HELLO ALL NEW HERE- BE GENTLE

i purchased a 2024 Defender 110 x-dynamic SE. I have struggled with the fact that it has independent suspension and not "air suspension". I do not off-road, but still wondering if it makes sense to have that installed. i got a great deal on the car and its does have very low milage and great amenities and upgrades but not that. I had a Range Rover sport before and I know that is completely different vehicle and ride performance, but i would prefer the experts' opinions here before i make any more decisions. I have been told i don't need them and i have been told OMG you didn't get it with air suspension, i am at a loss....... Best regards to all!!

 

The two most frequent uses of my air suspension are when parking in my garage (access height) and when doing the parking lot flex (extended/off road height.) I replaced my Range Rover Classic, LR3, and LR4 air suspensions with old fashioned shocks/springs when the air systems went bad out of warranty and never missed them except when I couldn’t park in my garage in the rain (too high with roof racks.)

 

I think it would be a very expensive to retrofit, so it really just isn't worth it. Coils have proven to be more reliable on older JLR products (not old enough to tell yet with L663), but there are a variety of benefits to air suspension as well, especially if you live in a city, outlined above. It is also great off-road, if that's what you are into.

 

If you paying a shop to perform the upgrade, the labor cost alone will be beyond prohibitive.

then you have a VIN specific ECU that needs to be purchased….

yeah, run with what you got.

 

Put some miles on it and then look for suspension upgrades. There are likely upgrades out there to better suit your driving style. Installing air suspension is like installing new batteries in a Tesla, forget it.

 

I prefer the air suspension, but I've had plenty of seat time in coil-sprung Defenders and the ride quality is still very good. The benefits of the air suspension is the height adjustment and the adaptive dampers that provide better body control and a smoother ride. My main issue with the coil springs is that they nerfed off-road capability by not giving them any articulation. There are outlets, like Sarek, who offer aftermarket coil springs for increased off-road capability without sacrificing ride comfort or drivability. I would go with the Sarek aftermarket coils if I were in your boat.

https://sarek.shop/products/land-rov...d-coil-springs

Technically with enough money you could retrofit air suspension, but like others have said, you'll need to get all the parts, new wiring harnesses, a new ECU, then the car will need to be coded etc. I don't know how much it would cost, but it'd be astronomical. It is way more trouble than its worth. You're better off buying a Defender with air suspension if it is that important to you.

 

Just as mentioned above, do not attempt any retrofit. Enjoy your Defender as it is. It will be fine and will ride fine as well. One way to look at it, one less item to go bad. Congrats on your new Defender.

 

In the long run you will be happy with it. Also the Sarek upgrade is supposed to be SWEET if you are into off-roading. He is also supposedly working with Ohlin's on other stuff. But the above are correct if you really want air suspension then sell it and get a new one with it. Part of me wishes my V8 didn't have it. Everyone keeps going on about the new OCTA and its 6D suspension....but they didn't put that in the Dakar truck. Its all coil......

 

Not worth the flex. I have coils and don't even think about it. My last 5 vehicles and 1 current had air and I purposely spec'd this one without after driving both versions. I don't need the ability to lower or raise for any real purpose.

you may be underestimating the conversion cost. Going from coil to air is much more than going air to coil.

 

Can you even convert air suspension to aftermarket coil? Seems like to new a truck for this to exist yet.