What's Wrong With The Discovery 3 & Should You Buy One?

In this video, we discuss the top 10 problems, oddities, and reliability issues with the Land Rover Discovery 3, and consider other options such as Jeep Wrangler, Toyota Land Cruisers, Suzuki Jimny, Land Rover Defender, new and old.

Bodsys Brake Bible:

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My Instagram:

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Everything on the car:

Tree Sliders:

Steering and Sump Guard:

Discrete Winch Mount:

Compressor Guard:

Tires:
265/70 r17

CB Radio:

D Shackle

A 1kg Fire Extinguisher such as:

A 10-tonne Strop
10-tonne Bottle Jack
The Raised Air Intake is not available anymore, but it's a copy of the land rover genuine RAI.

If you have a question please let me know and I'll respond as soon as possible.

Images in the video courtesy of:

[michaelhambrook]

Other than fuel economy and a crowded console, I've had no big complaints about my 2009 LR3 in 6 years. reliable vehicle. I've driven Landcruisers and owned a 1994 for five years. LRs are much more comfortable to drive with greater pride of ownership. My kids are huge fans of the LR. They are a great camping vehicle.

[suzukibobbygg]

I've owned my D3 V8 for almost 5 year's now and it's been fantastically reliable, probably 'cos there's no turbo's, glowplugs or diesel injectors to go wrong 😂

[alfredsmith]

Have owned my 2006 LR3 since 2009. Daily driver, off road, take it everywhere. Has never let me down. Expensive to maintain but dead reliable. 175, 000 miles. Love it. Thanks for the videos.

[gideonding]

an honest video from an honest D3 owner. thank you... i own a 1989 defender 110 300tdi, been using it as my every day truck for 4 years now. super reliable beast. i've been eyeing on a D3 as it's one of my fav so far. will do more research on D3 and D4.. once that's settled, i should know which one to go for. no worry, i will not trade my defender for anything hehe.. cheers from Malaysia!

[warwickbarnes]

Love the look of the Land Rover, it's just a shame Toyota don't build them, we'd be all much happier if they did!

[davedonk]

2005 LR3 TDV6 with 189000 miles and zero issues. Not my daily driver - I am in rural North Essex so it's a green laner and weekend dog conveyence but smooth as silk - very modern looking still - have the LR4 facelift kit with latest front grill, front rear lights, side steps rear spoiler - very cool still.

[dwgraham]

Hello from South Florida, USA! I still have my 2005 LR3 which is going strong at 215K miles because of continued maintenance and part replacements. Great vehicle! This is my opinion.. even though I did encounter most of the issues you mentioned. Looking at getting a used LR4 now. Specifically, a V8 with much less mileage though. By the way, I will still keep my 2005 LR3. With the exception of the suspension light kicking in from time to time, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. I did buy a brand new air suspension compressor though. I will install it at some point in the not-so-distant future.

[albert-segt]

Hi Jay, thanks for your explanation, I mostly agree. I have been driving one Disco 2 and two Disco 3`s since 2003. In this period I drove approximately 750.000 KM`s with the Disco`s in total and it is indeed one of the most comfortable cars on the road and the best family car I know! The only time in 20 years one of the cars left me standing during a trip (at night) was when the crankshaft broke with about 470.000 KM (of which I drove about 370.000) Landrover told me there was not guarantee anymore and so I bought my next one. To my opinion it is essential to have the car serviced at Landrover or a Landrover specialist. This avoids a lot of issues. I am now with my second Disco 3 on 467.000 KM and the goal is to pass the mark of 500.000 KM... Looking at the costs of Landrover servicing it is not cheap but calculated per Km the Discovery is to my calculation (done the math) definitely cheaper than the Volskwasgen Passat which I was driving previously. Just to finish my daughter of 22 years of age wants to have mine and told me last year "Dad when you drive it it is o.k. but when I drive it as it is just cool!" 😎

[Real_Venture_Out]

Just watched this. I owned a 2004/54 Discovery 3, S model with xenon headlights which as you said we're amazing. I absolutely loved my Disco, it was comfortable, quiet and could pull anything and take any load. I drove it down to South West France on many occasions, loaded up and it was a great car to do 600 miles in, in a day. But! My Disco tried it's hardest to bankrupt me, I owned it for five and a half years, and I replaced so many parts, various bushes, suspension compressor, propshaft, wheel bearings, discs, pads etc and I would only ever fit Pirelli Scorpion tyres as I just felt that they suited the car well. I miss the Disco in many ways, and then I don't!

[dandare]

My from new 8 years old Disco apart from consumables, had a stuck gear lever linkage, replaced ERG valve & I had to replace the tailgate actuator a couple of times. The diesel pre cooker also packed up, but I did not bother fixing it. Not to bad I thought!

[lincolnmicahfox]

I've owned a 2006 TDV6 Discovery 3 for about four years with over 250, 000 km's (approx 155, 342.798 miles) and it hasn't given me any trouble at all to date, none of the issues you mention. The two things I keep in the back of my mind is the air suspension and the handbrake. I love the vehicle and it's my daily driver.

[koloan]

Love my Disco 3. Have the 2.7 HSE and it’s a great car. Only issues I’ve had since getting it are the front to rear and rear brake pipes that needed replacing. Also needed the tracking doing as outside tread of tyres was wearing down faster than rest of the tyre. Other than that it’s great. Previous owner did all the big jobs like EGR, Alternator, Etc...

[gottuso]

Thanks great video, informative. I just bought an '06 LR3 V8 which is really clean. Love the plethora of buttons and dials, perfect mish mash of old school throwback with lots of early 00s tech.

[powervolt]

I just updated the wiper and indicator stalks to Discovery 4 ones. The washer for the windscreen now works when you pull the lever and rear washer works with the button 😀

[theobien]

I own my doscovery three for 14 years now, and never had serious repairs. I’ve donne + 200.000 km’s now and i expect to do twive the “milage”. I’ve had 3 landcruisers a BJ40, a prado or 90, a HDJ80, all fine cars but less reliable than the disco 3. Yes i’m aware the landrover is much more luxerious and therefor probably liable to faults, but i have to cross my fingers to stay “lucky”.
I think the discovery 3 is a fantastic car and great offroader. Off course things can break but that depends on the risks you take offroad.
It needs regular maintenance by land rover or if you have the skills (like me) you can do it yourself. LR3 = highly recomendable!

[TheBajanist]

Hello from Ukrainian discovery owner. Discovery 3 V8 4.4 HSE 😊

[joemck]

Just bought a D3 with 84k miles - and she will be going to N Uist - Sand, Sea, Machair, beach, hills, gravel roads! Feels like a Tank. AT tyres and tow bar will be the first upgrades. I think she has been driven on school runs in Surrey - so (touch wood) another 100k miles in the Outer Hebrides!. Great videos. wj

[d.h.h.]

For last 40 years I've owned 17 cars, 4 of them - Discovery - 200tdi, Disco3, 300tdi and again Disco 3. Disco is my absolutely favorite for off road adventures. I use it mainly for aproach to paraglading take off places, mounteen bike. etc Ten years ago, after my first D3 I bought a litle japan offroad machine - absolutely loss of time, quality and money.
I havn't any big reasons to be disapointed of my Discovery 3 (2008 HSE). This days I fitted to him new excellent tires - 255/55R19 GOODYEAR WRANGLER DURATRAC 111Q. Till now I've drived Pirelli Scorpion winter.
I have onother one favorite car - my Opel Ampera - fantastic electric experience. I reccomend it to try too.

[peterhemsley]

The windscreen washer is a real problem! I had a MOT test failed because he didn’t know how to work them. Was quite satisfying tho when I showed him them working 😝

[alexwijnans]

If you are so afraid of maintenance and running costs, buy a mountain bike. Great off road, pretty ok on road and the best of it: good for your health!