Just over a week with DHD 4000 No 3 and not one single problem.
Before I took No2 back I plugged it in to note the serial No (which was in fact 8400 odd and not 4000 something as I previously thought--sorry Kingers) and found that nothing on the outside of the box related to it but the last digits on the big sticker on the bottom of the unit (minus the very last digit) was the actual serial No.
Armed with this knowledge I rushed to Clearance Bargains to find a replacement.
I arrived with 15mins till they closed and explained the problem and my wish to try another. I then proceeded to the pile of boxes and began to open them one at a time (to look at the stickers) till I found one with a high serial No.This raised suspicious looks from the security guard but I was on a mission!
Serial No 17533 was found before the shop shut .
I set it up straight away at home and WOW.Better picture than the others (more contrast,better colour,sharper) and since have tried every feature with success and not one lockout or restart.
As so many of you have said, if you get a good one they are unbeatable.
Could be the later models had component mods or just better QC during manufacture,I don't know,but this unit is BRILLIANT.
Sorry for the length of this thread but it was an EPIC quest to reach my goal (but now well worth it!).
Thanks again to all who replied and egged me not to give up.
Happy Chistmas and a Great New Year.
jt57.

Great news jt57!

I've just managed to nab one at £59.99 from an Argos near work in London, the serial number seems to be '18620' – it's from the sticker in the middle, that starts with '*D2010200000...' jt57, does your serial number start like so?

Anyways, will try this at home for a week or two and if all is well this will be an Xmas present to the folks this year!

mine starts with D2010200.... and ends with 127879. Have i got one of the good ones or shell i take it back only had it for 2 days got it for 59.99 at Argos in stoke hehe

Did you delete the last number of the serial as mentioned in the first post dj?

Either ways, yours *should* be OK! Please tell me it has been trouble free for the two days you've had it!

Hi All
Looks like you've got some absolute bargains.
Now you have the units the way to check the serial No is
1) Press "Menu" button
2)Highlight "Setup" and press "Ok" or press 6 on remote
3)Highlight "Technical help" and press "Ok" or press 9

You will then be on the "technical help" screen and at the very top right will be the serial No.

I don't know if there is any relevence to quality verses high serial No but it certainly worked for me.

Hope yours are all good'uns.

Cheers jt57.