Looking for feedback here:

New to me LR3 - 200k kms. I don't have the history on the vehicle, so no idea if the transmission has been serviced at all. I know that the original pan is on there. Seems ok, but I notice a lag shifting from 2-3 sometimes.

As due diligence was going to replace all fluids.

Phoned a few places to see how much a service and replacement pan was - all about the same price.

One indy shop told me, however, at that mileage (in Kms) they don't recommend opening it and doing the service. Said it does more harm than good?

Can this be correct? Sounds weird, but then again it's a LR.

Thoughts?

 

I recommend doing it.

 

Lets play the two-step tango. You are experiencing issues. Minor now, could get worse. It could be related to the fluid. So you have two options, see how long the problem continues or spreads and which point you will probably need to replace the trans/rebuild. Or you can replace the fluid/filter and see if the problem goes away. Best case, you are good to go for many, many more miles. Worst case, you are replacing that transmission sooner than expected.

I say get the fluid replaced because your milage is really not that high. I would be much less worried about any collateral damages caused by the fluid change now than one with much more milage.

Note: If you do go for a change, I highly recommend a metal pan conversion. Its common to do across many car makes/brands with this transmission. With the LR3 is a big cost savings, or SHOULD be, at the shop. Normally removal/install of the plastic OEM pan is a pain. With the conversion one simply removes the original pan enough to cost the plastic filter next so it can all get past the crossmember. The new pan has a separate filter from the pan itself, so its much easier to install. But if shops go by book times, you will not save a lot I bet.