2005 LR3 for sale with a suspension fault - negotiate or run away?

[Jpyles]

Looking at a LR3 close to me:

2005 SE V8, average-to-good cosmetic condition
102K miles
New battery, tires
Suspension fault light - Will only raise/lower for a bout a minute after turning on, then fixed in normal mode.
No service records, except last oil change (seller has only owned for 1 year)
Seller motivated

I know the compressor probably going out, and there may be other susp items to address as well. No clunking during test drive, truck drives fine. Lack of service records / history makes me uneasy.

Would you run away from this? Or, would you negotiate down to cover the repairs + some breathing room? What price would make you want to take the leap?

In short: opportunity or nightmare?

 

[morrisdl]

If it had anything rare that made it compelling like your favorite color, or a HD rear locking diff, or some hard to find LR accessories than I would negotiate $1,000 off to cover the repairs. Otherwise find another with documented history.

 

[roverman]

Curious what they are asking for it? I had a dealer just tell me mine (same miles) was worth $6000 - which made me choke a little bit!

Even with perfect history records, any of the weak components could break on you soon enough. Ask yourself what you think it would be worth to you if it was perfect, then subtract a couple grand.

 

[Houm_WA]

I'd bounce...there will be better opportunities if you look and are patient. At that mileage, sans service records...what about the diffs? Tranny fluid needs replaced (that's $500). With older LR3s, you gotta have service records.

 

[roverman]

er, you don't even know the price. What if it was, oh...say $6000? What if one with service records was $15000? Of the handful of problems that occur it's not like it's all going to go bad at once. That only happens when I buy stuff
It'd be a good idea to change the diff oil if you get it, but I'm not in the rush to change the tranny oil camp.
So the big (common) things are control arms, diffs, and compressor. I have only had control arms so far in my 105k miles, so it IS possible. (ok, I did have a $2000 control module somethingorother go bad under warranty 60000 miles ago...

Bottom line is gotta know the price. 8k or 9k? sure. 12-14? Might want to keep looking

 

[Houm_WA]

Fair point.....the price matters. ...but then I'd want to drive it and listen for howling diffs as well, because that's an expensive repair.

 

[Jpyles]

$8000. But, it also has a cracked dash, which is expensive to fix, and some leather repair is needed. The repairs (that I know about) will be at least $2500. I think I'll keep looking. thanks for the advice.

 

[Sogs]

walk away, the clunks are control arm bushings probably rear also, 1500 to 2200 in repairs. Who knows with the suspension not working right, another 1200 to 1500. Just a guess of nearly 4k in repairs.

 

[devildog01]

If you pay 1500 to 2200 for a-frame bushings please pm me. I have a bridge in Brooklyn I can let go real cheap.

 

[roverman]

What you really ought to do is buy mine. That way I won't have to drive it for 5 more years.