Hi all

Many of you will know my complaints about the way my 2013 4.4 SDV8 VSE handles, I have been moaning for some time that it was bouncy, it picthed from side to side and the body roll was very obvious. The steering felt loose and the ride was unrefined a lot of the time.

Well, I used it a lot this past weekend which is the only different since ownership, it was usually parked all weekend whilst we used the other car, and I have to say the RR just started to feel better and I am now convinced it is more settled, more refined, less bouncy and so on. Its as if the regular use has changed it, is that possible?

I occasionally thought it felt better if I was using it and turned it off for a short time then got back in, as if it had a battery boost or something and the systems were all performing correctly, now the ride is much better than its been for me since buying it in April this year, is this possible?

It still needs some knocking sorting out after lower control arms didnt sort it but its just better all of a sudden, am I going nuts here?

Thanks

Carl

Is it possible for my RR to just be better all of a sudden?

NO.....

am I going nuts here?

YES....



Well mine certainly doesn't like sitting about doing nothing, if we go away for a weekends off roading it always drives nicer on the way home... so maybe there is something to it....  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 do remember that one of our forum members described a difference between terrain response in auto or in normal mode. Could that be it, that you changed the TR setting ?

Other than that I can't see what would have changed or maybe it is a combination of getting used to the FFRR, slowly forgetting the Cayenne and the FFRR breaking in in some way. Although I'd be surprised if any breaking in is needed (how many miles have you done with it), there may be some learning in the ECUs going on ??? MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

No setting changes just a slightly different feeling after its had very regular use this past weekend. I'm very sensitive to how it drives as you know and I really think it had a slight improvement, slight but still better.

I wonder if the start stop of regular use means I'm getting a fully charged vehicle that allows everything to work at its maximum, cant explain it otherwise? Its as if driving it regular and hard is making it better, its well past break in stage so not that.

Do you have Adaptive Dynamics on yours ?? If so, maybe that is learning to adjust to your style of driving and firming everything up ??? MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

4 days of it feeling a little better then tonight back to the old bouncy unrefined ride, rocking side to side, road noise increased but this was for about half of a 45 min drive, I swear it just went back to feeling better again all of a sudden?

It's like the adaptive dynamics switch off then on, the driving experience alters, it's quieter, more refined, damping is improved and it just feels like the reports others give of their L405's, what is happening?

It's at the dealers on Tuesday but I am certain they will just say it's fine, they have twice already but there has been an improvement I have felt this past few days so something doesn't function properly?

I'm getting to drive a 15 plate to compare so will see how that rides?

I would start to think that there is maybe a software issue (i.e. some ECUs need to be reflashed) or a hardware issue.

What is the update on the knocking of the suspension, maybe that is linked to it as well.

I'm starting to think that the bad ride you experience is specific to your car and not the general L405.

What about getting the same model as yours for a test drive. Just go to a dealer that has one for sale and book a test drive and see if it drives better than yours !! MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

carlos50 wrote:

I'm getting to drive a 15 plate to compare so will see how that rides?

The 15 plate will drive better, they will find no fault with yours

They will then offer you a deal on a new one

The new Land Rover marketing ploy

Or am I a cynic Paul
L405 now sold

ebajema wrote:

What about getting the same model as yours for a test drive. Just go to a dealer that has one for sale and book a test drive and see if it drives better than yours !!

Good advice

My 18 months experience of ride quality was absolutely identical to that of Carlos.

Always the same answer, '..we can find nothing wrong...'.

Then after another visit I was offered this deal.

So I took it, albeit with some doubts.

All I can say is that the ride quality is now acceptable on the replacement, having covered 1k miles.

I over specified the extras on my 63 plate, so lost a few ££'s on that aspect.

That said. I am glad to be without that awful inconsistent ride, just as Carlos describes.

It's not a one off problem.

I believe the issue to be with the air suspension module.

When parked the wheels would sink deep within the arches. Then the off-road height threw a tantrum after lowering to access height. Both near-side wheels remained at off-road height while both off-side wheels dropped to access height.

Impossible said the dealer, until I provided the pictures.

I agreed with the dealer, as the system operates front/rear only (or should do) but it didn't.

After taking the 405 in for 3 days, I was offered 'the deal' as they could find nothing wrong.

My guess is that the ride height is adjusting to conditions that do not exist and over compensates, thus producing an extremely uncomfortable ride.

It's cheaper for LR to offer a deal and keep a customer.

Pjb is a prophet or a cynic or has a knowledge/experience of this system, because he is dead right.

I was about to move to X5 or high spec. Macan/Cayenne.

Have I been bought off??

Today my missus tells me she has been feeling a knocking in the floor through her feet when sitting in the rear behind me, it just never ends with these cars, this forum is full of complaints about problems that simply should not happen.

My list so far:-

1. Suspension is knocking
2. Adaptive dynamics is sh*t
3. Brakes screech - dealer doesn't want to know
4. Passenger front seat rattles when not in use
5. Drivers side rear door doesn't soft close and often bounces on the lock
6. Drivers front door lets in drops of water
7. Knocking in floor pan for rear passengers

This excludes niggly things and just tells me that the L405 is simply not built well enough to be a £100k vehicle.

Cant wait to have the dealer tell me nothing is wrong with it on Tuesday rather than admit they don't know how to diagnose and fix it.

There are lots of things to love and the RR is an addiction, but wow, its a bad vehicle in so many other ways.

Carl

Just sell it.

Or BURN IT

Alistair wrote:

ebajema wrote:

What about getting the same model as yours for a test drive. Just go to a dealer that has one for sale and book a test drive and see if it drives better than yours !!

Good advice

Obviously great minds think alike, or my subconsious pushed your comment to the front Alistail  MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

It becomes more and more plausible that you are suffering from a bad apple. The build started on Friday afternoon by someone that he/she got sacked and finished by a newby on Monday morning, while all the computers in the factory were upgraded over the inbetween weekend. Be glad it is not a "Christine" I'd say .

I think that you either need to put pressure on the dealer by gathering more info from other FFRR drivers about these problems and also drive a few others L405s to see if those do meet your standards/wishes  MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!