Is it wise and does anyone run with their FF locked in access mode, say on the motorway?

Reason I ask, is I spotted a FF on the M6 the other day, pulling into a service area, and it looked low. It was still going above the speed for lowering.

I wouldnt keep it in access mode for anything other than being parked, or restricted headroom sittuations.

In access mode it's very close to the bump stops, although not quite on them, if you had to perform a sharp turn at speed you would hit the stops on one side messing up the whole handling of the car. Also if you came off the motorway and forgot to unlock out of access then went over a speed bump - like the ones they have in service stations you will hit the stops and if going fast enough damage/bend things.

I'm not sure what the benefits would be of driving in access mode except for an uncomfortable ride. Perhaps the one you saw just had bigger wheels, so it looked lower?

Dan 

It unlocks over a set speed

Ken, that's true but there is a certain chap who keeps trying to post commercially on all the forums for resetting people ride heights permanently, I am guessing this is what Nbunney saw.

I would never do it. Land Rover spent a long time and lots of money developing a SAFE car to drive, why mess with the fundamentals just for vanity? Mad. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

There is a bling looking FFRR in a local Main dealer with what appeared to be lowered suspension, so I assumed that LR were offering it as an option (the dealer does sell to a lot of footballers though! ). It may just be that it's been there so long that all the air has bled off and it's sitting on the stops.

The mod that has been offered by the guy you mentioned is supposed to keep the same range of movement between settings, just change the minimum (and therefore maximum) height. I'm no expert, but when mine is at Access height, it does feel like it grounds out on the stops when you go over a bump, so i can't see how it can go much futher down and still be safe.

I think access mode unlocks at 20 mph after giving you the obligatory RR "bong" and a message on the dash telling you that it'll raise the suspension anyway if you don't slow down or unlock. Haven't got the handbook handy to check this.

If you want a low riding car WTF do you buy a Range Rover

Well said Ken

I think those tpye of people can be found in the dictionary under the heading of . Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Definately aimed at Footballers then!

Have your RR lowered and a) you lose the commanding driving position b) lose off road ability. ie. 2 of the better reasons for FFRR ownership.

So yep, I go with the consensus.

My message to those thinking about it is - "JUST DON'T DO IT! YOU KNOW IT'S WRONG, GO AND GET AN ESCALADE OR A H2/3 IF YOU WANT TO BE A BLING MUPPET AND NOT TRAVEL OFF ROAD EVER!"

Everyone to their own. I got mine lowered, it still works fine, never bottoms out and i can still take it off road.

Before it was lowered i never used "off road" setting and i was throught fields, through rivers, up hills, stuck up to the bottoms of the sills etc

Now with it lowered i can just put it in off road setting and its back to normal. It will still go most places my truck or defender will.

I find that it handles slightly better being 30mm lower also.

Last edited by rory_mcw on 18th May 2009 1:52pm. Edited 1 time in total

The suspension feels a rough as feck in Access mode on mine (obviously at low speed). Don't you get that all the time Rory?

I can see the point that technically the car should be more stable, but then you might as well buy a regular car.

and you're right, each to their own. You're not a footballer are you?

its not rough at all, the only time its bad is when it sets its self down when its in "motorway mode" but im actually on country roads, it can be a bit bumpy then, but thats just down to driving too fast.

This is taking the lowering mode a bit far...............

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/78/168422961_44110f4139.jpg?v=0