The Cold Hard TRUTH About Owning An Old Land Rover LR3

[@romeoroze2357]

Attention to detail in this review is next level. Tommy you are killing it ! Keep it up young man. I am not a SUV guy but some how I ended up driving LR 3 and now I am spoiled I don't think I would like anything else in SUV arena. # TFL Tommy.

[@techlife4667]

💯

[@bonnieinthespirit6373]

What size tires are you running on it?

[@MeDicen_Rocha]

Im going to sound like a boomer, but this is from when Land Rovers looked like Land Rovers. They got far too rounded and "soft" by now.

[@thomasmn66]

Yes! I'm in my 20s and I completely agree. In fact I am getting a Disco 4 because I can't stand the new iteration.

[@markovucilovski2793]

you don't think the 2020 110 model isn't squareish? o.o

[@markwhitton8785]

Totally agree mate, can't stand the new rounded design, looks horrible. If I buy another Land Rover, will just buy an LR 4. Wish Land Rover would bring back the LR 3 / 4 shape.

[@tedrelton2830]

Definitely! They’ve gone downhill since the discovery 4

[@tylerjohn3414]

I wouldn't mind the rounded shape at all but the aftermarket for the new ones is awful. With an older one, you can get replacement parts that are superior and cheaper to OEM parts. A much better overland vehicle

[@TommyboyGTP]

Can't find these for 5 grand around me... they're all 7-8 grand, probably because of this video lol

[@rastomasstanford7708]

Nah it's just do to supply and demand. Everybody want to Rob ppl out there. 4-6k sounds Right for LR3 diffently under 10k for sure.

[@FredGreenGB]

I bought mine with issues knowing that once I'd fixed it then it was still cheaper than buying a sorted model. Touch wood never had an issue so far . I absolutely love my Landy, so spacious and versatile. Great for my family of 7 👍

[@todd746906]

I have worked for Land Rover over 30 years. I’ve owned 3 LR3s and have had my current 2010 LR4 V8 5.0 for over 7 years and 120000 hard driven miles from Florida to a Texas to California to North Carolina to Ohio and now live back in Texas. All you have to do is good regular maintenance and this vehicle will give you many many years of trouble free driving with basic replacement parts. In my very professional opinion. The best by far over all Rover EVER

[@PaydayGabeBCNV]

Thanks Todd,, I really appreciate when someone whom has vastly more experience with a particular than a "weekend warrior". Your comments are a blessing to us budget Offroad/ Overlanders looking for alternative vehicles. I owned a 92 Classic R.R.. It was beautiful but, I never felt completely comfortable with the reliability factor. The LR3 will be on my "Watch List" if I decide to sell my current project Montero Sport. When you shop for a LR3,, what is your main focus?? Thanks, PaydayGabe in beautiful Boulder City Nv. USA 🍻 💥Edit: Two years down the road and the Monty Sport is virtually complete minus the normal ware and tear services. Its been solid, reliable 🙏 and passes smog w/flying colors. So,, the Rover is officially off the watch list. Safe travels everyone🤙. G.

[@lsjionredlinesupercharged2049]

I'll stick with my 13 Subaru outback

[@diesel92kj1]

As someone who is from England, this is not true. They are the worst for reliability & the new Defender has tons of problems. Body off for lots of fixes.

[@jonwills286]

100 percent agree. Tough and reliable when serviced properly. I've done 300000 miles in my 2005 2.7 d3 and only ever replaced wishbone bushes and oil change every 8000 miles. Still on original air bags but probably need air pump now as it's noisy. That's it.

[@enjoymusic4895]

Yes..and when something need to be replace..it will very costly

[@fordboy2006]

I used to work at a LR dealership. The key to reliable and affordable running costs is to service regularly and do preventive maintenance. Don't wait for something to totally wear out or break before repairing. During my time at the dealership, our team noticed something about the Land Rovers across the model range. Use the beasts right, don't molly-coddle them. Those that do have more issues, those who use them rough regularly seem to have less issues. So Tommy, the way you are using your beast is probably why it has been surprisingly reliable. These things can be tough as nails. Sure the Jeep, G-Wagens and Land Cruisers are also tough, but none of them are as comfortable as Land Rovers. By the way, the air suspensions from this generation on, are a lot better compared the P38 generation. The air pumps and valves are a lot more effecient and reliable. And if you are not happy with the original Land Rover parts, you can always go for 3rd party component makers. They purportedly improved on the quality of the parts, so you don't have to switch to coils. Enjoy your rides. This should be a keeper Tommy.

[@crazygooseventures]

PC Koh I had a used 2007 LR3 HSE which I owned for 6.5 years. Replaced the front diff, replaced the upper steering column due to wear in u-joint, replaced tie rod ends 3 times in the 6 years, LCA’s at least twice, air compressor, air suspension sensors 1x, Air suspension struts, transfer case showed signs of wear at 210,000 kms, wheel bearings needed replacing... My Series 1 Disco was much more reliable. My 110 is more reliable but now so old i have to replace the frame. “Preventative maintenance” seems like a different way of saying cost-of-ownership is stupid high. Nope, they’re not reliable and having owned LR’s for 20+ years, I think I’m relatively experienced enough to comment. Hoping the new Ineos Grenedier will be what the new Defender should have been. JLR missed the mark so badly it’s not even funny. Design of the LR3 was very good, quality just sucks. Moved over to Toyota, won’t be ever buying another LR product again.

[@MultiMathias7]

Mine has 177k and it’s still running strong! Love my LR3, just keep up with the standard maintenance and it’s solid! Going to Tahoe for the 4th in it.

[@jonathantanderson]

Hell yeah! At 180k here and going strong. Well, after having the water pump replaced and coolant flushed :s

[@pilotpr0jekt883]

mine has 482k KM which is about 300´k miles.

[@f1goalie]

i just bought a 2008 LR3 w/ 106,000 miles last week . I love it , Its a Beast !! This is my 3rd Landrover

[@bustersbrew8911]

That's funny. I have an 08 LR3 and I prefer to him as Beast. When I bring him in regular maintenance the garage knows which vehicle when I say I'm bringing in the Beast for an oil change etc. You'll be happy with your beast.👍😁

[@Spartansrule118]

@@bustersbrew8911 @f1goalie how are both of your beasts holding up 4 years later?? still have it?? any issues?

[@brahmstein]

The only thing that gives LR3 a bad name is the dealer experience. They are expensive to repair if you go to the dealer. My 08 has been great for me and my family but I do my own repairs and maintenance. I once asked the dealership to quote a transmission oil change as it’s an involved process on an LR3 since it’s “filled for life”. They quoted 2500$ here in British Columbia I laughed and walked out. Did it myself with a conversion pan from Atlantic British and OEM fluid from Land Rover for around 400$. Next one will only be 100$ since I did the pan conversion. The main weak point in LR3 is the suspension. At 5700lbs, which is more than most crew cab 1/2 ton trucks, the nice hydronic filled bushing don’t last more than 10 years. I went Polly bushings and much of the lazy suspension feeling Tommy describes disappears. I have travelled from BC to Palm Springs 4 times in 5 years with many wheeling trips in Joshua tree park and driven home without issue. They are solid. Just don’t get ripped off when it’s needs a repair or maintenance. A good mechanic and some research makes these not bad to own.

[@olivierlanguedoc]

you replaced all the bushing at the same time? That must have been a hell of a job.

[@donhappel9928]

@@olivierlanguedoc Not really. You can do it in a day if you're good, a weekend if you're just an average DIY guy. Worst part will be taking it to a shop to re-do the alignment after changing everything. The poly bushes push in without a press quite easily. I actually ended up changing my from poly back to rubber (actually RRS rubber as it's a bit firmer) as my truck is mostly used off road and the poly was harsher over rough stuff.

[@chaquisa1]

Cant understand why the high cost to repair a LR at dealer ships after all the are no harder to work on than any other vehicle in fact i do my own maintenance and find LR3 a piece of cake !

[@melntess]

​@@chaquisa1 they are considered highline, so they have labor charges to match. I do my own work, but the local LR independent shop charges $150/hour. Crazy.

[@davemiddleditch9741]

Nailed it on the air suspension bud. If you use it offroad it works the bags and stops it from wearing through the rubber in the lower settings... they'll fail eventually but adjusting them in and out of highway mode regularly definitly extends their life

[@kobuserasmus2934]

Love my Disco3 V8 to bits, fantastic car on the open road and very capable off-road. Been very reliable so far, 200000 kms to date on the clock.

[@henkstols9326]

The V8 is the one to buy it seems, the diesel is a ticking time bomb.

[@schalkvandermerwe3836]

Same here Kobus!

[@TheJmounce]

Those are rookie numbers, you need to bump them up. Put 250,000 miles on my LR3 before I had am axle issue that jammed up the tranny. 250,000 miles on the original engine. Yeah, they sorted it out from the Disco 2s.

[@rockdude9080]

LR3 is still around 15-20K here.

[@dwgraham22]

I have had mine for 15 years. Overhauled the transmission and replaced the radiator about two years ago. Other than that, no other major maintenance initiative. The best car investment I ever made. I love my LR3.

[@Spartansrule118]

how is it now? any major issues with it?

[@csn6234]

I bought a 2006 LR3 from a firefighter buddy who I knew took good care of it. He showed me all receipts and the Rover ran very well. I was pleased with it from Day 1. But around Day 20, the honeymoon was over: 1. First thing to break was the clip inside the rear tailgate that allowed the cable inside to lock/unlock the gate. I did not want to spend $700 to get that fixed, so I did it myself. It took me 4-5 hours of fishing around inside that tailgate, using a mirror and my borescope. 2. Next thing to go was the air suspension. JFC, that cost me thousands of dollars. 3. A few months later, it was the ball joints and tie rods -- inner and outer. We got an estimate of $3000 from a mechanic to do this, and I said thanks, but no thanks, pal. I will do it myself. Yeah, that took me all weekend bc it was the first time I had done that kind of job, but I was pleased with myself when it was fine. But the good feelings didn't last long. 4. A few weeks later, I learned the control arms needed to be replaced. I tried to do it myself, but pulling that control arm all the way up and keeping it suspended was an impossible task. Another $1,500 bill at the mechanic. 5. End of our problems? Yeah right. We dropped $1,500 on new tires because it's an AWD and all the suspension/steering problems caused one of them to wear prematurely. 6. On those new tires, my wife drove the Rover from Denver to Lincoln, Nebraska. On the way home, the CE light came on. I scanned the engine and was greeted with the code for the catalytic converters operating below the minimum efficiency threshold. The estimate to fix this problem? $3,600. Hell no. I flashed the computer, washed and detailed the Rover, and then drove it to the Ford dealership. We decided to buy a new vehicle and we traded the LR3 in. Now, here is where things get really funny. The sales manager came over to talk to us while we were sitting with our salesman. He said he noticed our lr3 and he wanted to tell us how much he liked it and that we had done a really nice job taking good care of it. He said, "it's really rare that we get one of these Land rovers in that looks like this and the dashboard isn't lit up like a Christmas tree." I almost burst out laughing and I know my wife noticed because I caught the side eye from her. All's well that ends well.

[@dsandy131]

My 2005 LR3 has 315,000 MILES on it and going strong! I drive it every day. Nothing compares to it.

[@chanceym6000]

that's reassuring to hear, mine has 170,000

[@jacobpartin4553]

Which engine does yours have

[@chanceym6000]

@@jacobpartin4553 Mine has the gas V8

[@markraihl4249]

Love my LR3. Yes I've replaced critical suspension parts. Yes I've replaced a 10 year old compressor. But I drove it to Anchorage from Colorado and back. I put 10ply General AT2 tires on it and honestly it goes places I don't want to go. I love the ride and all the interior. Plus the ladies enjoy all the comfort and style of a true luxury off roader.

[@fengkaka]

Hi QQ, I have 2006 model located and I am about spending the winter in Fairbanks this winter. I am worrying about the suspension. Do you have any suggestions to prepare the car?

[@dograishan8504]

I love the look of these, new Defender to me is the new real Disco

[@TheJmounce]

This makes me frown.... The new Defenders look like a Honda Element x Tupperware collab doing it for the 'gram. Just get a Range Rover. All the cool tech and just as off road worthy.

[@thomasmn66]

Nah mate, you're right there.

[@TexasBroskiActual]

There is a very good KZbin video comparing them side to side. It literally is the new Disco based off the comparison they did.

[@lsjionredlinesupercharged2049]

Smh

[@ixag1]

I own a 2008 LR3 with over 155,000 miles and I absolutely love it. I have never had a problem, other than normal maintenance. It drives like a dream, especially in the mountains. It turns on a dime and stops immediately without skidding during emergency stops. I really take care of it because there is nothing out there that compares. Once you have one of these, you don’t want anything else. Thanks for the great video.

[@8to270]

I have a Discovery 3 2.7v6 Diesel (I live in the UK) I’ve had it for nearly 2 years and only had to change the brakes. I can’t think of another car that cost so little so buy and run (Land cruisers in UK way overpriced and Jeeps not that popular). The car can seat 7 adults in comfort. The interior is so practical and configurable. It has just enough luxury to be nice. And here at home the parts don’t cost too much and if you’re good with a spanner then you can do most mechanical jobs yourself. In the future these will become classics. So for me it’s not the best 4x4 or SUV it’s just the best vehicle. Thanks TFL for another great video keep ‘em coming

[@tom4775]

I have an Disco 3 (LR3) In Canada. I've had incredible adventures in the woods, and what a great vehicle. Any issues have been easy to deal with. I don't know where the hate for these comes from.

[@jonathantanderson]

As a 2005 LR3 Owner, I loved this video! The LR3 is a complete joy to drive... and reliable. 180K Miles here!

[@ProducerCliff]

I agree with everything you say, the LR3 is an exceptional vehicle. Here's a thing, I drove an LR3 for a while and then I was given an LR4 to use, and honestly I wanted the LR3 back. The LR3 was just so practical. I'm always tempted to buy an LR3 for myself.

[@yjwhorse]

I have been driving LR3 over 10 years. Totally agree! Feel bad they made Discovery 5 deviated from its classic design.

[@GaborDuzmath]

...please just go back to build an old school brick..., Mercedes G: am I a joke to you?

[@mitchm7563]

price?

[@ScrapTechTips]

the gwag is for ballers who have the money to show how small their pp is lol the defender is not it shows how large your pp is because they are ancient and a complete chadmobile as most pre 2000 defender owners can repair their own car

[@chaquisa1]

@@ScrapTechTips Early defenders are for pussies who can't get there head around the workings of the new Defender .IMO you need big balls to do any maintenance on modern vehicles LoL ! early and antique vehicles are for Numb sculls .!

[@RSPYT]

It’s sad you all have petrol engines over there, you don’t see them here much which is good because they’re no good lol. Diesel is the only engine an off road car should have especially a landrover.

[@shippo72]

The V8 pertol engine is massively reliable and was used in many Ford/GM/Jaguar cars at the time, and spare parts are readily available in The States. The V6 petrol is pretty under-powered and has a number of issues, including the timing belt issues, which isn't something you want on an interference engine. The diesel engines are pretty powerful but also have a number of issues, mostly related to emissions and the difficult to replace EGR valve failing. And finding replacement parts for diesel LR3 engines would be almost impossible because of the lack of similar engines in the US. There's also a huge sentiment against diesel in The States, and diesel engine cars that aren't huge trucks sell very poorly, which is probably the only reason they never brought the diesel engine in The States. I would kill for a diesel v8 LR3, it would get much better gas mileage as well.

[@project-overland]

We are on our third LR3. Preventative maintenance is the key to long life at a sensible budget

[@nick2128]

What happened to the other 2 lr3s🤔

[@gureno19]

@@nick2128 they broke down

[@brandonwright6578]

Hence endless money pit lol 😂 they’re nice but I’ll keep my loaded Subaru Outback 2.5 which has better build quality but pick our poison right lol 😂.

[@94SexyStang]

Land Rover Preventative maintenance = SELLING IT at low miles, before it breaks the FUCK down! LMAO Tell me im wrong!

[@project-overland]

Nick one went in a divorce diet and the other got burned out.

[@johnk8091]

I also have a LR 3 V8 SE, now on 240,000 Km. I simply LOVE the look of this SUV. In my opinion (and that's subjective) I think it's the best looking 4X4 SUV of all time, right up to today. I also hate the way manufacturers seem to now make 4X4's look like urban cars. I bought mine at 160,000 Km. In the 80,000 KM I have driven over 6 years, I have had zero problems, not one issue.

[@TreasureDivers]

I agree

[@KjjGgg-nc4ds]

İn my family we love the Discovery 3 so much,we have 4,we would argue over who drove it that day so yeah The oldest of them all is the first one,the 2005,with over 400.000 KM on it,second one is a 2006 with over 300.000 KM on it,getting close to 350.000,3rd one is a 2007 with over 270.000,and the 4th is a 2009 with over 350.000 Only problem we ever had was when the 2005 was getting close to 400.000 the head gasket blew,but like,it was like 1.000 KM away from 400.000 so like it was really really old,and it ran with no issues for THAT LONG

[@Spartansrule118]

what year is your LR3? still have it?

[@TreatsOnTheStreets]

Little did he know that 3 years later his dad would buy another one with the 4.0l V6 he said not to buy 😅

[@Prawjekskinyblack]

Please do a LR3 vs LR4 full review!

[@user-fz3sz2dj4r]

The LR3 is the best vehicle I’ve ever owned

[@petenikolakakis9273]

Agreed. Love my 2005 LR3, simply a joy every time I get behind the wheel. Still get compliments . Best vehicle I have ever owned. Total class

[@DenDimas]

How would you compare this to the range rover L322 ( bmw engine/parts version) ?

[@nightwalker9828]

LR yg ini kaki kaki depannya lemah bang, sama ride height sensor nya suka masalah akibatnya mobil jadi miring kanan/kiri gitu

[@claydavis6485]

Hey man do you know anything about the L322 now. I’m thinking about getting one

[@Black-Villain]

@@claydavis6485 DO NOT get one from before 2007. The 2007+ ones aren't terrible. However, with that being said, I'd probably look at an LR3 or LR4 first. The LR3 particularly is actually quite reliable, the LR4 is pretty decent as well and more expensive than the LR3

[@tbrylowe]

@@claydavis6485 The BMW v8's had lubrication issues. Late 2006 L322s came with the Jaguar 4.4 V8

[@kichaa13]

BMW version is horrendous, the 07+ model is the best, especially the 4.4 and 4.2 the 5.0 had some issues. The L322 is much nicer to work on than the LR3 or RRS

[@meadmaker4525]

As I understand it, the Disco-2 engine issues stemmed from 2 things: 1) Failure to do regular cooling system maintenance led to overheating and sleeve/engine failure. 2) LR used plastic timing chain guides, which will need to be replaced at the 80-120K mile mark, and you might as well do the chain as well while you're in there. If proper maintenance is performed, these issues never rear their heads. The 3rd most popular, though less devastating issue, was the "3 Amigos." Again, relatively easy and cheap to fix. I've owned a Disco-1 (manual), along with a bunch of the classic models. Always wanted a Disco-2. They just look nicer to me than the LR3/4 series.

[@ryanwilliams6559]

I had an '07 LR3. Remarkable vehicle, barely needed anything, very comfortable. I'd recommend to anyone.

[@staragape7999]

My dad owned an LR3 and a 2010 Range Rover. Both were absolutely amazing vehicles. I drove them both on moderate to hard off road trails in stock form and they never dissappointed. Absolutely amazing the technology, design and comfort they designed into these machines. My dad will go on record to say he should have sold both of them 1-2 years earlier as both ended up with 2-4K dealer maintenance in the last couple years at around 150k Km’s. Currently driving a 100 series land cruiser and there is no comparison in the build quality and longevity between a Toyota and a Land Rover. But there is also no comparison in the character and charm of a Land Rover to any Toyota. I think the best advice is expect to spend the same on your LR3 over its life as you spend on purchasing a 4 runner and you’ll be very happy and well prepared

[@simonInternational]

Thank you Tommy...now I'm buying an LR3 (no joke)

[@landrover4444]

Land Rover = Endless Money Pit. Drove them for years. 1962 88" and a 1970 109" - constant work. Now happy with the world's most reliable vehicle the 100 series Toyota Land Cruiser.

[@DarrenCoull]

The trouble with public perception of Land Rover is that they consider ANY failure of a component "Typical, it's a Land Rover after all" as if other brands never ever have anything go wrong! Airbags is a case in point. Yes they will fail at some point, but not because it is a Land Rover, but because they become old and worn. For some reason, it's okay for a BMW or Mercedes to need these, but if a Land Rover does, it's the end of the world! :-) Every car has it's faults, and also like every car, people have become very good at working around them with an upgraded part, a doodad to tell the computer to not panic, or simply a wealth of information to enable the DIY owner to not be intimidated and have a go at fixing themselves. If I could have any complaint about Land Rover, it is that they price spare parts as if you're a cashed-up owner of the latest Autobiography Range Rover LWB. They need to make parts Ford/GM/Toyota priced for the older models (i.e. out of current production)

[@grahameroberts8109]

Why don’t you stop perpetuating the myth about Land Rover and reliability’. ANY vehicle with have issues if fixed with second rate parts or lack of skill.

[@simon8089]

Land Rover should have kept this particular design in their top pocket for the Defender replacement. I reckon even the die hards wouldn’t have had an issue with the styling. I have had both and absolutely loved them. 200k plus miles in a td5 defender gave me a left leg like Nadals arm💪🏼reduced hearing and so many good memories.

[@robinhodgson7629]

I have three D3’s v8,V6 and a tdV6 with 568000kms on same engine and gearbox. They all go off road and are serviced every 5k by me, great cars. They have their faults and quirks but what car doesn’t.

[@lannvannoy5350]

Having owned 2 Land Rovers (LR3 - 2005 & Range Rover Sport - Supercharged - 2009) I can tell you about some issues we've had and members of our local Land Rover club have had. 1st. We LOVE our Rover's! Our LR3 was purchased new and had approx 80K miles on it when sold. We took it to Moab ,UT; Flagstaff and Sedona, AZ; various mountain trails in Cali and it NEVER failed us! Some 2000+ miles of off-roading. We replaced the front air suspension at about 65K miles. Our RRS was purchased used w/ 35K miles (2012). It has had NO issues except the air suspension. I've replaced the front air suspension and the compressor about 3.5 yrs ago and need to do it again. They still work fine, just squeak badly over every bump. Currently, has about 165K miles and have never even change the spark plugs and it still purrs like a kitten - amazing!! With regular fluid changes and minor maintenance it'll get many more miles. Seriously, some of the best vehicles we've ever owned. That would include Honda's, Nissan's, a Ford Mustang, 4 BMW's, and a Subaru... GREAT Review, Keep it up!!

[@swank1975]

I've loved my Landrovers. As long as you aren't afraid to get your own parts and turn some wrenches you can handle many of the issues.

[@chaquisa1]

Hi Tommy ,what a fantastic review my man. I have a Discovery 3 TDV6 here in Australia.Done 395000 KLM and never missed a beat.I live in the Northern Territory Outback and have been all over extremely remote Outback roads with out a problem at all and yes still on the original motor and drive .and original air suspension struts .A truly unbelievable Machine which are now after 15 years flying their true colors and Proving all the critics WRONG !

[@IndyHepburn]

Wow that’s a remarkable amount of kays you’ve done, sounds quite reliable too

[@chaquisa1]

@@IndyHepburn yep just coming up 400,000 now.The motor and drive has never missed a beat .I have just replaced front lower control arms and rear ,valve blocks just replaced ,and air suspension pump. The air struts are still good to go and are the original,replaced foot brake switch , These machines are so easy to maintain if you know how and that only takes a bit of intuition !! apart from general maintenance has been a fantastic vehicle in every respect. Absolutely reliable .

[@paulthompson7280]

The Land Rover Discovery or Range Rover are too Complicated for Americans or in most countries because most Mechanics are too dumb to fix them Properly I'm a Land rover Mechanic also Mercedes Benz BMW Volvo ect Land Rover's are the Best 4x4 Buy Far and New Parts OME are Cheaper than all the Rest if you know where to get them from John Craddock UK thanks Lads oioi

[@dmytryblyzniuk8211]

Terrain response is masterpiece 😎

[@mcspooney]

the main reason people buy these cars is lack of knowledge of what they are buying into...... that's why all these electro fantastic heaps exist..... how many people actually look deeply into what stuff will cost when it breaks in terms of cars or houses? expensive bill to repair your v8 sir? really? you bought a car with electro hydraulically actuated suspension and you thought that was going to be practical and cheap? you see the main problems with these electro discos is when your in a remote area and a warning light wont let you move, start or even fix your car your in trouble...... older vehicles that can be repaired by spanner will always be praised and will always more reliable.... try fixing this heap of electro techno in the middle of Africa with limited parts...... mechanisms will always be better without electronic governing..... now it just comes down to user input and here lies the problem with practically every broken piece of machinery ........ the idiot operating it. putting your faith in a ecu is like asking the government for more restrictions on your ability to do....... (statute law any one?) dont...... these vehicles are good however if you just like sightseeing or mud plugging, stuff like that. just dont buy em for serious stuff..... you see here in lies another problem... everybody wants their vehicle capable of conquering Africa while living in surrey.... you see were back exactly were we started...... they didn't read the manual.... they didn't buy based on their circumstance...... they didnt adhere to the protocol of maintenance and now they have broke it, told you it was shite and moved on to break something else....... you see being an engineer all i ever do is go around looking at problems telling people why there an idiot and how they broke it......... rarely ever is it due to an actual design fault....... you see design engineers are also quite rigorous in their fields....... if you ever meet an engineer that knows it al tell em to go away.... i still ask every one else.... the more measurements you take the easier it will be to remedy.

[@colins5142]

I've got a 2008 4.4L SE (with rear seat climate controls that the one in the video seems to lack hahah). Bought it 8 months ago from the original owner. Oil was changed religiously every 5k miles, hard to tell if anyone had ever sat in the back 2 rows of seats. The thing is literally mint condition. Oh, and it had 129,000 miles on it when I bought it. Its now got 141,000mi, not a single thing has needed repair, and the only item that will need replacing is the thermostat. $150. KZbin car boners will act like thats the end of the world 🤦🏻‍♂️however, you won't find one of these in good condition for $5,000 like your video claims. For that price, they'll need some repairs, or they'll be well-used. I paid $8250 for mine and its without a doubt one of the best examples in the US.

[@TheLuisg92]

Any car is a money pit if you want to keep it in the best shape possible over a long period of time and also keep track of the records. Japanese, American and Korean cars are considered cheap because they usually are junked or traded when the first big thing goes wrong and the smaller stuff just piles up and never gets fixed. In addition, they are better suited to negligent owners and they keep on running even when they are broken. European cars are not that forgiving and therefore they are considered endless money pits. In the end all cars are expensive to maintain in one way or another and they all have their issues, so own whatever you want and can afford to keep running.

[@sportster883able]

I have a 2008 LR3 4.4 V8 HSE here in Qatar and have looked after it well and it has 172,000km. I use an independent LR specialist who is absolutely top-notch and knows Land Rovers and Range Rovers inside put and upside down. I have had all 4 air struts replaced at least once (front ones twice) and the air reservoir and compressor replaced once. Air struts take 45 minutes to replace (I have had the front ones replaced while I have waited) and the cost is around US$ 300-00 a corner. If you don't use the main dealer (I certainly don't), then these are great cars to own and reasonably cheap to maintain. The key is making sure you keep them well looked after. Ohhh.......I also own a 2013 Range Rover Sport HSE with the 5.0 V8 Supercharged engine - same basic chassis as the LR3. and as long as it's looked after and serviced its fantastic too. Sure - as they get older they are like being in a relationship with an older woman.....you don't push them hard; you are a little more sympathetic to their foibles; you don't rev them hard and you don't take them over the rough stuff just as hard as you once did - but respect them and show a little love and they are the best!!

[@NickTarterOKC]

I'm picking one of these up today. Your video series is what inspired me to look for one. Been looking for months and finally found the right one.

[@inesdesantos235]

me too, Im going tomorrow, wished I knew a mechanic that can go and check it out with me. KIA dealership is sellign it , 2008. so cheap I can actually afford to add services and maintenance for the term of the finance contract. It had an accident accordign to CARFAX but it was only cosmetic. Since is from a reputable dealership ( that also sells new vehicles) less than 100K miles, cant ask for more.

[@philtripe]

Reliable compared to what... a Jeep? then yes its just as reliable

[@edjackson4389]

Take that crap off the roof and the handling would improve by a pretty good margin. Any weight that high off the ground is gonna have negative effects

[@user-fz3sz2dj4r]

For the price these are unbeatable. Even if you have to repair them they are still far cheaper than an equivalent Toyota or Lexus

[@npet6842]

You're obviously not use to these vehicle as you failed to mention many problems that they have . Some are mileage dependent , but others are not .Look elsewhere is you want a reliability/expense report ..........

[@mariomejia9993]

I absolutely love and like these cars. I've owned four of them through the years and they all have given me the best times ever. They have just about the problems that you may find with other SUV. Repairing these vehicles is not that expensive if you learn to do some of the repairs or find a good mechanic other than the dealership that know them. The parts for these cars are everywhere in the net for really good prices. I have owned the original discovery , 08 lr3 2010 lr4 and a 2014 lr4. I still have the 08 and it has already 186k and still running strong. The engines last for ever if you keep the maintenance religiously. these are the best and more fun all terrain cars out there, and also the older models are very inexpensive to maintain.

[@andymckane7271]

Great review, Tommy! You've done a first-rate job with this (as you do on all the other reviews I've seen of yours). As a former Land Rover owner (series IIA & III), and the owner for about a year of a grey market 1982 Range Rover that I imported when new, as well as various Rover cars (P-6 & SD-1's), I'm quite aware of what non-Rover owners say of these products. I've had some reliability issues with Land Rovers (especially with the 1982 grey market Range Rover and the 3500 NAS SD-1's), but my 1972 Series III purchased new lasted for a little over 20 years before it was stolen from me. The only problems I had with that Land Rover were speedometer and speedo cable related, various oil leaks, and numerous rear axle shaft replacement. To be fair, I used Michelin XS 9.00 x 16" tires which put quite a strain on those axle shafts. Great video. Keep up the superb work. Andy McKane, Maunaloa, Molokai, Hawwaii.

[@cryptocrush-823]

I’m actually replacing all four bags plus the compressor this week. I’m doing the work myself and it’s running me right around $1300 for all the parts. That’s not that bad considering I got 160,000 miles out of the originals. I imagine the new system will last longer than the car. The engine itself, Ron superbly. I really try to babysit with frequent oil changes and keeping up with air filters. I also replace both front wheel hubs a power steering pump and the water pump. The thing that really probably pissed me off the most about this car! Was the thermostat housing! The original is made from some type of composite material that when it begins to fail it’ll crumble in your hands. Long story short, I thought I had a water pump issue due to a leak and it turned out there was a small pinhole in the thermostat housing. Anyway, the water pump is only $35. You may as well just go ahead and replace that wire there. Other than that, it’s been a fairly decent car. The four-wheel-drive is second to none. It’s a goat going uphills.

[@MilitaryMobility]

We got almost 200k out of our LR3 air shocks before a super slow leak developed. Not bad at all!

[@dogbombballet]

I currently drive a 2006 LR3 SE with heated seats. I have 90,561 1 owner miles and love this vehicle. I have had bush arms replaced, ... too many upkeeps to mention and I will always put my money into this car because my wife says that I'm a stupid. LOL! But..., whenever, there is inclement weather or impending doom she asks to ride in the Land Rover LR3 instead of her Volvo.

[@InformalGreeting]

You’re killing me. I was thisclose to buying an H3T for an overland build. Now I’m looking at LR3s. And I’m doing it just knowing that if I get one the suspension will fail within a week and cost me $2,000,000,000 to fix it. But you say it won’t... and for some reason I lean towards believing you. I guess I can at least be content knowing I’ll be comfortable while I wait on a recovery.

[@pilotgabe]

The prices of the LR3 suspension system have gone down, but when you can add 2.5” of lift with a switch, or even more with height sensor rod swap or even software, it’s hard to beat.

[@georgerickman8384]

Preventive maintenance and the lr3 is easy to live with .

[@ak3617]

Well...as an owner of a 2006 lr3 I absolutely love it. I do most of the work on it myself.... so by doing so I suppose I've saved thousands as I have a goal of never ever going to the dealership/stealership. In the end though it is one of the greatest SUV's ever made.

[@freedomrevival1375]

Great review, curious if the LR3 is equipped with brake controller for towing? If not, what’s the solution? Thank you!

[@KettleRiseRanch]

I loved mine until it blew up in my driveway. And no you can’t make up a story like that. They are great until they have issue then they are very expensive.

[@philtripe]

Blew up? did you get the optional dynamite seats? that story sounds a bit...MADE UP

[@bobsmithinson2050]

Any vehicle needs preventative maintenance. All it takes (on any car) is for the belt to fail, causing the water pump to stop, and if you know zero about engines, you’ll keep driving with the temp in the red until it blows up.

[@markovucilovski2793]

Every luxury brand is more expensive to fix than a comertiay widespread car in the country you live in. And every car is great until it breaks. :S

[@CarThings___]

My disco 2 also blew up but my lr3 has lasted 14 years and 155k miles so far no issues

[@chrisking6370]

BrianHiatt Actually you can make up a story like that.

[@robertfonovic3551]

The V8 Disco is a good off reader.........if you are a member of the Saudi royal family.

[@roveradventures]

As a Range Rover Classic and P38 range rover owner, ill have to say great video! Albeit both of mine have been converted to coil. My classic has 28,000 miles (original owner passed away and family never messed with it) but is now sporting an RTE 2" coil spring lift and conversion. The p38 and newer had a much simpler and easier to diagnose air suspension. The classics while simple, were from what most say, an experiment with air for the p38 chassis. So far so good.

[@jbullock1878]

be careful of electrical gremlins- the ECUs are Daisy Chained and not in a normal "Hub-and-Spoke" configuration. Sooo...If one goes it can cause a cascading affect. That is what I am dealing with Right now. Cross your fingers for me! (also, i have the GAP Tool so I can see the faults)

[@drfocote]

FYI, I have a 1995 Land Rover Classic with the original Air Sus and Original Balloons.. STILL WORKS.

[@kaankaral]

Knock on wood

[@tomaszbudnik521]

Want go off road? - buy Land Rover Want return back home as well? buy Land Cruiser ;)

[@rayannaif30]

Yeah but land cruiser has a shitty suspension

[@ruimachado8560]

where's the old LR designer? we want him back.....tommy knows what a car should look like..

[@TexasBroskiActual]

rui machado Was owned by Ford when the LR3 was being designed and made.

[@chanceym6000]

The designer of the LR3 and 4 actually designed the discovery 5 as well as the new defender. Tells you, its the business and marketing team at LR not capable of making retro boxy cars, not the designers

[@michaelschablon6148]

Funny thing over here in Australia, US cars, eg Jeeps, are generally held in lower regard for quality and reliability than Land Rovers. We have a 2014 Discovery 4 - love it.

[@jeepercreepers54]

I think that opinion is universal.

[@GoCeltics734]

just drove mine from RI to Vegas last week. 2,701 miles, 0 times opening the hood and 20.1 mpg for the trip. now at 121k with the worst repair being a coil pack

[@rodaniell]

I'm on my 18th or so, Land Rover - Range Rover (see my Instagram / LeinadoTV) and I've had few problems - especially with all the newest models. It's really a great brand and if I had more space? I'd own more Rovers. I have 4 right now - full size 2020 RR, 2018 RR Autobiography Sport, 2019 Discovery 5 and a 2003 Discovery full safari/kit. Great, realistic video - Thanks!

[@insayn7995]

That’s amazing, do you think getting a 5 to 7 years old rr without warranty a good idea?

[@MichaelOZimmermannJCDECS]

Of all things, the key charges up when plugged into the ignition... I always wondered, WHY this was not a logical choice for all automakers.

[@alanqtrmaine8175]

Having worked for BMW who did the same. It stopped with keyless start buttons and keyless entry. It was a novel idea at the time tho

[@davidmawer6859]

My 2007 model has 390,000km and is still going strong with 2.7TD V6 (in France). Cruises at 130km/h on the autoroute and off-roads with the best without modification other than tyres ( I recommend BF Goodrich KM2/3). Be prepared to spend some of the money you've saved on the purchase price on a few big bills (suspension) and spend a little on preventative maintenance (thermostat, water pump, alternator, bushes). Yes it may be a liability but it's a great great car in all respects and full of character. Yes Toyota's are more reliable but we don't live in the Third World. We love our Discovery 3.

[@Jeffreybch]

What about a LR3 Vs VW Touareg?

[@eshea5050]

I'm asking this question 14 minutes in, what about LR4 reliability? Any better/worse?

[@isackhernandez3691]

Look up the price on suspension parts

[@wobblycaptain]

You can get a Air Suspension Compressor Pump from £142.00 and the suspension air bag shock absorber from around £150.00 each in the Uk mine are currently 15 years old yet to replace them they still working at the moment fingers crossed lol

[@Tedkelvin]

High speeds in very Hot Temps,the Tdv6 Diesel Engine overheats and loses power also they Occasionally Catch fire. Drive it fast through ruts and whoops will eat all the bushes and links by the End of the trip, possibly kill the front air bellows too. Well the car weighs over 3t loaded and the suspension is not up to task at those high load high speed situations. Off roading and Water fording this is better than a Defender by a long shot. Water ingress in the stupidly placed ECU's behind the Battery (in the Engine bay) is what kills these trucks. Can network issues. They also need constant software updates. All in all it's the Best LandRover ever Made bar the Range Rover l322. Hakuna Matata All the way from Kenya 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪 landrover land.Born free.

[@pilotgabe]

What a great review. I have been evangelizing the LR3/4 platform where ever I go. My experience so far with my 2006 LR3 V8 SE: 257,XXX miles (purchased in Feb 2012 with 74K miles) No major failures during operation I’ve replaced a few thermostat housings and water pumps just as there is evidence of coolant seeping Replaced the original radiator and 6 of the 8 coolant hoses at 235K miles (pretty awesome I’d say) Replaced 3 of the 4 original suspension airbags at 235K miles (only because 1 I had replaced previously started to leak down after 100K miles, so now I have 4 brand new Arnott airbags) Replaced a few air compressors but they are easy to change and their price has come down Original engine, recently replaced the valve timing gaskets at 255K miles, replaced all 8 ignition coils around 235K miles I have replaced the transmission but ONLY because it had to come out anyway after a shop ruined the valve body. I was at 150K miles so I took the opportunity. Replaced the rear diff with one I had overhauled from a pick and pull. I spent less than $1K total on the overhaul and install. I just replaced the original front upper control arms and the rear upper and lower control arms at 235K miles. The front lowers I’ve replaced twice but on the second time I went with poly bushings. This is a heavy rig and the OEM bushing don’t last long on the lowers front control arms. They’ve been installed now for about 130K miles with zero issues. The handling feels slightly different but I like the tighter feel. All in all, I would buy another one in a heart beat. As long as I stay ahead of maintenance issues, she performs awesome. It’s seriously the most comfortable off-road vehicle, and several of my friends have said as much when they’ve ridden in it and compared it to their Jeeps and Toyota’s. I am searching for an LR4 now (2013 White with HD Package), but I will keep my LR3 forever. She is absolutely solid and like you said, the design is timeless.

[@mattwilliams8733]

Thank you for this review!

[@Salih.EduBlock]

Yeah I have the 2006 LR3. I love it. So many non owners swear it will blow up like they know but know nothing at all. Naysayers. LOl. Thanks.

[@AutoMotivate]

I started to look into these for my quick land rover overview video, and these are surprisingly very reliable. The main issues you might have are the lower control arms going out. Great video!

[@xotic8617]

Sorry but 8000miles is not enough to give a genuine review regarding reliability

[@martyndavies1482]

100% right, you'll spend the same on repairs on an older LR3 as you would for depreciation on a newer LR4. Whilst its fun at the start, you'll end up sick of either being underneath it or having to write cheques to a garage.

[@tom4775]

I've had an LR3 for almolst 10 years, the best vehicle I've owned.

[@jonwills286]

My d3 has cracked 300000 miles with only replacing wish bone bushes and engine oil every 8000 miles.

[@dannyaguirre2309]

I’ve had 2 LR3’s when launched and latest had it over 5 years. Actually changing front struts today and giving it a fresh oil change. It has 167k and running strong. Yes it has it’s issues and is best if you are mechanically inclined. I agree with Tommy in ride comfort, space and versatility one of the bests.

[@nickrhodes8260]

Have run my 2005 TDV6 SE from new. It has not exploded yet 😁 Now, I don't see anything to replace it, so will be running it until diesel cars get banned. Great review.

[@maxmars]

How have you guys not done a head to head with the LR3 and the Touareg !?

[@ronaldpeters5483]

Literally what I am trying to decide between at the moment. Looking at Touareg and LR3s...

[@shaggywagshaggywag]

FYI, the 4.0 V-6 is just as reliable and you get all the same features, it's more than enough power for everyday tasks, it's not dog slow as many think. They also used this V6 in the Jaguar. I have over 172,000 on mine, no oil leaks, no major issues, starts easily in the dead of winter (-30F). If you don't need the extra power for pulling a large boat, etc. I highly recommend the V6.

[@benflitter2539]

Hi Shaggy. Do you think the V6 is powerful enough to handle paved mountain roads/passes? Or by everyday tasks you mean general city driving?

[@Moparornocar74]

That AJ V8 was also in the Jaguar XJR, there's definitely some potential for more power if you really wanted it

[@AndyK.1]

Yeah when you add the supercharger 395 bhp like they did in the Range Rover and sport

[@kevbob]

2008 LR3 HSE here, bought in mid 2019, and I thought I was crazy to get it at first, but it's been a joy. I've definitely taken it on road trips, but I've only put on about 10k since I got it; I work from home, so I don't have to commute with it. It's really a nice driving vehicle.

[@Boostforthecure]

"rev up your engines!" - Idiots that say land rovers are unreliable-

[@Coordinator61]

Well they are unreliable.

[@myrongaines5542]

"iDiOtS tHaT sAy LaNdRoVeRs aRe uNrELiAbLe" 🤡

[@YA-ee9zf]

they aren't reliable i have a friend that owns 5 land rovers he goes to the garage every other day that's why u see this car on the road high maintenance i.e. money pit. but people keep fixing them that's because people like them and they have a following. who would u believe a kid or a man that has 52 years of experience

[@Coordinator61]

@@YA-ee9zf its just my own experience after 28 years in the worldwide oil and gas industry. Land/Range rovers in town, on jobs and in the bush-bush Toyota. End of story. Keep Land Rover as hobby 4x4, leave the tough jobs to the hilux and land Cruiser.

[@TheMatizyahu]

I had Disco 3. The reason that i don't have it anymore is that lorry hit me in the side. My friends were telling me all the time that it will go foobar all the time and i spent fortune to maintain this car and i would be better with Jeep or Toyota. Then it was concernation of Disco 2 owners and constant question "why your Ford/LR mongrel and not a true offroader SUV is allways working and my mechanical geniuine british piece of car enginering is allways broken?". My answer was "thats because you have bought wrong LR Discovery".

[@GATORADDAM]

Certainly the best reviewer in the business. Makes it fun to learn about different vehicles.

[@jsabino20]

Really do love my LR3 but nowhere near as much as my 6yo. It's the only truck he's known and gets upset if I ever mention trading it in.

[@Dwealdric]

"I would describe the acceleration as.... stately" I laughed my ass off at that.

[@Paidonthedaily]

they are super reliable I used to work there. I loved working on these cars.

[@markwhitton8785]

Great review mate. Live in Australia, have had my LR3 for 8 years (v6 diesel), if look after it, does not miss a beat, love the air suspension, great for off-road, overall absolutely love it for all the reasons you outlined, couldn't have summarised it any better myself. Owned a Landcruiser beforehand, excellent also, but LR3 was just much more comfortable overall. Laughed when you pointed out the excellent storage in LR3, exactly spot on.

[@willhooke]

G'day Mark What Landcruiser did you have?

[@CarySagady]

UGH….now I am sick! I had to get rid of my LR3 because the frame rusted so bad it would not pass inspection here in NJ. I loved it and replaced it with a 2020 4Runner…. No love for the 4 runner. Now I am going to seek out an LR3 or 4. Great video!

[@thomasmullins1783]

I wheel often and one of my friends has an lr3. The only thing that's gone wrong is the air bags and compressor. Swapping to mechanical suspension later this summer. But as far as everything else, it all works just fine

[@noelnicholls1894]

If you look fixing the air suspension Isn’t that bad.

[@Leglog24]

In three months I will see a video of this same guy, saying that he will sell his LR3 because it caused him a lot of problems and they bought a Jeep or any other 4x4 SUV

[@TexasBroskiActual]

Adrian Pernia Definitely not. Tommy is a smart guy and knows to change his oil and replace thermostats just like he said in the video. Unless you are a dummy and just keep driving around and not doing preventative maintenance.

[@karna-bhati]

Mine too Tommy, it’s my favourite too. The ultimate Land Rover, the ultimate overlanding Vehicle ever built! I don’t know, whether ever I would be blessed to have it some day or not.

[@henkstols9326]

Over here in South Africa the guys who drive LR3 diesels will tell you not to buy one, the V8 seems a decent buy. The crank shaft failures on the diesels is a stuff of nightmare.