 | Home > General & Technical (L663) > Air Suspension |
 
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 3139  
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Best to test drive both and see what you think. l have the coil springs and the vehicle is superb, others will say air suspension is the best thing on the options list.
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25th May 2025 12:04am |
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| J77 Member Since: 04 Nov 2019 Location: Fife Posts: 3470 
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I’m on my 3rd 90 on coils, also had a 110 on air. Coils are comfortable enough but I’ll be ticking the air suspension box if I order again. Easier access for rear passengers on the 90 and just that bit more smoother on road. 24MY 90 D250 HSE, Tasman Blue
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25th May 2025 7:10pm |
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| Landy240 Member Since: 22 Jul 2024 Location: Merseyside Posts: 10
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I test drove, and ordered, a 110 SE with coil springs but after much faffing my order was cancelled by LR and I ended up with an XS which has air suspension as standard.
I think the ride quality is fine on coils. In fact it is excellent, nevertheless I am glad I ended up with air suspension. The self leveling aspect if you load up the boot is very useful as is the ability to lose a bit of height in a tight carpark. I would have been pretty happy with coils though. Time will tell regarding maintenance.. |
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25th May 2025 9:26pm |
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| Crazymind Member Since: 11 Jun 2024 Location: Glasgow Posts: 263
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Air suspension with configurable drive is a must. Without it, the difference in performance over the coils is not so evident. On winding roads, the system allows the Defender to handle a full load with minimal roll and pitch, even under heavy braking or acceleration — making it far more capable on-road than expected.
Switching back to comfort mode adds an extra layer of cushioning, delivering a smoother, more supple ride — especially noticeable with the 18” wheels. |
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25th May 2025 11:11pm |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 3139
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l guess it depends on whether you want your new "Defender" to drive a bit like the old one, or if you'd prefer the extra refinement of a Range Rover but with a "Defender" body on it.
l previously had a 2005 Defender so the new one on coil springs was like night and day compared to the old one. The main thing l noticed was, it doesn't pitch from side to side on unmade roads like the old one. l guess that's live axles for you. But if your previous vehicle was a modern one, you're going to appreciate the extra refinement and convenience afforded by the air suspension. The air suspension is also a bit better off road, although few owners will trouble the limits of the vehicle on the coil springs. |
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26th May 2025 9:28am |
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| J77 Member Since: 04 Nov 2019 Location: Fife Posts: 3470
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I wouldn’t say it’s essential, nothing on the options list is essential. 24MY 90 D250 HSE, Tasman Blue
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26th May 2025 4:40pm |
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| Maverick2810 Member Since: 21 Nov 2020 Location: South West Posts: 4 
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Evening all, just to say thanks for the responses
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27th May 2025 9:15pm |
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| essentian Member Since: 02 Apr 2025 Location: East Mids Posts: 39
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I have a 130 which comes with air as standard. Will say that the ride/air is nowhere near as good as my outgoing Q7s (also with air) or even my 3 series touring with variable dampening, despite having considerably more sidewall to work with. Small bump compliance isn't great and it wallows considerably under cornering.
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28th May 2025 12:52pm |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 3139
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Does it not have different modes such as Dynamic, which should reduce body roll?
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28th May 2025 6:16pm |
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| CincyRovers1 Member Since: 30 Nov 2023 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 133 
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Dynamic mode is only standard on the V8 models and OCTA. Otherwise it has to be programmed in with a GAP Tool or using a company that has access to JLR's Pathfinder software. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red) 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone |
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28th May 2025 6:26pm |
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| essentian Member Since: 02 Apr 2025 Location: East Mids Posts: 39
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As Cincy said above, only "road" modes are Comfort & Eco.
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28th May 2025 7:22pm |
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| XplusYplusZ Member Since: 16 Aug 2021 Location: UK Posts: 531 |
I use my def mostly for annoying cyclists in London.
I like Air sus for: 1. Making access easier for passengers (old folks, pregnant ladies, lazy cockapoos) 2. Getting a little more of a peek over traffic to see what dingbats are up to ahead. 3. It gives me more confidence to squeak into 1.95m carparks in access mode, only to discover there's a tranny van with a roofrack in there. 4. It is a bit more supple than the coils, but it's not as silky smooth as more road focussed air suspended vehicles. 5. Boot loading really heavy crap isn't really helped by the rear 'squat' button, but it gives me joy to use it. It's also nice to know (especially in today's world of frequent flooding) the air sus will give you a tiny little advantage if you waded a little too deep and you start to float, it will go into tip-toe mode, extending beyond regular off-road height, in the hope it can find a last mm or two of traction. |
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29th May 2025 2:45pm |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 3139
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Are you likely to wade through water more than 80cm deep in the vehicle?
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29th May 2025 4:52pm |
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| Crazymind Member Since: 11 Jun 2024 Location: Glasgow Posts: 263
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What size of tires under your defender? I have noticed the same on the 130. It is less cushioned and a lot stiffer than the 110. Not a surprise though, half a ton heavier, huge rear over hung. It is more compliant and supple when fully loaded. Also the 130 suffer a lot from vertical movement, like vans, expecially at the back. Not the best engineered version the 130. |
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29th May 2025 6:42pm |
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