How do you know it led to it failing....??? It's impossible to say, the bags fail when they get to the end of their life, they are a replacement item like brake discs and pads.... you noticed the failed bag after the car had been switched off overnight, the bag will have failed before you got home but was kept up by the compressor running, you stop and switch off and the small split in the bag will let the air out overnight...  Pete

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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

I'm with Haylands on this. Does help if you have side steps though. I train family and other users, "outside foot on the side step then inside foot into the car". Getting out they just slide, can't stop 'em! I do to No-one has a problem with this.

With regard to the bags, the suspension is at work all the time when driving, if you get above 60+ it drops to motorway mode, then pumps back up to normal when you slow down. Can't see the point of dropping it to access mode (see above) will only cause extra work for the compressor/system every start up.

As Miggit says, "it is meant to be high"

Drop it to access when you need to by all means, but there is no point doing it when you don't.  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Jesus Johnny guys, found this thread by accident, unless you have a good reason to lower (infirm/wheelchair etc) why do it. Even SWMBO who is small of stature has never even mentioned it, its a bloody car, get in. get out and stop moaning, I thank you

Im 6ft and always drop mine every time I get out of it, why, because it looks sooo much better, real bad ass, sorry if that offends

What is the expected life of an airbag?
What happens when one pops? Must it get flat bedded and the AA called in?
Can pot holes make a bag pop, with the sudden down and up?

Bags have a 500 ton breaking strain, you can jump an FF no bother, I've had several feet of air under mine and landed no bother....
How long they last is a hard one, depends on so many things but 7-10 years is a good place to start...
When they go they usually get a small split and a lot of the time the compressor will keep it up till you get home... Pete

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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

My front ones lasted approx 10 years and 100K miles but were rarely used i.e. access/offroad if that helps

Probably not quite comparable but after 14 years and 200k km, my p38 develpoed a small leak in one of the rear bags, changed all 4 as i felt it was time... Production date on all 4 was about 6 months before the car was born... "Plentraktoren/Garden tractor": 2008 L322 TDV8
"Project": 1990 90 County 300tdi

I lower it every time I get out 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE

I must be the only one that keeps it locked in motorway height then! Handles a bit better on the twisties

Never drop it at night cause it flashes up a bloody fault, so I don't touch it anymore..

I use mine as I have elderly parents and it helps them get in/out and also as I have a bad back and it helps me - in fact it was one of the reasons I bough the thing in the first place