LR3 Fatigue

pdXDisco97

Well-known member
Dec 6, 2011
277
36
Oregon
I don't want to sound whiny, but I just need to vent a little and maybe get some advice/opinions.

My XD is my primary Land Rover as far as use, mods, and love. In March, I hit another Rover on the trail and have been working on rebuilding and modifying it since. I can never seem to find enough time to actually get stuff done, but it's slowly coming back together and I'm hoping to celebrate it's 25th year (Jan '97 built date)with most of the repairs done. The LR3 was purchased as the family rig and cool upgrade to the minivan that my wife had driven for almost 10 years.

Additionally, back in October my DD was hit in a parking lot and totaled by insurance. The LR3 was having some issues, so we bought a Toyota Sequoia as the family rig and the LR3 became my DD for work (although with CV-19, I don't do much driving to work, so my son uses it for his commuter). In the past few months, more and more issues keep popping up; seized calipers, non functional parking brake, key fob inop, coolant leak (x2), AC fail, leaking sunroof, ac drain clog soaking the carpet and padding, and now it's got a serious grinding noise (probably upper control arms). Not to mention the various internal plastic bits that have broken or cracked. I've done several repairs myself, and a few in the shop, but with each one I get more and more frustrated with the constant needs of the LR3 when I really want to focus on the XD. I was worried before we bought it that having a Rover as a DD would be a constant exercise in patience and financial balancing to keep it running, I think my fears are coming to fruition.

With rising gas prices not helping the situation, I'm at an impasse as a Rover owner/lover. I really love driving the LR3, it's a fantastic road trip car, and I love the idea of a Rover that is more modern than my XD as a DD, but I'm just tired of dealing with it's issues. At 15 years old, 190k miles, maybe it's just hitting those years where everything needs to be replaced and/or serviced, but with one project car already in my driveway it's hard to put the effort into the LR3 that it seems to need currently. If I sold it, I know I won't be able to get the money out of it that I want, so I'm inclined to just suck it up and keep fixing it, but a pickup truck is looking pretty tempting right about now...

Vent over. Thanks for reading.
 
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Howski

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Oct 19, 2009
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Alabama
I’m in a similar boat. It’s been a pretty solid DD but it’s mileage/age is starting to show. A lot of little things, some annoyances more than anything, are adding up. Had planned to ride it out for awhile til the used car market comes down to earth but don’t know when that’ll ever happen. If I stuck with Rovers I’d go D5, which I’m still lukewarm on, but have been looking into the GX460 as of late. The predator front end isn’t that much worse than the D5’s
 
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pdXDisco97

Well-known member
Dec 6, 2011
277
36
Oregon
I’m in a similar boat. It’s been a pretty solid DD but it’s mileage/age is starting to show. A lot of little things, some annoyances more than anything, are adding up. Had planned to ride it out for awhile til the used car market comes down to earth but don’t know when that’ll ever happen. If I stuck with Rovers I’d go D5, which I’m still lukewarm on, but have been looking into the GX460 as of late. The predator front end isn’t that much worse than the D5’s
Exactly. Small annoyances, nothing major, just one after another...

No interest in the D5 here. The D1 is all the Rover I think I need at the moment. Part of it is that my job just doesn't give me enough time to deal with car stuff so I want to have a DD that I don't 'care' about. I had an Acura Tl and loved it, but also didn't fret over it's issues like the Rover for some reason. Maybe it's because I could fix stuff at a local shop for <$500 and not feel like the next issue was just waiting...
 
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Blue

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Mar 26, 2004
10,043
856
AZ
Don't feel bad....I kicked off my second year of LR4 ownership with a new check engine light! These things either fill you with love or bleed you dry. Or both.
 

Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,483
209
Alabama
Exactly. Small annoyances, nothing major, just one after another...

No interest in the D5 here. The D1 is all the Rover I think I need at the moment. Part of it is that my job just doesn't give me enough time to deal with car stuff so I want to have a DD that I don't 'care' about. I had an Acura Tl and loved it, but also didn't fret over it's issues like the Rover for some reason. Maybe it's because I could fix stuff at a local shop for <$500 and not feel like the next issue was just waiting...
I have to drive frequently for work so can’t worry about something dumb going wrong nowadays. Maybe I’ve wised up to the fact I need a lower mileage reliable vehicle and a second Rover to mess with. That said, outside of off road parks not many (legal) trails down here a stock vehicle with some good tires can’t get through
 

Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,483
209
Alabama
Wanted to check in on the state of everyone’s LR3 fatigue. Had another Lucky 8 compressor crap out on me without warning so went with an Amazon special. So far so good and quieter than the ‘HD’ one from Lucky 8.

Some of the rubbing issues. Occasional squeaking over bumps from the suspension. Need to pin down whether this is sway bar bushings or in fact shock(s) gone bad. Ride is fine but annoying if nothing else. Also occasionally have a puff of smoke on startup but get no codes. Something odd is going on with the fan/fan clutch as it’s running way too much despite normal coolant temps and cool/cold ambient temps. Think this (and other factors) are impacting my fuel economy too. Any pointers on these appreciated.

With car prices continuing to be inflated I’m going to hang with it til the market sorts itself out over the next few years. Has been great on a few road trips over the past few months. Is big, paid for, and still in decent shape for a 13 year old/160k mile vehicle.
 

Blue

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Mar 26, 2004
10,043
856
AZ
Not an LR3 here but I'm happy to report that my LR4 has now gone over 2 months with no issues (except for driver's window no longer doing the one-touch auto-up feature) so he has earned a new front bumper & winch.
 
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p m

Administrator
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Apr 19, 2004
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La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
Bill...
My LR4 has gone over a year with no issues - right from the end of November of 2020 when it died in Fallon, Nevada, to January 1st, 2022, when it died 120 miles North of St.George, Utah.
 

ERover82

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Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
With truck values so inflated right now I'm considering selling my truck, getting back into an LR3/LR4, and pocketing a good chunk of change. Not sure I want to join your bellyaching club though.

A rare 2009 LR3 Lux in silver or grey would be very tempting.
 
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Howski

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Oct 19, 2009
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Alabama
Far less problems than any other Rover I’ve owned. They’re a different beast but many issues, on the LR3 anyway, are pretty well known. Finding one that’s well maintained and decent miles will be the tricky part. Have a way too detailed buyers checklist my buddy put together I can send you
 

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
Oh I've been in the club. My old LR3 blew its transmission due to a known issue with those ZF boxes, the suspension would never calibrate correctly, the headliner fell, it blew all its coolant out on the freeway as I was on my way to catch a plane, the suspension bushings needed replacing, the air suspension leaked, and the body roll made mountain passes too interesting for my taste. It's a strange feeling driving something so heavy and mechanically stout that is at the same time fragile due to all the computers, wires, and pipes that tenuously unite the heavy bits.

Also, it pisses me off that I can easily fit 17" wheels on a truck that is both less off-road focused in design, and is rated to tow and haul more than an LR4.
 
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MM3846

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Feb 18, 2014
1,221
161
LI, NY
Not an LR3 here but I'm happy to report that my LR4 has now gone over 2 months with no issues (except for driver's window no longer doing the one-touch auto-up feature) so he has earned a new front bumper & winch.

Mine does that every so often. With windows closed and the truck running, pull up on the switch all the way for 5 seconds. It might ding to let you know you did something, it might not. After that it works again.

My front LCAs are knocking fairly often now, and I get the shimmy under braking. I'm going to try and wait to replace them until its a little warmer but I probably won't be able to. About to roll 61k miles, pretty much just commuting. I did take it out on a power line trail a couple weeks ago after a snow and almost had to call a buddy to get me out, but I just crossed my fingers and let the V8 eat and traction control figure itself out and magic happened. I hope I can get onto some real trails and not just the beach this summer.
 

Blue

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Mar 26, 2004
10,043
856
AZ
Mine does that every so often. With windows closed and the truck running, pull up on the switch all the way for 5 seconds. It might ding to let you know you did something, it might not. After that it works again.
Damn, that worked! I owe you a beer.
 
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Aug 20, 2007
2,727
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Nashville TN
Far less problems than any other Rover I’ve owned. They’re a different beast but many issues, on the LR3 anyway, are pretty well known. Finding one that’s well maintained and decent miles will be the tricky part. Have a way too detailed buyers checklist my buddy put together I can send you
post it up! I'm thinking an LR3 next, but they'll be even older by that point. I am DD-ing a D2 still and just did 700 miles in a weekend with no (new) issues.
 
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Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,483
209
Alabama
Sending you a DM. Timmy sent me some pics of your trip. Thanks for getting that guy back in a Rover if not just for a weekend