Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
As for the error codes: OK, understood. I thought hooking up a PC and then an info exchange of a few minutes would be all that was required to read the error memory (which is all we wanted to do) - i.e. not 40 minutes - well, I stand corrected.
Again, Thank you, Mark :shades:
Excellent. FYI, the UK Magazine "What Car" did a big side-by-side test of SUVs a month ago: LR3 versus new ML320 versus Jeep versus Lexus versus Volvo - and the LR3 won (mercedes second, Jeep last).
Michael
I also got scheduled for a new gas tank for Dec. 5, but I've not had any concerns - so no big deal..All's well, rosy, and great in LR3 land - so far !!
Had my 15,000 mile service and fuel tank swap on Friday. My LR3 has continued to perform well all weekend. The dealer not only washed the car, they completely vacuumed and carpet-cleaned the inside and fixed a piece of plastic that I broke.
Interestingly, the V6 loaner (7 seat, like mine) was faster on the draw from 0-30 mph than the V-8. It was not so hot going from 50-70 mph, however. Fuel economy was about the same as my V8; although "sport" mode was much worse in the V6.
Also, on an unrelated note, I added an external antenna wire to my 3rd party portable NAV device. Huge difference. I think it probably relates to the heated windshield (Faraday cage-like).
The 8 has more top end power so that is why 50-70 feels laggy in the 6 cylinder.
On snow tires...
I ran the stock Goodyears on my 2005 LR3 SE for 40k+ miles. For the first 25k miles I would report no problem in snow and ice for highway and light country road driving. After 25k the tires went to hell! The noise inside the vehicle rose dramatically. The tires exhibited a wear condition in that every other block was worn significantly worse than the adjacent block. Severe wear also occurred on the inboard side of the tires, to the point the dealer was doing crossover rotations. The steering wheel would shutter at city driving speeds. The dealer said these wear patterns were consistent with other reports, (though at the time, they knew of no one with as many miles on an LR3 as me???)
In any case, I dealt with the tires for another 15k+ miles as I did not want to spend the US$1200 quoted by the dealer for stock replacements. The tires you are running were the only other option the dealer would quote, for US$980, complete.
After much research and chatting with drivers on this and other forums, I settled on the Nokian WR SUV 235/60/18. Install price was within US$20 of the Scorpions. (These Nokians do not come in a 19 inch yet). With a 50k mile rating, I plan to run these all year, expect on off road weekends, if I can find something real aggressive that with fit the truck.
So far, I would report the tire to be far superior to the stock Goodyears. I put them on last Thursday and put about 500 miles on them this weekend exploring in the Rockies. Quieter, dry grip in the mountain s-curves is awesome, limited snow and ice experience is outstanding. The tires stop the LR3 much, much faster on ice than the stock tires ever did. I never found the deep snow I wanted to test them in, maybe next weekend.
These tires are rated all season, but they do have the snowflake in mountain symbol (snow tire designation) for whatever that is worth.
Unless you off road in the winter, or frequently drive country roads with no maintenance (deep snow), I don't think you need a snow tire for the LR3. My Goodyears got me around last winter with out much trouble, in mostly highway and some "bad" country road driving. My only grip would be stopping on ice.
Here is an interesting review of snow tires:
Snow tire review
It kind oif has to be, doesn't it - gravity is the same, though this truck is very heavy... and teh electronics are fine. So the tyres and the driver are the only real difference.
Have you resolved the uneven and cold air from the heater vents yet? One thing I don't like about the ML is the climate control tends to put out warm air until it thinks the cabin is warm enough, then it turns cold automatically.
Another question: how is the radio reception? I thought my ML reception for FM was kind of poor and for AM even worse. And on our strongest AM station, it is crackly, actually worse than the weaker AM stations.
Finally, I haven't heard about the transmission failing to engage a gear after a stop. Does your LR3 continue with this behaviour still, a year after your writeup.
Anyone else please comment on both AM and FM reception and clarity, heater performance, and transmission behavior.
Also, for anyone who has gone on a Land Rover off road event, were there many tire failures of the factory LR3 tires on rocky terrain?
Thanks,
Jack
Well, as a previous poster said, it could be the tires or the driver. It could also be the tire pressures.
So I think I'm going to go with the Blizzaks that someone on this board mentioned. We'll see how those help...
Love my LR3, but hate the tires. With about 10K miles on my tires, I was heading up a rocky trail looking for some trout to annoy. Yes, it was rocky, but nothing too hard-core (and the LR3 was doing wonderfully in Rock Crawl mode). I had a tire failure (rear right tire). Admittedly, the LR3 was doing so well, and the rode was so rough, that I didn't immediately realize that the sluggishness was a flat tire. By the time I got to a spot level enough to change the tire, the tire was torn up enough that I couldn't tell where the tire had originally given out.
Then, with about 15K on the tires, I was turning right (on pavement), got cut off, and "bumped" the curb on my right. No big deal, except for the small slice on the sidewall of my rear right tire, causing it to go flat. After putting on the spare, I went to the dealer, and it was noticed that my front right tire had a slice in the sidewall (I don't know how it got there, but I had to replace that tire as well).
Needless to say, I'm not putting any more of the Goodyear tires on my truck.
I have now put 23,000 miles on my '05 LR3 SE, and (other than the tires) the truck has performed flawlessly. It is great on-road, and superb off-road (I did get it stuck in the mud once, but the only problem with the truck in that case was the idiot behind the wheel ) I wouldn't trade it for any other vehicle on or off the road.
I have never noticed any radio reception problems, even in weak areas like western Nebraska, western Kansas, and eastern Colorado. Around town, I can carry stations much further than I could in the ML.
The transmission problem reported by others has begun to manifest itself over the last 5000 miles. I will ask the dealer about it next time I am in (~1500 miles from now). It seems to be worse after my wife drives the vehicle for a week. Someone reported that it is due to the adaptive transmission, which could explain the driver switch (I was the sole operator for the first 35k miles and never noticed this problem).
The off road pics I posted a few weeks back were from a Land Rover event. We had 11 vehicles - 6 LR3s, 3 Discos, and 2 Rovers. No one experienced any tire failures on one of the most technical trails I have been on. Keep in mind, we had a dealer full of spotters and "rock throwers" clearing dangerous objects from our path. The trail was a total washout from a downpour two days earlier. We were the only stock vehicles on the trail - everything else was seriously tricked out, build vehicles. I really cannot believe they took a half a million dollars worth of vehicles on that trail, but that's what they are built for!
The only problems I have every experienced in snow/ice, was stopping at a downhill, tee intersection that I approached WAY too fast. I can't fault the tires or the truck for that one. That leaves only me to blame.
With the stocks almost bald we took a forest road up to 10500 feet. Pretty slippery on the way down, but not out of control (learned my lesson last winter, see above).
Packed some snow in the wheels
and almost slid into this waterfall
but what other vehicle can bring you to such wonderful places?
Which dealer did you buy from? Is that the one you went on the off road event with too? And what was the 10500 stream you drove to? What year ML did you compare your LR3 radio and heater to?
Thanks
Jack
I'm interested to hear more on the Nitto Graplers after you have them longer. Do they run quietly and ride smoothly? Did you try the 285/60 R18 size which is 1.4 inches bigger diameter than stock instead of th 255/55 R18 which is about 1 inch smaller than stock?
Jack
These vehicles would arrive in North America sometime in February or March, maybe later. This is factory only and not dealer installable. As I posted long ago, "Sirius may be available late in the '06 builds, and definitely in '07 for LR3." So, we're close.
Other changes:
Zematt Silver replaces Zambezi Silver
Atacama Sand replaces Maya Gold
Rimini Red replaces Alveston Red
Of course, plans can change... remember PTI? "Subject to change."
"In my case, a lowly 'S' model, they deleted the Bi-Xenon headlights to replace it with the bright pack (auto lights, fog lights etc.). Anyway, whilst browsing I came across a single Bi-Xenon light for sale, so I got thinking - would Land Rover use a different wiring harness for the halogen lights compared to the xenon's? Luckily I have a friend who is process engineer at Solihull and she confirmed they were the same harnesses. So, £45 later, I have a single xenon headlamp assembly. I plug it in and to my delight it works! But of course this leaves me with one halogen and one xenon headlamp. Out of interest I ask at my local dealer about the cost of a new headlamp assembly - £440! Now, this would have been against the principal of my cheap upgrade, so I flick through the back of the LR magazines looking for breakers who might have a D3 in. The fourth one I try has a headlamp for £40 + postage. The upshot being I now have xenons for approximately £100.
Just thought I'd share this as someone else may want to do the same? "
The stream is on the way to Arapahoe Pass, in Indian Peaks Wilderness. Take 72 out of Neaderland and head towards Eldora Ski area. Do not take the left at the fork to the ski area, but continue into the old mining town of Eldora. Follow this road up about 4 miles to another fork, bear right towards the parking area. Continue another 2 miles and you will find the stream and waterfall. Another 4 miles past the stream is the pass. Last Friday we tried to go back, but there was about a 3 foot drift, just outside of Eldora. I watch a Jeep struggle with it for about 30 minutes and then decided to head to Caribo Ranch instead. If the Jeep was not in the way I would have gone for it, as I found a pretty good line through the drift and the rest of the trail was reported to be smooth sailing, as reported by the snow shoe hikers on the trail.
My ML is a 2001, 320. Heated seats, sunroof, upgraded radio with sub (factory), that's about it.
Jack
Welcome.
Have you resolved the uneven and cold air from the heater vents yet?
Not really but I live with it. Every time I turn 90 degrees left or right (Canada...) the car goes from hot to cold. Not as good as the Mercedes climarte control.. but noit terrible either.
Another question: how is the radio reception?
Been fine. No complaints and I listen a lot (I am a radio amateur and have a shortwave radio in the car too...)
Finally, I haven't heard about the transmission failing to engage a gear after a stop. Does your LR3 continue with this behaviour still, a year after your writeup.
I've learned to baby it: start accellerating slowly. If you do that it's fine.
Also, for anyone who has gone on a Land Rover off road event, were there many tire failures of the factory LR3 tires on rocky terrain?
None (I did the two-day thing). Behaved great - but it was in summer.
Michael
Sirius should be $400, as it is for RRS & RR.
Needless to say, we said no and stayed with our transportable Audiovox set-up.
Please tell me your experience if someone has attended this before. I'm from Sacramento, California.
BTW, what is Sirius?
XM & Sirius Satellite Radio
Steve, Host
If you have no off road experience I highly recommend that you go to the event with your truck. It will really show you what your vehicle is capable of doing off road. You will never know the power of a Land Rover unless you take it off road where it really comes alive. Most likely there will be instructors there to guy you through the rough sections.
The first time I took my Discover II to Hollister Hills OHV park about 1 hour from San Jose California, it blew my mind what the truck was able to do there, and that is considered to be a tame park. I now have an LR3.
Sirius is satelite radio.
I don't think there are any places you can "really" see the difference, but you can look at the not so useful web samples on the UK site:
http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/Vehicles/Discovery/Exterior/colours.htm
Remember to ignore the colors,err, colours that aren't available in North America.
In other words, I was impressed. And yes this was with stock tyres.
I shopped around for this and really love the vehicle. But it's a joke to keep taking it in the shop for days at time and no diagnosis. No fix. What's up?
concerned
P.S. you have to mount your satellite antenna outside cabin to get decent reception.
My brother's 2003 LR Discovery II has been very reliable and no trouble at all. I'm hoping that the 2006 LR3 will be the same.
I'll let you guys know how the test drive goes.
Mark
Go for it! I have HSE 2005 12000 Miles no major problem. When I go to dealer for service the only LR3's there are in for service as well.
My local dealer only had 3 LR3's that I could see.... a black HSE, a silver SE and a white SE... so, we'll see tomorrow what pans out.
Mark
PS. I picked up a Consumer Report magazine that tested the LR3 and it was not favorable. It makes me feel unsure about purchasing but I'll check them out for myself. Consumers Report gave it a black dot on reliability.
And I thought you were leaning big-time to the Jeep Commander...
Passed my 1 yr. anniversary... all is fine. I personally don't give Consumers Reports any weight on anything but mass market high-volume products.
I compared the Commander and the Volvo XC90 very extensively and the I have fallen in LOVE with the Land Rover LR3. I can deal with a few glitches as long as the dealer can fix them the first time.
I was just at the San Francisco International Auto Show and I compared all three vehicles that I mentioned above and the LR3, to me, just shines above the others in style, quality and fit and finish.
I like the fact that you can get front and rear bumper sensors and heated seats for front and second row.
I'm going to try and test drive an LR3 today, I'll let you know how it goes.
Mark
Which stock tires to you have? Mine have the Goodyear Wrangler HP's and I was sliding all over in about 2" of snow. Thanks
I had my gas tank replaced yesterday, and the service was absolutely great. I drove a new 06 Loaner 250 miles and noticed that the rear seat headrests were a different design - otherwise it was just as mine - perfect.
All I can say is: WHAT A GREAT VEHICLE !!!