Okay, so here's an interesting dilemma that I've got. My 2011 Range Rover Sport HSE I've had for a year and a half, and with now just over 102,500 miles on the clock, I haven't spent a single penny "touch wood" on the air suspension system, neither have I had any warnings about it.

I've always kept the car in the normal ride height setting, but on the weekend thought I'd gamble lowering the car to exit the car, and raise it upon getting back in.

I did this again today, the car was lowered for 8 hours whilst I was at work, and it was raised when I got back in the car. It took a few seconds to raise, and probably within 10 or so seconds the car was back in normal ride height, I can feel the car being raised, but can't really feel the car when it lowers, bizarre right? I guess it's because of the air compressor.

Speaking of which, the air compressor turns on when I raise the car, and it remains on for what seems like about 60 seconds, maybe slightly longer, but the car is back at normal ride height long before this duration is up.

My dilemma is this...

Should I be concerned about the air suspension system and could it be on its last legs and maybe I shouldn't keep lowering/raising it each day.

Or, should I use the system more often? Would this actually make the system last longer? After all, rubber deteriorates either way.

What's your thoughts?

Do you regularly lower and raise the car when getting in/out?

If you park in a tight spot lower it.
If you don’t need to lower it, don’t.

It will automatically raise when it goes above 10mph or something
I lower it before I come to a stop where possible

I lower ours once a week so as the dogs are not jumping from such a height. The rest of the time it’s left in normal. 2006 2.7 TDV6 HSE in Cairns Blue.

Use it as and when you want or need to use it. It's designed to be used.

Using a similar analogy, you wouldn't stop driving your car due to being worried you might wear it out, would you? We use them, then fix them as and when required.

Sometimes things age/seize prematurely if left and not used.

Concerning your point on the compressor running whilst the car has resumed normal ride height, this is because the compressor is re-pressurising the air tank. Remember, the compressor doesn't provide the air directly to the air springs, the air tank does, via the valve blocks and air lines. Once the air tank has depressurised, the compressor will refill it. Kev

MY2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
MY2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

The old adage comes to mind use it or loose it, the same goes with the hand brake use it when you want if and when it brakes it will need repairing, its the same with all motors remember a lot of us are driving 10 year plus motors heavy with all the whistle and bells from an era when a lot of this stuff was cutting edge in one motor, I am service engineer and cover warranty work on kit that cost 70k and they break down on the day of install due part failure or software issues, its just the way it is, I always go with try and buy something built on a Wednesday.

Last edited by 1richard1 on Tue Dec 08 2020 6:29am. Edited 1 time in total

Dont go looking for problems that are not there.

The car is not directly raised by the compressor, it is raised by the air pressure in the air tank which is topped up from the compressor. So if you select raise, air is taken from the air tank and when pressure reduces enough the compressor kicks in to top it up - so when the car reaches height the air compressor will keep running until the air tank is topped up.

When you actually have problems you will know it.

Garry 07MY RRS TDV6
Arctic Frost
Aspen Interior

I use to lower mine most of the time when I parked it in the L320 but now have a L494 that lowers automatically when put in park and the door opens.

As they self level I don't see what the problem is with lowering it as it will lift and lower when it's being used so manually doing it shouldn't be a cause a problem 2017 SVR. SVO Scafell grey Ebony interior
2012 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography santorini black with ebony/cirrus interior. Gone

I lower my L322 (and when I had a Sport) every time. Saves seat bolster wear
Also, allows the air bags to flex a bit Visitor from fullfatrr.com
* GONE. 2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Now being piloted by RRSTDV8
* GONE: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
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I don't use access height other than for specific situations e.g. someone who is struggling to get in. But that's rare. I use off road height more than access height.  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

I use access height almost every time. My legs are long enough but my wife struggles a bit.
Wear should be minimal in this type of system compared to say an industrial air compressor running in a workshop, constantly on/off. RRS HSE Dynamic SDV6 2014

Nemo mortalium omnibus horus sapit

Smarttech wrote:

As they self level I don't see what the problem is with lowering it as it will lift and lower when it's being used

As said ^ every bump or corner you drive over or around can cause the suspension to adjust and use some air from the res at some point the compressor starts up and tops it back up

Used access every time and off road whenever I could on all ours over time

if the carparking was tight (airport parking) access as pulling up to let swmbo out and then offroad height to park and leave it (last one had steps fitted so less chance of car park dents!)

 Porsche Cayenne 2022
gone Porsche Cayenne 2020
gone Corris Grey HSE Dynamic 2016
gone Ipanema HSE lux 2010
gone Rimini HSE 2005
!!

when am not up for lifting the dogue out the car i drop it.

Hi,
think I would want a ramp if we had a Dogue

.
.

Dogue de Bordeaux about 60kg ish

 Porsche Cayenne 2022
gone Porsche Cayenne 2020
gone Corris Grey HSE Dynamic 2016
gone Ipanema HSE lux 2010
gone Rimini HSE 2005
!!

aiye hes basically the size of people but i wanna keep his joints good for as long as possible so a bit of strength training for me keeps him alive just a tad longer

i did used to have a ramp but just takes up too much space in car and am too lazy to get it in and out constantly when i can cradle him like a baby haha