nissan zd30

They are all sus but especially this one.
My advice stay clear.

Have you thought about getting an equivalent aged 4.2LTD? These are as reliable as you could ever want.....but if you HAVE to have a slush-box, forget it; they only come with manual gearbox.
The Series II Patrol with the 3L motor are the ones renowned for going "POP", but I've been reading on this forum in recent times that even some of the Series III's are doing the same trick now too (as they are reaching the stage where their kilometer readings are getting up a bit). There will be lots and lots of very happy 3L owners who will defend the motor to the death, but the facts are irrefutable; the 3L motor is a short-term rocket. The 4.2LTD is a slug by comparison, but it'll still be going after 500,000klm.
Cheers
Roachie

G'day Johnno, the Series 1 & early Series 2 certainly had problems, it seems the late 2002 model and Series III on have been rectified, however there still isn't a lot of high milage Series III's about yet, so time will tell. To date my Series III ST has been flawless (40,000k).

It seems to me that these motors can not have servicing skimped on (oil changes and filters) and I am doing mine every 5k rather than the recommened 10k and only using the recommended oil and filters fron Nissan (10w40 semi synthetic). I am about to add a new Delphi fuel filter/separator upstream from the original fuel filter to look after the fuel pump (very expensive)!

Don't be put off by technoledgogy, it is the way of the future, and sooner or later everyone is going to be forced to accept it. The current 4.2 litre diesel is earmarked for deletion, along with the live front axle on the patrol :-(

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Peter

I'd be checking if the motor has already blown and has been replaced. If this is so, then you'd have the upgraded motor, and it prob has a lot less km than indicated on the speedo.
Gerry

Ours is the revised version at January 2002 and just over 100,000kms. We are very happy with the comfort and performance. We have fitted and EGT gauge and are going to fit a boost gauge, based on information from other members here. If you have been following the posts, there has been an abnormal number of the first series with engine failures, although a few forumites have reported they have them above 200,000 with no problems. There have only been second hand reports of engine failures in later models.

I think it was around October 2001 that the revised series came out. For a guide at identifying the one you are looking at, look up

http://www.lonards-automotives.com.au/patrol.html

It is an informative web page, and the author does not like the 3 ltr.

Compare it to what you would pay for a Cruiser, and consider what it would cost to replace an engine before finally deciding (including where you might be should it break down). Also, as the others have said, the old 4.2 has proved reliable.

Motherhen

Hi Johno

From the info (insurance industry) i have access to its a series III as anything on or after october 2001 is a III. there was never a series 1 in 3.0lt format

there has been about 3 upgrades to the series III since inception

mine is a III 10/2001 - steel wheels,new style headlights,clear reverse lights, lighter brown & cream interior than series II, NO sensor under turbo

my mate has a III 01/2002 - steel wheels,new headlights,clear reverse lights,lighter brown & cream interior than series II, HAS sensor under turbo

The later series III have Alloy mags,a much lighter duco with no pattern & a sensor under the turbo.(the car has that many sensors that theres probably one in the seat to detect Birpppppssss whilst doing extreme 4wdriving)

If i were you i'd go for a later III in warranty and get the 2 year extension.
My probs have been tensioner pulley,mass airflow sensor & cracked intercooler, no biggies but the big boom is still in the back of my mind

Johhno,
Sorry mate it is just not worth the risk.
As an owner of a 2000 model that went "pop"as another correspondent called it,the odds are you will have problems.
Its a bloody shame as their performance and economy is terrific,if you are determined to proceed get the Vin number and ring Nissan customer affairs,they will tell you the history of your selection,the only other way to check if the engine is a replacement is to look for the sensor under the Turbo manifold,these only exist on the later upgraded motor.
Good luck

Thanks to all for your responce to my queries,
I will have a long think and probably will give this one a big miss.
Thanks again ,
Cheers Johnno72b

2.8 one is good