Post 2002 GU - what to look for?

[mabsydney]

I'm looking to replace my Landy with 3.0L GU patrol, won't be buying til next year, but I"m doing my homework. Can people give some tips on what to look for when buying one of these fourbys. I'll almost certainly go for the ST as there seem to be plenty around and I'd like the extra comfort and convenience over the DX for touring. I will fit the usual touring mods...after market suspension, 33" tyres, snorkel etc....

Thanks,

Martin

[Daisy]

i'd look at gettin a 4.2 instead of a 3.0

TOM

[mabsydney]

Ive been debating that a lot Tom, but on balance I think the 3L would be good for me.....I'm not towing so I don't really need the grunt of the 4.2L and I'd prefer to invest my money in a newer engine, I know the 4.2L is proven, but its an old engine now. I reckon a chipped 3L would have all the power I need.

Also I can't afford a new one and you don't see many second hand 4.2L models around not late models anyway. Plus I think 8k extra for a much older engine is a bit of a rip off.

[Daisy]

then do yourself a favour and look at the search button at the top of this screen and look on information bout your motor..

I hear a fair few nasty problems involved with those engines.

TOM

[mabsydney]

Yeah I've read plenty of posts on problems with 3L engine, but I've also read that many of the problems have been fixed on the later models.

I''m really looking for feedback from people on the whole picture, when I go to look at a second hand GU, anything that I should beware of.

Wanna know as I'm not familiar with the vehicle and I don't wanna buy a lemon.

Cheers

[Mat]

be prepared to pay BIG $$$ if the injector pump $hits itself
edit: on the 3.0 that is

[alki]

As an owner of 2002 3.0 di,I can tell you that there is nothing wrong with them.
Early ones had they fair share of problems but I haven't heard of one series III distroy the engine.
So far I've done 70000 km and I take my Patrol 4wdriving often.
Rock crawling,water crossings,bogholes etc.
At 50000 km I had turbo replaced 'couse of whistling noise on start up,there was no power loss.
At same time they replaced tensioner pulley.Both of them under warranty.
At the moment I am waiting on intercooler to be replaced as there is slight oil leak at the front of it.

[mabsydney]

good to hear a positive report alki, a lot of people seem to repeat what everyone else says and bag the 3L, but I wonder if they have actually driven one or seen the problems first hand.

Any fourby can break down, its just a case of getting something reliable.

I see so many 3L patrols on the road they can't be that bad, can they?

Ive been very happy with the performance of my 2.5L TD5 motor in my defender and a lot of people say its sh#t. Land Rover ergonomics are another thing tho!

[RoldIT]

As an owner of 2002 3.0 di,I can tell you that there is nothing wrong with them.
Early ones had they fair share of problems but I haven't heard of one series III distroy the engine.
So far I've done 70000 km and I take my Patrol 4wdriving often.
Rock crawling,water crossings,bogholes etc.
At 50000 km I had turbo replaced 'couse of whistling noise on start up,there was no power loss.
At same time they replaced tensioner pulley.Both of them under warranty.
At the moment I am waiting on intercooler to be replaced as there is slight oil leak at the front of it.

Urrrrmmm, that doesn't exactly sound like a trouble free run for a car with 70000klms on it. Fair enough, all under warranty so you're happy but what happens when that warranty runs out ... ?

[Mat]

a lot of people seem to repeat what everyone else says and bag the 3L, but I wonder if they have actually driven one or seen the problems first hand.

Yeah often see the line up of them waiting to under go surgery at west end diesel

plus the reason there are heaps of 3.0 patrols around is because before the lastest update, they were roughly $4,000 less than the petrol equivelant patrol

[mabsydney]

Mmmm... I hear what guys are saying...

4.2L engine certainly gets a good rap. Just a shame its so much more expenisve (8k) than the 3L

And the shortage of late model second hand offerings.

[holeyhardtop]

martin,
my 2cents, from a driving perspective i spent two weeks in one mainly in low range over varying terrain fighting fires. i found it very peaky throttle wise when trying to crawl up and over obstacles which makes it hard to give a smooth ride for passengers, mind you it went everywhere i wanted it too {love the LSD} but just a bit jerky and not as smooth as the off idle torque from my 4.2d. as a blacktop car it goes well like a turbo sports car as much as a big 4x4 can be but offroad i like the 4.2d.

have fun choosing

[mabsydney]

thanks holeyhardtop..........not an easy choice ......but that's half the fun isn't it.....working out what you want and who's advice to take and who's to leave

[holeyhardtop]

too right! the 3litre economy is very appealing and i guess i could live with it's offroad manners as most of the time is spent day to day commuting[Spelling?}.

one point i think worth noting is the alarming amount of flexibility in the body and door frames when offroad. i thought they would have been much more rigid. my gq has nowhere near as much movement in the body as the gu.

enjoy

[alki]

too right! the 3litre economy is very appealing and i guess i could live with it's offroad manners as most of the time is spent day to day commuting[Spelling?}.

one point i think worth noting is the alarming amount of flexibility in the body and door frames when offroad. i thought they would have been much more rigid. my gq has nowhere near as much movement in the body as the gu.

enjoy

You just need to learn how to drive vehicle with that engine,and you won't even notice "surge"
I have been on trips with 4.2 td GU's where they had to shift to 1st low to climb the hill as they run out of puff half way up, and I did it with ease in second with planty grant to spare

[Mat]

I have been on trips with 4.2 td GU's where they had to shift to 1st low to climb the hill as they run out of puff half way up, and I did it with ease in second with planty grant to spare

the old story of the tortoise and the hare

[stuartcarr2002]

the 3.0l is good, there is a lot of bagging of it, yes the early ones had dramas, but shit happens, get over it.
Keep them serviced correctly and they are fine, stay with a series 3 however...

[GUJohnno]

You more than likely won't have any problems with the Series III+ 3Lts. They seem to go great and with a ditronic in them go even better with less of the surging others have noticed.

I think the biggest disadvantage of them is, that they require a good quality diesel for them to run properly. If you plan to do a lot of outback touring, the 4.2 may still be a better choice. Although they are more costly at first, they'll hold their value better later.

Either way they are both great trucks.

[gu4800]

the 4.2 may still be a better choice. Although they are more costly at first, they'll hold their value better later.

This is perhaps the most overlooked factor. For some it is important, yet for others not (I'm in the "not" category - buy what I want, not what I can sell 5 years later).

The 4.2 has by far the best resale out of all the Nissan's. The extra $$$ from new are more than compensated for come sale time - they command a much higher price, and high mileage 4.2 still sell quite easy. High mileage 3.0, 4.5 or 4.8 don't fair near as well (although I have the 4.8, I only do about 12,000 klm's per year - 2002 with 44,000 on it now).

Resale is certianly a consideration.

[Bingham]

martin,
my 2cents, from a driving perspective i spent two weeks in one mainly in low range over varying terrain fighting fires. i found it very peaky throttle wise when trying to crawl up and over obstacles which makes it hard to give a smooth ride for passengers, mind you it went everywhere i wanted it too {love the LSD} but just a bit jerky and not as smooth as the off idle torque from my 4.2d. as a blacktop car it goes well like a turbo sports car as much as a big 4x4 can be but offroad i like the 4.2d.

have fun choosing

simply put some $1 sponge from supershite under the accelerator and problem is limited....

[Bingham]

martin,
my 2cents, from a driving perspective i spent two weeks in one mainly in low range over varying terrain fighting fires. i found it very peaky throttle wise when trying to crawl up and over obstacles which makes it hard to give a smooth ride for passengers, mind you it went everywhere i wanted it too {love the LSD} but just a bit jerky and not as smooth as the off idle torque from my 4.2d. as a blacktop car it goes well like a turbo sports car as much as a big 4x4 can be but offroad i like the 4.2d.

have fun choosing

i have a gu3 which sits flat to the floor between 2800 rpm and 4300 as the auto loves to rev and while auto is an old mans bus and noit rates as highly for towing i am really happy with it's performance so far.. has only done 47 000 so not due to explode for a few more km's...

it runs circles speed wise around a standard 4.2t and is a pleasure to drive on hiway while phippseys for example on long hauls is a sluggish pig...hoever with turboupgrades and the like the 4,2 will boogey and if i owned this thats what i would have but for my current job/rep it is perfect...

slightly dowy off the mark but beats manuals after a few meters as motor stays in boost and gears can not be changed quick enough...

if the new ones have any issues to my driving style will soon test them out

.... let it blow let it blow let it blow

buy an ST also .... a few creature comforts unless youra farmer are always good...

boss paid 37500 registed for gu3 04 with 37k on clock 2 months ago to give you an idea price wise..

[GUJohnno]

boss paid 37500 registed for gu3 04 with 37k on clock 2 months ago to give you an idea price wise..

A mate of mine paid around $25,000 for an '03 3ltr with about 60,000kms and full service history. The mone he saved paid for a lot of accessories.

Another thing to note, 4bs aren't selling quickly these days bcause of the high fuel prices. You should be able to bargin them down a fair bit

[TUFGU2]

mabsydney
just my 2 cents worth to the post, i have a 3.0l turbo st wagon thats done 207,000km now and it hasnt missed a beat never had a spanner on it (touch wood) just kept serviced regularly. tows every now and then and still dosent hesitate.

[Bingham]

boss paid 37500 registed for gu3 04 with 37k on clock 2 months ago to give you an idea price wise..

A mate of mine paid around $25,000 for an '03 3ltr with about 60,000kms and full service history. The mone he saved paid for a lot of accessories.

Another thing to note, 4bs aren't selling quickly these days bcause of the high fuel prices. You should be able to bargin them down a fair bit

i am not doubting this happened just supprised as that price is un heard of in qld to my knowlege anyway..... must have been a dx also (dunger xtreme)

[bogged]

am not doubting this happened just supprised as that price is un heard of in qld to my knowlege anyway..... must have been a dx also (dunger xtreme)

at that price would ya care? Rip out the shit donk, throw in a 4.2 or Powerstroke and keep going!

[turps]

Looks like a dig from Nov 2004.

[patrolmad]

Don't believe half the BS you hear about the 3.0. Just make sure you buy a series 3 or 4. I have a series 3 which has just clocked over 330,000km and still goes as good as new. Never been touched either apart from normal servicing.