Hi, I took at 2007 Range Rover sport for a test drive today. Overall a great car, only 62k and one owner from new. However, when idle before and after the drive, a vibrating noise comes on and goes off every minute or so. It is quite loud and I think it's something to do with the compressor? The noise sounds like it it coming from under the rear left side passager door.

The dealer said this noise is normal, and that land rover had recently changed the compressor. I just can't see Land Rover selling a car with a vibrating noise such as this?

One final point, the noise stops when you change the suspension height, once the height has adjusted the noise starts going on and off again as before. It's the same on all heights.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Not really advice but it ain't normal!

Sounds like a dying suspension compressor. It's the right sort of age for it to get tired. If it doesn't sit level overnight then it would point to a leak causing it to run overtime. This would cause early expiration of the compressor. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

At first I thought it was the engine, but once I revved the engine I could hear it underneath the rumbling/vibrating noise coming from the rear left passenger door. When it is off the car is very quiet, and to be fair I didn't notice it while driving, but being like this at idle was described by my partner (sat in the back) as "a bit of a racket".

Walk away  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.
* Current. 1974 Lightweight 2.25L petrol. Old skool
* GONE. Freelander GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* GONE. Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975

bengreen - welcome to the forum - do you have any links to the purchase.  16MY Estoril Blue SVR.............
17MY Autobiography Dynamic - Corris Grey - WOW.
14MY Autobiography Dynamic - SDV6 - Fuji White
12MY Autobiography - SDV6 - Santorini Black - Dual View - Rear Entertainment - Sunroof.
12MY Autobiography - SDV6 - Orkney Grey - awesome ;(
2005 Java Black - 4.2 V8 Supercharged First Edition- will never be forgotten ;(

Certainly sounds like Compressor on it's way out.

Cheers
Col

Is the compressor itself located under the rear left passenger door?

Yes.

Cheers
Col

If everything else is spot on worth negotiating on them putting a compressor on, they seem to be a common feature for failing and probably around a £450 fix, you may not find another that ticks all the boxes and if you did who s to say that one wouldn't need a compressor 6 months down the line.
If you can reach an agreement on this one then your good for a few years as far as compressors go Nanocom Evo

A sure sign of compressor failure - drive in access mode no more than 100 metres before turning a sharp left or right ( the Sport will rise to normal height ) - if you get a warning message - danger vehicle may topple & the yellow triangle with a arrow above pointing left & right then its on its way out for sure

Good luck  16MY Estoril Blue SVR.............
17MY Autobiography Dynamic - Corris Grey - WOW.
14MY Autobiography Dynamic - SDV6 - Fuji White
12MY Autobiography - SDV6 - Santorini Black - Dual View - Rear Entertainment - Sunroof.
12MY Autobiography - SDV6 - Orkney Grey - awesome ;(
2005 Java Black - 4.2 V8 Supercharged First Edition- will never be forgotten ;(

Thank you all for your comments/advice on this! They claimed Land Rover had recently replaced the compressor, if this is the case Land Rover should be able to replace it again under warranty, or the seller (independent dealer) could do it in their own garage. Either way I won't be buying the car without some negotiation on price or a repair. Everything else does seems spot on, so worth asking the question.

Ben, first I must admit that I have only ever bought new RRS's but have bought other Land Rovers used and have always insisted that the seller has taken it to the local dealership to get them to give it a full service and update of any outstanding TSB's and find any hidden faults. If the non franchise dealer really wants to sell the car to you then it shouldn't be any issue to them to do that and to pay for any defects to be corrected before you buy it. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW