I dont usually bother lowering the car to access height when I park up (except when I have elderly relatives on board) . However, I was just wondering, is it better for the cars suspension to be left at its lowest setting when parked for any length of time, or does it make a difference?

My thinking being that the air bags would be under more pressure if the car is raised up, and maybe this would shorten the life of the units.

Any thoughts? No longer FF owner but still interested. Present car Jaguar XE
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Previous car Td6 SE
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Previous LR- Disco 300TDi Auto

I am leaving mine in high for a few days but i am sentenced to the fact that before 12months i'll havew to replace at least 1 airbag as they are big bits of stretchy rubber and getting on for 6years now with 125k of wear under their belts.

Ideally i guess they should be cleaned at full hieght and then given some kind of rubber treatment like that silicone stuff for tyres to keep them good.

Just think of the gunk they get thrown at them over their lives or even within a year?? -20'> with windchil this year and then +30' in the summer, more after a hard run and then being parked up, specially on an SC car..

Then think how often they are cleaned by anyone? the closest they get i bet is a quick brush over by a jet wash when the rest of the car is being done by the dealer or local hand car wash place. or maybe even better, the local river/flood or throwup from heavey rain fall at speed.

to be honest i wouldnt worry too much. leave it at normal hieght. then when you return if one corner is a bit down you know one bag is or is about to go on holiday

The general consensus is that regularly exercising the suspension increases the life of the bags as it keeps them supple and prevents cracking. The secondary effect of lowering the car overnight is somewhat debatable. There is a belief that by lowering the car to access mode prior to locking the vehicle tells the ECUs to go to sleep rather than stay in standby. This prevents excessive battery drain and can prolong the overall life. I have yet to find this written down but I suppose its a good habit to get in to.

Steve 06MY 4.4 V8 Autobiography Cairns Blue with Navy & Parchment Interior

I'd heard similar. At normal height the car "wakes up" every so often to re-level itself. At access height, it doesn't. Something to think about if you have an older battery perhaps. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster
2007 3.6 TDV8 Vogue - gone!
2003 V8 HSE (LPG) - gone!
2018 F-Pace 25t Portfolio
1974 LR Series III Lightweight FFR
2014 BMW 640i Gran Coupe

always access height for me...and re above i go into high mode now and again to stretch the air bags ..

Another tip, just as scary said put the suspension to full height to stretch the bags... When doing so, put the car in and out of low range a couple of times as to save the motor on the gearbox from seizing up!

oops sorry for typo SCAREY...

no probs.. ..good tip re the 'low range' bit as well..

There are quite a few suspension bushes which should have been tightened at the factory at normal height. These bonded rubber bushes are twisted in either direction as the suspension arms travel up and down. If the vehicle is left in low height, all these bushes are left with 'twist' in them. I cant see it making much difference but it must shorten their life span. Anyone permanently lifting or lowering the suspension should slacken all the bolts through the bushes and park the car on a four post ramp or over a pit at the normal running height and re-tighten all the bolts. This ensures all the bushes are in a neutral position at the normal height. This is missed by a lot of garages who tighten everything with an air gun whilst the car is on a ramp with the wheels dangling at full travel. Once lowered to the ground the bushes are already under stress and wont last as long.

I leave mine at normal ride height when parked - on the basis that tyres which are left partially deflated or deflated crack and split - whereas ones with air in live longer.

I only use the lowered suspension to allow dwarfs, or people with short legs in, or hitch up a trailer.

And don't forget that it is better for the suspension components if the car is moving , even slowly, when you exercise the Offroad and Access modes of the EAS. 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

as tim says, and the manual recommends it..

And don't hold the access mode button down too long (unless you are in a multistorey carpark!) ..................... when you drive off next time you will be trying to figure out what is wrong when the warning gongs start to sound as you speed up 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

Normal ride height for me when parking unless I have a short passenger!

If its mechanical the more it used the quicker it will wear and I prefer to have compressed air firming the bags to prevent premature splitting.

i was told by a well respected LR master tech to put it in access mode to prevent the cats being knicked. apparently they are worth a lot and there have been repots of them being cut out and sold 3.0 VSE - 2015MY
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