After picking up my new FY22 Defender, I noticed there is an option to enable automatic access height when you turn the car off. Seems like a neat feature, but wouldn't having the car raise and lower everytime its turned on an off needlessly introduce vastly more duty cycles for the air compressor and struts? I can't imagine this wouldnt work those parts more and lead to required maintenance more quickly than not using it.

Thoughts?

 

Do not worry about it. It really is not an issue. I would religiously set my RRS to access height every time I stopped the car for people to get out of or get in the car. I always thought it ridiculous that this was not a feature on my 2011 car. I did over 100,000 miles in that car and no issues with the air compressor. Anyway, we have this feature set on my wife’s Velar and I have it set on my Defender. It’s not been a problem on any of our cars. Sure, there could be some wear and tear issues but how is that different to other parts on the car? I would say that you will spend more on brake pads than air compressors over the life of the vehicle—especially given the dynamic handling pack you may have.

 

I thought the same thing. I asked a service advisor about it and he said its actually better for the system as it not being used causes issues long term. I have since activated it and its alot more enjoyable getting in and out and I am 6'4.

 

It begs the question: why does Access Height even exist if not for getting in and out, and if it’s good for getting in and out once, it’s good for it every time. Think of it this way: look how much longer your A/C might last if you only used it every tenth time you’re hot.

 

I saw someone post in FB that they used it to get under a fallen log. Like it's going to do an ultra limbo in Access Mode! They must have been in a channel to get under a fallen tree, or it got hung up in one across the trail. Who knows? It's possible.

 

Ha ha, as every guy knows EVERY INCH COUNTS....

I would assume they meant hung up going across the trail... but yeah that's a silly example.

Look I get why the coils make sense (crossover to the air or not to air thread) to people who want to hardcore wheel it or want old school goodness whatever. As someone who has already replaced all four coils on my < 50k mile Jeep (because even with the tow package they were getting soft) I wouldn't assume coils never need work either.

THAT SAID, I LOVE THE AIR SUSPENSION on our D, and we use the access height setting. Doing so means my 5' 6" wife and our kids can get in and out of the thing without using any side-steps like we have installed on my Jeep.

Though I confess I purposely parked it in off-road height once just to watch my MIL sky dive out of the passenger seat.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys... you make good points. I hadn't considered that going into access height might actually be good as it could de-stress some components. I'm just worried it will make my wife want to drive it more than she already does... keeps trying to get me to drive her Audi to work now...

 

What is the clearance measurement in access height? I have a lower garage entrance I might use.