I sold my trusty D3 a few years ago and regretted it since. It was simply the most capable and usable car I’ve ever had.
Since then I’ve had a new Defender, new Disco 5 and now in a Range Rover L405.
However, I’ve decided to go retrograde and shun modernity and I bought a 2016 D4 HSE. It’s only done 48k and has a full main dealer history and MOTs done bang on time each year. It’s been really looked after. It also comes with brand new discs and pads and tyres all round which helps.
I’m going to miss some of the bits I’ve had on the newer cars like:
Heated Steering wheel (possible to retrofit easily?)
Full digital dash
Traffic sign recognition (for road speed- very handy)
Large sat Nav screen
In control apps and remote start
However, I’ll soon get used to it again.
Looking forward to delving back into the knowledge here.
1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
Welcome back mate, you won't regret it 1978 Series 3 88 Military Green (Gone)
1983 110 V8 Masai Red (Gone)
1997 Discovery 1 XS Cobalt Blue (Gone)
1999 Defender 110 TD5 Safari Epsom Green (Gone)
2001 Freelander Sport Buckingham Blue (Gone)
2016 Discovery 4 Landmark Yulong White "Larry" (Written off)
2015 Discovery 4 HSE Luxury Corris Grey "Sol"
15th May 2023 7:47 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14383
Sounds like a nice car. The D4 really was the ultimate all rounder and not the LR has made since comes close.
Enjoy. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
Welcome back, looks like a nice car - good decision.
Retrofitting HSR is no problem.
Have the belts been done?
NJSS
15th May 2023 8:15 am
RogB
Member Since: 15 Jun 2018
Location: Mansfield
Posts: 1729
I still miss my D4 massively, only car ive ever regretted selling but lockdown lunacy had a hold on me and I sold it on.
That looks a stunning D4 (not jealous at all ! )
OY is Oxford registered so could have been a LR fleet managers car or press car maybe in its early days ?2011 D4 XS 305 MY12 - gone but not forgotten
15th May 2023 10:35 am
Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2813
RRUK, welcome back, the D4 looks great.
I know I’m not the only one that would be grateful if you could elaborate more on how you’d compare the D4, D5, L405, and Defender.
There has been lots of discussion about what to do to move on from a D4 and you are in a really good place to comment.
Obviously you’ve made the decision to return to a D4, which is pretty much where we are all coming from.
Both talk about why the D4 ticks all the boxes for many and why the later models do not.
I'm hoping that we are wrong in some instances, which can only be discovered by actually living with one of the other models.
To be honest none of the things you’ve mentioned you’ll miss about the newer cars are of any consequence to me personally, but I’d really appreciate your comparison of more basic things like tailgate configuration, Towing, visibility when manoeuvring, load space shape, and of course the flatness of the load space with the second row seats folded flat.Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
16th May 2023 7:43 am
RRUK Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 676
Thanks for the welcomes
Nasher - I’ll take a look at those posts soon and see if I can help.1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
16th May 2023 8:52 am
RRUK Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 676
NJSS wrote:
Welcome back, looks like a nice car - good decision.
Retrofitting HSR is no problem.
Have the belts been done?
NJSS
Belts not done but it’s now on the list. Having suspension arms done next week once I have it.
So, tell me more about the HSW retro fit?1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
16th May 2023 8:54 am
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4244
Fitting a heated wheel takes under an hour and the hardest part is getting the airbag to release! Many breakers sell complete wheels and clocksprings for around £250 (make sure it is a similar model year to yours as the boards changed in later models). GoS or Kent 4x4 often have them..
You should already have the power cable for the heating element installed next to the steering wheel (hidden under a foam cover) and that just plugs into the clockspring.
Remove the old wheel, replace with new, connect all cables and Robert is your fathers brother...
Think I did a post on this a while back but there are many others I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
16th May 2023 9:04 am
s60r
Member Since: 14 Mar 2021
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 287
Looks lovely ......and Very condition good
I made a tool to remove the airbag as it took a full hour for me first time I removed it! I still have the tool somewhere I should make a few and sell them for a fiver lol.
My D4 is gone now so if I find it I'll pop a pic and dimensions up... it will save you so much time in fiddling. I made it so it just goes in and unhooks both sides with minimal fuss.
Other than the wheel which is an easy add, the rest can be achieved by adding CarPlay to the oem head unit.... remote start can be added via the FBH and an IID tool (for pre heat).
Enjoy the car.... A mod a week until I have nothing to improve or add.
17th May 2023 5:37 pm
mickyd4
Member Since: 26 Jun 2010
Location: North
Posts: 786
I have also ran a Discovery 5 and and a new Defender 110 (albeit very briefly) and an old V8 diesel L322 RR since last owning a D4. I am also now looking for a last of the line Discovery 4.
It is funny how many people return to these vehicles. Lets face it, it is the best all round blend of luxury and utilitarian functionality that Land Rover ever produced.
This vehicle was never replaced when D4 production ended.... 2023 Ineos Grenadier 3.0 Diesel Commercial
2022 Mini John Cooper Works Hatch
2021 Golf MK8 GTD
1978 Land Rover SIII
1993 Range Rover Classic 3.9 V8
2007- Range Rover TDV8 - SOLD
2020 - Discovery 5 3.0 SD6 Landmark - SOLD
2020 - Defender 110 D240 First Edition - SOLD
2012- Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE - SOLD
2009- Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 XS - SOLD
2007- Discovery 3 TDV6 GS- SOLD
2001- Defender 90 Td5 - SOLD
27th May 2023 12:26 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14383
Stop it! I'd finally reconciled myself to my Defender 110 but you've given me the wobbles again! Having seen Andy's replacement last week being kitted out, my head is all over the place.
LR really missed a trick by not continuing the ethos of the D3/4. I know many D4 owners bypassed the D5 and got a new Defender. It's as close in driving, comfort and road presence as the D4 until you get to the boot and rear door.
At the moment we use my daughter's 2008 D3 for all the things we need to do that the Defender can't. I'm not sure we've made much progress. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
27th May 2023 9:01 am
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15263
Coming back to the fold
RRUK wrote:
Well, it’s happened.
….. and I’m sure once you get used to the lack of the ‘bling extras’ from your other LRs, you won’t regret it.
There’s no better place to be.
Nice looking D4 too. ...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
27th May 2023 10:59 am
RRUK Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 676
I finally found time to give the D4 a ‘once over’.
I do this with every car, it doesn’t feel properly like mine until this is done- anyone else do these things?
Magic sponge clean on steering wheel and front seats and then Gliptone leather conditioner (lovely smell)
Clean all the glass inside
Full interior clean
Fit rear seat cover to protect them from kids and stuff in the boot (Custom Covers- £53)
Fit a rear boot mat (Travall £50)
Fit the dash cam
Fit Quad Lock Phone mount
Then outside:
Wash and clay bar entire car including glass
Intensive tar remover on every panel except roof
Meguiars compound, polish and liquid wax
Rainex all glasswork
Treat all plastic work
Under bonnet clean and detail
Replace all the wipers
Acidic cleanse of alloys and tyres dressed
It now finally feels like my car!1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
29th May 2023 10:04 am
RRUK Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 676
The end result. A bit of a dull day, doesn’t make it pop as much
1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
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