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caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 5288
  
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| X5 and Merc Air suspension troubles |
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From Honest Johns Column (Telegraph)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.j...rjon02.xml
The X fails
I took delivery of a new BMW X5 in July 2005 and have experienced many faults. The biggest and, in my opinion, most dangerous problem occurred when the rear suspension dropped without warning while I was driving. BMW has had my vehicle back for weeks on end and says it can't find a fault, but refuses to put in writing that there is nothing wrong. I have written to the directors of the selling dealership and BMW UK, and find it unbelievable that not one letter has been acknowledged.
S.H., via e-mail
It is likely to be a valve problem with the rear air suspension. This can also happen to Mercedes W211 E-class estates. You could get a good solicitor involved and attempt to reject the vehicle for a full or partial refund on the grounds of breach of contract, because the car was not supplied to you in "satisfactory" condition. But be warned that there are no guarantees of success.
Surly not on a German Car! 
The Disco doesn't suddenly drop (goes to failsafe)  "A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both- and deserve neither"
Thomas Jefferson.
TDV6: Adaptive Headlights, Electronic Rear Diff, ARB Bar, Blaupunkt Speakers, JVC Powered Subwoofer, Removable Snorkel, Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch, Pioneer After Market Head Unit, Zenarc Touch Screen, In Car Sub-notebook, GPS Anntenna, Steering Wheel Control Adaptor, Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
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 Fri Sep 08 2006 4:54am |
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Martin
Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Warwick
Posts: 10483
 
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I also know of a few cases with the rear suspension on the 5-series touring doing the same... 06 D3 SE / 04 Mini JCW / 68 BMW 2000 ti
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| Fri Sep 08 2006 9:08am |
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mach1
Member Since: 24 Jun 2006
Location: SE London
Posts: 62
 
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A friend of mine had terrible problems with the air suspension on his 5 series, I think at the time he was told it was quite a common fault.
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| Fri Sep 08 2006 9:59am |
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DickyH
Member Since: 07 Aug 2006
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 81
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Moral of the story as far as I can see - stay away from air suspension
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| Fri Sep 08 2006 10:19am |
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Martin
Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Warwick
Posts: 10483
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Or perhaps it shows that Land Rover aren't the only ones who has issues with their air suspension, however perfect we wished it was? Also that those people who say "I'm buying a BMW/Merc as they're so much more reliable than a LR" are not necessarily correct...
Frankly with all the issues reported all over the internet with all types of cars I'm surprised anyone buys any car  06 D3 SE / 04 Mini JCW / 68 BMW 2000 ti
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| Fri Sep 08 2006 10:21am |
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DickyH
Member Since: 07 Aug 2006
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 81
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I agree with you. It's not so much the brand as the overall level of technology that is being introduced into these cars. As far as I can see, computer controlled everything and air suspension etc do not necessarily make good partners to what are supposed to be tough, reliable and long lasting off road vehicles which, in theory, have quite an arduous life. You have to ask how long all of this stuff is going to last. If the vehicles cannot be made resonably reliable from the factory, how is a farmer or somebody who uses it for the purpose it was built going to manage 8 years down the line?
I think there's a lot to be said for keeping it simple if you want a strong reliable vehicle, i.e. Defender. Why do you not see computer controlled gizmos and air suspenion on that? Firstly because it is not necessay and secondly to keep costs down and reliability up.
Don't get me wrong, the ride etc from air suspenion is superb, without question, but if we all wanted to ride along on a cushion of air, surely we would be better off buying some luxury Merc or Lexus etc.
I think there's just too much technology being crammed into these vehicles, whatever the manufacturer. It's very clever, but if it can't be made reliable then ultimately it's no use. If you want a tough, reliable machine, keep it simple.
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| Fri Sep 08 2006 10:36am |
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DickyH
Member Since: 07 Aug 2006
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 81
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PS - That's why I'm now looking at the coil sprung D3. Just don't understand why you can't get it with 7 seats which, whilst not essential to me, might be handy on occasions.
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| Fri Sep 08 2006 10:39am |
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DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 27005
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err........ its called progress isn't it ....if we used your analogy we should have a stuck with a horse and cart  Existential Phenomenologist.
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| Fri Sep 08 2006 10:48am |
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10forcash
Site Sponsor
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
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Air suspension has been around for years on trucks, I think the problem is not the technology, which is quite simple really, but the number of variables that cannot be forseen in the use of the systems given the number of units out there (and i'm talking all vehicles, not just LR's)
The systems could be over-engineered to cope with anything, but would be prohibitively expensive...
Citroen pioneered the hydrolastic system, which left many cars at the side of the road until they got the reliability and build quality issues sorted... Many people will look back through their rose-tints with a 'oh yer, they were really comfortable cars, so much better than everything else at the time' and completely forget about the alien blood - like puddles they left everywhere and the sudden suspension drops on the motorways and hard corners (don't remember any 'scare' stories then ), it was accepted as part of owning something that was at the forefront of technology at the time TorqTune
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| Fri Sep 08 2006 10:59am |
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Mossy
Member Since: 01 Jul 2005
Location: Hollyoaks, UK
Posts: 2549
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 Right... thats it.... never gonna buy a BMW or a Merc!  D3 HSE V8...
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| Fri Sep 08 2006 11:42am |
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DrLex
Member Since: 15 Jul 2005
Location: Ciderspace [Oi be in Zummerset]
Posts: 3497
 
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DickyH wrote:PS - That's why I'm now looking at the coil sprung D3. Just don't understand why you can't get it with 7 seats which, whilst not essential to me, might be handy on occasions.
Perhaps on of the LR boys might bite, but to my amateur view, tick where appropriate (more than one if required)
[ ] Coil suspension reduces space available
[ ] comfort of rear passengers compromised
[ ] loading levels would require headlamp level adjusters
[ ] "upsell" model Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Member of Club Med Sucks
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| Fri Sep 08 2006 1:06pm |
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Gareth
Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 15752
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Erm, perhaps I have not been reading all the posts lately, but I am very aware that there seem to relatively few suspension failures on D3's nowadays. I think LR have solved it.
Mine has not had any suspension problems for 46000 miles now. Club 18 - 30 (I wish !!)
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| Fri Sep 08 2006 6:50pm |
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Mossy
Member Since: 01 Jul 2005
Location: Hollyoaks, UK
Posts: 2549
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Gareth wrote:.... there seem to relatively few suspension failures on D3's nowadays. I think LR have solved it.
I was talking to my local Stealership yesterday and they said pretty much the same. I think the on-going "enhancement" programme has addressed this by removing (most of) the troublesome ones from circulation?
Hope I've not spoken too soon D3 HSE V8...
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| Sat Sep 09 2006 6:37am |
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