Land Rover Discovery 3 / LR3 - Typical Problems And Why We Love It / S1-Ep2 

Criminally underrated video. Really wonderful and thorough explanation of the car. I think with your sense of humour you could make your own great repair tutorials. Keep it up!

Thank you for doing this in English it is most appreciated ✅✅👍🏻👌🏻

Great video. I have driven my 2007LR3 2.7D since 2009. Bought it with 34k km on the clock. Just passed 342k km. It needs maintenance, budget 1200 euros per year and ur fine. Otherwise it's a brilliant all round go anywhere vehicle. Super capable. Keep the vids coming.

First of all congratulations for the video. A few years ago I had a Discovery 2 V8. It was a dream to have one here in Brazil. I took many scares with the electrical part and few with the mechanics. But I miss Disco2. Here in Brazil, there are many RU-vidrs, who say they specialize in automotive matters, they have never owned a Land Rover in their lives but they criticize, speak badly and badly say Discovery 3, Range Rovers and Freelanders. Disco3 being the critical champion! They don't understand the Land Rover "legend". Ok, here too the prices at the dealerships make anyone bankrupt, but we can find parts via the Internet easily. You have to know how to dig! Finally, your video made me rekindle the old passion for Disco3. I'm already dating several in the classifieds on the web. I've had Cherokee, Explorer, Dakota (all V8), Subaru, but Discovery has no equal. A big hug and thanks for sharing!

I bought the LR3 knowing I could do the work, one of the easiest cars I have worked on. Great accurate video!

16:44 still watching. Very good video and easy to watch. Watching with the sound off in bed late at night - you explain well and it is enjoyable :)

Nice to see someone not slagging Land rovers and just getting on with repairing it great video.

Great video...well done! I appreciate how you put work into your vehicle to keep it going instead of just selling it and buying something else. People don’t understand how just simple maintenance can extend the life of a vehicle. I love the LR3 and have always wanted one. I can’t break away from my Land Cruiser though. I’ll just continue to admire them from afar.

Thanks for the trip! I felt I was in your Land Rover all this time. I Own a Disco One and a 2005 Gasoline Discovery 3 or LR3 here in the USA. Thanks again from El Paso, Texas USA.

Were neighbours! Another masterpiece may I say. It felt like I was being chauffer driven through the beautiful mountainess village's of beautiful Germany in my own car. I use Mandy every day. I teach freelance English here in The Czech republic, so a lot of driving and all you listed is totally true and has been repaired or maybe fixed including a new air pump. The first one failed after a year. The new one is a Bosch. I'm sure you will be pleased to hear. So the German one should be far better than the Chinese hair dryer. I must confess that I couldn't possibly do what you do. I wouldn't know where to start. I use a Czech mechanic who I visit every year. My Mandy 3k automatic LR3 full leather. still use the old satnav. missing the toe bar and some tools. Buckingham blue and almost as old as I am. You and Vera are simply genius. Thank you.

A very complete list of things that can go wrong and refreshing to hear that you enjoy and look forward to the next repair.

A true appreciation of the Car and its faults! Fantastic video, I hope you have many more happy miles.

Well deserved recognition for your channel - great team work and excellent mix of travel , LR time and projects.

Once you have had a good experience when owning a Landy you will always be in love with the brand. I currently have a 1992 Defender and a 2012 Disco 4 and both have their own personality. I love them and same as you, I realise that regular preventative maintenance is the secret to happy Land Rovering, old and newer models alike. Where we live is a dry part of Australia so rust is not a problem either, both my cars are rust free. I wish you many more years of happy Land Rover ownership. PS. Try a Disco 4 next car, all those D3 problems have been resolved

The good thing I like is how your wife is very involved in the repairs and remembers the changes. Nice video.

Brilliant video, I am a Disco 2 owner because I feared the Disco 3. You've taken that fear away through the straightforward way you have described the typical problems. Prima!!

Thoroughly enjoyed watching your video, very entertaining, thank you. I was constantly finding myself nodding my head and laughing in agreement with your comments!! :-) I have a very similar UK spec 2006 manual Discovery now with 150k miles on the clock and have had many of the problems mentioned in the 10 years we have owned it (bought in 2010 with 56k). Like you, despite the issues we also still love our Disco 3 and are reluctant to part with it. It is an amazing and capable all purpose vehicle but just needs regular maintenance and attention (and perhaps a second car to use when it breaks down)! Keep posting please, you are an inspiration to us sometimes beleaguered Discovery owners!!

Greetings from Romania and congrats on your video! 3 years into our 2005 D3 so far, in which we put >70k km (just passed 180k on the clock), and we love it. We also wish to keep it forever :D

Thanks for a great video, I have an early Discovery 4 and can relate to most of the issues you’ve had with yours. Some great tips as well, thank you!

Just watching this video and thinking I know this voice. See your face in the workshop. Hey Christian. Good to see you. Such a small world. Good to see you driving around the Odenwald. Thought of buying a LR4 a lot of times but we still keep our old and very reliable Landcruiser 105. Greetings from Perth.

What an excellent video! I just bought a 2009 LR3 with the hopes of living out my dream hobby (performing my own maintenance on my own vehicle) and this video is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Been watching you guys now for a couple of months now and have to say have inspired me & my wife to get a discovery 3 after thinking about getting one for years. The car is to take us on our journey from the UK to Portugal where we are going to live so it, hopefully this will be our long term car. I don't mind doing things on cars and the way you show how you do your repairs is great!! So we'll keep watching and learning from you. Keep up the good video's!!

Super video, very informative and you are both well spoken. I would love to have a discovery 3 or 4 but watching your video I realise I don't have the skill, tools, knowledge or money to maintain it like you have. Was lovely to see your country it's very picturesque , I miss travelling in Europe this summer. Many thanks from Northern Ireland :)

I love Land Rover, I have the same engine, I'm happy, you have to take care and it's great

I put up with all the BS from my 2006 LR3 V8 HSE because it looks so cool & rides so nice & is so off-road capable. It still looks contemporary & better than 90% of SUV's out on the road.

Thank you, great video and beautiful country.

I hear you on cheap aftermarket lower arms. Here in the UK my LR4 failed its MoT test yet with lower arms and bushes after only 4 years and just 22k miles. Just had new original parts fitted and now the drive is super. Thanks guys.

really fun video, thank you. i have 2007 v6 petrol and it goes great, i have had a couple of issues you mentioned but i repair myself and it is fun. living in Australia i go off road often and it does a great job. every so often i think of upgrading but it goes too well still to do this. the air springs are very easy to change, the air valves are also easy to change or replace o-rings on, the compressor needs the dryer module changing so get that done, its a very simple job...

Great honest review above and beyond 👍👍👍👍👍

I’m so glad that at last there are some people shows the disco3 the respect that it earns. I have a 2007 at 250.000km on clock. I’m in love with mine. I’m an ınterior architect & designer, i know what this car means and how it’s designed. Everybody must be proud of their Discovery 3-4. At last the days of the respect on Disco 3 has begun. A little of people had understand the capabilities of this vehicle. Very great video, thanks for all the information that you’ve given. King regards

Excellent review of common maintenance and repairs needed, thank you. You live in a beautiful area with some pretty sketchy narrow passing places, well done! Glad you worked out the differences between doing repairs by touch not taste!

Can I just say that you have a great taste in music

Hi , the car makes a great diner for your family . An honest report on replacement parts and the fun you have had on your adventures . Take care and thanks for your video😉👍

Your videos are great. As a Disco owner your videos are really appreciated

nice honest video, i've got an auto 2008 and you just use the tip tronic bit when you need more power

i know it's been a year since you guys posted this amazing video, but i just have to thank you from the bottom of my heart, i'm portuguese and i'm thinking about buying one so thank you so much because you guys posted this great video and yes, I watched the video until the end

Thank you for this video and the great insight.

Fabulous video! If I was 1/100th as capable as you to perform my own repairs, then I might consider purchasing one of those things. As it stands, you have absolutely convinced me beyond any shadow of a doubt that I should NEVER become an owner of any LandRover, period! I live in the US (Michigan), and I have owned several Jaguar sportscars, two of which we still have! Those have had their issues from time-to-time, but nothing like what you have experienced with your "Landy". Think I'll keep my 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4 Diesel, with Off-Road Adventure II Package, Air Suspension, and multiple aftermarket bash plates and rock sliders, which I frequently take off road in some pretty nasty stuff. Again, GREAT Video! I highly recommend it to anyone considering the purchase of a used Land Rover LR3 (or any other model for that matter)!

I will do likewise assuming my local parts dealer can get the part here. Love your videos, thank you for investing your time and considera🎉produce such entertaining, informative and useful videos on my favourite vehicle.

You love LR3... i feeling in the Video. I love it too thank you for video.

Thank you very much for your excellent videos. They are entertaining and educational. I lived in Spangdahlem Germany for 3 years and enjoyed your beautiful country. The two of you make great movies and you are both Rock Stars! I’m off to buy an LR3! You make it fun and exciting!

Great tips on what can go wrong with a Discovery 3 and totally agree about the manual gearbox,you feel more at one with the vechicle.

Great videos, thanks for creating them. I too have had a love affair with my Disco 3 since 2009 (only 130000 km) and have been through most of the issues you describe but without the benefit of a workshop, the time and requisite skill to repair it myself. I’m now going through electrical and suspension issues again, likely a new alternator required and lower arms. I was ready to finally give up but, inspired by you, maybe I’ll give it one last slug of cash!

Well done 👍🏻 just found your channel and subscribed. So nice of you to video while driving around so we all can see your country side

really like your optimism and passion for this car, enjoy it and thanks for sharing your expertise :)

Very good video. Enjoyed learning the faults. I would like one of these cars.

'I wonder if we get more than 50 clicks on this video' As of today: 69,930 views. Well done, really interesting and entertaining, so thoroughly deserved success. As ever, best wishes from the UK

I have drove almost all suv's but the pleasure that I ha e got driving my old lr3 was not even with brand new suv's. With all its draw back I just love it.

Amazing commentary and overview of the Disco 3 👍 I need to pop over with mine (2004) with 140k miles on the clock and we can spend the weekend as a training session for the inevitable repairs 😂😂

Great video, I enjoyed listening and ticking off everything I had to do over the last 8 years, the only one I haven't had yet was a wheel bearing. In addition I've had to change the air compressor, front and rear diffs, starter motor, alternator, height sensors, gearbox, rear propshaft, injectors, glow plugs, alternator tension pulley. Sill love the Discovery though. Congrats on more than 50 views, I did smile when I heard you say that and then looked at current views, well deserved.

wanted this for gambia your tips are most helpful!

very good and interesting video. i dont have a discovery 3 but do have a 1998 defender and 1980 Series 3 but what you say about preventative maintenance is totally correct for all landrovers. look after them and you'll love them for years. I thought these discoveries would be very hard to work on but your video makes it look quite easy, they are getting quite cheap to buy in the UK too so i might be tempted!

Found this video today and subscibed immediate. Thanks for this one. After more than 20 years of driving Discovery 1 and 2 we're thinking of buying a Discovery 3. It's kind of reassuring this car will brake down as often as our previous Discoveries. I was a bit worried about the costs of the repairs and how much you can do yourself on a car stuffed with electronics. I will be looking for one in Germany because here in the Netherlands you won't find one with less than 250.000 km on the clock.

Excellent video and very informative!

Hi Christian and Vera, I was about to abandon my 2006 Disco 3 because of dreaded error P22090 (rail pressure too low and limp home mode). Sunk 3000 euros into a shop for diagnosing the problem and replacing the in-tank fuel pump and basically checking everything on the low-pressure side. I was not ready to put in another suggested 4k for a high pressure fuel pump (HPFP). So I wanted to give up. That’s when I stumbled over this video. It completely changed my world. After 6 happy years, I knew already several of those weak points you mention. Well, with my newly-found “Innere Einstellung” I decided to give it a go. Believe it or not, I ordered a HPFP (450 euros refurbished, looking like new), and replaced mine. Took me two days all in all. The ECM is happy to get 158MPa fuel pressure again! Car runs like new! THANK YOU. (I have the HPFP type 5WS40157, which is a little bigger than newer Discos have I think, from 2007 onwards. I could barely get it out. A bit of a problem is that the belt case can’t be removed, because it is held by the cam shaft wheel, so I had to force it a bit. But it worked. If you need help with this one sometimes, give me a shout :) (Funny fact: I put the old belt back in, because the new one didn’t arrive in time, and I decided that changing it later is no big deal at all, anymore. :-)

Well from Johannesburg South Africa another click (so you should have more than 55 hehe), found your experiences very interesting, amusing & enjoyable. Thank You, hope you still enjoying your Discovery, they are amazing. Go well, happy driving

A really great and informative video, many thanks!

Hi, Thanks to you and your wife for all your excellent information and a great video easy to understand and helpful my three sons enjoyed your sons bmx skills also! Thanks again and kind regards Nick & family in the U.K

Great video thank you! I like to work by taste also. They are a fantastic 4x4 if you're willing to get your hands dirty, which I like.

Hi Guys, fantastic videos . I really appreciate the time you put into them . I want to buy a LR3 and I don't mind the repairs but it's not knowing exactly what the problem is . I currently run a Mercedes ML and the diagnostics is very vague usually . It could be one of 6 different things . So I hope the LR3 is easier to diagnose the faults accurately . Best wishes from the UK

What a great video..Thank you

Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed.

Many thanks for taking the time to produce your very informative and valuable story. I am considering upgrading from our Disco 2 to the Disco 3 so I really appreciate learning the ownership lessons from you. Best wishes from Aus.

Nice video... the costs really mount in the end🤯

Thank you for your efforts, very enjoyable. I have a 2007 HSE, Owning a Land Rover is not an entirely practical choice but more a state of mind (good or bad!) and for those who do not subscribe to that, they will always see the negatives and there are plenty. But it's a Land Rover!

Great video: thanks for sharing!

I just love my Disco 3. Thanks for the movie :)

Very useful video. Thank you.

Great video, beautiful country.

Yep - I fixed my compressor air dryer cap with an aluminum one from eBay for $70 - Independent wanted $2800 to put a new AMK air compressor in. That was like 4-5 years ago and my compressor still working fine. Its a known fault the air dryer cap splits down the mold line right through middle. Super easy to fix and diagnose with some soapy water. Most issues with D3 are common manufacturing faults and well documented and easy to fix.

great video, thank you. It seems like a labour of love owning a D3. When you said "the wheel nuts rust, swell up and then the tool doesnt fit", you may have finally put me off buying one!

Thanks for all the info, I'm looking to purchase a 2008 and hopefully it will be a good car for me. Great Video and learned a bunch. Happy Motoring

Wow! At 2min 13 sec breath taking scenery. The mountains look awesome. Germany is beautiful

Greetings from Ontario, Canada. Originally from the UK. Came across your videos as I am looking at buying a used LR3 or LR4. Love your video style and nice to see some of your countryside. I work with a guy who's family live in the German countryside too and it looks beautiful. I am so glad you do at least some of your videos in English. My German is non existent apart from a few words which is very embarrassing as your English is so good. Keep up the great work and if you have any good links you can recommend i would appreciate it. I already watched the guy who replaced his handbrake mechanism in the rain. Very entertaining. Danke and take care during this crazy time.

I like your philosophy in owning a car. Was just skipping through videos and wasn’t going to watch the whole thing but then I found myself at the end without skipping. I subscribed just for the Disco3.co.uk shout out. It would be nice if you linked the people or videos you are talking about in the video tho 👍🏼

Really enjoyed that! I have a similar car, Discovery 3, silver, manual. I've bought it with 1000 miles in 2006 on it and it's just turned 170000 miles, so around 273k km. I've done a lot of work myself, but I have a local independent landrover specialist who did the clutch for me that started slipping at around 140k miles. I can concur, it eats brakes..possibly because it's a manual...but ecen brake discs and calipers is a easy job. I had to upgrade by jack, axle stands and torque wrench, as everything is bigger, heavier and needs tightening up tighter on a landrover. I've replaced the front suspension arms, still running the original rears! repaired the suspension pump once, replaced it with an upgraded item the next time, so I've seen most of what you have seen..but nothing has been too bad and parts are not expensive....so if I'd have to replace it, I'd have another! Agree, really like the manual gearbox.

Fantastic video! Thank you! 👍👍👍

Thank you!!mine is 2005 Hse very little problems the best car I ever had!!

Absolutely love you! Subscribed!!!

Great video. So informative. And lovely countryside. Looks like the Black Forest

Great video, thanks

Great stuff!

We bought a Disco 2 TD5 as we do all our own repairs and live way out in the wilds. I do worry about the electronics and the TD6 cam belt/body off issues. We've fallen in love with the TD5 now as we live in a place with bad roads and we get real snow... the english equivalent of Siberia! The TD5 has been very reliable and we have only had recovery once in the 6 years we have owned her ❤️

hi i am also a discovery 3 owner here in the uk, i just wanted to say thsnk you so much for making these videos i spend a few hours a week watching and learning new things too, i completely agree with everything you said about the disco 3 i changed my oil pump to the newer type the stronger type and all belts too, i am on my second air compressor. and i also cleaned my front and midddle air blocks i had the body off in a shop for that witch was very costly like £850 plus the new belts and oil pump etc. yeah i agree with you on the fact that these trucks do need to be maintained all year round which in turn doesn't really give you many problems these discovery 3 are great vehicles when they work and i mean with out any faults but i would put it into 2 types of faults 1 beings actual problems that just turn up when they want and 2. just wear and tear on parts like my alternator died but it was 15 years old, hopefully some time next year i will be swapping all my air suspension shocks for springs conversion and still have all the off road terrain settings just because i feel the truck will out last the air suspension, plus we have had so many problems with ours. i also fitted a roof rack for when we go away camping we had about 600kg of stuff on our roof plus 2 adults and 4 children and not 1 problem we also took a spare air compressor with us because i new what the car is like. i do have a Instagram account with my discovery 3 pictures on there just message me if you wish to follow my story of my D3.. thank you again

Hello Vera & Christian thank you for this video I have just found your channel and am slowly going though all your videos and really enjoying them your sense of humour and the reaction between you both is really funny & enjoyable I have a 2006 Range rover L322 3.6 v8 diesel but found your channel through your propshaft video as my centre bearing has gone your videos are really good educational tools too . keep it up great channel ✔✔😊

Still watching, , Watching with nice view and music is nice.

I’m really enjoying your channel! I’m in the UK and probably the greatest advocate of the Discovery/LR4, having had to replace only 3 door locks (£150 each) in 7.5 years and 140,000 miles. Otherwise just routine servicing. Everything works, including TVs, economy is OK at 28.5mpg and it just goes. It has the ZF 8speed box with the 3litre diesel. Touch wood the car has been the best 4x4 I’ve ever owned but it is also the best family car, bike carrier, people mover, van and posh event car, it is a great motorway cruiser and always has extra stowage space somewhere even when you think it’s full. It doesn’t eat tyres like some cars I’ve had and has a real spare, not a space saver, can of foam or run flats. If you advertised this car with that age and those miles I’d probably pass but that would be a mistake. I’m lucky in that I use an approved specialist who has dozens of these on their books, and some at the 300,000 mile mark. The way mine feels today, still squeak and rattle free, that mileage seems realistic. The worst 4x4s I’ve owned over the last 22 years are ones that you’d never guess, and the absolute worst of the lot at only 20,000 miles would shock you. It broke down on day 1 and is a regular at the dealer who sold it to me. And part of the problem is the main dealers here for that brand don’t know the vehicle well enough to fix it properly. Years ago I did ask a 4x4 specialist before buying the Land Rover whether it was risky and their view was that on average all 4x4s are much the same over time. I’ve owned 8 other off readers and one SUV, and I think their assessment was about right.

I would like to know who and why the haters are giving the thumbs down. It is so easy to just stop watching a video and click on another one, so why the thumbs down??? I love these videos and own a Jeep. Someday I will look at Discovery models to purchase as our daily driver.

love your videos all the best from Australia🤠

Nice video!! I bought my LR3/D3 V8 for about $1800 with 173k miles 2½ years ago. Today the odometer show 211k miles and counting since this is my all purpose vehicle, and I enjoyed every mile 👍👍

Glad to see some one making a video about liking the disco been thinking about one myself but get put off by people.I drive a Freelander and was told the same thing before I bought it I know its not a real Landrover but these days what is

Your young lad has some serious bike skills, he will be conquering Erzberg in a few years 😎👌🏻….. nice videos and some very useful information 👍🏻

Informative video.

I really appreciate your L-R tutorial videos, you and your supper fantastic wife are great double act.

Excellent video

Brilliant video

totaly agreed, land rover dealers to proud and out of mind,i do all on my own on my D3 !

Seems like you are going to keep this one running forever! And why not? It's a pretty decent vehicle, and it looks like you have a lot of fun in it, as well as good times maintaining it.

I love his comment right after the woman starts driving "Eh maybe I should buckle up!"

Excellent thank you