Nodge68
Well-Known Member
The suspension on a D3 is actually very well engineered. The wishbones are enormously strong and really heavy at over 20Kgs each.
The problem is the designers wanted a really soft and forgiving ride, while keeping some 12" of suspension travel. This led to them using large hydrobushes which give the softness needed for a comfortable on road ride, while allowing for the huge suspension travel for off road use. The down side to this is the person behind the wheel doesn't feel they're doing damage when the go over speed humps and the like at speed. Not slowing down of speed humps literally bursts the hydrobushes allowing the fluid out. Breaking heavily while running through a pothole can also burst a bush.
A lot of people fit poly bushes in place of the large hydrobushes, virtually eliminating the problem, with only a slight change of the ride characteristics.
The D3 is a good vehicle and can be made reliable, once all the worn and abused components are replaced.
I miss mine all the time, but I simply can't justify running a 2.6 ton 4x4, when the vehicle has just me in it most of the time.
rob_bell
Well-Known Member
Freelanders cost peanuts to run in comparison - so I think you've made a sensible choice. But for a car that'll need to replace the Freelander and the MG ZTT as the family holiday car, plus do all the adventures I'd like to undertake, a D3 (or late D4 EU6 diesel) will be hard to beat 
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
Freelanders cost peanuts to run in comparison - so I think you've made a sensible choice. But for a car that'll need to replace the Freelander and the MG ZTT as the family holiday car, plus do all the adventures I'd like to undertake, a D3 (or late D4 EU6 diesel) will be hard to beat
The Freelander's running costs are a lot less than a D3, which is why I went back to one, although a TD4 this time.
The actual fuel consumption difference between my V6 FL1 and D3 V8 is minimal, if restraint is used when driving both vehicles. The TDV6 is better on fuel than both the above engines, but obviously isn't going to be LEZ compliant.
I did find maintenance on the D3 was significantly more expensive than the FL1, especially in the suspension, steering and brake and driveline departments.
I found front pads last around 20K miles and rears not much more. Discs are all done after the second set of pads has worn out.
Front wishbone hydrobushes lasted just 15K miles on the first replacement after which I swapped them for poly bushes.
In the 2 years and 50K miles I had my TDV6 D3 for. It did need quite a lot of other work in the time I had it too, like replacing all the solid and flexy brake pipes, rebuilding the front diff, replacing the prop shaft, rebuilding all suspension control valves and the compressor too.
It was one of those vehicles that needed something done at fortnightly intervals. This didn't suit me at the time and not really needing the vehicle as much, I decided to sell it on.
If it was needed as a "do all" vehicle then I'd still have it, or bought a newer one with less miles.
Imo there're pretty difficult to better as a do everything, go anywhere vehicle for a family of 5 or more.
teddywood1
Well-Known Member
just to say about the London tax thing if the government looked up in the sky they would get their answer to why London is so pluted not the cars and now it is going to happen in Brummy land
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
Indeed. Air transport produces loads pollution, high up in the atmosphere where it has the greatest environmental impact.
Quite a few places I gather: Leeds too and probably a number of other cities all following the Mould set by our wonderful mayor
He'll not be mayor for long, before the people decide enough is enough.
