This is just a warning to everyone not to accidentally damage the central air bag cover on the steering wheel.

My car went in for service in March and I noticed a few weeks later when I was driving the car I think for the second time and the light was in the right direction that there were scratches and dents on the leather of the steering wheel central air-bag cover, where the "Range Rover" badge is. These were consistent with the corner of a clip-board being dragged across it or a ball-point pen being used to write on a piece of paper, such as might have happened when the dealer recorded the mileage.

Of course, once you know they are there, you see them every time you look down. I complained to the dealer who, hats off to them, admitted it was their fault and they have replaced it. The problem is that the very soft leather is easily damaged by being compressed. The pressure from a pen can be very high.

Why the warning? Well, that air bag cover only comes with the air bag itself attached and if you wanted to replace it, the cost including labour and VAT is close to £1000... Mark

SVR in Estoril Blue

And a loan one I had where it was plastic, was infinitely more durable. Of course not as nice,,but these design decisions aren't that considerate, I am sure it's all over the other sites, but there was recently a similar price for an evoque front passenger door speaker cover, as actually you have to had to whole new door car, with fitting etc....

Yes, I remember seeing the plastic one listed on the parts screen. More durable and (a bit) cheaper.

It used to be the case that manufacturers would sell all the parts individually. I remember replacing the washer bottle for a Mercedes SL600 and it was made up of 6 or more seperately orderable parts. Now, you would only be able to buy the complete sub-assembly. Simplifies the parts list I suppose but makes for expensive parts replacements. Mark

SVR in Estoril Blue

Ha, wing mirrors fall into that category now !!!


Seems to me it's a great profit making opportunity, and dumbing down what mechanics have to do, in a significant number of cases, mind you I guess more of the, are becoming electricians... Clear not software analysts / developers.