I am currently a Series III owner and have 2 discos in the past. The 96 DI was a decent truck that was reliable until my wife rolled it. She would have been seriously injured if it were any other vehicle. My next disco was an 03 DII. This was a lemon and gave me fits! After researching newer LR's in my price range I've settled on an 06 LR3. I've read that the 05-08 Ford/Jag LR3's are reliable. I read about the front diff's breaking on the 05's so I opted for the 06 LR3 SE with 80k. Am I making a wise choice? Thanks for any replies!

 

Hi Don,

Simply put, the 3's are night and day in terms of reliability. While they still eat up preventative maintenance, they hold up great.

The differential issue you specifically mention was a case of the differentials (usually front) going bad because heat/pressure regulation failed from a poor breather tube design. This was fixed by a service bulletin and a lot of guys had their trucks fitted with a new breather cap when they went in for regular maintenance as far as I know. Mine (an 06) did not get the update in time to save the diff so my front is going bad... The updated design looks like a miniature snorkel, fitted on to the existing tube where it's end was cut. Should be obvious to spot next to the coolant expansion tank towards the radiator.

Great trucks, do get whichever one you choose inspected at LR. Make sure the sunroof drain tubes aren't blocked!

 

This x10. The first thing I did when I bough my LR3 was to install new drain tubes, repair the remote locking harness crimp, redo the A-Pillar clip hole TSB, and install the breather mod.

 

...and change all fluids (diffs, T-Case and tranny included) depending on the mileage.

 

I'm about done with my 05 LR3. A/C compressor out at 75k miles. $2000 fix. Cooling system issue at 90k miles led to another $2000 fix after having it towed for $600 because no one around could work on it. This time died and shop says the fuse box is shot (melting) and the fuse box and wiring harness will need to be replaced, for around $3500 parts and labor. Just had lower control arms changed $1000 but that cheap and is normal maintenance at around 90k miles. Air suspension has never worked properly and I want to change to coil over. Why do I keep it? Because I like to torture myself I guess and I want to get my money's worth out of the repairs. IMO get a jeep. Still a hole to throw money in but at least it won't be quite as costly.

 

I can understand your sentiment. In my opinion, buying one of these vehicles as a non-original owner is a crapshoot. The maintenance is so important and not knowing what the PO did...it's risky.

If you find a "good one" and jump on the maintenance...and intend to off-road it...it's worth it.

 

Wow-- I'm lucky I have not had your experiences. It sounds like dealer prices there. I'm not being critical towards you, but making a general statement here. If you are hands off, just drive it, and take it to a dealer when things go wrong, that's probably about how it will go..

Start are thread, let's discuss it. They are solid vehicles, but maintenance is required. There is absolutely no difference between an 05 and 06, etc. in terms of the drive train. Of course there have been changes worked into production until they switched to the 4's but not much significant or we would all have difference problems.

AAA or something like it is a good investment, if you had it, your tow might have been covered. I manage to use it at least once a year for some vehicle, the Lexus three times last year.

Be nice to figure out your issues, and be happy.

If a vehicle has 90k miles, and hasn't had diffs done, you MIGHT need them at some point down road, but you don't need to break the bank to do it, and you might get lucky.

At 80-90k I would suggest changing the transmission fluid (metal pan upgrade perhaps).

KOrover-- perhaps you can get ahead of your issues, then hopefully nothing unexpected comes up if you are maintaining it. Sounds like you might have picked it up used?

deezgunz I suspect you know the rover routine, and you and the mrs will be pleasantly surprised.