Member Since: 31 Oct 2012
Location: Chesterfield
Posts: 565
Getting towards handbags at dawn stage. Already throwing the teddy out of the pram
3rd Dec 2017 2:35 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Samson66 wrote:
I invite you to have a drive of my vehicle instead of putting silly comments on here as I am bored of answering them with technical evidence having driven both you have only driven air.
YOU BORE ME
I'm not sure why you are so defensive as you made your choice some time ago. As for driving with and without air well quite a few of us have driven both, often in A vs B scenarios at the limit of what the vehicles can do. Some on the forum are rather accomplished test & development drivers and one of our number does the kind of dynamic testing that gives me shudders - testing vehicles to the limit with a caravan on the hitch(!).
So try to relax. There is always someone on the forum that knows more than anyone else on any particular subject. Sharing this knowledge and experience is deeply ingrained in this forum and there is no real need to try and change the opinion of others. Just stick with what you know and offer opinions on the rest whilst accepting the views of others.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830
Samson66 wrote:
........... its my business how I RISK MANAGE my vehicle ......where does yours go ....TESCO's
AAA is that you? Mods:
Front Fogs + Halos
FBH Remote Control
The 1st Ever RRS Modded Grill
Garmin Nuvi + D4 Surround + Reversing Camera.
D4 Steering Wheel.
Rear Boot Spoiler.
Twin Brake Lights.
Wing Mirror Indicator Repeaters.
Long Roof Rails
Make your own Narpy grill thread
I'm not scared, I'm outta here.
3rd Dec 2017 5:17 pm
hugeviking
Member Since: 08 Jun 2010
Location: cotswolds
Posts: 1482
Having nearly being stuck in a fairly remote part of west Scotland because of a brake switch failure causing almost complete loss of power and lowered suspension, the best modification for me would be a switch i can operate that says to the car "ok, i know some relatively unimportant part has failed that is not actually stopping the engine from working, nor actually causing the suspension to fail, so ignore the fault and i will sort it when i get back. I'm sorry, but i still find the fact that the car can be almost completely disabled by a faulty bulb or brake switch quite pathetic. And if i was going across eg Africa where this could kill you, i think i would be riding on traditional springs.
And why do we have this buisness of fault codes, were we have to buy a reader to tell us the problem. Why not have the car give a list of possible problems directly, then you may decide it's not too important and operate that switch.
Luckily, I usually only go to tescos, so air does me.
Andi.
PS i had a spare switch, but wasn't prepared to kneel in snow and 50 mph wind on a single track road to work out how to change it.
3rd Dec 2017 8:38 pm
A.J.M
Member Since: 31 Oct 2009
Location: Carluke
Posts: 2815
Wow, isn’t someone a bit defensive of their choices...
Can personally say I would never consider such a downgrade as the air gives so many benefits.
When mine goes to Morocco, it will be with the comfort of air suspension.
Will stick new struts under it, as I think I’ll have had my money out of the originals which were made in November 2004 according to their stickers. 167,545 and counting and still work as they did 13 years ago.
Maybe you just need to look after your stuff better.
4th Dec 2017 2:03 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23366
I can see that if you were doing some serious "Over Landing", simplicity makes sense. In which case, I'd choose an older model Land Cruiser and not a D3/4 in the first place.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
4th Dec 2017 3:23 pm
KostasA
Member Since: 23 Aug 2015
Location: nairobi
Posts: 286
personally i would prefer to ride a bicycle than driving a land cruiser.
point here is not the actual air suspension, true if you maintain it is a very good feature. problem is the that car shuts down for no reason (sometimes) and then all these interlocks with the suspension and you find yourself trapped in the middle of nowhere.
although D3 is one of the nicest cars i ever drove in my life, if i have to go remotely i would take my defender or my classic range rover.
anyway that is a very long discussion the result is that electronics do have an issue....
4th Dec 2017 5:49 pm
highlands
Member Since: 11 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5095
If you are mechanically minded you can always use a jumper on the compressor and valves to force it to get back to normal height, pull the fuses and it'll ride along happily enough.
That doesn't overcome complete airbag or compressor failure but they seem pretty rare compared to electrical system issues.
That said, an overhauled compressor and new airbags are unlikely to cause any issues, and other than the brake switch (which I think all D3 owners should be able to do blindfold! ) and the cable fraying issues in the wheel arches there seem to be relatively few system faults that cause much hassle with the suspension to my knowledge.
If you're happy with the coils, which you seem to be, that's great.
I'm very happy with the airbags.
Everybody's happy! Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
Grey 05 TDV6 HSE Auto (Gone)
54 TDV6 SE Man (killed by me )
4th Dec 2017 6:40 pm
BHH
Member Since: 19 Jan 2010
Location: Co. Antrim, N. Ireland
Posts: 208
Decisions decisions
My 06 D3 is now very high on front & low on rear, a few weeks ago she went down on all 4 a few times on a caravan journey, & has done the same a few times since, after pulling over & turning off/restarting it seemed to reset. I replaced the compressor a few years ago & now am nearly sorry I didn’t convert to springs then.... anyone got an ideas of costs for the spring conversion?
7th Apr 2018 3:30 pm
G_Cam
Member Since: 12 Aug 2010
Location: Fife
Posts: 2048
On the assumption that you have a 7 seater.. going by your year and spec....
You cannot legally convert to springs iirc. Springs are only type approved for 5 seat Discos...
The conversion may very well invalidate your insurance... you could simply ask them I guess?
So, while technically quite possible, im not sure where it puts you in terms of type approval and insurance options..1 TR6 Rusting away quietly
1 FARR UTV SOLD
1 International Harvester SOLD
7 x D3 all SOLD
2 x D4 both SOLD
1 x Mrs D4 'Panther' SOLD
1 x Outlander van SOLD
1 continual stream of car parts and me living in the garage...
8th Apr 2018 5:57 pm
dubbs
Member Since: 18 Apr 2012
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 3626
[quote="G_Cam”]
My Local Tesco is very small and I prefer Lidl and Aldi as they do have a much better range of Cutting Disks etc.. (when In Season!)
Ref your conversion.. Good for you...
TBH I'm tempted to convert one of mine as I have had them both fail in the last week in terms of the Suspension
Many a casual user might just conciser the upgrade an improvement over the air suspension.. Not too long ago buyers of second hand D2's used to body swerve ACE versions due to the costs.. and the Coil Spring versions were (still are?) seen as more reliable??[/quote]
Most are converting them back after realising it was only those that couldn’t afford to maintain the vehicle properly that really fall foul of issues and ACE actually does a good job for those that can afford the maintenance.
Notice that a lot now with the D3 being bought by those unwilling to maintain them properly.... very little reason to convert if you can afford to maintain and clue yourself up on the system - after all it’s the very DNA of a D3 and its versatility.MY15 DIY Black Pack (Better than factory and half the price!)
Prospeed rock/tree sliders w/steps
HSE Winter wheels
TransK9 B24
Travall Cargo Guard
Hatchbag
8th Apr 2018 6:16 pm
dubbs
Member Since: 18 Apr 2012
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 3626
Re: Decisions decisions
BHH wrote:
My 06 D3 is now very high on front & low on rear, a few weeks ago she went down on all 4 a few times on a caravan journey, & has done the same a few times since, after pulling over & turning off/restarting it seemed to reset. I replaced the compressor a few years ago & now am nearly sorry I didn’t convert to springs then.... anyone got an ideas of costs for the spring conversion?
Probably less cost to fix and maintain the air suspension than buy the 22” alloys... MY15 DIY Black Pack (Better than factory and half the price!)
Prospeed rock/tree sliders w/steps
HSE Winter wheels
TransK9 B24
Travall Cargo Guard
Hatchbag
8th Apr 2018 6:17 pm
Russell
Member Since: 24 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Sea Raider wrote:
In my opinion yes.
I've had a Discovery TD5 on air
I've had a P38 on air and now a 3 on air
one of the reasons being the ride, have driven both the TD5 and P38 on springs and was unimpressed, no reason to believe the 3 would be any different.
TD5 (7 seater) had the air on the rear due to the increased weight capacity of 7 bodies, presume the 3 is the same. Unsure if the 3 came with the option of springs from the factory. If not wonder as Gary says how it might affect your insurance as it would be seen as a modification
3 came with option for coils but only as a 5 seater, it cannot be used as a 7 seater without airMY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
8th Apr 2018 7:54 pm
BHH
Member Since: 19 Jan 2010
Location: Co. Antrim, N. Ireland
Posts: 208
30 mile journey took 2 hours today with fault light coming on & bottoming - so frustrating 😡
8th Apr 2018 7:59 pm
BHH
Member Since: 19 Jan 2010
Location: Co. Antrim, N. Ireland
Posts: 208
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
) and the cable fraying issues in the wheel arches there seem to be relatively few system faults that cause much hassle with the suspension to my knowledge.
) 
