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alanfinallygotadisco
Member Since: 11 Jan 2023
Location: bedfordshire
Posts: 10
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Hi all, well I finally got a Discovery 3. Always wanted one but could never afford it. Managed to get one for £500 but its got a few issues. Gearbox was very clunky when it was cold but that seems to have been sorted by an oil change. It wont start below freezing, assume glow plugs gone. Also suspension isn't level but seems to work ok. I don't want to take to LR for a reset as its very expensive as is the IID tool. I found these adjustable link rods on ebay and wondered if they'd do the trick? Any advice for a newbie greatly appreciated.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234853679051?fi...R_jxgYu0YQ
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 11th Jan 2023 12:58 pm |
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darrind
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: In A World of My Own!
Posts: 2863
  
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Buy an IID and sell it when you sell the car, they hold their value really well so are a good investment.
 Must stop buying shiny toys....
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| 11th Jan 2023 1:22 pm |
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alanfinallygotadisco
Member Since: 11 Jan 2023
Location: bedfordshire
Posts: 10
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£500....gulp...seems a lot for a £500 car!
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| 11th Jan 2023 1:27 pm |
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darrind
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: In A World of My Own!
Posts: 2863
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Have a look on the for sale items - there's at least one up for sale at the moment
They will sell again for similar money as they are such a needed bit of kit.
There is an Aurtel tool that does some of what the IID tool does but is not as complete from what I have read Must stop buying shiny toys....
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| 11th Jan 2023 1:45 pm |
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alanfinallygotadisco
Member Since: 11 Jan 2023
Location: bedfordshire
Posts: 10
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The height adjusters not a good idea then?
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| 11th Jan 2023 2:14 pm |
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DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 879
 
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Firstly, welcome. These Discos are superb machines when looked after, i hope you enjoy driving and working on it.
So long as the suspension issue doesn't compromise safety, and if money is tight, I would drive it around for a good few miles first before investing in a GAP tool. Little point buying that tool if the car starts to fall apart and you can't afford to fix it. Test drive a few hundred miles first, before deciding whether to invest in it or chuck the car in the bin.
Unless you hit the jackpot and got lucky, a £500 is likely to have a shed of things needing doing. What is the age and spec and how many miles has it done? Has it been serviced properly?
I say with the greatest of respect, if the cost of a GAP tool is deemed expensive, you're going to be in for a very sharp shock when it comes to the cost of fixing up a £500 Disco. I would trial it now, see whether it's a keeper, before buying anything for it. 2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
https://youtube.com/channel/UCO_u_0D45x9KGfiNstzLJnw
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| 11th Jan 2023 2:20 pm |
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alanfinallygotadisco
Member Since: 11 Jan 2023
Location: bedfordshire
Posts: 10
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Hi, it's a 2004 TDV6 S on 160,000. Had lots of work done on it by the previous owner and apart from the cold start issues, which prompted the sale, gearbox and suspension all looks ok. Gearbox seems ok now after oil flush but the suspension is +34mm RF, -8mm LF, +29mm RR, -14LR at standard ride height.
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| 11th Jan 2023 2:31 pm |
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Moo
D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13899
 
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Discos are cheap but running and repairing them isn't. A GAP tool will save you money.
Also, I'd change your location rather than use your post code. 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
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| 11th Jan 2023 3:56 pm |
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alanfinallygotadisco
Member Since: 11 Jan 2023
Location: bedfordshire
Posts: 10
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Realised that when I filled up the tank!
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| 11th Jan 2023 8:40 pm |
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alanfinallygotadisco
Member Since: 11 Jan 2023
Location: bedfordshire
Posts: 10
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Bought these in the end:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234892584546
Can adjust up and down 50mm, easy to install and only £40.
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| 22nd Mar 2023 6:07 pm |
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riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2210
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Hi,
the thing is are you just masking the real problem 
you could buy a BT iiD for £300 add £30 for the change of owner adjust the settings for each corner, your D3 is then working correctly and you can sell the iiD for the £300 again,
it would have been £10 cheaper and you could have used the iiD for many more things before selling it saving potentially much more.
Much better value in my mind
Have to agree with whats already been said they CAN cost a lot more to run and fix than buy, dont spend more than you have to until you are a few miles in and have an idea of whats on the horizon.
personally would have spent on an iiD rather than the adjustable rods, better VFM
Transit! 2019
Gone D3 HSE 2008
Another Porsche Cayenne 2022
Gone Porsche Cayenne 2020
Gone RRS HSE Dynamic 2016
Gone RRS HSE LUX 2011
Gone RRS HSE 2006
Gone D3 SE 2.7 2008
gone D2 Td5 1999
I plan on living forever and so far so good !
Club DG Mclaren stuff
.
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| 22nd Mar 2023 8:28 pm |
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Moo
D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13899
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Sorry, but running these beasties on a shoe string is never great. Get it right and you will save money. Bodges never last and will end up costing you. 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
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| 22nd Mar 2023 8:49 pm |
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alanfinallygotadisco
Member Since: 11 Jan 2023
Location: bedfordshire
Posts: 10
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Not sure how it's a bodge, just a cheap way of fixing the issue. You guys may want to spend what seems to me to be a substantial amount on IID software but I'm sure there's plenty of people that don't. I always run cars on a shoestring and the D3 will be no exception. Bought car for £500, gearbox oil change and link rods plus parts to make a cold start switch in place of the coin holder with a resistor, some wire and a switch. All in approx £750 and its running like a dream and starts at -4 degrees.
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| 24th Mar 2023 2:18 pm |
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Rizla6220
Member Since: 10 Oct 2022
Location: Newark
Posts: 12
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Hi, Has some have said above, The items you have bought are going to be short term fix, has the ball joints are poor. With the right ODB tools you can find out which sensor is not working correct, replace the correct sensor , job done for that problem, and you still will have the tool for future problems.
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| 24th Mar 2023 4:50 pm |
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Moo
D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13899
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alanfinallygotadisco wrote:Not sure how it's a bodge, just a cheap way of fixing the issue. You guys may want to spend what seems to me to be a substantial amount on IID software but I'm sure there's plenty of people that don't. I always run cars on a shoestring and the D3 will be no exception. Bought car for £500, gearbox oil change and link rods plus parts to make a cold start switch in place of the coin holder with a resistor, some wire and a switch. All in approx £750 and its running like a dream and starts at -4 degrees.
And that's the rub, these things are now really cheap and many owners like the idea of a big 4x4 without understanding what it takes to maintain them to keep them at their best but also safe. You're in a highly complex 3 tonne brick with a very sophisticated suspension linked across other systems that you've bodged a solution to make it level. The challenge will be if you need to steer quickly to avoid something when braking hard in the wet carrying you family. What will it do then? Also, what will your insurer say?
Spend £50 on an Autel OBD reader. It'll fix most things and save you money and help make it safer for you and your family. 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
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| 24th Mar 2023 8:13 pm |
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