Just been to my local dealer for a service (on my 2022 Defender 90) and the free security "recall" update only to be told that they cannot perform the security update whilst my Autowatch Ghost is fitted to the vehicle even if it is service mode*. I was told that it was incompatible and the update would fail.

The dealer said not running the update would not affect the warranty on the vehicle as Land Rover somehow viewed it as an "either/or" option with Ghost!

Has anyone else been told this or had any experience of this conflict?

Both my Ghost installer and Autowatch themselves, believe my dealer is wrong and simply does not like aftermarket systems - maybe after a bad experience with the system not being in service mode - and suggested I try a different dealer.

*Incidental but the dealer also knew it had a Ghost when it was booked!

 

You are obviously in the UK, yes?

Most here US-based. No ghost or auto watch over here so we may not know what you're referencing as well.

 

Add me to the list of those not knowing what ‘Ghost’ or ‘AutoWatch’ is. Please elaborate.

 

A security device that interrupts the CAN Bus in a way that the vehicle cant be started without pressing a sequence of buttons.

 

In Canada my dealer actually offered Ghost package when I was ordering Defender. So something is funny,

 

Yes I'm in the UK - my mistake - hadn't appreciated that it was largely US forum. Anyhow, just by way of background:

Land Rover have been slated for the last few years over real and perceived security issues by the UK motor insurance industry (mostly over the "desirability" of the 2018 Range Rover Sport by car thieves) and it has been really tough to obtain reasonable £ (or should that be $) insurance premiums.

The Autowatch Ghost is an aftermarket product, costing c.£500 and I can see someone has kindly posted a YouTube on the subject lower in this thread which gives you an idea of what it does.

I was "encouraged" by the insurers to fit to my vehicle with the aftermarket solution and used an installer recommended by the salesman in the Land Rover dealer (again like someone else lower in the thread).

Now my concern is that Land Rover's belated response Land Rover Press Release 5th June 2024 to the problem of auto-theft allegedly conflicts with the Ghost system. The Ghost installer believes this is untrue and that my Land Rover Service Manager is simply being a pain because he doesn't like aftermarket systems.