NOOB questions here:

[Hanzo]

Im in the process of getting my hands on an LR3, I have read part of the problems sticky, but there is soooo much info in that thread I get dizzy. So as a noob Im gonna ask:

1. what major issues should I look for when looking at used LR3's?
2. is the ford ESP(I read a bit about it) extended warranty the best way to go still or is there a new option?
3. what recalls have been issued for 2006 LR3's? so I can ask the buyer the proper questions.
4. anyone got a carfax account?
5. can you retro fit the HID housing on to a halogen equipped LR3? are they the same shape? any differences. I wouldn't think so, but from my experience with other manufacturer's its not always true that one fits with the other.

Thanks everyone, sorry if any of it has been beaten to death...with every car I own I join a forum to get tru real life accounts and records of the car, for me its one of the better ways to get the truth, rather than from a sales guy or person hoping to sell you a car!

Hanzo

 

[nwoods]

Im in the process of getting my hands on an LR3, I have read part of the problems sticky, but there is soooo much info in that thread I get dizzy. So as a noob Im gonna ask:

1. what major issues should I look for when looking at used LR3's?
2. is the ford ESP(I read a bit about it) extended warranty the best way to go still or is there a new option?
3. what recalls have been issued for 2006 LR3's? so I can ask the buyer the proper questions.
4. anyone got a carfax account?
5. can you retro fit the HID housing on to a halogen equipped LR3? are they the same shape? any differences. I wouldn't think so, but from my experience with other manufacturer's its not always true that one fits with the other.

Thanks everyone, sorry if any of it has been beaten to death...with every car I own I join a forum to get tru real life accounts and records of the car, for me its one of the better ways to get the truth, rather than from a sales guy or person hoping to sell you a car!

Hanzo

1. Refer to this: http://blog.nextstepdesigns.com/?p=78
2. Possibly, but it seems to vary by the hour, like buying airline tickets
3. Very few. NAFTA (?) lists them. I think there was a clock spring issue in the steering wheel, and a gas tank issue. There's been lots of TSB's, but those are only effective if the "customer voices a complaint about...."
4. I don't.
5. I think you can, but I've not done it. There are numerous threads on www.disco3.co.uk about this. I have added aftermarket HID H7 bulbs to my existing lens assembly, and that works fine, but they are not the factory xeons.

The LR3 is very capable, I have LOTS of off roading photography based around my LR3 here: http://nwoods.smugmug.com/Land Rover/198186

 

[Hanzo]

1. Refer to this: http://blog.nextstepdesigns.com/?p=78
2. Possibly, but it seems to vary by the hour, like buying airline tickets
3. Very few. NAFTA (?) lists them. I think there was a clock spring issue in the steering wheel, and a gas tank issue. There's been lots of TSB's, but those are only effective if the "customer voices a complaint about...."
4. I don't.
5. I think you can, but I've not done it. There are numerous threads on www.disco3.co.uk about this. I have added aftermarket HID H7 bulbs to my existing lens assembly, and that works fine, but they are not the factory xeons.

The LR3 is very capable, I have LOTS of off roading photography based around my LR3 here: http://nwoods.smugmug.com/Land Rover/198186

awesome reply, regarding that bushing failer in your blog, is that covered by the factory Warranty? my current target is a White LR3 SE with pretty much everything except the Nav, at almosr 40K on the odo. this is still within the Warranty limit and I plan to visit the LR dealers A LOT, as it will be my second. what "complaint" should I have for them if I want new bushings? and what is this HD package...Im not going to test this guy that much on rocks and what not, mostly snow, and a few bumpy dirt roads...sounds like the HD package is over ****. thanks for all the help and the pictures are awesome!!!!

 

[Hanzo]

awesome reply, regarding that bushing failer in your blog, is that covered by the factory Warranty? my current target is a White LR3 SE with pretty much everything except the Nav, at almosr 40K on the odo. this is still within the Warranty limit and I plan to visit the LR dealers A LOT, as it will be my second. what "complaint" should I have for them if I want new bushings? and what is this HD package...Im not going to test this guy that much on rocks and what not, mostly snow, and a few bumpy dirt roads...sounds like the HD package is over ****. thanks for all the help and the pictures are awesome!!!!

 

[nwoods]

Expedition white is my favorite color, nice choice.

HD is overkill if you don't intend to do rock crawling, and even if you do, it makes it easier, but does not prevent you from accomplishing anything. The traction control systems on these rigs are simply astounding, with or without the rear diff locker. As I said in my blog, its not a deal killer, but it will improve your resale value down the road, because they are hard to find with that option. If yours happens to have it, jump on it.

As for bushings and so forth. You might experience a knocking sensation through the steering column. There are generally three causes:
1. steering column bushing/linkage (TSB for this)
2. Swaybar bushings (TSB...not sure?)
3. Control arm bushings (TSB and a new design available)

If you have driven a brand new LR3 over a corrugated surface, it will be amazingly smooth. If you drive a used one with bushing wear over the same surface, it will still be smooth, but the steering wheel will feel like its clunking around a bit. That is the distinguishing characteristic.

The best way to experience is at a construction site that has rumble plates set up at the entrance gates. Work brilliantly to demonstration the action to the service tech.

Every dealer and service tech is different in their willingness to repair this.

 

[Hanzo]

again thanks for the response, I feel like I have a personal advisor to the LR world. Pardon my Noobness but what is TSB? I love the white ones and they are so hard to find here in Southern California, this is a private seller she is asking 25,500, obviously uncertified...you seem to be sold on the Certified ones...what value does the Certification hold? Do they go in and fix items that need fixing, like the bushings? there is one very similar in San Jose asking 28K certified, is it worth the extra 3K to be certified? sorry for all the questions I just want to make the right purchase. The market for them are so buyer friendly, but I dont want to just run around buying what evers clever!!!!

 

[mustbeaudi]

OMG - those prices are higher than I imagined. Certification is a marketing program. Dealers do little beyond address sale ready appearance issues, regargless of what any tell you about a 1000 item checklist - the truth about CPO plans is that many buyers assume they have more protection than the dealer's ideas about "it'll come back and get fixed under warranty." I would not trust a one more than a private seller. Save the $3k and use it to buy a 100,000 "inclusive" extended service contract for WAY more coverage than the skimpy new 1 year 12000 or so mile CPO program gives!

BTW, my very nice HSE fully loaded (see classifieds) - remember, it's a $56XXX HSE, not just the SE - costs less at my asking price with under 40,000 miles on the clock (mini-van time here, with the promise of going back to LR3 if she needs me to!). You save enough and get so much more (everything, in fact), that you can have it independently inspected here and afford a first class plane ticket or even car-carrier shipping on top of the purchase price.

 

[nwoods]

CPO trucks come with an extended warranty, so for that alone, its worth it. TSB = Technical Service Bulletin. It's a note to the dealer from LR corporate on how to fix something that they are seeing trends in experiencing, like tire alignment, sunroof drain tube blockage, etc... You can look them up on GTR (LR's Global Technical Resource), but you need a subscription to access them. There is no printed manual for these trucks, its all online, and dealers use the same GTR database that you can.

http://www.landrovertechinfo.com/

 

[Hanzo]

hook a bruther up man!!! lemme go check it out...you may be hearing from me shortly hahah

 

[Hanzo]

OMG - those prices are higher than I imagined. Certification is a marketing program. Dealers do little beyond address sale ready appearance issues, regargless of what any tell you about a 1000 item checklist - the truth about CPO plans is that many buyers assume they have more protection than the dealer's ideas about "it'll come back and get fixed under warranty." I would not trust a one more than a private seller. Save the $3k and use it to buy a 100,000 "inclusive" extended service contract for WAY more coverage than the skimpy new 1 year 12000 or so mile CPO program gives!

BTW, my very nice HSE fully loaded (see classifieds) - remember, it's a $56XXX HSE, not just the SE - costs less at my asking price with under 40,000 miles on the clock (mini-van time here, with the promise of going back to LR3 if she needs me to!). You save enough and get so much more (everything, in fact), that you can have it independently inspected here and afford a first class plane ticket or even car-carrier shipping on top of the purchase price.

Bugga your in Michigan, makes it a bit tough mate...are LR3's 50 state smogged? Cal is a bit strict on the smog thing as I understand it. but that is a great value for your ride. if you were in Cali I would consider it mucho.