Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
David - D3 TDV6 HSE 2005, Future family Overlander / Camper.
Hello, I'm Dave and yesterday after a lot of haggling in price I bought a 2005 Discovery 3 HSE which I'm praying is going to serve myself and my young family well.
The intention is to rig the vehicle out to become a family camper / overlander type rig, RTT, drawers, awning, all terrains etc, it will never go "off road" mostly just slightly off the beaten track to a camp spot. It will also become my tow car for processing and collecting firewood occasionally. I am taking inspiration from the below which many of you will be familiar with on YouTube. (Appreciate this is a D4).
Click image to enlarge
I have spent an exceptionally long time researching the Discovery 3 and I am fully aware of the vast range of issues these vehicles have, especially if not well maintained however I am also aware how easy these cars can be to keep with the right diagnostics and a decent set of hands. I hope my mechanical handiness will make up for my lack of wallet when it comes to servicing, maintenance, preventative maintenance and repairs because it won't be going to a main stealership Given that, after purchasing the car and driving to the garage for a tank of diesel and some air in the tyres before heading up the road I also purchased a Gap IID tool which should arrive by the end of the week.
I'm going to start with the bad parts.
- The drivers and I think the rear or centre if you will drivers’ side footwells are damp so I'm suspecting blocked sunroof drains or drain valves, I have the 3 sunroofs, so I guess that’s inevitable? I have also read maybe an AC drain issue somewhere but that may be incorrect. I have read multiple posts about curtain wire being the tool of choice for roddding the drain lines?
- The car was originally from Great Yarmouth so costal and has some corrosion in places, the fuel tank cradle has a large rotten hole in the centre of it which I had already noted prior to purchase form researching past MOT's as had been noted an advisory but it hasn't been mentioned again, I'd like to change that out as it's unsightly. There is some surface corrosion around the rear chassis legs but nothing much at all and there is some corrosion in the rear NS Door/wheel arch which appears to be surface at that point and doesn't extend to the sill. I intend to get the plastics all off and cleaned then buffed down and protected, no doubt it'll be a mess under there.
- I collected the car from Stafford and with an RAC membership that I hoped I wouldn't need I drove it up to Scotland, a 380-mile trip. The car was initially averaging a surprising 35.8mpg and then 36mpg later headed up the hill which reduced down to about 32mpg, it actually seemed to obtain slightly better mileage doing 75mph than it did at 70mph.
- It wasn't until I was 312 miles into the journey home, I came off the roundabout at Dunblane/Bridge of Allan headed north up the hill and pressed the resume cruise control button, the car accelerated up itself as it does, then suddenly I got the "bong" and a message "engine system fault" but no lights on the dash other than the "I" information symbol and the fault note. And here was me praying I would make it home without issue, gutted at this point. The car went into limp mode, throttle barely responsive and I continued on. I spoke to the garage where I bought it and they said "just turn it off and back on again"... helpful. Given I was 12 hours into my round trip journey, it was dark, I was 70 miles from home, there was no hard shoulder and the rain was fittingly Scottish and horizontal I didn’t dare stop and turn it off In the event I didn’t start again, RAC or not I was just needing home by this point so I persevered. The car made it home, I turned it off and back on again and the fault has cleared. When the IID tool arrives I'll get the code(s) and see what’s up however on research it would appear most whom have had this fault without and lights on the rev counter dash was generally caused by sticky turbo actuator so it may need lubed. Anyone else have any input on this? This morning I ran it 10 miles and there were no issues.
Now onto the good parts. I done my research first, I bought a vehicle check and researched the MOT's, everything checked out.
The vehicle has done just 56,000 miles and is a genuine one lady owner car (her driving gloves are still in the glovebox) It has an almost full service history having initially been serviced at the purchasing dealership for the first 8 years of its life before then being serviced by an independent up until today with the exception of where the 2015, 2018 & 2019 services seem to be missing, I'm unsure why. It has been serviced in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and the timing belt/injection pump belt changed in 2020 at 51,000 miles. There is no mention anywhere of an oil pump replacement so I don't know if it's still operating the dodgy unit, presumably this would have been recalled or changed with the belts or at an earlier recall, did they recall for the oil pump?
The original removable towbar is still in the boot compartment, it has never been used:
As is the original engine oil top up bottle, unopened:
I thought I was buying a total gem, but regardless of being prepared to expect the inevitable, I do feel a little disheartened after the car limping on me last night. Do feel free to bombard me with some reassurance that the car will be OK provided it is looked after. I welcome any feedback at all things like preventative maintenence etc. I wonder if it's worth doing an EGR delete before the valves become a problem (if they arent already) etc.
@Disco_Mikey -I'm just up by Laurencekirk and having read enough on here to know you are the man to go to for all things Land Rover which was backed up by @NigeTheCat over message I've love to book into yours for a full health check and some advice if you wouldn’t mind me calling you up!
Cheers,
Dave 2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
21st Mar 2023 4:00 pm
tanters
Member Since: 24 Oct 2007
Location: Oireland
Posts: 4287
Got yourself a nice looking motor there, Dave
I watch Kasper's vdieos too....pretty inspiring stuff but maybe more suited to you getting away alone ..... and in snow.
Pity about the limping home. Get it to a specialist and let them reassure you all will be well. Spending money is just the D3 way (You'll need to PM those you mention for them to pick up the message I think)
Good luck with the project and take care of that rust asap
Keep us posted
p.s. Does the phone sill work Nice touchA happy childhood ... is the worst possible preparation for life.
21st Mar 2023 4:46 pm
DJEwen
Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
Thanks for saying so Tanters, shame about the wee rust section but I will get to it shortly!
Haha yes, very well edited and I agree. No chance I'll be living in the car though, he's pretty hardcore.
Aye, I'll get it to Discomikey for a swatch. Hopefully he thinks it's clean!
The phone, I'm not sure as the battery is out of it, it's swollen up so I dont dare try it. It's got a sim, I'll maybe get a battery and see if I can get it going!2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
21st Mar 2023 5:02 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15263
Looks a great spec, low mileage D3 you have there, Dave
Pity about the niggles, however once you have them seen to I'm sure it'll be an excellent motor for you.
And Mike is definitely the guy for you to get it all sorted.
Nice to see another Disco that's going to being kitted out for a bit of camping.
[I'm part way through that process myself]....... always on the road less travelled 🚧
21st Mar 2023 5:25 pm
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2226
Hi,
its only use to doing 9 miles a day and you ask it to do 360 miles in one stint
It was tired out and needed a lay down,
hopefully it will get use to the increased exercise
Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
ronp wrote:
Looks a great spec, low mileage D3 you have there, Dave
Pity about the niggles, however once you have them seen to I'm sure it'll be an excellent motor for you.
And Mike is definitely the guy for you to get it all sorted.
Nice to see another Disco that's going to being kitted out for a bit of camping.
[I'm part way through that process myself].
Thanks, Ronp. I hope so, I’ll give Mike a call tomorrow.
I can’t wait for it, I have a young son whom I’m hoping will enjoy it. Some of my fondest memories as a kid were camping, I’m just nae sure how the wife will be, she’d be cald on the sun.
Cool, I’ll need to have a rake for your build blog!2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
21st Mar 2023 6:40 pm
DJEwen
Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
riverblanche wrote:
Hi,
its only use to doing 9 miles a day and you ask it to do 360 miles in one stint
It was tired out and needed a lay down,
hopefully it will get use to the increased exercise
Haha I just done the math and realised so did you! You’re not wrong! I’ll need to ease her in gently 2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
21st Mar 2023 6:42 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14389
Nice. I'm about to embark on the same journey converting my daughter's D3 into an expedition wagon for her grand tour after her A levels this summer. Some of our best memories with the girls growing up were camping with our D3, The Old Bus and Gerty the D4.
I'm rather looking forward to it. If I keep my new Defender I'll probably do the same to it.
Looking forward to your build thread. 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
21st Mar 2023 7:26 pm
DJEwen
Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
That’s awesome, do document it so I can follow along
I love that massive tent! Where did you strap the picnic bench to? 2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
21st Mar 2023 7:54 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14389
Will try.
As for the picnic bench, my wife and eldest went hunting and gathering 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
21st Mar 2023 9:48 pm
DJEwen
Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
I am booked in at MMP Landrover in Dundee for Mike to go over the D3 with a fine tooth comb for an hour and a half. It's not until mid-late May however as that's their first availibility. That should hopefully allow me some time to sort out the sunroof drains and the small corrosion in the rear wheel arch/sill by then, if only the weather would improve!2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
22nd Mar 2023 3:25 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23825
Moo wrote:
Nice. I'm about to embark on the same journey converting my daughter's D3 into an expedition wagon for her grand tour after her A levels this summer. Some of our best memories with the girls growing up were camping with our D3, The Old Bus and Gerty the D4.
I'm rather looking forward to it. If I keep my new Defender I'll probably do the same to it.
Looking forward to your build thread.
Great set up!
What awning is that on the tailgate?2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
22nd Mar 2023 5:02 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14389
It's a tarp from Millets. Dirt cheap but worked a treat.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
22nd Mar 2023 5:05 pm
loanrangie
Member Since: 18 Jun 2017
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 699
Looks like a gem but at 18 years old its still prone to age related issues, get the codes read but it may just need an italian tune up.
22nd Mar 2023 11:07 pm
DJEwen
Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
20 years of driving and I had never heard that term! I had to Google it. You’re maybe right…. I’d fear for the crank though!2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
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Given that, after purchasing the car and driving to the garage for a tank of diesel and some air in the tyres before heading up the road I also purchased a Gap IID tool which should arrive by the end of the week.
(You'll need to PM those you mention for them to pick up the message I think)
Nice touch
