A weird observation that I hope somebody can explain?

As some will know I've been saying for a while that my SDV8 feels soft to drive and low, especially compares to a 15 plate, as if the tyres are flat but they aren't. It feels floaty and the body out of control when doing anything more than 50mph on B roads / country roads. Well, I tried something out tho past couple of days, a technique from a Cayenne a few years ago that had a leaky compressor that meant the airbags didn't fully inflate on start up and gave an error message on that vehicle.

The thing i did was raise the suspension to off road height the drop it to normal again, I see it clearly raise a lot then lower but not as obvious. The vehicle then feels much more damped, its smoother, feels like its sitting higher up, doesn't crash over pot holes quite as bad and, dare I say, the body movement is a bit more controlled, what could be up with mine that would need this type of manual override to inflate the suspension or wake it up? I get no error messages and all 4 bags are new, but there is a noticeable difference after lifting the suspension?

Any more help most appreciated?

Thanks

Carl

Time to ask for a free new replacement as you will never be happy with the cash you have spent, it's just not worth it when it not your problem  Current vehicles
4.2 SC FFRR RSE 2010- facelift
Range Rover Evogue Dynamic Lux

Gone
Rejected RRS my14.5 nightmare
Disco B4 XXV convert
Freelander 06 SE
06 RFFRR 4.2 SC Vogue RSE
Audi A8 4.2Tdi Quattro (hated with a vengence!!)
54 FFRR 2005 model V8 4.4 Cobra Variant
53 Mitsubishi Shogun V6

Well a letter went in this morning, lets see how quickly they tell me to *fu** off* then

Heres the reply:-

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of the email and the letter which you you have attached. I am sorry to learn you are still experiencing issues with your vehicle and I understand that both Stratstone Stockton & Ripon Land Rover have attempted to resolve the issues you are reporting.

As you are aware your complaint has been logged previously and I will record this letter of complaint. I acknowledge due to the issues you are reporting, you have not had a great Land Rover experience, and for that I apologise on behalf of Land Rover.

Throughout my involvement I have liaised with both retailers and I am aware they have attempted to rectify the issues with the correct level of repair. I had also previously discussed with yourself and the retailers that before Land Rover can assist with diagnosing the fault, they need to demonstrate the fault and then present the findings to our technical teams for support.

As two Land Rover retails have attempted to resolve the issues you have reported, and any repairs have not been to your satisfaction. I would kindly suggest you make contact with the selling retailer to investigate if they are able to support you into another vehicle, and secondly for you to seek independent advice regarding your consumer rights. Unfortunately Land Rover are unable to assist you on this occasion.
I appreciate that this decision will not have met your personal expectations however I can assure you that a full investigation was carried out and I appreciate your patience in this investigation

No surprise there then, but aren't LR still accountable because the car is under new car warranty and cant be fixed to a satisfactory standard?

Im going to write to the supplying dealer and my finance co anyway, will ask the LR guy for a copy of the terms of the new car warranty, see if the 3 attempt thing applies?

On the question what the problem might be, your comments that the car feels better after it has run for a while or after it has been on the high setting make me wonder whether the problem might be with the compressor or connection to it, or venting. My experience with an older 322 was that it tended to settle down on the stops, especially at the back, and then took quite a while to get up to normal height, when it had been standing for a few days. This became progressively worse with age. It didn't happen at the age your car is now, but perhaps the components in yours have worn more quickly.

On how to respond to the letter, note the suggestion that the selling dealer might help with a deal to get a new car. I have read elsewhere on here of people with persistent problems with their cars getting good deals to move on and this might be a more elegant solution for LR and its dealers than admitting they cannot fix the car or setting a precedent that others might want to use. You might want to hold off changing the trim to non-standard in case this makes the car less attractive as a trade-in or, if still relevant, prevents you from returning it in exchange for the price less an adjustment for the use you have had. Only Range Rovers since 1988

It's been said many times already - if they can't replicate the problem, there is nothing they can do.

You need to be in the car with the tech guy and drive yours and a 'good' one back to back & point out the exact issues so that they can acknowledge them.

LR's response is exactly what I would say - 2 specialists have tried and can't find a problem - and they have suggested a third opinion - which doesn't seem unreasonable.

Any response to LR needs to have a reasonable counter proposal - for example - you take the car to them & pay for the time of their expert unless he agrees there is a fault - or something along those lines.

The current dealer trying to fix it has been the one who described it as sitting in a HGV seat, they understand the way its driving and can relate to my complaint, what they cant do is find a reason why, the LR guy is taking that as meaning no fault exists, he is not correct.

My frustration has been 7 or 8 visits and the requested technical report has never been sent, instead it sits in the workshop with a guy who doesnt know how ti diagnose the fault looking at the "usual suspects" and if they all look ok then I get it back, driving the same way it did before.

Its a never ending circle, Ive demonstrated how it drives to the tech, that triggered the start of the repairs by the second dealership, they just havent completed the "full" work described on here so often and I cant get them to at this time.

I appreciate that all of our circumstances are different but if it were me I'd be looking at moving it on and replacing. I'd recommend asking a few dealers for an idea of what your car is worth against something you can afford and would like to be in and then see what your local dealer can do as a goodwill gesture. It's only by doing this if you know what you are offered is in fact a great deal.

I agree with Basil, change it !

I agree that option 1 is to get a new car, and if LR/their dealer can sweeten the pill then maybe they can get another chance. This is what LR are prompting you to do and it may be cheaper for LR and the dealer to subsidise your change than to spend more time and parts on trying to fix your car. Alternatively if you are at the end of the road with LR, you might find Porsche keen to do a deal on a Cayenne Turbo or the like with VAG sales down following the emissions cheating.

If you still want to get yours fixed, it seems a bit rough for LR to wash their hands of it if the dealer is satisfied that there is a problem but cannot either cure it or tell LR what the cause might be. I thought LR experts would come to dealers in cases like that, but maybe they no longer do that. If they don't, could you take it to Solihull or Gaydon or wherever and get them to look at it there? That would obviously be a time consuming hassle, but a possible way forward.

You could explore the SMMT arbitration angle, their website has a phone number for consumers to call and get advice, details in LR service booklet and on SMMT website. LR are meant to "act responsibly and fulfil their obligations under the Office of Fair Trading Approved SMMT New Car Code of Practice" and it might be helpful to ask what SMMT make of things.

In the context of a problem I have had I said to the dealer "I'm thinking about SMMT arbitration, have you experience of customers doing that and what is the procedure?" After a period of dealer/LR conferring that seemed to produce an improvement. But every case is different and I still think your best bet is to move on with the best deal you can get. Only Range Rovers since 1988

carlos just reading other threads and on one in august you say you got rid of your car? strange.

From memory Carlos has only had his current car six minutes maths or so, so this may be correct.

Is this the second one then ?



With the same problems!

IIRC he was going to change it, then didn't - has never been happy with it - but can't afford to change it because of depreciation - but is spending money on cosmetic changes - is still unhappy - the dealers don't understand him - and all advice offered on here seems to be ignored - and he's still unhappy

The advice has always been taken on board and has helped me get much closer to being happy with the car, youre right, I cant afford to loose £15k just like that so have to stick it out. I have moaned a lot but its the most expensive car Ive ever purchased and wanted it to be the best ever, it is in many ways and hasnt been so far for others, with help from those on here I hope to get to the point where I am very happy, hopefully thats possible (I will stop moaning in the end)

The cosmetic upgrades have helped to keep the passion going, a new look or something like that gives the slight feeling of change, and has worked for me so far.

LR has let me down but the dealer Im using at the moment is doing their best so I am going to work with them to get this RR as good as it can be for a 13 plate.