I have been Rover free for almost 18 months. Frankly, it has been great, I haven't spent every Saturday working on a Discovery! Well I have always liked the LR3 and I came across a very nice looking LR3 with about 80000 miles on it. It is a 2005, pretty loaded. It has a couple of issue - a leaking tranny at the transmission sleeve. I am told that it is around $1000 to repair. It also has the suspension light illuminated. The suspension seems to work alright. What should I expect with a LR3? I am told that they are much more reliable than the Discoverys and that they are pretty solid. I will be getting rid of a Land Cruiser with 230k miles, virtually trouble free. What kind of costs can I expect over regular oil changes? THanks Phil

 

I think $1000 might be a little steep, but labor prices are probably pretty high where you are. I had a local shop look up transmission filter replacement and it was like 3.4 hours. You'd also need a filter/pan, it's about $80 or $150 at the dealer. Then a couple hundred dollars of fluid. And the sleeve at about $10 and some labor to put it in... I guess it does get close.

I'd want to know what code is being set for the suspension.... it could be a $100 dryer, or something worse.

The LR3 does seem to me to be more reliable. There are still plenty of things that do or can go wrong, but it doesn't seem to be things like engines blowing up or drive shafts taking out transmissions like D2.... Though if I have to pay for a diff, it might make me change my tune. That's probably one of the more expensive things that goes bad. Though it looks like mine has already been replaced. And at 180,000 miles, even if it does go, I can say it was time.

 

I ended up buying the 2005 LR3. Picked it up tonight and had a spirited drive home. it handles really well. I look forward to getting into it tomorrow and checking it out thoroughly. It is an HSE model and is loaded, locking diff, cold weather package (uber necessary in San Diego!) and a mini fridge. Comes with all-weather mats all around and some nice yakima racks. Brand new tires, a set of new brake pads and rotors. I need to check on the suspension fault, hopefully it is just a dryer issue. Is there a good DYI thread on replacement and a source for the dryer? It is Tonga Green with tan interior. Pretty sweet ride. Is there a source for the service manual download? Thanks forward to getting int o this new Land Rover. Phil

 

Follow links below for the service manual set for the LR3. Take the maintenance section and be more proactive on the miles, don't wait 150,000 to change diff lube, ZF says change tranny fluid at 60-70,000, etc.

 

I had the code checked today for the suspension issue. As I recall, it was a "C1A20 - 64 pressure increases too slow when filling reservoir" or something like that. The guy at the shop indicated that it was the compressor that was bad. The dryer code was a different code. Anyway, that is what his experience has shown. He suggested getting a new compressor and fixing the issue. Thoughts? Phil

 

Pressure increasing too slowly was what mine did, and a new dryer has kept the light off for a few weeks now.

 

Definately start with a dryer - but working hard to suck through the broken down dessicant may have caused some damage to the compressor.

 

Jafir, when you changed the dryer, did you get the compressor rebuild kit and change the exhaust valve too? Is so, how was that done? I think that I will gamble and get the dryer rather the pony up $1000 for the new compressor. Heck the sales tax on the new compressor is almost as much as the dryer alone. Thanks for the advice. Phil

 

I bought the dryer and ONE of the kits that has the exhaust valve. I Googled the wrong part number. There is another kit that has the exhaust valve and another spring for another part. While the compressor is off, you can just remove a bolt and the exhaust valve and spring is under it. The OTHER spring looks like it take a little more work.

The dryer comes with a new o-ring. If I had it to do over again, I might order the little plastic hoses the plug into the dryer, because mine were kind of scuffed up, and I'm afraid it might still leak a little from those little hoses. But no lights, so I'm not too worried.

I bought my parts from Land Rover Parts Center - Call (800) 574-9217 for Genuine Land Rover Parts and Accessories they were the cheapest I could find.

 

thanks, I will order the parts up tomorrow and get after next weekend. This truck rides great. It looks like it just came out of the showroom expect for some bleached wheel center caps. Evidently somebody used the wrong wheel cleaner. I think that I have a few sets from my DII days. Amazing vehicle, $9000 grand, this is unreal. I paid that much for my son's 04 4runner with 135k miles on it. It isn't half the truck that this is, although it is pretty trouble free. Where exactly is the exhaust valve? Does anyone have a photo or do the parts come with instructions? thanks, Phil