2006 - 2009 LR3 Common problems

So you are thinking of buying an LR3? Well you might want to read this post. I get asked a lot about different types of cars and if they are good to buy or not, what are some common issues, pros and cons. Here is my experience working in LR3s for so many years. This things are specific to the LR3 but you should still look for things as if you were buying a used car. Like dents, rust, etc.

Here is a list of the most common repairs that I do on these cars, so you should ask the buyer or find a way to check if these repairs have been done before.

From most common to least common:

Coolant Leaks!
LR3s have some coolant leaks.

• Reservoir: First of all the reservouir has to be replaced if you get the low coolant sign because Land Rover doesn't sell you the sensor by itself. BUT before you do this make sure that you have coolant in that reservouir, not just water, otherwise the water is not heavy enough to activate the sensor.
• Thermostat housing: Make sure the thermostat housing has been changed, those love to leak. Also, the thermostat deteriorates over time and causes a code in the engine computer (but the code doesn't turn on the MIL). So make sure that has been changed.

Suspension

• The front lower control arms, they love to make a poping noise when you brake. If you put cheap aftermarket ones they don't last six months, so you have to get the Land Rover ones, at least until they come up with some better ones. That fix runs about 1000 in a decent repair shop. Make sure they changed the lower control arms.

Water leaks to the interior

• There are four drain tubes for the sunroof. The rubber Land Rover put in these things is crap, so they need to be changed. Three of them are relatively easy to do, BUT the one behind the right hand side is behind a fuse box and I recomend you get someone with expirience (like me) to do it. It cost a couple of hundred box, but you don't want just anybody doing this because messing with a fuse box can cause millions of nightmares if you don't know what you are doing. Make sure they changed that rubber grommet behind the right hand side fuse box.

Air suspension

• Make sure the air suspension compressor has been changed, is an expensive fix, and the compressor has been superceded by Land Rover with new hardware and software. It runs about 1000 bucks too.