Hello all,
New member to this forum. I've been looking at a 05 LR3 with 132000 mi (213000 km). It is being sold by a kia dealer as a trade in. It was listed last month for 14900, and they dropped to 8800 for this month. It has relatively high miles, dealer maintained. The only records I could get from the dealer was from around 120km-137km, where it had control arms and tie rods replaced twice in that period. The rest of the records were paper records and lost by the dealer. However, when kia took it as a trade in they replaced the tie rods again. Is it normal for these things to eat tie rods? It was bought in a metro area and my understanding it was not wheeled.

Everything else seems fine. Minor services, coolant changed at 132 (80000 km ago) and diff fluids etc. All seems fine. Major issue is tie rods. The problem is it is out of province and I can not test drive it. Advice?

Aaron

 

I would be very hesitant... I wouldn't buy one with that amount of miles without knowing if the transmission fluid was changed yet, spark plugs and I would also question when the last time the suspension compressor was changed. As for the tie rods a lr3 will eat through tie rods (every 30k miles) and breaks like nothing. If it was me I would try to find one with more records. Also try to find one with rear locking differential.
Good luck!

 

Thanks for the input!
According to the LR service manual (if they were following LR service schedule which they seem to be) they aren't due for ATF or Coolant change for another 15000 km or so. Coolant however was changed. Tie rods just done again. Suspension compressor looks like a simple DIY from my research.

I too wish there were more records however. It does help that this vehicle is priced a good $6-7k below similar ones in the area.

 

It's a ZF transmission and on their website they say that the fluid is only good for 75k miles. I did mine at 92k and if you look a little more on the forum a lot of guys say it's crazy to go over 100k miles with the fluid. The compressor is a simple fix but a expensive part.

 

Oh that's good Info. Thanks. Odd that the LR schedule doesn't match that. I can tell from the records I do have that the owner serviced on schedule. However it's frustrating to not be able to see for certain what was done. They can tell me how many times it was in and when, but not specifics past a certain date

 

At that kind of age and ESPECIALLY that kind of price, I wouldn't expect any "guarantees" really.

The transmission isn't a huge deal - but I would try to take a peek under there and see if the trans pan is seeping fluid or if there are leaks.

If it's dry, you're almost guaranteed that the data link connector seal has been replaced, and MOST of the time a dealership will replace the fluid with new stuff during procedure. The leaks start around 50-60k from what I've seen, which would mean you've got 80k or so on the fluid. Half of these guys say it's lifetime, but we know that's not a good idea. Either way, I haven't heard of it really damaging anything - the TC and lockup might just not work quite as well as they did new.

The biggest issue would be the differentials - again at that mileage, I can't see how a failure-prone 05 front/rear diff would survive to 130k in one piece. I have personal experience with rolling failures of fronts and rears - mine was at about 84k on my RRS (both front and rear) and fluid in my LR3 front is toast. In the service records I can see the rear has already been replaced, or that would be bad by now also. In my experience, they WILL fail. But here I am with those two vehicles - both were replaced or known to be bad by 90k miles, and your vehicle in question is 40k over that.

It's just kinda gambling really, but if you look at the statistics, both of those failures should have already been rectified. Same with the compressor, I just dont see ANY of those failure points surviving to 130k without being fixed.

You also have to check into the water leaks (a-pillar, hvac intake area under cowl, etc) - see if you can swing by the dealership after it's rained, and touch the passenger footwell carpet.

Beyond that, it just depends on options. Are you sold on things like 3rd row, rear independent HVAC (heat AND ac) rear heated seats, front heated windshield, xenon headlights, ADAPTIVE xenon headlights, front park distance control, touch screen NAV / 4x4 info display screen, bluetooth, Harman Kardon 14 speaker Logic 7 system, H-D package w/ full size spare and locking rear diff (FWIW the locking rears aren't failure-prone if you manage to find one) etc etc etc...

I came from a similar RRS (most of which come with many of those features) so it was tough to hunt for an LR3 in white with all those options - I had to turn down a lot of good buys, but in hindsight it was a great decision.

If this one fits your specs on what you're looking for, then I'd go for a thorough test drive. HVAC AND RADIO OFF - listen to everything. Whines, whirrs, wtc.. the driveline would be your primary area of concern, check that passenger floor carpet too. Cycle the air suspension up/down at least three times. By the second or third time it may display "suspension raising slowly" message, but that's normal as the tank is empty. Make sure it recharges the tank and shuts compressor off within a minute or two. Pop the hood and smell / look for coolant leaks, also there may be a whining noise as the ac compressor and PS pump tend to fail this way - no big deal as it's common on all LR3s of all years.

See if it's got the trailer electrics behind the plastic panel on the back bumper. You'd probably want it NOT to be fitted, as it had an easy soccer-mom life. Keep in mind the hitch and electrics will cost nearly $1k at $tealership though.

See what you think and report back to us!

 

Hey thanks for the input!

In talking with others and other owners they have had the same opinion as yourself. Any of those issues should have been dealt with already. I'm getting a little more info from the dealer, and it looks like it has been very thoroughly maintained. Any small problem, and it went to the dealer. It had two fender benders in 2009. All service records after that date make no mention of lasting issues.

I will be changing diff and trans fluids and coolant if I get it. Last coolant change was document at 137000 km, so I think it can be done again. The service manual says its fine...but I don't think so.

I'm truly not picky on options. It has rear heated seats, 3rd row seats, premium sound. It's an SE model and has the 18" rims not 19, which I like.

I have convinced the dealer to drop the price (even more!) pay for my one way ticket out, and hold it for me until tomorrow. So I fly out to look and test drive tomorrow. If i don't like it, I just have to pay my own flight home! Not bad, worth it to me.

 

I would pass on this one. Two fender benders and all those tie-rods would have me wondering. I have 120k miles on my '05 and I've changed the tire-rods once. Tranny and diffs also a concern.

 

Got the full service history! Or 80%. Bit of a nightmare to get it all. However all of the "tie rod replacements" were not actually tie rod replacements. It came in at 114k with initial complaints of low speed cornering noise. Wear was noticed and quoted on that visit and two subsequent visits for other reasons (122k, 134k) and finally replaced at that last 134k inspection. The service gal who gave me the history (prior to being allowed to release the documents to me since I'm not technically the owner) must have thought the quotes were services? Not sure. The tie rods, control arms were replaced and 4 wheel alignment completed. No further tie rod or control arm service until the dealer that took it as a trade in replaced the tie rods at 213.

It's a free trip for me to go look at it and maybe take it home, so I'm going. If it's no good all it costs me is some aeroplane miles to get home.

 

Drive it at highway speeds and listen for groaning from the differentials.