Member Since: 31 Aug 2020
Location: Brandon, Suffolk
Posts: 153
My recent MOT failure
So the time came for my Disco to have it’s MOT and a service in preparation for the family holidays to Scotland next month. I took it into my local indie that I trust as they have been good to me since buying the car. Now, I knew of a few issues from the off, 1. 2 new tyres on the front 2. Both front lower control arm Bushes needed replacing, and 3. Handbrake module fault.
On the morning of the MOT, my drivers window collapsed and would not lift again, turns out the glass had cracked and broken at the bracket - new window = £250 . This didn’t fill me with confidence for the MOT, fortunately, the handbrake issue was down to a loose connector and did not need to be replaced. Unfortunately, the old girl let me down on the ramps. Below is her list of failures
The end bill was just shy of £3k, It’s safe to say I was devastated and had a tough decision deciding if it was worth it.
After sleeping on it I gave them the green light, and 2 days later collected a Disco that looks like mine, but my god it drives completely different!
I’ve been fending off comments and criticism from people telling me I’m stupid for spending that much on her or that I could buy a new car for that money, but quite frankly, I don’t want another car. The D3 is a vehicle that carries me, my wife and our 5 kids Anywhere I ask it too, and in comfort too.
I guess the purpose of this post is just to show a little appreciation for a vehicle that still excites me every time I drive it.12 months of D3 ownership have passed and I’m still loving it!
23rd Jul 2021 1:36 am
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 4628
Well it was certainly a painful sting, but I very much think you did the right thing. (did that just rhyme? Sorry, my artistic flair tends to kick in around 3.00 am )
Most of us who own and run D3/4's have come to expect at some point you're wallet is going to take a hit.
It's part of the ownership deal! On the one hand, you get to own and drive a unique, very capable, comfortable, and super practical vehicle. On the other it comes at a financial cost, but one which you are content to live with given the benefits of of the first half.
You can though genuinely circumvent some of these costs hitting you all at once by planning a maintenance schedule in advance. This allows you to spread your cost base, whilst at the same time keeping the car in tip top condition. Particularly as they get on in years I consider this an important factor of ownership.
I have spent about 6k on maintenance over the last 5 years, and that is just parts, as I do the work myself.
Now though, the car is in A1 condition having just about every part of the powertrain replaced or refurbed, with the only remaining factory serviceable items being the heavy engine components, gearbox, diffs, struts, and the six drive shafts. All of which are still perfect! (touch wood in case she's listening!)
Like many others I have often considered changing to something else, but to what?
What other vehicle can genuine compare or surpass the L319 in all of it's aspects? I think the answer to that simply has to be nothing can, which is why we choose to keep them and take the pain too when it comes. If there was an alternative which offered like for like driver experience many of us would probably have left the brand long ago.
So, well done for keeping the faith and giving the old girl a reprieve, let's hope she appreciates it (and hope she's not listening either)
yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
23rd Jul 2021 3:44 am
aja4x4
Member Since: 14 Apr 2019
Location: Westbury
Posts: 2459
Its a bit steep but whats it worth without an MOT, you would then have to pay out more than 3k to get something different.
My only other thought is what are your other tyres like that wernt replaced, if there not a simular tread depth tonthe new ones it can cause issues.Andrew
D3 2.7tdv6 2005
D4 3.0 SDV6 Commercial died and gone to LR heaven
D5 3.0 SDV6 HSE
23rd Jul 2021 6:32 am
MorganD379
Member Since: 29 Sep 2016
Location: SA62 3PP
Posts: 425
PROFSR G wrote:
Well it was certainly a painful sting, but I very much think you did the right thing. (did that just rhyme? Sorry, my artistic flair tends to kick in around 3.00 am )
Most of us who own and run D3/4's have come to expect at some point you're wallet is going to take a hit.
It's part of the ownership deal! On the one hand, you get to own and drive a unique, very capable, comfortable, and super practical vehicle. On the other it comes at a financial cost, but one which you are content to live with given the benefits of of the first half.
You can though genuinely circumvent some of these costs hitting you all at once by planning a maintenance schedule in advance. This allows you to spread your cost base, whilst at the same time keeping the car in tip top condition. Particularly as they get on in years I consider this an important factor of ownership.
I have spent about 6k on maintenance over the last 5 years, and that is just parts, as I do the work myself.
Now though, the car is in A1 condition having just about every part of the powertrain replaced or refurbed, with the only remaining factory serviceable items being the heavy engine components, gearbox, diffs, struts, and the six drive shafts. All of which are still perfect! (touch wood in case she's listening!)
Like many others I have often considered changing to something else, but to what?
What other vehicle can genuine compare or surpass the L319 in all of it's aspects? I think the answer to that simply has to be nothing can, which is why we choose to keep them and take the pain too when it comes. If there was an alternative which offered like for like driver experience many of us would probably have left the brand long ago.
So, well done for keeping the faith and giving the old girl a reprieve, let's hope she appreciates it (and hope she's not listening either)
+1, 5 years into ownership just over 100k on the clock... My daily driver
This year's planned maintenance in line with the normal oils and filters (currently in the garage) all belts and tensioners, oil/water pump, transfer box oil, 4 new tyres and a new cv boot which it failed the MOT on yesterday
Would I replace it due to servicing/tax/fuel costs, not unless I win the lottery and then I would still keep it
23rd Jul 2021 7:47 am
aja4x4
Member Since: 14 Apr 2019
Location: Westbury
Posts: 2459
I think the only way to keep costs down on these vehicles is to do most of the work yourself.
They do go wrong, you only want to use good quality parts which are expensive and a lot of the jobs take a lot of labour hours which costs a fortune if your paying somebody else.Andrew
D3 2.7tdv6 2005
D4 3.0 SDV6 Commercial died and gone to LR heaven
D5 3.0 SDV6 HSE
23rd Jul 2021 8:13 am
MJA
Member Since: 08 Jul 2021
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 85
Shame it happened to you all at once with the pipes and front and rear arms. On the plus side you should be good for another 50k miles.
Did you have an advisories last year? A shame your specialist didn't pick up on it before if they are doing servicing etc so you could have at least spread the cost.
I budget £2.5k per year for repairs and insurance. Hopefully that will be enough . I am also whittling my classics/modern classics down to just 2 or 3 so that will free up both time and cash if the worst happened as old cars are not cheap to restore.Land Rover(s) : '10 Discovery 4
Other daily: '13 Seat Exeo ST 170
Toys: '95 VW Corrado VR6 | '96 VW Golf GTI 16v | '91 VW Golf GTI 16v
23rd Jul 2021 8:23 am
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 4628
aja4x4 wrote:
I think the only way to keep costs down on these vehicles is to do most of the work yourself.
They do go wrong, you only want to use good quality parts which are expensive and a lot of the jobs take a lot of labour hours which costs a fortune if your paying somebody else.
I agree, original or OEM parts only and doing the work yourself will very considerably reduce the costs.
Although for various reasons that may not an option for every owner. yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
23rd Jul 2021 12:50 pm
motorworks
Member Since: 14 Nov 2019
Location: Usk
Posts: 401
Did you have just n/s upper rear arm replaced or both?Chris
23rd Jul 2021 2:33 pm
AdamRandall
Member Since: 31 Aug 2020
Location: Brandon, Suffolk
Posts: 153
MJA wrote:
Shame it happened to you all at once with the pipes and front and rear arms. On the plus side you should be good for another 50k miles.
Did you have an advisories last year? A shame your specialist didn't pick up on it before if they are doing servicing etc so you could have at least spread the cost.
I budget £2.5k per year for repairs and insurance. Hopefully that will be enough . I am also whittling my classics/modern classics down to just 2 or 3 so that will free up both time and cash if the worst happened as old cars are not cheap to restore.
No advisories from last year, I bought her a few weeks after the previous MOT.12 months of D3 ownership have passed and I’m still loving it!
23rd Jul 2021 11:13 pm
AdamRandall
Member Since: 31 Aug 2020
Location: Brandon, Suffolk
Posts: 153
motorworks wrote:
Did you have just n/s upper rear arm replaced or both?
Both, and both fronts too. The previous owner had used cheap aftermarket replacements, so I decided to swap out for OEM when replacing the bushes12 months of D3 ownership have passed and I’m still loving it!
23rd Jul 2021 11:14 pm
AdamRandall
Member Since: 31 Aug 2020
Location: Brandon, Suffolk
Posts: 153
PROFSR G wrote:
Well it was certainly a painful sting, but I very much think you did the right thing. (did that just rhyme? Sorry, my artistic flair tends to kick in around 3.00 am )
Most of us who own and run D3/4's have come to expect at some point you're wallet is going to take a hit.
It's part of the ownership deal! On the one hand, you get to own and drive a unique, very capable, comfortable, and super practical vehicle. On the other it comes at a financial cost, but one which you are content to live with given the benefits of of the first half.
You can though genuinely circumvent some of these costs hitting you all at once by planning a maintenance schedule in advance. This allows you to spread your cost base, whilst at the same time keeping the car in tip top condition. Particularly as they get on in years I consider this an important factor of ownership.
I have spent about 6k on maintenance over the last 5 years, and that is just parts, as I do the work myself.
Now though, the car is in A1 condition having just about every part of the powertrain replaced or refurbed, with the only remaining factory serviceable items being the heavy engine components, gearbox, diffs, struts, and the six drive shafts. All of which are still perfect! (touch wood in case she's listening!)
Like many others I have often considered changing to something else, but to what?
What other vehicle can genuine compare or surpass the L319 in all of it's aspects? I think the answer to that simply has to be nothing can, which is why we choose to keep them and take the pain too when it comes. If there was an alternative which offered like for like driver experience many of us would probably have left the brand long ago.
So, well done for keeping the faith and giving the old girl a reprieve, let's hope she appreciates it (and hope she's not listening either)
I’d love to do more work on her myself, and I have tried, as you know, but I have to balance the cost benefits of saving money and losing money by having her off the road and not working.
The D3 is without question, the best car I’ve ever owned. I’ve tried Audi, VW, Ford and Vauxhall but they’re all so dull!12 months of D3 ownership have passed and I’m still loving it!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
. This didn’t fill me with confidence for the MOT, fortunately, the handbrake issue was down to a loose connector and did not need to be replaced. Unfortunately, the old girl let me down on the ramps. Below is her list of failures
)
(and hope she's not listening either)
. I am also whittling my classics/modern classics down to just 2 or 3 so that will free up both time and cash if the worst happened as old cars are not cheap to restore.
