Member Since: 06 Aug 2006
Location: The Gabba - QLD
Posts: 420
Simpson Desert Trip
I recently crossed the Simpson East to West along the QAA, French and WAA lines and returned via the Rig Road and Warburton Tracks.
I travelled with 3 other vehicles and solo bike rider. We also went through the Sturt Stony and Strzelecki deserts.
This the reason for buying a D3. The only problems I experienced were to my mud flaps and exhausts due to the crowns on the tracks, to be a truely great offroader the D3 needs to be able to operate at extended height at speeds above 50 kph. Fully loaded the air suspension is TOO soft on desert tracks and gravel roads with high crowns.
See my gallery for more photos of this trip.06 TDV6 SE with many LR and after-market extras. Used only on weekends and trips out west.
Audi TT Roadster (Daily and around town drive)
VW Eos TDI For Sale
Previously 01 TD5 and 94 TDI
Last edited by Desert Traveller on 6th Aug 2007 3:16 am. Edited 1 time in total
28th Jul 2007 12:05 pm
Mossy
Member Since: 01 Jul 2005
Location: Hollyoaks, UK
Posts: 2684
Just been through your gallery.
8)
Some great shots.D3 HSE V8...
29th Jul 2007 6:52 am
PBob
Member Since: 11 Feb 2007
Location: Mudgee NSW
Posts: 167
I agree. The mudflaps are a bit of a disaster. I busted mine with mud caking on them and L/R refused to replace them under warranty. About $300 for new ones so I made my own. Rubber from Clark Rubber cut to length and shaped on the edges with a stanley knife cutting around a coffee cup. These cost $70 and don't really look too bad, but of more importance, are superior to the originals. Yes also, to the comment on suspension height and speed. This should go up to say 80kmh. I wonder if that can be dialled into the system? I met a bloke with a new 3 series - he did live in the city, but ordered his with no mudflaps at all! Said they only break off when hitting gutters etc.
It is a pity that dealers etc do not listen to feedback. I mentioned before that my bonnet protector made noises like a bull roarer at +80kmh. It also broke in half with the vibration after one month on the car. The dealer said he would look into it, but of course never did.2006 HSE TDV6 Bonatti Grey, ECB bull bar, tropical roof, LG Next G car kit, Tom Tom GPS, UHF, Mitchell Bros tow bar, Kimberley Kamper Limited Edition camper trailer and 23 foot Haines Signature half cabin (Towed separately!)
29th Jul 2007 8:22 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
PBob, Why not add some picks and a your method to the post.
Maybe It should ber made into a Sticky?
The Oz ones are larger as the ADR requires them so for gravel roads. Mine maintain the same shape as the OEMs and are about an inch longer. I have even dropped the suspension onto them with no ill effects. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
29th Jul 2007 8:42 am
rover3
Member Since: 13 Feb 2007
Location: Geelong
Posts: 17
Good Evening All
Have also just crossed the Simpson from West to East same problems with the mud flaps and a number of dints in the exhaust. Have replaced the mud flaps this weekend @ $63 for the pair, will get some photos up in the next week.
29th Jul 2007 12:50 pm
rover3
Member Since: 13 Feb 2007
Location: Geelong
Posts: 17
Some Photos of our Simpson trip.
Regards Rover3
4th Aug 2007 12:56 pm
Spanish Fly
Member Since: 09 Jul 2007
Location: somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 217
Don't you guys in Oz know about our Spanish mod to trick the suspension into riding higher? We use it on our Disco 3s when travelling in Morocco and Mauritania.
I/WE don't. So come on whats the Spanish tip? There will be a lot of pleased people in this country. Did you think I would leave you crying,
When there's room in my D3 for 7,
Climb in here Joe we'll soon be flying,
I can go just as fast with 7.
2005 TDV6 S with Terrain Response (& all that entails), Tasmods (gorn). 2008 TDV6 HSE (gone). A Dark Side umbrella (here) & car (here).
Member Since: 09 Jul 2007
Location: somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 217
It's really simple, you just need to buy a set of 4 load sensor bars. Not sure if that's what they're called. They are just made of plastic and clip into place. We cut them and plastic weld them together, making them shorter. I will have to speak to my mate to find out exact length. This tricks the suspension into lifting higher than normal in low, standard and raised settings. It is awesome for fast desert pistes where you need to travel at speed. Also, it doesn't effect dramatically the on road handling even at motorway speeds. This mod was tried and tested by a close friend who just so happens to own a local LR dealer. Other dealers from across the country call him constantly to divulge this big secret.
These parts cost no more than 40 Euros. LR did have a small issue with the part numbers for the front ones. They were mistakenly listed on their database with the same reference as the rears. I will confirm the part numbers shortly.
I will post exact dimensions and photos next week when we carry out this mod on my new Disco 3 which I collect next week.
Thank You Chay. Myself and others will look forward to the pics etc.
Thanks Mate & Cheers.
David.Did you think I would leave you crying,
When there's room in my D3 for 7,
Climb in here Joe we'll soon be flying,
I can go just as fast with 7.
2005 TDV6 S with Terrain Response (& all that entails), Tasmods (gorn). 2008 TDV6 HSE (gone). A Dark Side umbrella (here) & car (here).
Chris2011 Discovery 4 (MY12) SDV6 HSE with General Grabber AT's, Traxide Aux Battery system, custom rear drawers and Autosafe half height cargo barrier
Gone - 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE
ARB Bull Bar, Warn 9.5XP Winch, IPF D/Lights, Cooper STT's, LR Raised Air Intake, Traxide aux battery system, custom drawers and half height Autosafe cargo barrier, Mitchell Bros 4x4 tow hitch
6th Aug 2007 1:08 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Still awaiting for details from Gordon. It will be interesting to see if the method differs.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
6th Aug 2007 1:43 am
MarkTaylor
Member Since: 28 Dec 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 185
I'm really keen to hear about this method of increasing ride height.. any more details and/or pictures on this?
Cheers
MTNothing of any value is ever achieved without some sacrifice.
Spanish Fly - what are the dimensions of the height sensor brackets you fit? For the D2, it was not a 1:1 ratio of length of longer bracket to height lifted - so whats' the maths on the D3 - to get a 40mm extra lift, what length bracket do we fit?
Thanks for this!
SimonD3 - Buckingham Blue, SE, TDV6, 06 model; chipped; underbody armour; Mickey Thompson ATZ 275/65-18 AND MAXXIS Bighorn muddies; rear wheel carrier from 4x4intelligence.com; iPOD aux connection! GME 3200 UHF - aerial mounted on wheel carrier ; LR roof rails/cross bars; Autosafe cargo barrier, Safari Snorkel; Traxide - aux battery; ARB bull bar with Tigerz11 winch; Lightforce 240 XGT driving lights (mitchell bros tow hitch to come)
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; LR roof rails/cross bars; Autosafe cargo barrier, Safari Snorkel; Traxide - aux battery; ARB bull bar with Tigerz11 winch; Lightforce 240 XGT driving lights (mitchell bros tow hitch to come) 
