodified and lightly loaded, I could get 400 miles out of a tank with little difficulty.

Now half loaded on a workday, with AT's, rack, snorkel, hilift, drawers, fullsize spare (maybe 500lbs plus driver extra weight); I get 16mpg from mixed city/highway driving at ~70mph. Can get 300 miles easy out of a tank. If you really care about the fuel capacity, add a few jerry cans. You'll learn pretty quick that driving style affects fuel consumption a lot.

Boo H3... interior volume has to be comparable to a prius.

 

[ClaudiaMilan]

06SE just turned 143k.

As others have said - LR3s are like any other high end vehicle. Maintenance is key and maintenance is expensive. I spend as much on maintenance on the LR3 as I have with my 911. That said, these are great rigs. I wheel the rig, take it camping etc. so that's a consideration. If you are daily driving just on the street some of these might not apply.

*At around 100k you will need to begin replacing the air struts - as they age, they will leak. I've changed three so far, one is hanging in there at 143k.
*My fuel senders just went out - that's 1k to drop the tank, replace the senders, o-ring set (I have delayed fixing it and just keep track of mileage)
*Diff fluids should be changed every 30k or so (remember you're talking about preventative maintenance to prevent more expensive failures)
*Transmission fluid/filter - 90-100k = it costs $1,000 (remember you're talking about preventative maintenance to prevent more expensive failures - ZF tranny is many thousands more if it goes out)
*Air compressor will start to fail
*I haven't had any front bearing issues (yet)

yes in deed all true...
but the ride is great, safe strong and fast car..

 

[ClaudiaMilan]

I think it's important these threads to say YOU PAID not IT COSTS. Why?

$1,000 may scare someone away when they could do it themselves for $100 for the pan and since ford mercron SP was made for the zf transmission and well documented to be exactly the same(at 1/5th the cost).

You're $1,000 flush turns into a $150 and a spare hour.. You could also bring the $100 OEM transmission filter/pan to an Indy mechanic and see how he justifies charging $900 for fluid and labor.

The LR3 needs preventative maintaince, it's a reliable/tough truck and these days can be had for under $8,000... IMO treating it as though its an exotic is silly.

Buy one that's taken care of, drain/fill every fluid just in case, buy a dryer refurb kit($60), buy a scan tool(iidtool) and drive the wheels off.

Same tips could be said of just about any 4x4.

yeah if your a mechanic, i'm not but that's about right, dealer will charge $1,600 service of 100 miles, witht ath oil change that's $1,300 for the transmission, it's complicated. my guy did it for 750.00 you have to get new parts for it. even with a great mechanic and not taking to a dealer it costs money.
it aint a jeep..

 

[ClaudiaMilan]

an 06 LR3, bone stock (they weigh, on street tires, with a few passengers or several hundred pounds of gear, averaging 55mph, mostly highway driving, can get 26mpg (mine did, before rack, tires, snorkel, etc were added)

Gas tank is 22.8 gallons. If you calculate it out when fueling, the truck will usually leave maybe 3-4 gallons left at 'empty', which is a nice buffer in emergencies. When the truck was unmodified and lightly loaded, I could get 400 miles out of a tank with little difficulty.

Now half loaded on a workday, with AT's, rack, snorkel, hilift, drawers, fullsize spare (maybe 500lbs plus driver extra weight); I get 16mpg from mixed city/highway driving at ~70mph. Can get 300 miles easy out of a tank. If you really care about the fuel capacity, add a few jerry cans. You'll learn pretty quick that driving style affects fuel consumption a lot.

Boo H3... interior volume has to be comparable to a prius.

okay that's true, i have a CRV, new, honda, and it gets 26 miles.. 4 cylinder, and i have an LR3 and the gas is better.. ******?!... but i got the honda because i don't want to tear up the lr3 in LA traffic with the terrible roads.. trying to keep it and keep the bills down. it's in the garage and i'll take it out to camp, etc