My dad used to have a Discovery 3 when I was a kid, and I thought it was a very nice car indeed. Ours was a 2005 (55-reg) HSE model with the 2.7-litre TDV6 diesel paired with the 6-speed automatic, and it was finished in a dark metallic blue (called Buckingham Blue) with the 'Alpaca' cream leather interior, which looked really nice. It was September 2010, and I remember eagerly awaiting the moment when my dad would pull up onto our driveway in it, and when I saw PN55TZH pulling onto our driveway for the first time, I immediately went outside to have a look around it, and I remember being very impressed by what I saw. Because ours was an HSE model, it was fully loaded with all the bells and whistles, some of which we’d never had on any car we’d ever owned before, including tri-zone climate control, heated rear seats, rear audio controls, etc, which 10-year-old me thought was very impressive indeed. Plus, its air suspension made it a very comfortable and relaxing car to travel in - as Jeremy Clarkson said in his Discovery 3 review back in Series 5 of Top Gear to describe the ride quality, "it doesn't go over bumps, it just flattens them." Even to this day, I consider it to be one of my favourite cars we've had out of all the cars my family has ever owned so far.
Mine has passed 375000 miles few days ago... I have had some motor changes and transmission, both suspension and all brakes,... More or less anything you can pull out and put new.... I am so connected to that car that i doubt i could ever be without it. Big Like for video and big ❤️ to all you out there driving your disco.
4K in one year maintenance for a high mileage car you know is reliable, useful, and you LOVE, is sooooo much cheaper than buying a new car, or even a used car in 2024. I’m about to buy my LR4 tomorrow and am beyond excited for the adventures.
I have an '08 LR3 with the v8 with 334,000+ miles on it. It's showing it's age, as expected, but it's been pretty solid since I got it used in 2012 with 54,00 miles on it.
Hi,I've had mine 2yrs,first job is change the belts,changed all oils,diffs aswell,fuel filter, gearbox and fitted uprated pan and filter on that,what do I think of,I love it,I enjoy driving it, there's one thing after doing all this work to,I know the car a lot better than before,and I know the work has been done right,can't recommend the car enough, enjoy
Hi Paul, Some good work you’ve put in to yours. Having peace of mind by getting all these jobs done goes a long way to enjoying owning these cars. If looked after, they’re excellent. Whether it’s a Disco 3 or 4.
Done that paint work,can actually see the Buckinghamshire blue come through,it's certainly a car I enjoy working on,you know you've done a decent job when other disco drivers turn there heads for a second look lol,enjoy
Very good and fair review of the Disco 3. Regular maintenance is absolutely key to owning any Land Rover. They are very capable 4x4 vehicles that will last for decades but will be expensive if neglected.
Thanks - you've done a fantastic job. I do prefer the original D3 look with Xenon lights and original tail lights and black wheel arches. More and more OG Classic real 4WD every day now. I'd always keep LAND ROVER on the bonnet also. HAving driven D4s I like the simplicity of the interior and extra storage spots and much better cup holders. My headlining is falling down now though!
Thanks Richard, I do think in more time the OEM D3 look might become more appealing but for me it’s a bit of a middle ground just now and looking dated still without classic appeal.
Thanks for putting this up Chris, I've got an 06 with the 4.4. It's a bit of a disappointment after the 4.2 Toureg I was driving before but it's still a great ride and just so capable. I love the look you have gone for and should have some new wheels/tyres on mine and a 2in lift next week, then I'll be thinking about detangoing the lights and making a rack. It's a commercial so I'll be setting up the back for weekends away as well. Never any shortage of things to do when you own a land rover ;-).
Hi Nick, Appreciate this. Mine is lifted about 1” to accommodate the tyres which are a 275/65/18. Despite what I read online, I didn’t have the cut the frame to allow these to fit, albeit on absolute full lock it was occasionally rub something. Only drivable in a straight line in access mode. Lol. I fitted the DRLs myself. They are just some led rope wires to the smog detector which is unused in the UK. I have a post on the Facebook pages offering to make a few sets if you want to look it up. Should have more Disco videos up in the future.
about to buy a 2008 land rover LR3 SE or D3 depending on where you are from. it has over 250k miles and i’m just anxious about taking care of it, any recommendations or advise you can give that might help me as i embark on this journey. it has been very well maintained by an owner who has another LR3 HSE with over 350k miles. cheers
Hi P, Without a doubt it’s possible. My own D3 on 221k miles now is proof and there are plenty others with similar or more miles. It’s imperative you start off on the right foot with a car that’s got impeccable service history, ideally over and above factory recommendations. Thereafter, be prepared to get your hands dirty or money spent tackling maintenance before they turn into bigger issues. Not cheap to own but a fantastic car to live with.
Hi Steven, I couldn’t give any thought or opinion unfortunately. You’d like to expect that LR addressed the issue but I’m not involved in too many D5 forums or discussions to have any worthy advice. Apologies. All I could say is that for every snapped cranked (D4 or D5), there will be thousands upon thousands of trouble free cars. Finding one with impeccable maintenance is key.
Hi Luke, This is a grill on eBay - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175415962093?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=kdRMWGFaToO&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=TmG8eF2lQj6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY The headlights are standard D3 headlights painted with custom DRLs wired in. I’ll have a How To on the headlights up soon!
@@chrisgarage8023well I’m well practiced in changing them now, as I was running on 2nd hand has I got 30 for £60 😂😂😂😂. A few were duff. Some have failed. But it’s kept me going while I save up for EIGHT lol. Done loads to it. But not edited any videos yet. Need to pull my finger out…. Next will be a D4 tho 😈
230bhp.?? I purchased a 4 motion VW Tiguan 197bhp standard, remapped it's 242bhp 440 nm torque. Originally I was torn between an Lr3 and a mitsubishi shogun but I'd never be off road enough to warrant owning such big cars. The Tiguan with the right tyres will gladly go 80% of the place 's the above 4x4's will travel..
Hi David, Yeah, it’s not a huge amount of power from a 2.7 V6 but I think the architecture of the engine is quite old so may have its limitations. Not sure on the torque output unfortunately. I’ve actually looked at Tiguans a lot as a second car and they look like great cars - ideal for 99% of jobs and if you don’t need the bigger space off road ability, then it would be overkill moving up to the cars you mention of the Touareg.
@@chrisgarage8023 I tried the Touareg but what out me off is the price of the autobox needing repair. I've had the dsg go on VW boxes before and your talking a minimum of 2k. I'll stick to manual lol. Best wishes and health to enjoy Ur lr3 buddy. Hope it stay gentle on Ur wallet 👍👍👍👍
These disco 3 must be the most unreliable cars in the world. Warning light after light. Nearly every time there used. Terrible cars. Land rove should be ashamed. In my opinion.
You may have a point but in my opinion the root cause of the majority of unreliability issues will stem from improper maintenance. You can buy these cars for £3/4K easily. You certainly cannot maintain them properly for anything less than half that value over 12months - excluding planned maintenance jobs like timing belts etc..
My dad used to have a Discovery 3 when I was a kid, and I thought it was a very nice car indeed. Ours was a 2005 (55-reg) HSE model with the 2.7-litre TDV6 diesel paired with the 6-speed automatic, and it was finished in a dark metallic blue (called Buckingham Blue) with the 'Alpaca' cream leather interior, which looked really nice.
It was September 2010, and I remember eagerly awaiting the moment when my dad would pull up onto our driveway in it, and when I saw PN55TZH pulling onto our driveway for the first time, I immediately went outside to have a look around it, and I remember being very impressed by what I saw.
Because ours was an HSE model, it was fully loaded with all the bells and whistles, some of which we’d never had on any car we’d ever owned before, including tri-zone climate control, heated rear seats, rear audio controls, etc, which 10-year-old me thought was very impressive indeed. Plus, its air suspension made it a very comfortable and relaxing car to travel in - as Jeremy Clarkson said in his Discovery 3 review back in Series 5 of Top Gear to describe the ride quality, "it doesn't go over bumps, it just flattens them."
Even to this day, I consider it to be one of my favourite cars we've had out of all the cars my family has ever owned so far.
Mine has passed 375000 miles few days ago... I have had some motor changes and transmission, both suspension and all brakes,... More or less anything you can pull out and put new.... I am so connected to that car that i doubt i could ever be without it. Big Like for video and big ❤️ to all you out there driving your disco.
4K in one year maintenance for a high mileage car you know is reliable, useful, and you LOVE, is sooooo much cheaper than buying a new car, or even a used car in 2024. I’m about to buy my LR4 tomorrow and am beyond excited for the adventures.
I have an '08 LR3 with the v8 with 334,000+ miles on it. It's showing it's age, as expected, but it's been pretty solid since I got it used in 2012 with 54,00 miles on it.
Wow! That is impressive. As I mentioned in the video, I’d likely chose the V8.
haha dude!
That is amazing! You played a big role in the Lr3 longevity with maintenance for sure!
Click on the video because of the headlights 😂 great work my man also watched your tutorial on them. Very nice 👍🏽
Thank you, an honest and interesting review👍
Hi,I've had mine 2yrs,first job is change the belts,changed all oils,diffs aswell,fuel filter, gearbox and fitted uprated pan and filter on that,what do I think of,I love it,I enjoy driving it, there's one thing after doing all this work to,I know the car a lot better than before,and I know the work has been done right,can't recommend the car enough, enjoy
Hi Paul,
Some good work you’ve put in to yours. Having peace of mind by getting all these jobs done goes a long way to enjoying owning these cars. If looked after, they’re excellent. Whether it’s a Disco 3 or 4.
Done that paint work,can actually see the Buckinghamshire blue come through,it's certainly a car I enjoy working on,you know you've done a decent job when other disco drivers turn there heads for a second look lol,enjoy
Very good and fair review of the Disco 3. Regular maintenance is absolutely key to owning any Land Rover. They are very capable 4x4 vehicles that will last for decades but will be expensive if neglected.
Hi Des,
You’re 100% correct. Maintenance needs kept on top of.
Thanks - you've done a fantastic job. I do prefer the original D3 look with Xenon lights and original tail lights and black wheel arches. More and more OG Classic real 4WD every day now. I'd always keep LAND ROVER on the bonnet also. HAving driven D4s I like the simplicity of the interior and extra storage spots and much better cup holders. My headlining is falling down now though!
Thanks Richard,
I do think in more time the OEM D3 look might become more appealing but for me it’s a bit of a middle ground just now and looking dated still without classic appeal.
Thanks for putting this up Chris, I've got an 06 with the 4.4. It's a bit of a disappointment after the 4.2 Toureg I was driving before but it's still a great ride and just so capable. I love the look you have gone for and should have some new wheels/tyres on mine and a 2in lift next week, then I'll be thinking about detangoing the lights and making a rack. It's a commercial so I'll be setting up the back for weekends away as well. Never any shortage of things to do when you own a land rover ;-).
What size tyres do you have on there and any tips on adding the DRLs? They look factory they are so good.
Hi Nick,
Appreciate this. Mine is lifted about 1” to accommodate the tyres which are a 275/65/18. Despite what I read online, I didn’t have the cut the frame to allow these to fit, albeit on absolute full lock it was occasionally rub something. Only drivable in a straight line in access mode. Lol.
I fitted the DRLs myself. They are just some led rope wires to the smog detector which is unused in the UK. I have a post on the Facebook pages offering to make a few sets if you want to look it up.
Should have more Disco videos up in the future.
I love my D3 , I’m sure good one will become classics in the future.
Did you replace the oil pump with
The improved pump ?
about to buy a 2008 land rover LR3 SE or D3 depending on where you are from. it has over 250k miles and i’m just anxious about taking care of it, any recommendations or advise you can give that might help me as i embark on this journey. it has been very well maintained by an owner who has another LR3 HSE with over 350k miles. cheers
Is it possible to get a reliable Disco 3 or 4? Im really considering getting one but don't want any hassle from them.
Hi P,
Without a doubt it’s possible. My own D3 on 221k miles now is proof and there are plenty others with similar or more miles. It’s imperative you start off on the right foot with a car that’s got impeccable service history, ideally over and above factory recommendations. Thereafter, be prepared to get your hands dirty or money spent tackling maintenance before they turn into bigger issues. Not cheap to own but a fantastic car to live with.
@@chrisgarage8023 thanks alot. Yes they can't be so bad or nobody would buy them. IL see if I can get a bargain over the next few months
Would you happen to know if the crankshaft issues have been resolved by the 2016 model?
Hi Steven,
I couldn’t give any thought or opinion unfortunately. You’d like to expect that LR addressed the issue but I’m not involved in too many D5 forums or discussions to have any worthy advice. Apologies.
All I could say is that for every snapped cranked (D4 or D5), there will be thousands upon thousands of trouble free cars. Finding one with impeccable maintenance is key.
Hit and miss mate , bought mine about 1yr ago it’s now 200,000 mls and rides better than my Bosses 2016 RR!! With no issues!!!.
Hey Chris,
Where did you get the 3 mm LED rope for the light from, i ma looking to upgrade my lights atm, thanks
Hi,
All the way from China! AliExpress/Alibaba should have plenty to chose from.
Can you link where you got your headlights and grille? I cant find a bunch of aftermarket support for the lr3.
Hi Luke,
This is a grill on eBay - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175415962093?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=kdRMWGFaToO&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=TmG8eF2lQj6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
The headlights are standard D3 headlights painted with custom DRLs wired in. I’ll have a How To on the headlights up soon!
@@chrisgarage8023 looking forward to the video on the headlights.
Have you had to change injectors? My 190k mikes RR07 TDV8 needs them
All replacing. And I’m like 🤦🏼♂️ - going reconditioned route.
Not yet mate but hope all goes well for you!
@@chrisgarage8023well I’m well practiced in changing them now, as I was running on 2nd hand has I got 30 for £60 😂😂😂😂. A few were duff. Some have failed. But it’s kept me going while I save up for EIGHT lol.
Done loads to it. But not edited any videos yet. Need to pull my finger out….
Next will be a D4 tho 😈
So you did a rebuild?
No, sorry. Where did you pick that up from?
@@chrisgarage8023 sorry it was more of an enquiry as to how you solved big end going. Unless I read / heard wrong
This is 350k km. My Toyota failed at 100 400km. My one Benz made a trouble-free 768000.
230bhp.?? I purchased a 4 motion VW Tiguan 197bhp standard, remapped it's 242bhp 440 nm torque. Originally I was torn between an Lr3 and a mitsubishi shogun but I'd never be off road enough to warrant owning such big cars. The Tiguan with the right tyres will gladly go 80% of the place 's the above 4x4's will travel..
Hi David,
Yeah, it’s not a huge amount of power from a 2.7 V6 but I think the architecture of the engine is quite old so may have its limitations. Not sure on the torque output unfortunately. I’ve actually looked at Tiguans a lot as a second car and they look like great cars - ideal for 99% of jobs and if you don’t need the bigger space off road ability, then it would be overkill moving up to the cars you mention of the Touareg.
@@chrisgarage8023 I tried the Touareg but what out me off is the price of the autobox needing repair. I've had the dsg go on VW boxes before and your talking a minimum of 2k. I'll stick to manual lol. Best wishes and health to enjoy Ur lr3 buddy. Hope it stay gentle on Ur wallet 👍👍👍👍
Right tyres. We speak 🇬🇧 here. 😊
These disco 3 must be the most unreliable cars in the world. Warning light after light. Nearly every time there used. Terrible cars. Land rove should be ashamed. In my opinion.
You may have a point but in my opinion the root cause of the majority of unreliability issues will stem from improper maintenance. You can buy these cars for £3/4K easily. You certainly cannot maintain them properly for anything less than half that value over 12months - excluding planned maintenance jobs like timing belts etc..