I'm lookin at picking up a 2005 outback 3.0r LL bean edition, anyone have any pros or cons to this wagon? I'm just looking for reliability issues, things that go wrong and cost a lot, things like that... Thanks guys!

3.0 H6 is a great engine.

 

Serpentine belt pulleys/tensioner is the one known issue......and it's a simple and inexpensive fix when it happens.

 

Ours has 235k with virtually nothing but oil changes on the original engine.

The 3.0 has a timing chain, not a timing belt like the 4 cylinder motors. So no t/b change needed. I have read that changing the spark plugs on each bank near the firewall  is difficult. Gas millage is less then for 4 cylinder models, but power is more. No surprise here. Reports I have heard and read, is that the 3.0 motor is very reliable.

I have seen cracked heads on the phase 2 3.0 with the variable valve timing. Last one cracked between the intake and exhaust valve seats on #3 which caused a coolant breech into the cylinder and a misfire.

Have 2 '05 ll beans; one wagon, one sedan.  Both had belt/pully tensioner issues.  Very easy fix.  Also both had bad wheel bearings.  Also an easy fix.

Little dash noise that is annoying.  Otherwise an excellent car, allong with the above comments with the spark plugs.